USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Discovery and conquests of the Northwest, with the history of Chicago, Vol. I > Part 34
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As the troops left the fort, the band struck up the Dead March. On they came in military array, but with solemn mien. Captain Wells took the lead at the head of h.s little band of Miamis. He had blackened his face before leaving the garrison, in token of his im- pending fate. They took their route along the lake shore. When they reached the point where com- menced a range of sand hills intervening between the prairie and the beach, the escort of Pottawattamies, in number about 500, kept the level of the prairie, instead of continuing along the beach with the Americans and Miamis. +
* Afterward Mrs. Jean Baptiste Beaubien.
t William Wells, interpreter for the Miamis, and whose wife was of that nation, himself uncle to Mrs Heald, the lady of the commandant at Fort Dearborn, Chicago, went from Fort Wayne with a party of twelve or fifteen Miamis to that place, with a view of favoring the escape of the garrison to Fort Wayne. Nothing could have been more unfortunate than this, for Wells was peculiarly obnoxious to the Potta-
395
The Attack Begins.
They had marched perhaps a mile and a half, when Captain Wells, who had kept somewhat in advance with his Miamis, came riding furiously back. "They are about to attack us," shouted he; "form instantly and charge upon them."
Scarcely were the words uttered, when a volley was showered from among the sand hills, The troops were hastily brought into line, and charged up the bank. One man, a veteran of seventy winters, fell as they ascended. The remainder of the scene is best de- scribed in the words of an eye witness and participator in the tragedy, Mrs. Helm, the wife of Captain (then Lieutenant) Helm, and step-daughter of Mr. Kinzie:
"After we had left the bank the firing became general. The Miamis fled at the outset. Their chief rode up to the Pottawattamies and said:
"'You have deceived the Americans and us. You have done a bad action, and (brandishing his toma- hawk) I will be the first to head a party of Americans to return and punish your treachery.' So saying he galloped after his companions, who were now scouring across the prairie.
"The troops behaved most gallantly. They were but a handful, but they seemed resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. Our horses pranced and bounded, and could hardly be restrained as the balls whistled among them. I drew off a little, and gazed upon my husband and father, who were yet unharmed. I felt that my hour was come, and endeavored to forget
wattamies, and especially to the chief, " the Black Bird," who was the leading warrior on the occasion. The Pottawattamies were alone in arms against us, at the time, in that part of the country. The presence of Wells was fatal to the safety of the troops; the chief, " Black Bird " had often spoken to myself in very bitter terms against him. * * * On the morning of the 15th of August, the troops marched out to com- mence their journey, and had proceeded but a short distance, when they were attacked by the Indians. Wells, seeing that all was lost, and not wishing to fall into their hands, as he well knew that in that case, a cruel and lingering death awaited him, wetted powder and blacked his face, as a token of defiance, mounted his horse and commenced address- ing the Indians with all the opprobrious and insulting language he could think of. His purpose evidently was to induce them to dispatch him forthwith. His object was accomplished. They became so enraged at last with his taunts and jeers, that one of them shot him off his horse, and immediately pouncing upon him, cut his body open, took out his heart and ate it .- McDonald's Sketches of Wayne's Campaign.
396
Rescue of Mrs. Helm.
those I loved, and prepare myself for my approaching fate.
" While I was thus engaged, the surgeon, Dr. Van Voorhees, came up. He was badly wounded. His horse had been shot under him, and he had received a ball in his leg. Every muscle of his face was quivering with the agony of terror. He said to me: 'Do you think they will take our lives? I am badly wounded, but I think not mortally. Perhaps we might purchase our lives by promising them a large reward. Do you think there is any chance?'
"'Dr. Van Voorhees,' said I, 'do not let us waste the few moments that yet remain to us in such vain hopes. Our fate is inevitable. In a few moments we must appear before the bar of God. Let us make what preparation is yet in our power.
""' Oh! I cannot die,' exclaimed he, 'I am not fit to die-if I had but a short time to prepare-death is awful!'
"I pointed to Ensign Ronan, who though mortally wounded and nearly down, was still fighting with des- peration on one knee.
" 'Look at that man,' said I, 'at least he dies like a soldier.'
" ' Yes,' replied the unfortunate man, with a convul- sive gasp, 'but he has no terrors of the future-he is an unbeliever!'
"At this moment a young Indian raised his toma- hawk at me. By springing aside, I avoided the blow which was intended for my skull, but which alighted on my shoulder. I seized him around the neck, and while exerting my utmost efforts to get possession of his scalping knife, which hung in a scabbard over his breast, I was dragged from his grasp by another and an older Indian.
"The latter bore me, struggling and resisting, toward the lake. Notwithstanding the rapidity with which I was hurried along, I recognized as I passed them the lifeless remains of the unfortunate surgeon. Some. murderous tomahawk had stretched him upon the very spot where I had last seen him.
397
Noble Conduct of Black Partridge.
"I was immediately plunged into the water and held there with a forcible hand, notwithstanding my resist- ance. I soon perceived, however, that the object of my captor was not to drown me, for he held me firmly in such a position as to place my head above water. This reassured me, and regarding him attentively, I soon recognized, in spite of the paint with which he was disguised, the Black Partridge .*
"When the firing had nearly subsided, my preserver bore me from the water and conducted me up the sand banks. It was a burning August morning, and walking through the sand in my drenched condition was inex- pressibly painful and fatiguing. I stooped and took off my shoes to free them from the sand with which they were nearly filled, when a squaw seized and carried them off, and I was obliged to proceed without them.
" When we had gained the prairie, I was met by my father, who told me that my husband was safe and but slightly wounded. They led me gently back toward the Chicago river, along the southern bank of which was the Pottawattamie encampment. At one time I was placed upon a horse without a saddle, but finding the motion insupportable, I sprang off. Supported partly by my kind conductor, Black Partridge, and partly by
* As to Francis Assikinack (Black Partridge), the following is part of a communication from the department of Indian affairs at Ottawa, including a facsimile of his signature.
"Francis Assikinack entered the Indian office at Cobourg, on the 10th of August, 1849, as clerk and interpreter, which position he con- tinued to hold, both there and in the Indian office, Toronto, up to the date of his death, which occurred on the 21st of November, 1863."
The following is an extract from a letter received from Mr. W. R. Bartlett, who was in charge of the Indian office, Toronto, reporting the illness of Assikinack :
"TORONTO, July 1st, 1863.
"I very much fear the poor fellow will never live to come back. I sincerely trust he may recover, for he will be a great loss to the depart- ment, and especially to this branch of it."
"I attach to this letter an original signature of Francis Assikinack, as follows :
"' I have the honor to be, sir, "' Your most obedient humble servant,
7. Assilinadi.
" WILLIAM SPRAGGE, EsQ.,
" Dy. Supt. Indian Affairs, Quebec."
398
Surrender of the Whites.
another Indian, Pee-so-tum, who held dangling in his hand a scalp, which by the black ribbon around the queue I recognized as that of Captain Wells, I dragged my fainting steps to one of the wigwams.
"The wife of Wau-bee-nee-mah, a chief from the Illinois river, was standing near, and seeing my ex- hausted condition she seized a kettle, dipped up some water from a stream that flowed near, threw into it some maple sugar, and stirring it up with her hand gave it to me to drink. This act of kindness, in the midst of so many horrors, touched me most sensibly, but my attention was soon diverted to other objects.
" The fort had become a scene of plunder to such as remained after the troops marched out. The cattle had been shot down as they ran at large, and lay dead or dying around. This work of butchery had com- menced just as we were leaving the fort. I well remem- bered a remark of Ensign Ronan, as the firing went on. 'Such,' turning to me, 'is to be our fate-to be shot down like brutes!'
"' Well, sir,' said the commanding officer, who over- heard him, 'are you afraid?'
" 'No,' replied the high spirited young man, ' I can march up to the enemy where you dare not show your face'; and his subsequent gallant behavior showed this to be no idle boast.
"As the noise of the firing grew gradually less, and the stragglers from the victorious party came dropping in, I received confirmation of what my father had hurriedly communicated in our rencontre on the lake shore ; namely, that the whites had surrendered after the loss of about two-thirds of their number. They had stipulated, through the interpreter, Peresh Leclerc, for the preservation of their lives, and those of the remain- ing women and children, and for their delivery at some of the British posts, unless ransomed by traders in the Indian country. It appears that the wounded prisoners were not considered as included in the stipulation, and a horrible scene ensued upon their being brought into camp.
399
Heroism of Capt. Wells.
"An old squaw, infuriated by the loss of friends, or excited by the sanguinary scenes around her, seemed possessed by a demoniac ferocity. She seized a stable fork and assaulted one miserable victim, who lay groan- ing and writhing in the agony of his wounds, aggravated by the scorching beams of the sun. With a delicacy of feeling scarcely to have been expected under such circumstances, Wau-bee-nee-mah stretched a mat across two poles, between me and this dreadful scene. I was thus spared in some degree a view of its horrors, although I could not entirely close my ears to the cries of the sufferer. The following night five more of the wounded prisoners were tomahawked.
"The Americans after their first attack by the Indians, charged upon those who had concealed themselves in a sort of ravine intervening between the sand banks and the prairie. The latter gathered themselves into a body, and after some hard fighting, in which the num- ber of whites had become reduced to twenty-eight, this little band succeeded in breaking through the enemy, and gained a rising ground, not far from the Oak Woods. The contest now seemed hopeless, and Lieutenant Helm sent Peresh Leclerc, a half-breed boy in the service of Mr. Kinzie, who had accompanied the detachment and fought manfully on their side, to pro- pose terms of capitulation. It was stipulated that the lives of all the survivors should be spared, and a ransom permitted as soon as practicable.
"But, in the meantime, a horrible scene had been enacted. One young savage, climbing into the bag- gage wagon containing the children of the white fami- lies, twelve in number, tomahawked the children of the entire group. This was during the engagement near the sand hills. When Captain Wells, who was fighting near, beheld it, he exclaimed:
"'Is that their game, butchering the women and children? Then I will kill, too!'
"So saying, he turned his horse's head, and started for the Indian camp, near the fort, where had been left their squaws and children.
400
Bravery of Mrs. Corbin and Mrs. Holt.
"Several Indians pursued him as he galloped along. He laid himself flat on the neck of his horse, loading and firing in that position, as he would occasionally turn on his pursuers. At length their balls took effect, kill- ing his horse, and severely wounding himself. At this moment he was met by Winnemeg* and Wau-ban-see, who endeavored to save him from the savages who had now overtaken him, As they supported him along, after having disengaged him from his horse, he received his death blow from another Indian, Pee-so-tum, who stabbed him in the back. +
"The heroic resolution of one of the soldier's wives deserves to be recorded. She was a Mrs. Corbin, and had, from the first, expressed the determination never to fall into the hands of the savages, believing that their prisoners were always subjected to tortures worse than death.
" When, therefore, a party came upon her, to make her a prisoner, she fought with desperation, refusing to surrender, although assured, by signs, of safety and kind treatment; and literally suffered herself to be cut to pieces, rather than become their captive.
"Sergeant Holt, who, early in the engagement, re- ceived a ball in the neck, finding himself badly wounded, gave his sword to his wife, who was on horseback near him, telling her to defend herself-he then made for the lake, to keep out of the way of the balls. Mrs. Holt rode a very fine horse, which the Indians were de- sirous of possessing, and they therefore attacked her, in hopes of dismounting her.
"They fought only with the butt ends of their guns, for their object was not to kill her. She hacked and hewed at their pieces as they were thrust against her, now on this side, now on that. Finally, she broke
* Winamac (sometimes spelled with a "g" as a final letter) .- AUTHOR.
" Captain Wells' heart was afterward taken out, cut in pieces and distributed among the tribes. After being scalped, his remains were left unburied, as were also those of the children massacred, and the soldiers and women slain in battle. Billy Caldwell, an Indian chief, the next day finding the head of Captain Wells in one place and his body in another, caused a hole to be dug in the sand and his remains to be interred. - Brown's Illinois.
401
Mrs. Heald Again Rescued.
loose from them, and dashed out into the prairie. The Indians pursued her, shouting and laughing, and now and then calling out:
""' The brave woman! do not hurt her!'
"At length they overtook her again, and while she was engaged with two or three in front, one succeeded in seizing her by the neck behind, and dragging her, although a large and powerful woman, from her horse. Notwithstanding that their guns had been so hacked and injured, and even themselves cut severely, they seemed to regard her only with admiration. They took her to a trader on the Illinois river, by whom she was restored to her friends, after having received every kindness during her captivity .*
"Those of the family of Mr. Kinzie, who had re- mained in the boat, near the mouth of the river, were carefully guarded by Kee-po-tah and another Indian. They had seen the smoke-then the blaze-and imme- diately after the report of the first tremendous dis- charge sounded in their ears. Then all was confusion. They realized nothing until they saw an Indian come toward them from the battle ground, leading a horse on which sat a lady, apparently wounded.
"""'That is Mrs. Heald,' cried Mrs. Kinzie. 'That Indian will kill her. Run, Chandonnai,' to one of Mr. Kinzie's clerks, 'take the mule that is tied there, and offer it to him to release her.'
"Her captor, by this time, was in the act of dis- engaging her bonnet from her head, in order to scalp her. Chandonnai ran up, offered the mule as a ran- som, with the promise of ten bottles of whisky, as soon as they should reach his village. The latter was a strong temptation.
" 'But,' said the Indian, 'she is badly wounded-she will die. Will you give me the whisky, at all events?'
" Chandonnai promised that he would, and the bar- gain was concluded. The savage placed the lady's bonnet on his own head, and after an ineffectual effort, on the part of some squaws, to rob her of her shoes and stockings, she was brought on board the boat,
* Mrs. Holt was believed to be still living (in 1879) in the state of Ohio.
402
The Kinzie Family Return in Safety.
where she lay moaning with pain from the many bullet wounds she had received in both arms.
"The horse she had ridden was a fine spirited ani- mal, and, being desirous of possessing themselves of it, uninjured, the Indians had aimed their shots so as to disable the rider, without injuring her steed.
"She had not lain long in the boat, when a young Indian of savage aspect was seen approaching. A buf- falo robe was hastily drawn over Mrs. Heald, and she was admonished to suppress all sound of complaint, as she valued her life.
"The heroic woman remained perfectly silent, while the savage drew near. He had a pistol in his hand, which he rested on the side of the boat, while, with a fearful scowl, he looked pryingly around. Black Jim, one of the servants who stood in the bow of the boat, seized an ax that lay near, and signed to him that if he shot, he would cleave his skull; telling him that the boat contained only the family of Shaw-nee-aw-kee. * Upon this the Indian retired. It afterward appeared that the object of his search was Mr. Burnett, a trader from St. Joseph's, with whom he had some account to settle.
" When the boat was at length permitted to return to the mansion of Mr. Kinzie, and Mrs. Heald was removed to the house, it became necessary to dress her wounds.
"Mr. K. applied to an old chief who stood by, and who, like most of his tribe, possessed some skill in surgery, to extract a ball from the arm of the sufferer.
"'No, father,' replied he, 'I cannot do it-it makes me sick here' (placing his hand on his heart).
"Mr. Kinzie then performed the operation himself with his penknife.
"At their own mansion the family of Mr. Kinzie were closely guarded by their Indian friends, whose intention it was to carry them to Detroit for security. The rest of the prisoners remained at the wigwams of their captors.
* The Indian name for Mr. Kinzie .- AUTHOR.
403
New Dangers Averted.
" The following morning the work of plunder being completed, the Indians set fire to the fort. A very equitable distribution of the finery appeared to have been made, and shawls, ribbons and feathers fluttered about in all directions. The ludicrous appearance of one young fellow who had arrayed himself in a muslin gown and the bonnet of one of the ladies, would, under other circumstances, have afforded matter of amuse- ment.
" Black Partridge, Wau-ban-see and Kee-po-tah, with two other Indians, having established themselves in the porch of the building as sentinels, to protect the family from any evil that the young men might be excited to commit, all remained tranquil for a short space after the conflagration.
"Very soon, however, a party of Indians from the Wabash made their appearance. These were, decidedly, the most hostile and implacable of all the tribes of the Pottawattamies.
"Being more remote, they had shared less than some of their brethren in the kindness of Mr. Kinzie and his family, and consequently their sentiments of regard for them were less powerful.
"Runners had been sent to the villages to apprize them of the intended evacuation of the post, as well as of the plan of the Indians assembled to attack the troops.
"Thirsting to participate in such a scene, they hurried on, and great was their mortification on arriving at the river Aux Plains, to meet with a party of their friends, having with them their chief Nee-scot-nee-meg, badly wounded, and to learn that the battle was over, the spoils divided, and the scalps all taken.
"On arriving at Chicago they blackened their faces, and proceeded toward the dwelling of Mr. Kinzie.
"From his station on the piazza, Black Partridge had watched their approach, and his fears were particu- larly awakened for the safety of Mrs. Helm (Mr. Kin- zie's step-daughter), who had recently come to the post, and was personally unknown to the more remote Indians. By his advice she was made to assume the
404
Continued Fidelity of Black Partridge.
ordinary dress of a French woman of the country ; namely, a short gown and petticoat, with a blue cotton handkerchief wrapped around her head. In this dis- guise she was conducted by Black Partridge himself, to the house of Ouilmette, a Frenchman with a half- breed wife, who formed a part of the establishment of Mr. Kinzie, and whose dwelling was close at hand.
"It so happened that the Indians came first to this house, in their search for prisoners. As they approached, the inmates, fearful that the fair complexion and gen- eral appearance of Mrs. Helm might betray her for an American, raised a large feather bed and placed her under the edge of it, upon the bedstead, with her face to the wall. Mrs. Bisson, the sister of Ouilmette's wife, then seated herself with her sewing upon the front of the bed.
" It was a hot day in August, and the feverish excite- ment of fear and agitation, together with her position, which was nearly suffocating, because so intolerable, that Mrs. Helm at length entreated to be released and given up to the Indians.
"' I can but die,' said she; 'let them put an end to my misery at once.'
" Mrs. Bisson replied : 'Your death would be the destruction of us all, for Black Partridge has resolved that if one drop of the blood of your family is spilled, he will take the lives of all concerned in it, even his nearest friends, and if once the work of murder com- mences, there will be no end of it, so long as there remains one white person, or half breed, in the country.
" This expostulation nerved Mrs. Helm with fresh resolution.
"The Indians entered, and she could occasionally see them from her hiding place, gliding about, and stealthily inspecting every part of the room, though without making any ostensible search, until, apparently satisfied that there was no one concealed, they left the house.
"All this time Mrs. Bisson had kept her seat upon the side of the bed, calmly sorting and arranging the patchwork of the quilt on which she was engaged, and
405
The Sau-ga-nash to the Rescue.
preserving an appearance of the utmost tranquillity, although she knew not but that the next moment she might receive a tomahawk in her brain. Her self-com- mand unquestionably saved the lives of all present.
"From Ouilmette's house the party of Indians pro- ceeded to the dwelling of Mr. Kinzie. They entered the parlor in which the family were assembled with their faithful protectors, and seated themselves upon the floor in silence.
"Black Partridge perceived from their moody and revengeful looks what was passing in their minds, but he dared not remonstrate with them. He only observed in a low tone to Wau-ban-see:
" 'We have endeavored to save our friends, but it is in vain-nothing will save them now.'
"At this moment a friendly whoop was heard from a party of new comers on the opposite bank of the river. Black Partridge sprang to meet their leader, as the canoes in which they had hastily embarked touched the bank near the house.
" ' Who are you?' demanded he.
" 'A man-who are you?'
" 'A man like yourself, but tell me who you are ' --- meaning, 'tell me your disposition, and which side you are for.
" ' I am the Sau-ga-nash!'
" 'Then make all speed to the house-your friend is in danger, and you alone can save him.'
"Billy Caldwell,* for it was he, entered the parlor with a calm step, and without a trace of agitation in his manner. He deliberately took off his accouter-
* Billy Caldwell was a half breed, and a chief of the nation. In his reply, "I am a Sau-ga-nash," or Englishman, he designed to convey, "I am a white man." Had he said, " I am a Pottawattamie," it would have been interpreted to mean, "I belong to my nation, and am prepared to go all lengths with them .- Waubun.
Billy Caldwell, who died but a short time since, was familiarly known to many of our citizens in Chicago. His presence of mind unquestion- ably saved his friends from massacre. He was a half or quarter breed. His father was an officer in the British army; his mother a Wyandot woman; he was well educated in Montreal before he came hither. Previous to the war of 1812 he was received and adopted as a chief among them-and called the Sau-ga-nash .- Brown's Illinois, Published in 1844.
406
The Hostile Indians Depart from the House.
ments and placed them with his rifle behind the door; then saluted the hostile savages.
" 'How now, my friends! A good day to you. I was told there were enemies here, but I am glad to find only friends. Why have you blackened your faces? Is it that you are mourning for the friends you have lost in battle?' (Purposely misunderstanding this token of evil designs.) 'Or is it that you are fasting? If so, ask our friend here, and he will give you to eat. He is the Indian's friend, and never yet refused them what they had need of.'
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