USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 36
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 36
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
THE INDIANS FLEE
After the scouts for the fleeing Indians had discovered the pursuing soldiers and the main body had cleverly prepared an ambush for the detachment, the soldiers decided to return and give up the pursuit as a hopeless task. When it became apparent that the troops had returned toward Springfield, the Indians made off with increased speed, traveling steadily all day and all night. They went by way of Pipestone Quarry, in Pipestone County, Minnesota, where they stopped for a time and made pipes for themselves. Mrs. Sharp writes: "After six weeks of incessant marching over the trackless prairie and through the deep snow, across creeks, sloughs, rivers and lakes, we reached the Big Sioux at or about the point where now stands the town of Flandreau. Most of the journey had been performed in cold and inclement weather, but now spring seemed to have come. The vast amount of snow which covered the ground that memorable winter had nearly gone by reason of the rapid thawing during the last few weeks, causing the river to rise beyond all ordinary bounds and assume majestic proportions."
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MURDER OF MRS. THATCHER
Here it was, while crossing one of the driftwood bridges across the stream, that Mrs. Thatcher was cruelly murdered by her captors. For many days Mrs. Thatcher had been too ill and suffered too much to carry a pack, which the captives were required to do. Upon this day she had recovered somewhat and was again forced to assume her part of the work. Mrs. Sharp thus describes the murder :
"As we were about to follow the Indians across one of the uncertain bridges, where a single misstep might plunge us into the deep waters, an Indian, not more than sixteen years old, the same who snatched the box of caps from my father, and who had always manifested a great degree of hatred and contempt for the whites, approached us, and taking the pack from Mrs. Thatcher's shoulders and placing it on his own, ordered us for- ward. This seeming kindness aroused our suspicions, as no assistance had ever been offered to any of us, under any circumstances whatever. Mrs. Thatcher, being confident that her time had come to die, hastily bade me good-bye, and said, 'If you are so fortunate as to escape, tell my dear husband and parents that I desired to live and escape for their sakes.' When we reached the center of the swollen stream, as we anticipated, this insolent young savage pushed Mrs. Thatcher from the bridge into the ice cold water, but by what seemed supernatural strength she breasted the dreadful torrent, and making a last struggle for life reached the shore which had just been left, and was clinging to a root of a tree at the bank. She was here met by some of the other Indians, who were just coming upon the scene. They commenced throwing clubs at her, and with long poles shoved her back into the angry stream. As if nerved by fear, or dread of such a death, she made another desperate effect for life, and doubtless would have gained the opposite shore, but here again she was met by her merciless tormentors and was beaten off as before. She was then carried down by the furious, boiling current of the Sioux, while the Indians on either side of the stream were running along the banks, whooping and yelling, and throwing sticks and stones at her, until she reached another bridge. Here she was finally shot by one of the Indians in another division of the band, who was crossing with the other two captives some distance below."
MRS. MARBLE'S RELEASE
After crossing the Big Sioux the Indians continued on into Dakota. Mrs. Sharp remarked in her story of the journey that when they met other bands of Indians they seemed to treat Inkpadutah's men with great friend- 1
liness, thus refuting in a way the statement that the latter were regarded
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as outlaws by other bands. On May 6th, when the Indians were encamped about thirty miles west of the Big Sioux two young Indians from the Yel- low Medicine Agency visited the camp and became inerested in the cap- tives. They selected Mrs. Marble and took her with them on their return to the agency. A ransom was demanded and afterward Riggs and William- son and Major Flandrau raised $1,000 which was paid to the Indians for Mrs. Marble. Major Flandrau's report in part follows: "I was engaged in devising plans for the rescue of the captives and the punishment of the Indians in connection with Colonel Alexander of the Tenth Infantry, but had found it very difficult to settle upon any course which would not endanger the safety of the prisoners. We knew that any hostile demon- stration would be sure to result in the destruction of the women, and were without means to fit out an expedition for their ransom. While we were deliberating on the best course to pursue, an accident opened the way to success. A party of my Indians were hunting on the Big Sioux River, and having learned that Inkpadutah's band was at Lake Chauptayatonka, about thirty miles west of the river, and also knowing of the fact that they held some white women prisoners, two young men (brothers) visited the camp and after much talk they succeeded in purchasing Mrs. Marble. They paid for her all they possessed and brought her into the agency and deliv- ered her into the hands of the missionaries stationed at that point. She was at once turned over to me with a written statement from the two Indians who had brought her, which was prepared for them at their request by Mr. Riggs, who spoke their language fluently. I will allow them to tell their own story. It was as follows: 'Hon. C. E. Flandrau: Father. In our spring hunt, when encamped at the north end of Big Wood on the Sioux, we learned from some Indians who came to us, that we were not far from Red End's camp. Of our own accord, and contrary to the advice of all about us, we concluded to visited them, thinking that possibly we might be able to obtain one or more of the white women held by them as prisoners. We found them encamped at Chauptayatonka Lake, about thirty miles west of our own camp. We were met at some distance from their lodges by four men armed with revolvers, who demanded of us our busi- ness. After satisfying them that we were not spies and had no evil inten- tions in regard to them we were taken into Inkpadutah's lodge. The night was spent in reciting their massacre, etc. It was not until the next morn- ing that we ventured to ask for one of the women. Much time was spent in talking and it was not until the middle of the afternoon that we obtained their consent to our proposition. We paid for her all we had. We brought her to our mother's tent, clothed her as we were able, and fed her bounti- fully on the best we had-duck and corn. We brought her to Lac qui Parle, and now, father, after having her with us fifteen days, we place ·her in your hands. It was perilous business, for which we think we should
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be liberally rewarded. We claim for our services $500 each.' This com- munication was signed by the Indians and witnessed by the missionary, Mr. Riggs. . By the action of these Indians we not only got one of the captives but we learned for the first time definitely the where- abouts of the marauders and the assurance that the other women were still alive as these Indians had seen them in Red End's camp."
THE DEATH OF MRS. NOBLE
About a month after the release of Mrs. Marble Inkpadutah's band met a small number of Yanktons while roving over the prairie country. The leader of the Yanktons succeeded in buying from the Sioux both cap- tives, Mrs. Noble and Abbie Gardner. However, he did not immediately leave with his purchase, but remained with the Sioux in their meander- ing travels. This delay resulted in the death of Mrs. Noble, the details of which are better described by Mrs. Sharp, who witnessed the scene. "One evening, a few days after we were sold, just as we supposed we were settled for the night, and as Mrs. Noble and I were about to lie down to rest, a son of Inkpadutah, Roaring Cloud, came into the tent of the Yank- ton and ordered Mrs. Noble out. She shook her head and refused to go. I told her that she had better as I feared he would kill her if she did not. But still she refused. Mrs. Noble was the only one of us who ever dared refuse obedience to our masters. Frequently before she had refused obedience, but in the end was always compelled to submit. No sooner did she positively refuse to comply with Roaring Cloud's demand, than, seizing her by the arm with one hand, and a great stick of wood she had a little while before brought in for fuel in the other, he dragged her from the tent. When I saw this I well knew what would follow. I could only listen in silence to the cruel blows and groans, as the sounds came into the tent; expecting he would return to serve me in the same manner. He struck her three blows, such as only an Indian can deal, when, concluding he had finished her, he came into the tent, washed his bloody hands, had a few high words with the Yankton, and lay down to sleep. The piteous groans from my murdered companion continued for half an hour or so-deep, sorrowful and terrible; then all was silent.
"The following morning the warriors gathered around the already mangled corpse and amused themselves by making it a target to shoot at. To this show of barbarism I was brought out and compelled to stand a silent witness. Faint and sick at heart, I at length turned away from the dreadful sight without their orders to do so, and started off on the day's march expecting they would riddle me with their bullets, but why should I escape more than others? But for some unaccountable reason I was spared. After going a short distance I looked back and they were still
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around her, using their knives cutting off their hair and mutilating her body. . . At last the bloody camp was deserted and the mangled body left lying on the ground unburried. Her hair, in two heavy braids, just as she had arranged it, was tied to the end of a stick, perhaps three feet long, and during the day as I wearily and sadly toiled on, one of the young Indians walked by my side and repeatedly slashed me in the face with it, thus adding insult to injury. · If Mrs. Noble could only have escaped the vengeance of Roaring Cloud a few days longer she doubt- less would have been set at liberty and restored to civilized society and the companionship of her sister and brothers. .
. Could she only have known the efforts being made for her rescue and how near they already were to success, she would have had courage to endure insults a little longer and hope to bid her look forward. At the very moment when she was dragged from her tent and brutally murdered, rescuers under the direction of the United States Commissioner fully prepared for her ran- som were pressing forward with all the dispatch possible."
PREPARATIONS FOR RESCUE.
After Mrs. Marble's rescue and full knowledge of the fate of the captives had been obtained, steps were taken to fit out an expedition for the purpose of rescue. Major Flandrau was the leader in this and he describes his work thusly: "The question of outfit then presented itself and I ran my credit with the traders for the following articles at the prices stated: (Three scouts had been selected for the work of rescue.)
Wagon
$110.00
Four horses
600.00
12 3-point blankets ; 4 blue, 8 white.
56.00
32 yds. squaw cloth
44.00
371/2 yds. calico
5.37
20 lbs. tobacco
10.00
1. sack of shot
4.00
15 lbs. powder
25.00
Corn
4.00
Flour
10.00
Coffee
1.50
Sugar
1.50
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"With this outfit, and instruction to give as much of it as was neces- sary for the women, my expedition started on the 23d day of May from Yellow Medicine. I at once left for Fort Ridgley to consult Colonel Alex- ander as to the plan of operation for an attack upon the camp of Inkpa- dutah the instant we could get word as to the safety of the white women.
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The colonel entered into the spirit of the matter with zeal. He had four or five companies at the fort and proposed to put them into the field, so as to approach Skunk Lake, where Inkpadutah had his camp, from several different directions and insure his destruction. If an event which was wholly unforseen had not occurred, the well laid plan of Colonel Alexander would undoubtedly have succeeded. But unfortunately for the cause of jus- tice, about the time we began to expect information from my expedition, which was to be the signal for moving on the enemy, an order arrived at the fort commanding the colonel, with all his available force, to start imme- diately and join the expedition against the Mormons, which was then mov- ing to Utah, under the command of Gen. Sidney Johnston. So peremptory was the command that the steamboat that brought the order carried off the entire garrison of the fort and put an end to all hopes of our being able to punish the enemy."
ABBIE GARDNER'S RELEASE
Several days after the murder of Mrs. Noble the Indians arrived at the James River in South Dakota, at a point where is now located the town of Old Ashton, Spink County. There was an immense camp of Yanktons across the river at this point, a tribe described as being very primeval, still using bows and arrows and wearing garments made only from animal skins. The white captive was a source of much wonderment to them.
After a few days here there arrived in camp the three scouts, who were also Indians and who had been sent by Major Flandrau. These scouts entered into negotiations with the Yanktons and after several days in bargaining, purchased Miss Gardner from her captives. Mrs. Sharp wrote that the price paid for her was: two horses, twelve blankets, two kegs of powder, twenty pounds of tobacco, thirty- two yards of squaw cloth, thirty-seven and a half yards of calico, and ribbon and other small articles which had been supplied by Major Flandrau. After the sale was completed the scouts took Miss Gardner across the river to a point where a horse and wagon had been con- cealed. Mrs. Sharp wrote of the rescue: "Almost the first move was to cross the James River. I was put into a frail little boat made of buffalo skin stripped of hair and dressed so as to be impervious to water. The boat was not more than five feet long by four wide and incapable of carrying more than one person. When I found that I was the only occupant I concluded that the story of the Indian who told me I was to be drowned was after all a true one. . I was, however, happily disappointed to see my new purchasers divest themselves of their fine clothes and swim across, holding the end of a cable made of buffalo hide which had previously been fastened to the boat. With this they drew
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the boat with me in it to the eastern shore. Thus, though I knew it not, I was being drawn toward home and friends, and the river was put between me and my cruel foes. Hiding the team and wagon was not only a piece of sharp practice, but a wise stroke of policy, and showed diplomacy. . The names of the persons composing this rescue party should be put on record and held in remembrance not only for their mission, but for other humane deeds done by them. They were Mazaintemani, now familiarly known among the whites as John Other Day; Hotonhowashta, or Beautiful Voice; and Chetanmaza, or Iron · Hawk.
"The Yankton chief having been placated and I safely towed across the river the team was brought out. The Yanktons filled the wagon with dried buffalo meat and buffalo robes. I was installed driver and the five Indians (three Yellow Medicine and two Yanktons) leading the way in single file we took up our march. After seven days of incessant traveling we came into a region thickly peopled with Indians."
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Not until arriving at the home of a half-breed two days later did Miss Gardner learn her destination and that she had been purchased by friendly Indians. "I also learned from this half-breed that Mrs. Marble had been there about a month before and had gone on to St. Paul. . After a day and a half spent at the half-breed's trading post in which time I had tried to make myself as presentable as possible, we proceeded to the Yellow Medicine Agency and then to the mission station of Dr. Thomas Williamson."
The three Indians who went to the rescue of Miss Gardner were well known at the Yellow Medicine Agency. John Other Day became promi- nent as a spy and scout in the Sioux Indian wars of later years. Chetan- maza visited Mrs. Sharp at the dedication of the momument in 1895.
Having arrived at the agency Miss Gardner was presented with a war-cap by the Indians, in honor of her bravery, a quality which the Indians said alone saved her from death by Inkpadutah's followers. The cap gave her the protection of all the Dacotah tribes.
From the agency the party went down the river to Fort Ridgley, then to Traverse, the head of navigation on the Minnesota River, and then by steamer to St. Paul. There numerous festivities were held in cele- bration of the return of the captive, including an audience with the governor. Each of the three Indians received $400 in addition to the amount paid the Yanktons.
GOVERNMENT LACK OF SYMPATHY
It is a well known fact that had the United States government assumed an aggressive attitude and vigorously attacked the savages dur-
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ing the summer, the guilty ones could have been wiped out and the debt of the white man paid. It was known, too, that the camp of the band was located at Skunk Lake, in Dakota. But, despite the urgings and pleadings of the settlers, the appeals from the state government, noth- ing was done by the war department. The men at Washington seemed completely indifferent to the situation in this part of the country. About the only thing that was done was the suggestion that all annuities to the Indians be withheld until the outlaws were surrendered, an act which very nearly created another uprising. Some authorities have placed this as one of the sources of the Minnesota uprising in 1862.
ATTEMPTS TO CAPTURE INKPADUTAH
In July the information came to the agency that a part of Inkpa- dutah's band was encamped on the Yellow Medicine, and immediately Major Flandrau decided, with the commander of the fort, to send a force of men after them. Lieutenant Murray, with a score or so of regular troops and about as many volunteers, and John Other Day as scout, left Fort Ridgley at nightfall for the camp. The Indian scout returned to them when they were within a few miles of their destination and reported that the Indians were just ahead. At daylight they reached the river, the Indian camp in full view on the other side. When the soldiers approached one brave dashed from one of the teepees, dragging a squaw with him, and started for the river. John Other Day quickly identified him as Roaring Cloud, the son of Inkpadutah. The soldiers fired upon him until he reached cover on the bank. From his hiding place the Indian returned the fire, but in turn was answered by a volley of lead. Soon the murderer of Mrs. Noble was filled with bullets and one of the soldiers polished off the job with his bayonet. However, the other Indians escaped. The squaw was taken prisoner and taken to the agency. En route the other Indians resented the fact that one of their number was a prisoner in the hands of the whites and for a time serious trouble threatened. The soldiers reached the agency safely and prepared for an attack. None was forthcoming, though, and a few days later additional troops arrived for the payment of annuities. The squaw was eventually released and the Indians appeased.
One more attempt to capture the noted Inkpadutah was made when the government informed the Indians that until they could deliver Ink- padutah and his band to the authorities their annuities would be with- held. This did not please the Indians and they grew very indignant. A small party was organized under the leadership of Little Crow, and a camaign started against the outlaws. After a fortnight the Indian expedition returned, claiming that they had killed three of Inkpadutah's
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band and captured a squaw and papoose. This, they said, was all they could accomplish. The government at first refused to accept this as final and again demanded Inkpadutah and his whole band before annui- ties were paid. The situation rapidly became ominous. Trouble with the entire Sioux Nation was eminent. The settlers were in favor of pay- ing the annuities and closing the incident, and finally the government concurred in this opinion and ordered the annuities paid. This ended the government's effort to capture Inkpadutah.
LAST HEARD OF INKPADUTAH AND SONS
Inkpadutah, according to Gue's History of Iowa, was last heard of among the Sioux who fled to the far West, pursued by Sibley's Army, in 1863. Of the four sons, Roaring Cloud's fate has been described. The remaining three were trouble makers for years along the border. They played a prominent part in the outbreak of 1862, and in the fights on the plains afterwards. They are known to have been engaged in the Custer Massacre on the Little Big Horn in 1876. Joseph Henry Taylor, in "Twenty Years on the Trap Line," writes: "Striking the valley of the Little Sioux at least once a year on a hostile raid seemed to be a fanatical observance of Inkpadutah's band that they could not abandon. Whether fishing for pickerel around the shores of Lake Winnipeg, or hunting antelope on the plains of the upper James River, or buffalo in the Judith Basin or along the Musselshell River, time and opportunity were found to start out hundreds of miles on a dreary foot journey to count a 'coup' on their aggressive conquerers. The battle on the Little Big Horn is still rated the most important engagement between the whites and Indians since that day on the banks of the turgid Tippecanoe, when the sycamore forest hid the broken columns of Tecumseh and the Prophet from Harrison's victorious army. Various writers have ascribed Custer's death as the culminating episode in this latter day fight and to heighten the color of the picture have laid his death to the personal prowess of Rain in the Face or on the field altar of Chief Priest Sitting Bull. It has long since been proven that Rain in the Face was not on the field of battle that day, but was miles away in charge of the pony herd. About Sitting Bull's hand in the affair, he has expressed himself again and again in saying about these words to the charge, 'They tell you I murdered Custer. It is a lie. I am not a war chief. I was not in the battle that day. His eyes were blinded that he could not see. He was a fool and rode to his death. He made the fight, not I. Who- ever tells you I killed Custer is a liar.' Any intelligent Yankton, Santee, . Uncpapa, Blackfoot or other Sioux, who participated in the fight against Custer's battalions on that 25th day of June, 1876, will tell you it was
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difficult to tell just who killed Custer. They believed he was the last to fall in the group where he was found. That the last leaden messen- gers of swift death hurled amongst this same group of falling and dying soldiers were belched forth from Winchesters held in the hands of Ink- padutah's sons."
THE MONUMENT
The Twenty-fifth General Assembly of the State of Iowa made it possible that the massacre of 1857 should be perpetuated by the erec- tion of a monument. The act was entitled "An act to provide for the proper interment of the remains of pioneers on Okoboji and Spirit Lakes, massacred by Sioux Indians in 1857, and for the erection of a commemo- rative monument." C. C. Carpenter, John F. Duncombe, R. A. Smith, Mrs. Abbie Gardner Sharp and Charles Aldrich were appointed a com- mission. The monument was completed in March, 1895, and accepted by the commission. The shaft is fifty-five feet in height, composed of Minnesota granite, with alternate sections highly polished. The base is fourteen feet square. The top is in the form of an arrow head. The inscriptions are upon bronze tablets on the four sides of the column. The dedication exercises and the presentation to the state occurred on July 25, 1895. Many pioneer notables were present including: Ex-gov- ernor Carpenter, a member of the expedition from Fort Dodge; Mrs. I. A. Thomas, a survivor of the Springfield massacre; Jareb Palmer, sur- vivor of Springfield; R. A. Smith, member of the expeditionary force; Charles E. Flandrau, the Indian agent at Yellow Medicine; Mrs. Abbie Gardner Sharp, the survivor of the Gardner family massacre; Chetanmaza, who bought Miss Gardner from the Indians; Charles Aldrich, W. S. Richards, Judge Given, Senator Henderson, Col. Warren S. Dungan and Judge Hendershott.
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