Year: 1868

I
heard the funeral of Spotted Tails"
daughter spoken of as such an interest
ing event. that applied to Col. Mayna-
der. the officer in command Of that
district. for circumstsntial narration
of the occurrence. He very kindly
| account, showing that if an Indian is
subject to yindictive feelings. he is new
ertheiess acquainted with the gentler
emotions of the heart. T. w.
HEAD Quar- WEST SuD-DIst orl
NEBRASKA. FeRT LARAMIE. d. T
March. 9th. sis6a



Some days since / received messen-
ger from Pegaleshka,* saying that his
daughter had died on the way here, and
had begged her father to have her grave
made with the whites. My consent was
asked TO permit this to be done. knew
the girl five years ago, then child of
IL. and at her death about IL. She died
from exposure and inability to sustain
the severe labor aud hardships OF the
wild Indian life.


replied that l would be glad to have
Pegales!Ika bring his child here, and
would give him all the assistance in my
power.


Yesterday, was informed that he
had reached the Platte, and wonld soon
be at the Fort. Wishing to do him hon.
/ ,o;n ,n:, .,I,s 80,
of the nation, and on account of the pc
cuiar circumstances Of his visit, rode
out with several officers, and met him
half way between the Fort and the
Platte


After meeting him I conducted him
! to the Fort and then to my head quar-
ters. I then informed him that the
Great Father offered peace to the Indi-
ans, and desired them to have it for
their own benefit and welfare; that in
| two or three months Commissioners
would come to t eat with them, and set
tie evrything on permanent basis Of
| peace and friendship.


sympatnised deeply in his atfiiction,
| and felt honored by his confidence in
committing to my care the remains of
child whom l knew he loved much.
| The Great Spirit had taken her. and
He never did anything except for some
good purpose. Every thing should be
prepared to have her funeral at sunset.
a,id as the sun went down it might re-
mind him of the darkness left in his
lodge when his beloved daughter was
taken away +; but as the sun would surely
rise again, so she would rise. and some
day ne would meet in the land of the
Great Spirit.


The Chief exhibited deep emotion
during my remarks, and tears fell from
his eyes--a rare occurrence in an Indian
and for some time he could not speak
After taking my hand he commenced
with the following eloquent orat;on:
This must be a dream, for me to be
in such fine room and surrounded by
such as you. Have been asleep during
the last four years Of hardship and trial,
| and am dreaming that sill is TO be well
again? or is this real? Yes, see that
it is, and the beautiful day, the sky
blue and without n cloud, the wind calm
and still, suit the erranI l come on, and
remind me that you have offered peace.
I We think we have been much wronged
and are entitled to compensation for the
damage and distress caused by making
SO many roads through our country, and
driving off and destroying the buffalo
and game. Ny heart is very sad, and
can rot talk on business I will wait
and see the councillors the Great Father
will send


The scene was one Of the most inn
pressive ones I ever saw, and produced
marked effect upon all the Indians
present, and satisfied some who had
never before seemed to believe it, that
an Indian had human heart to work
on, and wac not a wild animal.


Preparations were then made for the
funeral of the chiefs daughter. A scaf-
fold was erected in the cemetery, and =
coffin made.


just before sunset the coffin was car
ried to the scaffold. followed by her
father and mother and other relatives,
with the chaplain, myself. the officers,
and many soldiers of the garrison, and
many Indians. Amid profound silence,
aud as l was glad to see. with the most
devout and respectful behaviour on the
part Of every white man present, the
chaplain delivered a touchi-g and elo-
quent prayer, which was interpreted by
Mr.. 10Th