Jackson County, Minnesota - Chapter 5: Flight of the Fugitives - 1857, 1910

THE Indians had done their hellish work and returned to camp near Heron lake. The settlers did not know that they had gone, however, believing them to be still in the neighborhood, awaiting a favorable op- [)ortiinity to complete the work of butchery. All the living persons in the Springfield settlement were now gathered at the Wheeler and Thomas cabins. The people at each house believed that all the others had been killed and that they themselves were the only living whites in the settlement; each party considered the case almost hopeless. The story of their flight and the hardships Ihey endured has seldom been equaled in frontier history.

When little Johnnie Stewart arrived at the Thomas cabin the garrison there were led to believe that the savages had left the immediate vicinity. When a little later Adam Shiegley was seen going across the prairie from his cabin toward the Wheeler cabin and, in response to a hail, came to Mr. Tliomas' place unharmed, the belief was verified. From the Stewart bo^-^s account of the killing of hu? family and his report that the Wheeler cabin was full of Indians, and from the announcement of Mr. Shiegley that he had heard firing in the direction of

Woods' store, this little band of defenders now thought that they were the only ones spared. Although they assumed that the Indians had gone for the time being, they had no doubt thev wore still in the settlement, ready to renew the attack as soon as sufficiently reinforced or when a favorable opportunity offered.

So the vigilance maintained during the attack was not lessened. The men and women in the cabin continued to watch through the portholes for lurking savages. From what they knew of the character of the enemy they had reason to suspect that the silence was only a scheme to draw the defenders out. The women of the party prepared something to eat and passed it to those who were on watch at the portholes, and these ate their supper out of their hands. When darkness came on they feared to keep a fire or light in the house.

The situation of the beleaguered people and the possibility for deliverance were discussed. Some thought best to remain at the cabin in the hope that the soldiers from Fort Ridgely would soon appear, believing that it would be better to remain behind the sheltering logs of the cabin than to risk an encounter with the redskins in the open. Others (and they were in the majority) favored flight. Those who most strongly favored departing argued that there was no certainty that relief would ever come; it was not known whether tlie couriers had succeeded in reaching Fort Ridgely, and if they had there was no assurance that their story would be believed or any help sent; they feared the Indians would creep up during the night and fire the cabin. To realize the utter demoralization tlie people must have been in to attempt flight, let us look at conditions and try to understand what such a decision meant.

The nearest settlement that could provide safety was Mankato, seventy-five miles away. The point next nearest that seemed to offer a refuge was Fort Dodge, Iowa, nearly a hundred miles away. The snow was so deep and traveling so difficult that it seemed impossible that a team could make anv headwav. Of the twenty or more people who comprised the party contemplating flight, only four were able-bodied men; the rest were women, children, babies and wounded men. Believing, as they did, that the Indians were still in the vicinitv and determined to wipe them out, not knowing how many savages they might have to encounter, handicapped with so many incapacitated, knowing that the route was well nigh impassible, it is hard to conceive by what process of reasoning these people decided to leave. But that is what was done. As many of the settlers had originally come from the vicinity of Fort Dodge, that was the point of refuge selected.

As the Indians had not killed the cattle at the Thomas place, and as the snow had settled somewhat during the preceding few days, it was decided to try traveling by team, although few thought there was much hope of getting through. John Bradshaw and Frank M. Thomas, the elder son of James B. Thomas, were the first to venture from the cabin. They went out to the barn, so lately occupied by the savages, hitched the oxen to a sled and drove up to the east door, which was the one facing the prairie.* The women, children and wounded men were hastilv loaded into the sled, the dead bodv of Willie Thomas being left where it had fallen, and at nine o'clock in the evening the refugees set out on the perilous journey. No baggage, no clothing except what was worn, no provisions were taken. The only thought was to get away from the scene of the disasters of the day.

Great hasta was made at the start to get out onto the prairie away from the timber, the fear being great that the savages would return and shoot them down before they could get out of gunshot from the timber's edge. Although the day had been fair and pleasant, there came up a thick fog about dark, which made it impossible to see more than a few feet away. Over most of the course it was necessarv for the men to beat a path before the oxen could make any headwav.

After having traveled in this manner for a couple of hours the fugitives became completely bewildered and knew not in which direction they were going. It was then decided to stop and wait for daylight. They found a knoll which was bare of snow, and there they unhitched the oxen and passed the rest of the night. There was no rest for this poor, cold,

"Naturally no one wished to be the first to venture outside the door, where little Willie's body lay cold in death, the sad reminder of the consequence of a former venture. But some one must be the first. So. with true heroic courage characteristic of the man, Mr. Markliam volunteered to go to the stable, where the murderous Sioux had so lately been and where they perhaps were secreted, and hitch the oxen to the sled and bring them to the door, while the others made hasty preparations for flight. So. alone in the darkness, he sallied forth, over the blood-stained snow, carrying his gun to fire as a signal should be find the enemy there, groped his way through the stable, silently brought out the patient oxen, put on the yoke, hitched them to the sled and drove up to the door."

sleepless and panic-stricken band of fugitives that night. When morning dawned thev Jound themselves to be about tliree miles. from their starting point and not much out of their proper course. The fog had disappeared and no trouble was now encountered in keeping a true course. They could see the different groves along the river, including the one at Granger^s, where thev wished to strike first.

The snow proved to be so deep that the oxen could scarcely pull the heavy load of those unable to walk and about noon the cattle became so exhausted that they could not proceed farther. It was then proposed that Mr. Palmer should go on to Granger's for help w^hile the rest of the party camped with the team. Mr. Palmer reached the Granger cabin in safety, stated the conditions to Mr. Granger and Mr. Hashman, and those gentlemen started back with their oxen to the assistance of the Springfield refugees.

The three men had not proceeded far on the back track when they saw some persons on the prairie approaching from the direction of Springfield. They were too far away to make out whether they were Indians or whites, but the men proceeded on their way. After a while they noticed that one was nearer than the rest of the party and that he was running for dear life, going in the direction of the Granger grove. Believing him to be an Indian and fearing that if he reached the Granger cabin he would massacre the women, who were left w^ithout male protection, ^fr. Palmer and Mr. Hashman staited out on a run to head him off. Mr. Palmer outran Mr. Hashman aiid succeeded in getting between the fleeing man and the grove. When he got within hailing distance the runner, who proved to be Dr. Strong, hallooed to Mr. Palmer, giving the friendly salutation of the Sioux language. The doctor had mistaken Mr. Palmer for an Indian and so had accosted him in, perhaps, the only Sioux word he knew. When he had first come in sight of the men he had taken them for Indians, and had pulled off his boots and thrown iliem away that he might run the faster.

Dr. Strong joined the other men of the party, who now anxiously awaited the coming of the people they saw in the distance. These proved to be the fugitives who had been left with the team. After Mr Palmer had departed they saw a party of people pursuing them, whom they, of course, took to be Indians. Life is a precious thing to most people and the sight of approaching Indians - as they supposed - caused them to make an almost superhuman effort to escape. Abandoning the oxen and sled, all set out on foot in a mad plunge through the drifts toward Granger's. Messrs. Carver and Thomas, the most severely wounded, found themselves able to walk; the men and women carried the children.

The fugitives were again united, their force having been added to by Dr. Strong, Mr. Granger and Mr. Hashman. But they did not consider themselves safe by any means. There now came into view the party of five or six persons who had so alarmed those left at the sled, but they were too far away to tell whether they were friends or foes. So the refugees held themselves in readiness for action should they prove to be Indians. Fear lends fleetness to the limbs and in a short time the party came up. They proved to be Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Nelson with her vear and a half old

Tjct us interrupt the story of the flight long enough to tell what had happened at the Wheeler cabin. The night after the massacre had been spent in apprehension and terror; in the morning the situation was not relieved. Dr. Strong, one of the two able-bodied men in the cabin, who had proved himself a hero in caring for the frozen men a month before, now proved himself a veritable coward. During the forenoon of the dav after the attack he began to worr}^ about his family, who had been at the Thomas cabin, and. tried to get someone to go down to try to ascertain their fate. Finally he declared he could stand the suspense no longer and that he intended to learn the fate af his family. He left the house with the avowed intention of going to the Tliomas cabin, but no sooner was lie out of the house than his valor departed and he struck out across the prairie, running for dear life, without a thought, apparently, for the safety of his family or anyone else except himself.

The desertion of Dr. Strong left the people of the Wheeler cabin in a deplorable condition. There was now left only J. B. Skinner to care for and protect two crippled men, three women and two small children. He was not equal to the occasion. There can be no question that the action of Mr. Skinner and the women there on that 27th day of March was cowardly. Perhaps their actions should be treated with lenity and a less harsh term than coward applied, for no one knows exactlv what he or she would do in a like circumstance; the fear of death in most of us is stronger than any other human emotion. The occasion called for heroic action, but there was no response.

Whether the desertion of Dr. Strong increased the fears of the remaining inmates by reason of lessening their number and making tHem more easy victims of the savages, or whether his ability to get away from the timber unharmed determined them also to make the attempt is not known, but it was decided to make a swift run for safety in an eflfort to get to the Iowa settlements. As the Indians had killed all the cattle on the place it was necessary to go afoot. Poor John Henderson, who was in bed with both feet oft from recent amputation, was abandoned to whatever fate might overtake him, even without preparation being made for his food. Mrs. Nelson said she could carry her child and did so. One of the party also carried the Shiegley child for some distance. Robert Smith, who only a short time before had one leg amputated, decided to accompany the others and stumped along on his one leg for a few hundred yards of the distance to Fort Dodge. His wound soon began to bleed and he was unable to go farther.

When Mr. Smith was obliged to give up, the party grew tired of carrying the Shiegley child and the two - a man in such condition that he ought to have been in bed, and a two year old child - were abandoned to their fate on the snowcovered prairie.- ' The reader may in imagination realize the feelings that surged through the breast of this .poor victim left to his fate by one who was supposed to be bound to him by ties stronger than the fear of death - the wife who, to save her own life, must abandon her husband to what appeared almost certain death. Mr. Smith and the little boy crawled to the Thomas xjabin in the hope of finding some one to care for them, but in this, of course, they were disappointed. They remained in the cabin until found by the soldiers from Fort Ridgely.^ After the abandonment the party, now consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Nelson and child and Mrs. Smith, proceeded on

*Mr. Holcombe. In Minnesota in Three Centuries, says: "Smith's wife wished to remain with her husband, but he bade her save herself, saying that she could do nothing that would bo of so much service to him as to hurry forward to the Iowa settlements and send him relief."

The newcomers told of tlieir adventures and of the abandonment of Mr. Smith and the Shiegley child on the prairie. Upon learning the particulars, Mr. Shiegley at once declared his intention to go back to take care of his boy, the love of his child overshadowing the fear of his own danger. The rest of the party tried to dissuade him, but to no avail, and after having been wished a hearty Godspeed, lie set out for the north at about the middle of the afternoon. So well satisfied were the fugitives that the Indians were still at Springfield that they expressed the belief thfit they would never again see Mr. Shiegley alive.

It is to be regretted that no reliance can be placed in the statements - of this man, for he might have left recorded much ot historical value instead of the improbably stories he did leave. He returned to the settlement and visited the Wheeler cabin, but did not find his boy or Mr. Smith, and came back to join the refugees. He spent the night with Mr. Henderson in the Wheeler cabin, and before he left the next day cut a piece of meat from one of the oxen slain by the redskins and carried the meat in to the wounded man that he might not starve. He stated that he visited the Thomas cabin in his search for the missing boy, but if he had he surely would have found him.*

After Mr. Shiegley left, the fugitives proceeded to the home of Mr. Granger to seek much needed rest after the terrible suflfering incident to the trip. Food was supplied and then the thirty people

*Mr. Shiegley also told of having: met an Indian in the settlement. He said that after having a talk with the Indian both agreed to turn their backs and walk away without turning around to look at one another. Mr. Shiegley said he broke the agreement by wheeling suddenly and shooting the Indian in the head, remarking that the aborigine "Jumped like a rabbit with his head cut off."

endeavored to get a nighf s sleep in the one small room the cabin boasted. Some were able to lie down, while others were obliged to secure their rest in whatever position the conditions afforded. The next day, the 28th, Mr. Markham and Mr. Palmer went back and brought in the oxen, which were found quietly feeding on the dead grass within a few rods of the sled.

The Springfield refugees remained at the Granger cabin that day and the next night, getting a much needed rest and awaiting tKe return of Mr. Shiegley. On Sunday morning, March 29, they set Qut again on the way to Fort Dodge. The snow had by this time melted sufficiently to leave many bare spots, so the sled was left and two yoke of oxen were hitched to Mr. Granger's lumber wagon. The wounded, women and small children were loaded into the wagon, and all, including George Granger and the Hashman family, set out on the supposable long journey, most of the party going afoot. With fatigue and suffering they traveled all day. The wounds of those shot by the Indians had not been dressed, and, inflammation having set in, every motion of the wagon caused excruciating pain. Of this day's trip Mr. Palmer has written:

The snow had settled so much that we did not have much difficulty on account of the drifts, but all the small ravines and sags were filled with slush two or three feet deep, which had to be waded by those who walked. Some two or three of the women and all of the men were compelled to walk, as the oxen were not able to haul all of the women even. It was heartrending to see the poor women plunge in and wade the cold slush, sometimes nearly to their waists; but when it is life or death we can make heroic efforts to save the former.

small, scrubby oak trees which were cut down for firewood, the branches being used for beds. The ground was covered with water from the melting snow and the accommodations were anything but comfortable. A fairly restful night was passed, however, and on the morning of the 30th the journey was resumed. That day was a repetition of the preceding one so far as discomforts were concerned. In addition, the party now began to feel the pangs of hunger, for they had had nothing to eat since leaving the Granger cabin, excepting a handful or two of sugar; all tKe vituals had been consumed while staying at the cabin.

About three o'clock in the afternoon the refugees sighted a party in the distance in the direction in which they were going, and again did the terror-stricken people believe that they were to be attacked by Indians. The guns were examined and preparations made for a fight. Six men of the party went ahead to investigate, leaving one man with the team. To their great joy they found the party to be the advance guard of an expedition recruited by the people of Fort Dodge and vicinity to come to the relief of the frontier settlers.^ The point of meeting was near the north line of Palo Alta county,

*The Sprln^eld refugees were, of course, Ignorant of the coming of this expedition; they did not even know that news of the trouble on the frontier had been carried to the Iowa settlements. On the 14th of March, when the Springfield settlers had gathered at Granger's tc go to the lakes, a Mr. Hashman,. father of the young man mentioned* in the text, became alarmed and set out on foot for Fort Dodge. There he told the story of the Spirit lake massacre as it had been related by Morris Markham, but he being a stranger and having his Information second hand, very little credit was given to the story by the people of Fort Dodge. The news of the massacre was confirmed in that Iowa town on the 22nd, when O. C Howe, R. U. Wheelock and B. F. Parmenter came in and reported what they had found at the lakes on the 15th. The people were still skeptical, but after these men had sworn to their statements they bestlred themselves.

The direful news created intense filling. Three companies of volunteers were quickly recruited in Fort Dodge, Webster City and Homer, and on the 25th, under command of Major William Williams, they set out for the frontier. They proceeded up the Des Moines river, and after terrible hardships came upon the Springfield refugees on the afternoon of the 30th.

Iowa. The advance guard was under the command of William Church, a Springfield settler and the husband of one of the refugees. The joy of the hungry, weary, bleeding fugitives on meeting the volunteers was indescribable. Not until then, from the time of attack, had they for a moment felt safe from their foes. They knew that had they been attacked on the route they would have fallen an easy prey.

The main body of volunteers, consisting of about 115 men, soon came up. The refugees accompanied them to their camp, four or five miles away, and for the first time since early in the morning of the day before had something to eat. Dr. BisseU, the surgeon with the volunteers, dressed the wounds of Mr. Thomas, Mr. Carver and Miss Swanger. As the injuries liad been received four days before and had gone that length of time without surgical attention, the wounds were in bad condition and were terribly inflamed. All remained in the camp of the soldiers that night. The next morning Major Williams made the necessary arrangements for the care of the wounded and the women and children. Accompanied by Messrs. Granger, Hashman, Strong and Skinner, they went to the **Irish colony,^^ a few miles below, and in course of time arrived safely in Fort Dodge and other Iowa towns."

Of the refugees, Messrs. Bradshaw, Markham, Shiegley and Palmer did not go to the Iowa towns, but joined tlie volunteers." Thev became meml)ers of a scouting party and scouted over quite a

They were about exhausted and the Indians on their trail pursuing them. Had not our scouts discovered them and reported, there can be no doubt they would have been murdered that night."

large tract of territory. Although they found fresh Indian signs, they were unable to run across any of the savages. The main body of the volunteers proceeded north to the jQ ranger cabin. There they learned that United States soldiers had arrived at Springfield, and they decided to return home, and after detailing a party to bury the dead at the lakes, they departed. Some of the former Springfield settlers who had joined the volunteers went up to the camp of the regulars and assisted in straightening . up affairs in that disordered settlement.

Jjet us now consider the part played by the United States soldiers from Fort Ridgely, whose coming had been so anxiously awaited by the people of Springfield, and whose earlier arrival would have saved seven lives and prevented the hardships endured by the refugees.

When Joseph Chiffin and Henry Trets arrived at the lower agency with the petition on the 18th of March, Agent Charles E. Flandreau was fully satisfied of the truth of the report that murders had been committed* and took prompt action. He at once drove to Fort Ridgely, fourteen miles distant, and conferred with Colonel E. B. Alexander, of ihe Tenth infantr}% then commanding the post, which contained five or six companies of that regiment. With commendable promptness Colonel Alexander ordered D company, commanded by Captain Bernard E. Bee, with Lieutenant Alexander Murry second in command, to be ready to start for the scenes of the trouble at once for the purposes of protecting the settlers and to punish the Indians.

Captain Bee received his orders at nine o'clock on the morning of March 19, and within three and one-half hours he was on his way with forty-eight men, transported in sleighs drawn by mules. It was found impossible to march the troops in a direct line to the scene of the outbreak on account of the difficulty in traveling through the deep snow with the army wagon and mules. The route traversed was down the Minnesota by way of New Ulm to Mankato, and thence up the Blue Earth and Watonwan to Isaac Slocum^s cabin, a few miles southwest of the present town of Madelia. It was hoped to find a trail from that place to the exposed settlements, but for the last forty or fifty miles of the journey it was necessary for the soldiers to break a road for the mulets.

Agent Flandreau and his interpreter, Philander Prescott, accompanied the troops as far as Slocum^s; then, believing it useless to proceed farther, they turned back. At Little Rock a half-breed guide named Joseph La Framboise, who was well acquainted with the country, was secured, but it was almost impossible for him to follow a road or trail covered with four feet of snow.

So great were the difficulties of travel that Agent Flandreau advised Captain Bee to turn back, also, stating that he would justify such action before his commanding officer. Captain Bee was a plucky officer, however, and replied: "My orders are to go to Spirit lake and to do what I can; it is not for me to interpret orders, except to obey them. I shall go on until it become physically impossible to proceed farther."® So the plucky captain continued on his way. At Slocum's the command was joined by Nathaniel Frost, William Nelson and Charles Wood.

The little command waded through snow drifts up to their waists, often cutting through them with spade and shovel; extricated mules and sleighs from sloughs and drifts; dragged sleighs up steep hills and over bare spots; marched in close rank through the deep snow to break a road for the teams; were up from early morning until late at night; camped, ate and slept in the snow. It was after such a trip as this, on the evening of March 28, nine days from the time he had started from Fort Eidgely and two days after the butchery at Springfield, that Captain Bee at the head of his command arrived at the trading post of Gaboo and the little Indian village there.

Gaboo and his Indians professed friendship for the whites,^*^ and the half-breed was employed as guide. ^^ He gave the information that Inkpaduta and his Indians had cleaned out the Springfield settlement and had retired to their camp on Heron lake. Learning this, Captain Bee decided to pursue the Indians at once, although his men were nearly exhausted from the long and wearisome journey. With the sounding of retreat on the evening of the arrival Captain Bee called for twenty volunteers to start early the next morning for the Indian camp, and the whole company promptly stepped forward.

So, early on the morning of Sunday, March 29, the whole force of soldiers, accompanied by the two half-breed guides, set out for Heron lake. The teamsters accompanied the soldiers, leading the thirteen mules of the company for use in case the Indians attempted flight. Guided by Gaboo, they went straight across the country to the site of the recent Indian camp, which they surrounded. Said Captain Bee in his report: "The camp was there with all its traces of plunder and rapine - ^books, scissors, articles of female

"It has been allegred that the soldiers found goods at Gaboo's camp that had come from the settlers at Springfield. Of the charge that Gaboo's Indian wife was seen wearing a shawl belonging to Mrs. Church. Captain Bee said it "only existed in the imagination of one or two settlers." He stated that all the Indian squaws were robed in Indian blankets.

**'*We procured two halt-breod guides, Joe Coursalle, better known as Joe Gaboo, and Joe LaFramboise, both of whom I knew well and felt no hesitancy in trusting on such a mission." - Charles E. Flandreau at Spirit Lake monument unveiling in 1895.

apparel, furs and traps/^ The marks of seven tepees were found. Although this camp had been deserted at three o^clock that same morning (the soldiers reached the place in the afternoon) the halfbreed guides were of the opinion that the camp was two days old.

From this circumstance some have formed the opinion that Gaboo did not want the soldiers to continue the pursuit of the Indians and that he deceived the officer in command. Captain Bee did not think. so at any rate, for in a communication to the Pioneer and Democrat of St. Paul of May 14, 1857, he said: "Gaboo was in front of my men, his double-barreled gun in his hand; his whole demeanor convinced me that he had come out to fight ; his life, he told me, had .been threatened bv the Indians.^^

The guides pointed out another grove four miles to the northwest, where they said the Indians might be. Lieutenant Murry took ten men and Gaboo and searched the grove, but found no Indians. Upon receiving this report from the lieutenant, Captain Bee, believing that the Indians were two days' march away and knowing that his men were in no condition to make, a long campaign, decided that under the circumstances he would give up the pursuit. This he did and the command returned to the Des Moines river.* ^

Now, a«5 a matter of fact, the soldiers were within a very short distance of the Indians on this trip and created great alarm among the savages. To get a thorough understanding of the events that succeeded the massacre, let us keep the company of the Indians for a while.

"Major William Williams, of the Iowa volunteers, with his usual careless handling of the truth, said of this campaign of the regular soldiers: near Heron lake, loaded down with plunder. Mrs. Sharp says the Indians returned after an absence of two days. Camp was then moved from a small lake, believed to be Boot lake, to the creek near the south end of Heron lake.^' The Indians brought with thera as a result of the raid twelve horses, heavily loaded with dr}' good^, groceries, powder, lead, bed quilts, wearing apparel, provisions, etc. The white captives were informed that the Indians had been repulsed, but were given no particulars of the- iight, except the statement that only one white woman had been killed.

"On Friday, in the afternoon, the troops from Fort Rid^rely arrived, all well mounted on mules. Those troops lay at Springfield all day Saturday and assisted in burying: the dead. Their officers counseled with the half-breed, Gaboo, who was the only one unharmed, and Itnown to be acting: with, and identifted with, the Indians, and whose squaw (he is married to a squaw) was at the time wearing: the shawl of Mrs. Church, with other articles taken from the citizens. Said officers lay over from Friday evening till Sunday morning: without pursuing or making any effort to overtake the Indians, who, they must have known, had taken off four white women as prisoners.

"On Sunday morning he, the commanding officer, set out on their trail, and followed them half the day, finding their campflres, overtaking three or four straggling squaws, let them go, and finding all sorts of goods thrown and strewn along their trail to lighten their load and expedite their flight. When he could not have been over half a day's march from them he stopped and returned the same evening (Sunday) to Springfield. When he ordered the men to return, they expressed a wish to follow on. and said the^ would put up with half rations if he would allow it. His reply was that he had no orders to follow them.

"On Monday he set out for Spirit lake to bury the dead. etc. He went to the first house, that of Mr. Marble, found one dead body, buried it and returned to Springfield.

"It is certain such troops, or rather, such officers will afford no protection to our troubled frontier settlers. Think of his conduct! His men, all well mounted, turning back when he was not a half day's march off them; they loaded down with plunder and horses and mules, and carrying off with them four respectable women as prisoners."

"Heretofore it has been generally believed that the Indian camp was on Heron lake when the attack on Springfield was made, but the camp at that time was doubtless on what is now known as Boot lake. The camp was moved to Heron lake immediately after the return from Spring:field. Early settlers of Jackson <^ounty reported finding large quantities of boots and other goods from the Woods store on the bank of this lake; hence the name.

camped at a little lake the Indiana went to Springfield and massacred the people and robbed the place. I do not know the name of the lake, but I remember it was surrounded with large oak trees, in which there were a number of eagles* nests. I do not know whether you recollect their arrival in camp that evening or not, but I remember it well, and so long as reason retains her throne I shall never forget it. It was just about sundown, and I had stepped out of the tent, when through the opening of the oaks my eyes caught the sight of a long line of dusky objects coming across the prairie. A second glance and I recognized the Indians of our camp. They came single file to the number of some twelve or thirteen. Each one led a horse, which with their drag-poles, on which they carry their loads, made a long line of men and horses. The horses were loaded with all kinds of goods and plunder. It was evident a dry goods store had been robbed. For, if you remember, each Indian wore a full suit of new, dark clothes, and with the r.ew dark cape drawn closely down over their brows they presented a singular and really gloomy appearance. Many of them even wore new gloves. They brought blankets, groceries of all kinds, and whole bolts of prints. I with my own hands made up dozens of garments of the calico; dresses for their papooses and shirts for the. men, as well as dresses for the squaws. They had also, many of them, a young animal strapped to their horses. I soon perceived that they were young calves. You doubtless remember they feasted about this time on veal eookeil with che hair and hide on.

Among this plunder were several bolts of calico and red llannel. Of these, especially the flannel, they were exceedingly proud, decorating themselves with it in fantastic fashion. Red leggings, red shirts, red blankets, and red in every conceivable way, was the style there as long as it lasted. Could anything have amused me in those sad days, it would have been to see their grotesque attempts to wear the habiliments of the whites; especially the attempts of the squaws to wear the tight-fittinjsr garments of the white women. They would put in one arm, and then reach back to try to get in the other; but, even if they succeeded in getting both arms into the sleeves at the same time, they were too broad shouldered and brawny to get the waist into position or .fasten it; so after struggling awhile they would give it up in disgust. They were altogether too much the shape of a barrel to wear the dress of white women. So they cut oiT and threw

"Letter from Mrs. M. A. Silbaugh (formerly Mrs. Marble) to Mrs. Sharp, dated February 25. 1885, and published in Mrs. Sharp's History of the Spirit Lake Massacre.

away the waists and made the skirts into loose-fitting sacks after the squaw fashion. All this amused them greatly; they would laugh and chatter like a lot of monkeys.

In the mi(kt of the celebration of the sacking of Woods' store and the murders at Springfield came an alarm that the soldiers were coming. The wildest excitement prevailed. The squaws at once extinguished the fires by pouring on water, that the smoke might not be seen and that the ash heaps would not have a fresh appearance if the soldiers came upon them. Tl:c tents were torn down, the goods hastily packed, and all proceeded down the creek upon which they were camped.

While the description of the camp as remembered by Abbie Gardner, the captive, is rather indefinite, it is believed to have been on the little creek which flows into the extreme south end of Heron lake, just northwest of the present village of Lakefield. She says the camp was on low ground and by a small stream of water, and that there was a high rolling prairie close by, and this corresponds with the high land upon which Lakefield is built. Some rods from the camp, so Miss Gardner said, was a large tree, to which an Indian crept. From the branches of this tree the warrior watched the movements of the soldiers and reported to his comrades. This would seem to further establish the location, for it is highly probable that the tree mentioned is the famous "Lone Tree," still standing a short distance from Lakefield and visible for many miles.

When the alarm was given the savages prepared themselves for attack. First they discharged their guns into the earth to empty them of the loads of fine shot, firing into the earth deadening the sound ; then they reloaded with bullets. The savages hastened down the creek, "skulking like partridges among the willows," as the cnptive-historian expresses it. One warrior was detailed to gtaud guard over

"The excitement manifested by the Indians for a little while was intense. . . After an hour and a half of this exciting suspense, in which the squaws were skulking in the willows, the sentry watching from the tree-top, the warriors lurking among the openings of the willows on the banks of the stream, and we cowering beneath the muzzles of the loaded rifles - a sudden change came to us. The soldiers, it seems, just here decided to turn back."

Such was the situation of the Indians that the soldiers, had they followed the trail, would not have discovered the presence of the enemy until in their midst - and then they would have discovered it with a volley. The captives would surely have been murdered. But events did not so shape themselves. The half-breed guides were either deceived themselves or they deceived the officers, and the soldiers turned back. After the turning back of the troops, the Indians did not hesitate a moment, but set* out in all haste for the west.

On the return from the pursuit of the Indians, Captain Bee and his command went down the river to Springfield, and on Monday, March 30, the dead bodies of the victims were buried. It was found that all the goods had been carried away from the store. William Wood was buried near where he was found, on the west bank of the river, just above the old ford, the exact spot being now unknown. The soldiers failed to find the body of George Wood, which was concealed in the brush pile, but it was subsequently found and buried near the spot where he was killed. The Stewart family and Willie Thomas were buried near the Stewart cabin. In his report Captain Bee said : "It was one of the saddest moments of my life when I saw the Stewart family dead by their cold hearthstone, but then and there my conscience told me that they had met their fate by no fault of mine/' At the Wheeler cabin, Mr. Henderson was found alive, not having been molested by the Indians. Mr. Smith and the Shiegley boy were found at the Thomas cabin.

While Captain Bee and his forces were still at Heron lake he detailed lieutenant Murry and eight men to go to Spirit lake to bury the dead. The party went to the Marble grove, buried the body of Mr. Marble, and then returned to Springfield. The rapid melting of the snow and the consequent rapid rise of the streams made progress difficult and he did not go to the Okoboji lakes. The dead there were afterward buried bv the Iowa volunteers, on April 3.

AMiile in Springfield Captain Bee expressed much feeling over the massacre of the settlers. He said he was sorrv Major Williams had not continued liis march over the state line and taken summary vengeance on the Indians of Gaboo's camp, who professed such great friendship for the whites, remarking that tlie major was not tied up with orders as he was.'*^ The commander of the regular soldiers expressed the hope that the fugitive families would return, and went fo far as to send a messenger after them with the information that the Indians were out of the country and that a guard of soldiers would be left at Springfield for their protection; that all might now return in safety.^*

""On the strenjfth of these assurances some returned and reported that if the gruard was to be permanent aU would return. I could give them no information on that head, but stated that I would take the responsibility of leaving an officer, two non-commissioned officers and twenty -six privates, but that further action must come from my military superiors." - Report of Captain Bernard B. Bee.

and .-eventeen men to remain in the settlement for the protection of any who wished to remain and those who might come in. Mr. Jareb Palmer, who was in the camp when the order was read, says:. '*I remember that the order stated that there should not be any unnecessary bugling, and I heard him afterward remark while in conversation with the lieutenant that the less bugling they had the better, all of which went to show that he didn't think the danger was over.'' The next morning after the detail was announced Captain Bee and the main part of his command departed for Fort Ridgely, where he arrived April 8.^^

Lieutenant Murry^^ and his seventeen men pitched their camp just south of the Wheeler cabin and not far from the Carver cabin. This force remained at Springfield until about April 20. Then it was relieved by Lieutenant John McNab with a force of twenty men, who remained until fall.

The subsequent history of Inkpaduta and his band can be told in a few words. Although all the damage had been done l)v a dozen or. fifteen warriors of the outlaw band, it was feared the whole Sioux nation was up in arms. There was great

"Captain Bernard E. Bee was a South Carolinian and was about forty years of age in 1857. He was a West Point graduate and a brave and determined officer. Soon after the expedition to Springfield his regiment went west to help suppress the Mormon uprising and he was In the west until the begrinning of the civil war. When South Carolina seceded from the union Cautain Bee resigned from the army and was made a brigadier general in the confederate army. He was killed In the first battle of Bull Run while endeavoring to hold his brigade in line. But before he was killed he did much to turn the tide of battle and bring about a confederate victory.

During the hottest part of the battle, while his men and those of several other commands were fleeing in disorder, noting how firmly stood the brigade of General Thomas J. Jack- .son. General Bee shouted to his men: "For God's sake.- stand, men; stand like Jackson's brigade on vour right; there they stand like a stone wall." General Beauregard and other officers, overhearing the remark, remembered it. rnd from this came the famous soubriquet of "Stonewall Jackson."

"Lieutenant Murry was a Pennsylvanlan by birth. He had attended West Point, but failed to graduate, and was appointed to the army from civil life. He remained true to the northern cause.

Immediately after the soldiers under Captain Bee had given up the pursuit, the Indians made all haste to get out of the country. They traveled westward into Dakota, taking the women captives with them. Of the four unfortunate women, Mrs. Thatcher and Mrs. Noble were cruelly murdered, Mrs. Marble and Miss Gardner were ransomed after considerable delay.

Inkpaduta and his band of murderers were never properly punished, owing to a combination of circumstances. The chief himself became totally blind within a few years and did not participate in more butcheries. He and two surviving sons fled with Sitting Bull to Canada, finally locating at the Canadian red pipestone quarry, in southwestern Manitoba, Here in 1894 Dr. Charles Eastman, a wellknown Indian authority, found the descendants of Inkpaduta, who gave him much interesting iniformation. The bloody-minded old savage himself had died miserably some years before.^* Two of Inkpaduta's sons, Roaring Cloud and Fire Cloud, were killed during the summer of 1857. Two other members of the band were killed by Little Crow's Indians. Probably the rest took part in the great Sioux outbreak of 1862.