Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-23

OF ms own child. He treated her kind
ly When food was scarce, as 1t of
ten was, Little Squaw' was first sup
piled. If there was only handful
of parched corn it was given to her.
When they came to a stream that
could be waded, they would cut pole
OF suitable length; an Indian at each
end would shoulder it and the little
girl would catch around it in the mid
die, drawing up her feet and they
would carry her across. Once, when
about crossing the river, one of the
two carriers threw his blanket on Abb
bic shoulder for her to carry. She
shrank instinctively from the malod-
orous burden and, Struggling her.
shoulders. threw the blanket on the
ground. Black Snake was not dis
pleased. He grunted approvingly to
his little Squaw," and ordered Elm
dian carry his own blanket"
The. journey was one of fearful hard
ship. They had no shelter from the
elements. by day or night. They We're
without food of civilization. There
were no wild fruits at that time of the
year. There were no farm houses on
which to make forays, for the country
was an tuninha bited wilderness. Game
and bark and roots and sometimes
fish We're their food, and sometimes
roasted snake tasted good to Abbie."
They followed a blind path over a
rough and rugged country of craggy
hills and deep ravines, of tall timber
and fallen timber and thorns and un-
derwood. Along the river were fright
full cliffs and hills rising into the
mountains. Day after days and week
after week, the girl with her father
and their captors pursued the dread
full Journey toward an unknown des-
tination and one that was not bright
ened by hope.
The Indian Town.
Eighteen days march brought them
to the Indian towns where there was
food and where they were safe from
pursuit. Black Snake very much de-
sired to retain Abbie as his adopted
daughter. He would, be kind to her,
and would promise everything within
the range of an Indians idea of good
treatment. But the captives were de-
llyered up to Joseph Brant whose In
dian name was Thay-en-de-nea-g
leader of the Mohawks and command
er of all the hostile Indians. He was
an educated Indian, able and cunning,
welding the pen as well as the sword
combining in his own person the most
diverse qualities. He could out-yell
any savage among his troops. He could
deport himself with grace and dignity
at the English court. He was accused
OF atrocious acts ofscruelty, and on the
other hand did, on occasions, show
leniency and humanity to the van
pushed.
The loyalists or stories" of central
New York had betaken themselves
largely to the wilds of western New
York and of upper Canada. Fit. Mag
ara at the mouth of Niagara river. was
their headquarters. Col. John Butler
and his son Walter Butler were their
leaders. There, too, was Brant's head
quarters. There the Redskins brought
their scalps and their prisoners and re-
ceived their reward. From Niagara and
other points numberless raids had ,been
made upon the border settlers and up
on the scattered soldiery of the Amer
leans, characterized by murderous saw
agery.
Expedition Against the Senecas.
In the summer of 1779 General Sulli-
van with an ample. force was sent to
terminate these depredations; and
chastise the savages. About the same
time an expedition from Fort Pitt un-
der Colonel Broadhead marched up the
Allegheny, burned the Seneca towns.
destroyed their crops and drove them
in dismay toward Canada. This was
in August. In September General Sui
livan's army moved from Oswego driv-
ing the Indians and laying waste their
towns as far as Genesseo, within sixty
or seventy miles of Niagara. Then,
Iif not earlier, our captives be-
came prisoners at Fort Niagara in a
Canada, turned over by Brant to the
commandment, Colonel John Butler.
Pri,' ness of war at that day were
not dealt witt. as humanely as at pres
ent. Colonial prisoners during the
Revolutionary war were regarded as
rebels. And the Buffers in charge at
Fort Niagara had the reputation OF
being pre-eminent for heartless cruelty
"inore savage than the savages them
selyes. -
In that rigorous climate, amid such
surroundings, and with such superiors,
Byrum and daughter entered upon
their ter moi captivity. Byrum was q
prisoner while Abbie was turned over
TO one of the officers and kept as child
nurse and servant and almost as slave
in his family.
Their first winter at Niagara is said
to have been the coolest ever known in
America. For clothing and food they
were dependent on the good will and
Limited resources of their heartless
keepers, while the thoughts of that
lonely cabin on the hillside in the back.
woods with its inmates were not assur.
ing.
The Relcnse.
In 1879 correspondence passed be.
tween General James Clinton, of the
colonial army, and Captain Butler,
commandant at Fort Niagara, in re-
gard to exchange of prisoners. Oswe.
go and Crown Point were spoken of as
possible places of exchange. In the
! life of Joseph Brant, Vol. III, page 81,
reference is made to prisoners. In 1880
they were transferred from Niagara to
| Montreal, thence to- n prison in Cham.