Hide Article Text (OCR)
The Massacre at Redwood Agency, Aug.48, 18683—He Declares that Heither He Nor Little Crow Were to Blame. The Indian chief, Big Thunder, writes the following letter to The 8. Paul Pioneer Press The truth is good, but falsehood is bad, or I shall tell, and have correctly interpreted, what I have truly heard sod what my eyes have seen, and humbly make it known to the white men, so that they may have perfect knowledge of who I am and give heed to what Fooay. The Dakota Indians who grew up in Minnnesota long ago were called Mdewakantonwan The first missionaries came among them in 1834. The first that came were Rev Gideon H Pond and Rev Samuel W Pond, and then Rev Dr Thomas 8. Williamson and Rev dappen it. Rivye. Then, soon after, in N47, my father, whose name was Big Thunder (Wakin yantanka), all do the United States in much of the Dakota land as way east of the Mississippi river When he came back from Washington a missionary named Elder brunson came and locate at his village and my father put me in his school . That was in 1888, so I think my father believed the Christian re ligion was right. But there were seven’ bands to our patron, and they set them selves against my father and that mis sion, so that the missionaries had to leave, and my father suffered for the sin, because a pun went off accidentally soon after and killed him. ‘Then after that his son, Little Crow, became chief, and he also believed there was a God, and he again acot furch missionary He asked Dr Thomas SS Williamson to come and teach his people, and he came and started a mission at ha village at Wet St Paul Kapotes in Ise Then after that time, in 1dod the seven bands of Slow moved up to Redwood agency Jhenw in 1460, Res John Po Willansen started admonsion there, and To held water course wih bam abd pove tom ny pdest bev, Caske to educate, that he might tuing bins upon God a wase Then in 18620 Little Crow went ont onw hint for a month and a half then on the It hoof Atust, TH62 ahen t 7 relock the myissicre anmon need at Redwood eaeney Then the test person that comne eed thinkin a whiteoud be done to dase some fives was doh Wake man “Tie Chander And Timet Little frowan'the said voo and gather up what white women and children you on the state of allwra sent snat vers Janey The Indans will have to go pretty soon, and then the captives wil perish Sagpounick the sad Sol took with me six strong young men and Po took a staff in my hand, and Lowen thy glve Ween qd celitdeen and saved them . “That was my work Lo had ne increasing on my feet but I went along way To went seven miles Pteok Mos Weat sod another woman and two children, and they were saved Tien that night, the lth of August, IG2 we couthered the rest of the white A RNAs seoether on Late r Crow's horse, and atadd gerard over tham Jiese that ett dive rementer that T thick The Lit. Crow kept a good many of the ocaphes vno his own house and trente? “iueid Thsaon or AAbors enndorert, and ia them vat om DAD Cee eee oy ~ came to my house and sin “My brother, I fuel very bad. 42 morning ‘The captives at my house thia morning are crying, and I feel very sorry I have heard that God will have pity on thoas who put a pity on poor captives, and, my brother, I have heard that God will be hard on those who are Pardon capive. The exptyes in my beeen haw nothing to caj oy so they ereerving bthink you equi find some Nang where unt tnd ans hiesteumn via fighting So take seven young men and ave of you can bring me some to comfort those people, It wont be no great while the had T agreed with what cattle ( row and, and rose up quieth and brought some flour for the cvpives While I was in the way IT met thegina, and To had a hard time with then) but To thought I was doing the work of God, and b went through = Then Gen Schley sent a jer ter to Little Crow which eqid “HEe you are there Littl Crow, the pre Saya return to him the cap tives, And I am at the head of the army, and the best thing you can do is to make peace with me . Then Little Crow set himself to work to make peace and there was no great commotion and much opposition and i twas proclaimed that he who should make perceptould be trampled to death And they said to Little Crow -Answer, ‘Tama man‘' So Little Crow turned and said to Paasing Hail (Waxuhigayedaw) You answer the letter‘! (But the nation replied * No, you answer at for us yourself But Little Crow snewerd them Last June you rejected me from being lead er and thlew are not my work .But We paten were Tenned and no pressed him to anwer (he letterad they wanted Then some of them deceived him and went nnl wrote a letter se cretly desiring peace and ao they dis sent trea. Now, then, the massacre wae not put up by Little Crow because I was with Hind and ee I know And the Yetta Valea 5 ” © Saseed i ate ARN elit ask look with pity on those who had mercy on the captives. But, although I had pity on the captives and sought to save them, I sm now vary poor When ‘Cer ween rotten to rawr those who had asssinted the captives I received nothing. by reason of their jeal ousy of the Indians Among the whit men who knew some of my conducts can refer to Mr. SS D Hinman, who knows the name things, and also to Mr John P. Williamson, who knows some also. Then, Little Crow id wy efdar broit, er We had the a same father, but we had different mothers And I have taken the name of my father, Big Thunder (Wakinyantanka), and I sub scribe my English name. Joun WAKEMAN.
Newspaper Details
Jefferson Bee
Jefferson, Iowa, US
Thu, Mar 11, 1886
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Marilyn T.
