Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-06-10

of generosity of soul that very few
possess; and were it possible for me
to do so l would gladly and thank
fully avail myself of the benefits
arising from your generosity; but
to do that would deprive me of one
of the most satisfying sources of
happiness l enjoy. In the last few
years of my ministry while riding
from point to point through the
forests and over the prairies of
northeastern Iowa, it has ever been
a source of satisfaction to me amid
the solititudes of the sparcely settled
country, by day or by night, to be
able TO comfort my soul with the
song ! so dearly love.
mo foot of land do ! possess,
No cottage in the wilderness,
A poor way-faring man."
If ! were to accept of the land
your kind heart has prompted you
to offer me it would be at the eX-
pense of the happiness which comes
to me through that song, and-my
dear brother, ! would rather be able
to sing those words in spirit and in
truth than to be the owner of the
finest farm in Iowa. So, while /
deeply appreciate your kindness l
must decline to avail myself of it
which | do with grateful thanks
II vain Mr.. Armstrong sought to
prevail upon him to change his mind.
1t was all to no purpose, and finally
after many assurances that it would
be no sacrifice to himself, as he was
quite well enough off without the
land, he was nevertheless obliged re-
luctantly to yield, replacing the deed
in his pocket with evident regret.
CHAPTER XIV.
It is not within the purview of the
author to attempt any exact account
of the campaigns in which Major
| Cadwell's cavalry was engaged
against the Indians on what was
then the frontiers of the great north
west. The limits of this marathon
would forbid any such attempt were
such thing properly within the
scope of our tale, which it is not.
The stirring events which followed
each other in quick succession, not
alone during the great civil war in
the south, but also on the prairies of
the northwest are solely within the
province of the historian, and to him
succeeding generations must look
for a true and circumstantial account
of the occurrences of those days. The
reader of these lines must therefore
content himself with brief mention,
mere reference indeed, to those
events with which Jesse Badleigh
and his friends were actively con-
nected.
When orders were finally received
for the first battalion of the til
Iowa cavalry to report to General
Sully, at Fort Pierre, the command
at once began its long wearisome
march for that distant point which
was reached after many days of toll
some progress over the prairies of
Iowa and the plains of Dakota
We'll / am glad we are here at
last" said Jesse to Captain Maltby
on their arrival at Fort Pierre We
have had a long hard ride of it.,
that is a fact, but we have made it
in good shape. just heard General
Sully tell Major Caldwell that we
were likely to have stirring work
before long. The reds are posted
at point up the river known as
White Stone Hill. Our men have
been driving them from cover for
several weeks and our scouts report
that they are becoming desperate
and are determined to make a stand
at or near the hill, where they have
strong position. 1t is reported
that there is white man with them,
though the report lacks confirmation
hear
"Oh we'll, we shall soon know
what we are here for ! guess and so
far as / am concerned the ball can't
open too soon; am not at all anxious
to get killed, nor am / eager for
wounds severe or otherwise; at the
same time we Ire here to fight these
skulking redskins and the sooner
we can get them to make a stand
the sooner we shall be at liberty to
go to other fields or return to our
homes" said Captain Maltby.
Nor had they long to wait, for,
On the third morning after their arri-
val, General Sully's entire command
left the fort and proceeded up the
river toward the mouth of the Little
| Cheyenne. In the meantime Lieuten-
ant Badleigh with twenty picked
men had been ordered to the advance
to serve as scouts. 1t was not long