Redskin and Paleface. Romance and adventure of the Plains. ... With twelve illustrations

Front matter

REDSKIN AND PALEFACE. RELEASE OF THE CAPTIVES. Frontispiece. See p. 274. Redskin and Paleface Ho mane c anb jlbbenturc of the plains, BY ASCOTT R. HOPE, AUTHOR OK ' ROMANCE ok the forksts,' 'the wigwam and thk warpath,' STORItS OIT OK SCHOOL TIME,' KTC. WITH TWELVE ILLUSTRATIONS. LONDON : JOHN HOGG, 13, PATERNOSTER ROW [All rights rttCTid.] P R E F A C E . This volume deals with facts as thrillingly romantic as anj' tales of fiction, yet belonging to a chapter of contemporary history lately brought into notice through a fresh hopeless effort of the Red Indians in the Far West to arrest their inevitable fate. That long war between the white man and the red man has, during our generation, exhibited a phase which I have tried to present, not so much in regular historical form as by a series of striking scenes, episodes, and adventures, from which the reader may gather what has been going on upon the Plains of America for the last thirty years, with glimpses at a life now fast changing, soon, perhaps, to be extinct.

Such a book is not required to make any parade of authorities. It was by no means an easy task to acquire full materials for tracing the features of this struggle, many, if not most, of the hasty publications on which seem unworthy of its interest. For the Preface. VI last twenty years, I have never lost a chance of securing any personal narrative like some here turned to account. But I am most indebted to a few trust worthy authors, duly named in their place, and especially to the writings of the American officers who often impress one as the most honest, most capable, and not always the sternest, judges of the Indian question. The pens of these commanders have been almost as busy as their swords in the Western wars. General Sheridan's military memoirs are well known. Colonel Dodge, Sherman's Chief of Staff, is one of the leading authorities on the character and customs of the Plains Indians.

General Custer, on his arduous campaigns, wrote lively accounts for a periodical. General Howard met in printed con troversy the Nez Perce chief, whom he had just defeated in arms. General Miles published recently a magazine article on the cause of the Indian rebellion he was engaged in putting down. Their communicativeness, if hardly in accordance with the discipline of our army, proves most helpful to the recording of exploits which have not yet been fitly embalmed in history. A. R. H. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

the plains. PACE The Prairies and the Plains — A Sea of Grass— Marvels and Freaks of Nature— Blizzards — Lost in the Wilderness— The White Man and the Red Man 1

Chapter II

adventurous encounters. Romance and Reality — A Trapper's Story— Stanch Comrades — An Indian Carousal — Helpless Foes — KitCarson'sStoryof Pawnee Rock— A Gallant Defence and a Race for Life — Fate of Two Scouts — Brought to Bay — Sergeant Hiles' Adventure — Hiding in the Snow — Wild Bill's Escape — The Last Resort ! Ill

Chapter III. The Indians Ok The Plains

Eastern and Western Indians — Chief Tribes of the Plains— Indian Character — Confusion of Tongues — Sign-language — Picture-writing — Trailing — Domestic Arts — Government — War — Religion — Ceremonies — Treatment of Prisoners— An Indian Boy's Education — Torture of the Sun Dance — Marriage — Elopement — Home Life — Indian Dandies — The Work of Civilization — The Sioux ....... 37

Chapter IV. An Indian Insurrection

Border Wars — The Settlement of Minnesota — Troubles with the Sioux — The Indian Reservations— Signs of the Storm — The Outbreak — Scene at the Lower Agencj — Attack on Captain Marsh's Company — The Renville Rangers — Siege of Fort Kidgley— Adventures ot a Recruiting Paity — Attack on New Ulm— Gallant Defence— The T..wn ALandoned . . .64 Contents. VIII PAGE 112 CHAPTER v. TERROR ON THE FRONTIER. Scenes on the Frontier— Tales of Woe and Horror — Mrs. Boelter's Story— Escape of Mr. Earle— Indian Treachery— The Fate of a G-erman Settlement— Adventures of the Kreiger Family — Friendly Indians — A Half-breed's Escape — Panic of the Settlers— Sufferings of the Fugitives— Further Adventures of Mrs. Boelter — Devastation throughout the Border Country ......... 89

Chapter VI. Turn Of The Tide

A Haven of Refuge — Organizing Resistance — Terror of Fugitives — Taking the Field— Fight at Birch Coolie — The Indian Army breaking up — Siege of Fort Abercrombie — Battle at Wood Lake — Offers of Surrender — Release of Prisoners — Reckoning the Loss — The Hour of Vengeance— Warriors on their Trial— A Wholesale Sentence of Execution — Pleadings for Mercy — Indians on the Scaffold — Further Outbreaks — Indian Campaign in 1863 — A Battle on the Prairies — Barbarity on both Sides — Death of Little Crow

Chapter VII. Indian Captivity

Cruel Foes — Fate of Women and Children — 'Tragedies of the Wilderness' — Mrs. White's Story — Kit Carson to the Rescue — A Woman's Ride for Liberty — Mrs. Kelly's Narrative — Emigrating across the Plains — Taken by Surprise— Bidd Beggars — Throwing off the Mask — Robbery and Murder — Escape of Survivors — Scene of the Massacre — Pursuit too Late — Mr. Kelly's Distress — Offers of Ransom —Good News at Length 137

Chapter VIII

A WHITE WOMAN AMONG INDIANS. A Companion in Affliction — Leaving a Trail — Attempted Escape — Little Mary's Fate — A Beast of Burden — The Lost Pipe — Sufferings from Thirst — A Fearsome Cation — The Chief in Full Costume— The Indian Village — Ottawa's Family Circle Contents. IX PAOF 152 —The Captive's Fears — Feasts and Danes — A Running Fight — Flight and Famine— -A Domestic Row — An Elderly Wooer — White Indians — Change of Guardians —Attack on an Emigrant Train — Correspondence under Difficulties — More Wanderings — New Owners — A Valuable Security — Intended Treachery — A Letter of Warning— A Winter Journey — Safe und' r the Stars and Stripes— Fresh Perils and Troubles

Chapter IX. Heroes Ok The Plains

Uncle Sam's Soldiers — Forsythe's Scouts — Beleaguered in the Open — A Desperate Resistance — Message for Help — Deliverance — Powell's Fight against Enormous Odds — The Indians beaten off by Repeating Rifles — The Red Warrior's Caution — Adventure of Six Men — Amos Chapman's Heroism — Perilous and Thankless Service 181

Chapter X

Ulster's kirst Indian campaign. The 'Boy Geneial' — Fresh Fields of Glory — Making Acquaintance with Indians— A Slippery Foe— Night Attack — A Deserted Village — A Bootless Chase — Roving Campaign— Trying Service — Treacherous Negotiators — ARunning Fight — Fate of Lieutenant Kidder — Mutiny and Desertion — Getting into Trouble— A Doubtful Peace 199

Chapter XI. The Washita River Battle

Indian Outrages — Custer in Disgrace — Restored to Command — Alarms and Excursions — A Winter Campaign — Keen-scented Scouts — Discovering the Indians — Anxious Waiting for Dawn — The Surprise — The Battle — Captive Squaws and Ponies — In a Hornets' Nest — A Proposal of Marriage — Bold Tactics — A Good Retreat — Losses of the Victors 230

Chapter XII. Hunting The Indians

Following up the Victory — A Devoted Brother — Consternation of the Indians — Doubtful Professions — Hostages for Obedience — A Stern Ultimatum— More Slippery Tricks— A Daring Mission of Peace— Smoke Signals — Alone in the Indian Camp Contents. X V — Retiring Enemies — Fresh Wanderings — Custer's Courage and Coolntts — Delicate Diplomacy — Bringing Matters to a Point — Release of the White Captives — An Unfortunate Affray — Submission of the Indians — Almost Bloodless Conquest — An Interval of Peace . 253

Chapter XIII. Custer's Last Fight

Custer in Dakotah— The Black Hills War— Sitting Bull— Campaign in the Bad Lands — Advance on the Little Bighorn — Rash Gallantry — Failure of the Attack— Annihilation of Custer's Detachment — Captain King's Description of the Fight— Sitting Bull's Flight to Canada— The Chief interviewed — Troublesome Guests — The Sioux settle down — Untamable Spirit — Last Appearance of Sitting Bull . . 277

Chapter XIV. Rights And Wrongs

The Nez Percys — AFriendly Tribe — Indian Christianity— Christian Injustice — Young Joseph — The Nez Perc^ War — Flight and Surrender of the Indians — Banishment — Tardy Repentance — A Blot on the Stars and Stripes — The Indian Reservations . 292

Chapter XV. Hunters And Butchers

The Buffalo — Buffalo-running — A 'Surround' — Prairie Dog Towns — Ouster's First Buffalo — Belden's Adventure — A Feat of ' Buffalo Bill ' — Hunters turned Hunted — Chased by the Comanches — The Harvest of the Plains — Enormous Herds — Destruction of the Buffalo — Wholesale Butchery — Amateur Adventures — The Indian's Occupation gone— Starved into Dependence .......... 306

Chapter XVI

'LO ! THE POOR INDIAN.' Bad Management — Canada and the United States — Cheated and Impoverished — Another Rising — The Veiled Prophet — Ghost Dances — Exertions for Peace— Alarm on the Frontier — End of Sitting Bull— A Terrible Massacie— Excitement East and West — Surrender of the Sioux — What is to become of the Red Man ? LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAoe release OF THE caftives . . . Frontispiece AN INDIAN COUNCIL . . . . .1(5 PAWNEE ROCK . . . . . 2U A MEDICINE MAN . . .... 50 ATTACKING THE SETTLERS . . . . .90 AN INDIAN RAID ...... 138 SCALP-DANCE . . . . . . .162 MAKING A TREATY ...... 228 AX INDIAN VILLAGE ..... 264 A SIOUX CHIEF ...... 280 AN INDIAN AGENCY ...... 304 A SPORT OF THE PAST ..... ' They waste us, ay, like April snow, In the warm noon zee shrink away ; And fast they follow, as we go Towards the setting day.'