USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
The reader will remember that Isaac was vaccinated, with the small pox. This was done just the day before he was taken by
34
INDIANN HISTORY.
these cruel savages, on the 8th day of April, 1793, according to his best recollection; and in something like a week he therefore became very sick with that disease; but was never- theless impelled to travel every day, even when scarcely able to hold up his head, or help himself in the smallest. The knowledge which his friends at home had of the fact that, if alive, he would be thus afflicted, aug- mented their uneasiness and anxiety about him. Their fears could but be great that the cruel wretches would kill him; and if not, both he and they expected he would die of the small pox, exposed as he was in an Indian camp. Their manner of crossing ponds, creeks and rivers was to wade or swim; and, sick as Isaac was, such was the manner in which he was compelled to pass them. After the disease above named had appeared on him, he was under the necessity of swimming a small river, which was the means of driving it in, so as to render him very sick. Then, for the first time, the sav- ages discovered some humanity, and after kindling a fire, with a view to encamp for the night, they placed Isaac near the fire, wrapped in two blankets, in which situation he spent the night. In the morning the pox appeared again and he was some better, but still unable to travel. Nevertheless it was his fate to go, and he endeavored to do so, until, faint and sick, he fell to the ground. His Indian drivers, however, soon raised him and compelled him to go forward.
Fatigued with traveling and afflicted with fever, he suffered much for water, which they frequently refused him. When in cross- ing water he would lift up some in his hand and put it to his mouth, they would push him down in the water. At night, encamp- ing near a small branch, he asked leave to go for water; they granted it-but an In- dian followed him to the bank and then kicked him down a steep, where he fell
among the rocks, and was not a little hurt by the fall. At another time, passing a small branch, he asked permission to drink, which was granted; but as he put his mouth to the water, an Indian with his foot, crushed his mouth into the sand. With this most brutal treatment, and swelled till shapeless, with sores which were constantly suppurating, and not unfrequently, especially of a morn- ing, discharging blood, he was forced to march.
Provisions growing scarce, they spent one day in hunting. In the afternoon, having killed two deer, they stopped to cook; Isaac being in the way of one of the Kicka- poos, he took the liberty to kick him down a descending ground, some twelve or fifteen feet. This kicking was no pleasant thing to Isaac; and here he found in one of the In- dians a friend, who claimed him as his, and was much offended at the conduct of the other.
In a few days they passed the Kickapoo towns, where the two Indians of that nation left the company for home, and the prison- ers saw them no more so as to recognize them. They soon arrived at another town of some note, on the Illinois river.
As they entered the town, on the fifteenth day after they were taken, it being the twenty-third day of the month, on passing a few wigwams, some of the warriors gave a signal, which brought out several squaws, who relieved them all of their packs.
At this place the prisoners were conducted into the presence of, and exposed to the view of, a vast crowd of Indians, many of whom came up with apparent friendship, and gave them a hearty shake of the hand.
From this place they were conducted across the river to a wigwam, where some- thing was provided for them to eat, which very much pleased their palates, as it some- what resembled small hominy, and they had
35
ADVENTURES OF ISAAC KNIGHT. 1222025
seen a squaw put a handful or two of sugar in it, after striking a dog over the head and driving him out of the wigwam with the ladle with which she stirred the mess.
As the evening came on, the Indians began to collect, and as the other two boys had been painted and trimmed by the Indians, · previous to their arrival in town, and Isaac was not (though none of them could ac- count for it), it was the opinion both of him and them that it was their intention to burn him; however, when they were all collected, the young prisoners were ordered out, and the Indians, in one vast body, around a small fire, danced a war dance, the prisoners and the warriors that took them being next to the fire, and opposite to, or facing them as they danced round, were two squaws, bear- ing on canes from the Ohio Bottoms, the scalps of the little boy and the young man who had been killed when the other boys were taken.
Next morning, as Isaac thought, almost all the Indians in the world collected on the opposite bank of the river for a ball play, where they spent the greater part of the day in that exercise, both men and women shar- ing its pleasures: the sexes engaging apart from each other, and seeming to delight greatly in the employment.
In the evening, a company of some two or three hundred elderly Indians came march- ing down to the wigwam where the prison- ers were kept, bearing two large kettles of hominy, beating their drums, rattling the deer's hoofs and making music of different kinds. They marched several times around the hut, and then with great apparent sol- emnity, placed the kettles on a handsome green, and when they were all seated around them, two men waiting on the rest, divided the contents of the kettles, putting a small portion in every man's bowl (for they all had bowls, and, as was their custom, ladles ).
A prophet then, as was supposed, repeated as he sat, a lengthy ceremony; after which they enjoyed their repast in good order, and dispersed.
On the morning of the fourth day Isaac was presented with his moccasins by a squaw, who also gave them something to eat. Soon afterwards an Indian of the company that had taken the boys, came in and beckoned to Isaac to follow him, and without a thought that he and his associates were now to be separated until they should meet at home, he followed his guide that whole day up the Illinois river, wading many small swift-run- ning streams, which, as Isaac expressed him- self, washed off many a scab. By this Indian he was piloted to a wigwam where lived, as he afterward found, the mother of the two warriors that had taken him, and who were detained at the village by sick- ness, of which one of them died. Here, being delivered to this old mother and seated by her, she immediately gave him a new blanket and provided him something to eat. This day's travel had again freshened Isaac's sores, and so fatigued him that although he was wrapped in a new blanket and kindly treated, he had no rest, but felt in the morn- ing almost as bad as formerly.
The squaw in whose care Isaac was left, with a view to cure him, made preparation for it, and with a sharp flint scarified him, and rubbed the sores with a piece of rough bark to make them bleed; then caused him to jump in the Illinois river. This was all done through kindness, although it was harsh treatment.
From this place Isaac, together with many Indians, started up the river to an Indian town situated upon a small island in a lake through which the Illinois river passes, now called Illinois lake; this place they gained in five days, nothing very important transpiring on the route. It was Isaac's fate, however,
36
INDIAN HISTORY.
ccording to the direction of the squaw to whose care he was committed, to jump in the river every morning.
Soon after this time the small-pox made its appearance among the Indians on this island, and the kind old squaw who had given so much attention to Isaac, and thereby en- deared herself to him, was one of the first subjects and victims of that destructive dis- ease. He had for a long time feared that if this disease broke out among them, they would kill him, as he had been the means of bringing it among them; and although he sometimes hoped that some of the most cruel and barbarous of them would die with it, yet he more frequently desired they might all escape it, as he feared the consequences. Their manner of treating the disease proved fatal in many instances: They invariably at first, in that, as in other cases of complaint, took a severe sweat and then jumped into the river; and so terminated the existence of many. The death of this humane and moth- erly old squaw gave the author of this nar- rative most unpleasant feelings, and was the cause of much distressing exercise of mind. He had found in her a true and tender friend, and one who was willing to do for him all she could, but when he saw her taken from him, he found himself far from home, without a friend, among strangers, in the midst of foes, and surrounded with sickness produc- ing deatlı in every direction. His spirits sunk and all hope was well nigh gone. No cheering thought checked his distress-no gleam of hope could light up his counten- ance, or buoy up his disconsolate spirit.
The death and burial of the squaw, whom Isaac recognized almost as a mother, were extremely solemn and impressive. Appear- ing sensible of her approaching dissolution, she gave Isaac to her daughter, who lived along with her. She was buried after their manner, with great solemnity, and many of
the Indians painted themselves black and mourned for her ten days, fasting every day until evening; but all this was not expres- sive of Isaac's grief for the death of her who had nursed him with so much tenderness, and friendless now left alone, he found no one to whom he could unbosom his sorrows.
A number of Indians died of the disease on the island before they left it. Necessity seemed to compel them to leave the island, and, supposing that a change of situation would improve their health, they started, moving a short distance at a time and spend- ing but little time at any one place. They had moved, however, but seldom, until the squaw in whose care Isaac had been left, followed her mother, by means of the same disease. Indeed, they lost some at every place where they stopped. This squaw left a young child, some twelve months old, which it fell to Isaac's lot to nurse, and be- sides the attention which he was compelled to give that infant, it devolved on him to nurse the sick, help to bury the dead, and frequently to do all alone. Worn down with fatigue by means of his arduous labor, he devised means to be relieved of the burden of the child. Accordingly, as he carried it on his back wrapped in a blanket in Indian style, he drew the blanket tight around it, and so put an end to its cries, removed his own burden and terminated its life.
After the death of an Indian of some note in these woods, whom they buried in as much splendor as their circumstances would per- mit, his squaw and four children, the eldest of whom was large enough to support the family by hunting, left the rest of the Indians and moved down the Illinois river in a canoe.
Isaac's fears being great lest he should yet be killed for bringing the small-pox among them, he was halting whether to tell or not that he brought it, when he heard two squaws conversing on the subject, and
ADVENTURES OF ISAAC KNIGHT.
learned from their conversation that the In-
A few Towa Indians now arrived among dians were of the opinion that they, in and these Pottawatomies, selling them goods, by means of goods sold them by the French, had taken the disease. This so relieved his mind that he told them nothing about it. trading for furs, etc. These Indians were acting as agents for a merchant at Macki- naw, as is frequently the case.
Some weeks afterward the rest of the In- dians turned their course down the river, also taking Isaac along with them; still some of them were sick and dying all the time. After passing the island in the lake where the disease first appeared amongst them, they descended the river for some distance; but how far and how long time, is not within the recollection of the author.
A short time now elapsed until they started again up the river, passed the town on the island before mentioned, and Isaac, having been committed by some means to the care of another squaw, traveled up this river in the same canoe with her, and, pass- ing the place where her husband had been buried, she steered the canoe to shore, and taking out some venison in a bowl, had Isaac to accompany her to the grave. Here she kindled a small fire over the head of the grave, into which she threw some of the venison. Setting down the bowl she told Isaac to eat of it, which he did, while she walked to some distance and mourned with loud and sore lamentations for near an hour; then returned to the grave, wiped off the tears, threw some more meat in the fire and on the grave and bade Isaac to start.
About this time Isaac began to be threat- ened, as he learned from the Indian boys, by an old chief who said he had brought the small-pox among them, and while this was in agitation, one of the Indians arrived who had taken Isaac and who had been left sick at the first town, the place where Isaac had been separated from his associates, his fel- low prisoners. This Indian Isaac met with much joy, and he claimed him as his prop- erty.
To one of those Towa Indians Isaac was sold for what he thought would amount to about $500, and was delivered to his new master perfectly naked. He was then told to do so, and mounting the horse behind the man that bought him, rode off across what he now thinks was Spoon river.
They then traveled for some days north of the Ohio river, to the hunting ground of the Indians who had now purchased him. Here the "Big Buck" was killed and a feast prepared to have Isaac adopted into the family.
Now being made an heir, Isaac was trimmed, his hair pulled out, as was the cus- tom of that nation, except the scalp, and a hole made through his nose.
In his nose they put six silver rings; his hair being long, it was divided and plaited, one-half before and the other half behind; the hinder part ornamented with beads, and the fore part filled with silver brooches.
The season for making sugar being over, they moved to the mouth of Chicago river and commenced making arrangements to go to Mackinaw with their skins and furs.
As the route which they had to go led them near the shore, they encamped every night on it, where, for the security both of the canoe and its loading, they were under the necessity of unloading, drawing it out of the water and turning it upside down, made it answer the purpose of a wigwam. They continued this route for some days, and ar- rived at a small island, on which was a num- ber of Indians, where they landed and spent the night. Between that place and Macki- naw they landed on another small island, in- habited by Indians, with whom Isaac was
38
INDIAN HISTORY.
left until his Indian father and mother re- turned from Mackinaw.
Isaac's Indian father and family now started with him and their fresh supply of goods to return to Chicago. Nothing of importance transpired on the route. Sailing along the shore of Lake Michigan they en- camped every night as before, and at length arrived at the mouth of the Chicago river, where they had embarked for Mackinaw. Here, having raised their canoe on forks and so secured it, they removed from place to place, principally up the river, trading with the Indians and making a living by fish- ing, they steered their course for the old hunting grounds on the Illinois river.
Toward spring, but while the snow was yet on the ground, they turned their course again for Chicago, spending the time in hunting and trading, until in good time for sugar making they arrived at their old camp.
Before they left the sugar camp they had many drunken sprees, in some of which Isaac's life was greatly endangered, but by some means preserved.
Arrangements were now made for another trip to Mackinaw; and, having collected all the skins they could, they thought of taking Isaac along with them; but fearing that he would get away, they called in an old prophet, in whom they placed great confi . dence, who went into what they call a sweat house, to pow-wow, and inform them of such things as they wished to know, that would happen in the future. Accordingly, Isaac went to work to prepare the sweat house, within the wigwam, covering it with skins and blankets, rolling in a large hot stone, on which the prophet poured water, and leaving a place at the top for the steam to pass out. Into this house the old prophet entered, pow-wowing and singing, while Isaac and his little brothers danced around it, waiting on the prophet as he ordered,
until the smaller boys, becoming sleepy, laid down and went to sleep. Some time elapsed, and the prophet came out. Isaac immedi- ately, as if worn out and overcome with sleep, threw himself down on some deer skins, and pretended to be asleep. The old prophet took a seat near his Indian mother, and commenced speaking. She asked him many questions, and he answered them; but none of them so much interested Isaac until she wished to know if she would keep him if she took him all the way to Mackinaw. The prophet, much to Isaac's gratification, told her she would, but she must be careful not to let him talk much to white people.
Now, full of glee and in fine spirits, they loaded their bark canoe and started. After many days' toil and sailing, they all arrived in safety at Mackinaw.
Here, unlading the canoe, and preparing to encamp under it, Isaac was conducted by his Indian mother, in company with her two eldest boys, to the house of the merchant for whom they traded. After showing Isaac to them, and suffering him to talk but little with them, the merchant's lady gave each of the boys a slice of bread well buttered, which Isaac received very gratefully and ate it. It was the first bread he had tasted since he last ate at his father's table!
Here Isaac was permitted to walk about in company with the Indian boys, but was generally accompanied by his Indian mother, and sometimes an uncle and aunt who had accompanied them to that place in a small bark canoe. In company with these, as they walked along the beach, seeing a ship lying at the wharf, and a man convenient to it, whom Isaac supposed was the Captain, their attention was mutually drawn to each other. The Captain perceiving that he was white, asked him where he was taken prisoner; he replied from the Red Banks, on the Ohio river. Isaac asked him, " are you the Cap-
39
ADVENTURES OF ISAAC KNIGHT.
tain of this vessel?" He said he was. " Where are you bound?" said Isaac. "De- troit," was the reply. " When will you start?" " In the morning." "Can I," said Isaac, "run away from the Indians.and get aboard of your vessel?" " Yes; but you must be careful how you come." Here Isaac was commanded to hush, and was taken away by his Indian friends. Toward evening, his Indian father being drunk, and some Indians being across an arm of the lake drinking and carousing, Isaac was called to convey him to them in the little bark canoe, belonging to his uncle. Having done this, he returned late in the evening, and landing near their camp, drew his little bark partly on the shore, and went to the camp contented as usual. Here he found an English soldier, ivho seemed to feel much solicitude about him, whom Isaac told he would rather live with the Indians than the white people. Fearing that such interviews with the white men would lead Isaac off, his Indian mother made him lie down by her, for she had gone to bed. The Englishman went away. Isaac, however, did not sleep, but waiting until he thought the rest were locked up in the quietness of a pleasant nap, he caught his blanket in his teeth, and softly stole from behind his mother, drawing his blanket after him. He got out, straightened
himself, and listened; he could hear no stir, except the quiet music of the lake before him, which invited him to liberty! He stepped softly to the little bark he had drawn to the shore, and seating himself in it, he moved as gently as possible around the picketing that enclosed the town and ex- tended into the lake, and again turned to the shore. Giving his bark a push into the lake, he steered his course for the vessel on which he had learned he could make his escape. When he reached the vessel, the Captain was walking about on the deck, and
seeing Isaac approach, he met him and told him to follow him. They went together into the cabin. The Captain was much per- plexed to know what to do with Isaac, so as to secure him, and screen himself from the censure of the Indians, with whom his great- est success in trade was carried on. At length, however, he told him, "I have a little negro boy in the kitchen, who will find you out, let me do with you what I may. If you will go to him and tell him your situ- ation and your object, he can take care of you; but don't tell him that I know anything about you." Isaac went into the kitchen and awoke the negro, but he appeared un- willing to have anything to do with him. Fearing that, between them, he would have to go back to the Indians, Isaac told the lit- tle negro that his master knew he was there, and had told him to come to him. "Then," said the negro, still lying in his bunk, “ get in here." Isaac tumbled in with him but not to sleep. His fate, as yet, was too uncer- tain. By the side of the sleepy-headed negro he laid and watched for the day to dawn. Seeing, as he did, the first appear- ance of light in the morning, with much difficulty, he awoke the little negro, and told him, " You must do something with me- this is no place for me." The negro arose, unlocked the lower part of their cupboard, and told Isaac to get in there. He did so; and the boy locked him up and left him.
He had been there but a short time, until he heard the voice of his Indian mother and brother, as they came down the hatchway, in pursuit of him. Presently the Captain sprang out of his bed and began to rail out at the Indians for disturbing him in that way before he was out of his bed. The Indians being easily cowed by a white man of some character, and especially an officer, Isaac's Indian mother soon left the vessel.
Fortunately for this Captain, as well as for
40
INDIAN HISTORY.
Isaac, a barge which had lain at the wharf, started that same night about midnight, for Montreal, which circumstance afforded the Captain an opportunity of making the In- dians believe that Isaac had gone on board of it, and to convince them that he was in- nocent and knew nothing about him, he re- mained there until 8 o'clock in the morning.
Eight o'clock in the morning, the wind being fair, the sails of the Nancy were hoisted, Captain Mills commanding, Isaac started for the land of freedom!
Isaac kept close to the negro's room until, in about five days, the vessel came safe to port at Detroit.
Isaac bade Captain Mills adieu, and gave him his hearty thanks for his kindness and protection. He started, and soon found himself at the gate, and passing the pickets, the sentinel, a raw Irishman, cried, " Who goes there?" " A friend," said Isaac, and added in a hurry, " I am running away from the Indians, and want you to protect me." " Oh ! be Jasus, my good fellow, come here " said he, " and damn the one of them shall hurt you." 'With this sentinel Isaac waited patiently for some minutes, wher the relief guard came round. The sentinel then in- formed the sergeant that he had a prisoner. Isaac being delivered to the guard, was taken to the guard house, where the curiosity of the soldiers kept him up all night, giving a history of his sufferings with the Indians.
About this time Isaac learned that a Cap- tain and a company of soldiers were about to start to Fort Maumee, and having ob- tained permission of the Captain to accom- pany them, Isaac made ready, and early next morning, bidding his kind host adieu, and drawing rations in common with the soldiers, he went on board the boat, and sailed for Fort Maumee, which they made, having a favorable wind, in one day.
Spending a few days at this place, some
wagons came to the fort, bringing goods and presents for the Indians, to Wayne's treaty, and as these wagons were said to be returning to Cincinnati, Isaac asked permis- sion of the wagon master to go with them, stating to him his situation; he gave consent, and drew rations for him accordingly.
At Cincinnati he presented himself to the officer commanding, and was told that he could draw provisions until he met with an opportunity to go on. Perfectly composed, he laid down to sleep, but was presently aroused and informed by the soldiers that a man by the name of David Pea, who had carried an express from Vincennes, on the Wabash river, to the army at Detroit, and was then returning, was hunting for him. Isaac went immediately in pursuit of Mr. Pea; and, finding him, they drew provisions, and in a skiff, started for Louisville.
After running some days, they landed at the mouth of Harden creek. Here Isaac met with a young married woman, with whom he had gone to school before he was taken by the Indians. They recognized each other, and she informed him that his father and friends had removed from the Red Banks to what was then, and is now called, Knight's Falls, on Green river. He was here advised to land at the Yellow Banks, which he did.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.