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NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS. FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1856 F /. 6520-? r C I p Entered, accordinjr to Act of Congress, in tlie j-ear one thousand eight liundred and fifly-six, by IIahpek & BaoTiiEns, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. ^'^ f K E F A C E BiniED amxl flic ,nUimc passes of f'-,o .Slorv, V„ va<la a,-o old men, who, whe,i chikb-en "sw fro,,, our erowdcd scttleme,,,, a,„l , ,',^ '^' eon,c do-nlciliat::; ^jft^i^ '' T '" savages-have lived seo.^, o " " wh! ^^ """ , ":''''"■• tellcets iu the constant strut cfo c ,'"'' ■"• '"" whose only pleasural.Ie .v v '^<'"-l»-csorvat,o„ ; atorv to 7nrfi'^;r.o+- • ^'-^u]x.iaro, ijrc par- oij to pait cpafng m new and thrilli„iv advo ,tnrn ■ Such men, whose simple talc would „.,!„ tr " tjve creations of our nJost po Xt f ^i'^;;;- tl.e.r obscure graves unnoticed and unknown t ~s, whose braver, and self-devotiorti::, no r « 'etri^::!:^^^^^^^^ "^«« "■•-oo-. 'nd "-th-song, and bccoriS ^l^ l^"""^' '""■ ou the intellectual world ^ "" >n.p«-s.sio„ -t7:Cunr^.«:-^^^^^^^^ nations, and as earlv pioneer : the » ^'"" ''"'"" fteitic coast, is Jam~ cl trth S'"" °'""- -.nd startling personal adventtut wl 'h 7 ''T' .-■ecord but for the accident of «, ;" with" "" -he mo,.tai,,s of California. wlt:;,^.r^^^^^^^^ IV I'KEFAC'E. ill llio man, and, ])ationtly listening to Iiis story, pro- t'cwlcd, as it fell from his lips, to put it upon paper. 'J'his autobiograjtliy was thus })ro(luced, and was the result of some montlis' labor in the winter of 1854-55. In prosecuting the task, tlie autlior has in no instance departed trom tlie story of the narrator, but it was taken ddwn literally as it was trom day to day related. Beck- wourth kej)t no journal, and, of course, relied upon his nunnory alone ; consequently dates arc often wanting, which it was impossible to give with accimicy when recurring to events transpiring in the course of very many years. I^cckwourth is personally known to thousands of people " living on both sides of the mountains," and also, from his service under the United States government, has enjoyed the acquaintance of many officers of the United States Army, who have been stationed in Florida, Mexico, and California. In liis long residence with the Indians he adopted their habits, and was in every respect conformed to their ways : the consequence was, from his gv jat courage and superior mental endowments, he rose rapidly in their estimation, and linally became their chief. As an Indian, therefore, he speaks of their customs, and describes their characteristics ; and probably, from his autobiography, wc have more interesting particulars tJian were ever before given of the aborigines. Bcckwoiirtli, after ten thousand adventures, finally bi'came involved in the stream that set toward the Pa- cific, and, almost unconsciously, he established a home in one of the pleasant valleys that border on Feather River. Discovering a pass in the mountains that rreatlv facilitated omio:rants in reaching* California, hi.-; ino' I'KKFACIC. ^. 1.01.S0 L...e.-„m „ «to,,,,ing.pl,,cc for tl.e wcarv „ncl ,\i.- VMed among then,, «,k1 no cloub, fl,c aisociations < "i« I'l-escn.ca Lave done nu.cl. to efface in.s nalnral 'l..spos,t>on (0 wander and seeK e.xeiten.ent an,on.. ,l,c Indian tribes. " Jn person ],e is of medium I.eioht, of slron.^ mu,eu !» power, ,„ie]c of apprei.ension^and, for a ml, ;;", .ve,„-s, very aetive. Kro,n ids neclc is s.usnnnded h pertoratcd bnlle, witl. „ large o,,long bead a:h s <. of . , secured by a tbread of sinew : ,lds amulet is jus - 1.C wore ^t wldle ciuef among tl,e (Jrows. Wit except,o„ of tlds ,,e l.as now assun.cd tl,e Jl costume of e.vd.zed Ide, and, in Ids occasional visits to tlie diess and mamiers of the refined gentleman. It .s unncecssary to speak of tbe natural superioritr of Ins n„nd : Ins autobiography every where display^ i . H.S sagacity ,n dctcnnining what would please llu. Mians has never been surpassed; for on ,l,e most trv- "ge s of the Inghest order, and probably no man ever i.ved who has met with more personal advent.uen- volvtng danger to life, though in this respect he is not an exception to all mountaineers and hunter W.l e 1,>- engaged ■„ the fur trade and taced the per of' an unknown wilderness. ^ CONTENTS. CIIAPTKR I. Birth-plac-n and Cliildliooil.— Removal to St. Louis Page VA CHAPTER JI. Expedition to the Afincs.— Am Hunter to the Party.— FirHt Trii) to New Orlc-ms. — Sick with Yellow Fever. — Return Home. — First Trip to the Great West ,^^ CHAPTER HI. Return from the deserted Pawnee Villages.— SufTorings on the Way -Prospect of Starvation.-Fall in with the Indians most opportune- ly—Safe Arrival at Ely's Trading-post at the mouth of the Kan- ""^ 28 CHAPTER IV. Severe Suflerings in the Camp.— Grand Island.— Platte River— T^n the South Fork of the Platte.-Thc Dog, the Wolf, and the first liuHalo g^ CHAPTER V. Suflerings on the Plattc.-Arrive at the Rocky Mounlains.-Fall out with General Ashley.— Horses again stolen by the Crow Indians -Sickness of our General.-Rescue of the General from a wound- ed Buflalo. — Remarkable Rescue of the General from the Green River " Suck" 45 CHAPTER VI. We separate into six Detachments, and start out.— Trapping on Green River.— Narrow Escape from a Massacre by the Arrap-a-hos —One Man murdered in Camp.— Retreat.— Fail in with a Detachment of our Company.— Groat Joy at the Meeting.— Return of the Detach- nioiits to (!<(< Plam of Rendezvous at the " Suck" ,>^ VIII I'ONTIINI'S. ClIAPTKll VII. Arrival of rjoncral AhIiIpj- and Party. — His Relation of thnir SufTcr- iiijjH after ieaviiiff the Kciitlezvoiis. — Their Excursion to Salt I.ake. — Fall in with a Fur ('onipany hcforo unknown to theMountainecs. — His final Fortune, and lieturn to St. Louis I'age 70 CHAPTER VHI. ITncxpcotcd Return to tlie Rocky Mountains. — Camp removed. — Final .Success in fnidinir our parly in the Mountains. — .loyful Meetinn;. — Horses stolen by the Pun-nak Indians. — A IJattle, and six Indians killed. — W'c recapture our Horses 9(1 CHAPTER IX. The Company removes from Cache Valley on a Hunting and Trapping Excursion. — Discovery of a Band of Rlack Feet. — A r)attlo ensues with them. — Description of the Battle. — Return to Rendezvous. — Fulfillment of the Medicine Chief's Prophecy 98 CHAPTER X. fircat Battle with the Black Feet. — Departure of General Ashley. — His Farewell Speech to the Mountaineers. — Removal of our Ren- dezvous. — Peace between the Flat Heads and Black Feet. — Trad- ing-post at their Village. — I become Son-in-law to the Black Foot Chief — Trouble in the Family. — Wife punished for Disobedience. — Troubled Waters finally stilled 108 CHAPTER XI. Removal of our Rendezvous. — Battle with our Friends, the Black Feet. — A Race for dear Life. — Great Victory over the Grovan Band of Black Feet ItJC CHAPTER Xn. Departure from the Rendezvous. — Trouble in Camp. — Leave the Party and Traps. — Arrival at the Crow Village. — Great Stir among the Crows. — .loyfuI Meeting with my Crow Parents, Brothers, and Sis- ters. — Three Years without seeing a White Man 142 CHAPTER XHL War between the Crow Nation and other Indian Tribes. — My first Victory as a Crow Indian. — A Melancholy and Sentimental Indian. — Indian Masonry. — Return to Camp. — Great Rejoicing among niv innumerable Relatives. — The Little Wife 15:! • UNTKNTS. IX CHAPTKR XIV ''V.^lcll "st"'" '" ^''V'r""^""^-'^-^'"^»'- Cattle vvul. tlu- cic^l^nnes "'""' "^ ''"" ^^■^^"^'^' i'ort.-Troublc with tho Page 18!* CHAPTER XV. Short Account of Pine Leaf, the Crow Hcroine.-Twcnty Days" Iht wjth to Chov..nnes.-KeturM of the Xilia.e to the w "4l " teountau..s Letter fro.u .M-lvenzie.-ViJit to hi« Tradin,.pns, at the .Mouth of the \ cllow fStone .,<, i ^(M CHAPTER XVI. ^?"!"" ""rf n ''^^'-''T^^ "'• ^'luaws.-Battle with the Bhu-k 1 cc vvul the ( heyennes.-fJreat Sue-ess of the Crows in stealing Ho es.-A successful Fall for licaver.-Return to the Fort with '-iyo CHAPTER XVH. Victory over tlie Cheycnnes.-Treachery of the Snake Indians.-Lo..s of SIX Crow \Varnors^- Victory over the Snakes and Utahs.-A Mountau.eer k.lled.-Trouble in the Wigwan..-! am dis.raced.- Great Sacnhce of my Father's Property.-Three Whipping; for vio- lating Crow Morals.-Great Battle with the Re-ka-ras . ...... ol", CHAPTER XVHI. Departure from the Fort with tlic Crows.-I am elected First Coun- selor of the Aation.-Death of the head Chief-J am appointed Successor.— Last Moments of the Chief o-y CHAPTER XIX. Departure from the Fort-Arrival of Fitzpatrick and Party at the Crow V.llage.-IIair-breadth Escape from a Massacre.-Rescue and Restoration of Property to the Owners.-Departure of the Parlv - My Return to the Fort.-Escape from Black Feet.-Defeat .t' ^he Crows .... 274 CHAPTER XX. Excursion to the Fort.-Arrival of Long Hair's Village.-Building of a new Medicine Lodge.-Triumphar.t Entrance of my little Wife into the Lodge.-Attack on the Crow Village by the Siouxs -Meet ing of the two Crow Villages.-Visit of the Grovans.-\'i.sif to the GrovauR and Fort Clarke X CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXI. AltacUs of t!ic Black Feet on the Fort.— Six White Men killed.— Abamloiiinont of Fort Cass. — Fort constructed at the Mouth of the " Rose Bud." — Removal of the Village. — Peace concluded with the As-nc-bohies. — Hair-breadth Escape. — Death of Mr. Hunter, of Kcn- ti'^^I^y Page 303 CHAPTER XXn. Mofeniic Shower.— Its EiFect upon the Indians.— Their Sacrifice to the (rrcai Spirit. — Continued Hostilities with the Black Feet. — A Black I'oot burned in the Crow Villafrc. — Visit to the Fort ... 317 CHAPTER XXIII. Removal to our Tobacco-ground. — Expedition to the Arrap-a-hos for Horsi'S. — Discovered, and the Party scattered. — Wanderings for fourteen Months.- -Return at last amid tremendous Rejoicing. 325 CHAPTER XXIV. Excursion to the Fort. — Great Battle with the Cheyenncs on the Way. — Rejoicing on my Arrival at the Fort. — Horses stolen by the Chcycinics. — Pursuit and Battle with the Thieves. — Battle with the Black Foot. — Return to our Village 336 CHAPTER XXV. Visit of the whole Crow Nation to the Fort. — Seven Days' Trading and Jlojoicing.- -Separation of the Villages. — Expedition to the Ca- manchcs. — Narrow Escape from their Village. — Battle with the Black Feet. — The Whites assist us with their Cannon. — Captured by the Black Feet. — Recaptured by the Crows. — Final Victory. 346 CHAPTER XXVI. Deputation from the As-ne-boines. — Characteristic Speech of Yellow Belly. — Visit to the Fort. — Visit to Fort Union. — Rescue of Five While Men from Starvation. — Arrival at Fort Cass. — Departure for the Village. — Visit of the Snakes to the Crows 358 CHAPTER XXVII. Departure for St. Louis. — Visit Fort Union. — Fort Clarke. — Descend to the A-rick-a-ra Country. — Am taken Prisoner. — Extraordinary Means of Release. — Reach St. Louis. — Scarcely recognized by my Sisters. — Changes. — Estrangement of Friends. — Sigh for my In- iliaii Home .... n7n CONTENTS. XI CHAPTER XXVIII. Page 383 CHAPTER XXIX. 404 CHAPTER XXX. ^TnZlv t ";"'r— Severe Sickness o„ .he VVay.-ArrivM Trade opened with various Tribes.-Incidenfs . .7^""";^",' CHAPTER XXXf Alarm among afTrade,^ -HveZr u n ",' '° '^ ''"^'-O'eat from Che SioLs.-Safnrrival a. fhe Xt T "''""^''.-^''e'-' »-hos.-A„acked.,aChe,e„;;^:rr:rr;rr:5°."^S CHAPTER XXXII 456 CHAPTER XXXni. TIic Californian Revolution Riflo r^-^ t. • . mies.-Colonel Sut or P Corps^-Position of the two Ar- i-o. v^oionei butter.— Cannonade.— Fliffht of Sutfnr u- u turn.-Trial and subsequent Release ^ S"tter.-H,s Re- 406 CHAPTER XXXIV. Affairs at Santa F6— Insurrection at T^nc n- Batue a. .Ke c..n.-u.^it::^'zz:^:!":^ Xll CONTENTS. -A Mexican Woman redeemed from the Indians —Retu Santa Fe rn to .Page 483 CHAPTER XXXV. ic at Departure for California. —Meeting with the Apaches. — Hostile Threats.— Trouble with the Utahs.— Most terrible Tragedy.— Socie- ty in California. — Adventures with Grizzly Bears 499 CHAPTER XXXVI. Discovery of Bcckwourth's Pass.— No pecuniary Reward for publ Services.— Transformation.— A new Character. — Emigrants u Home and at their Journey's End.— Description of the Happy Val ley. — Interesting Reminiscence 5 14 CHAPTER XXXVII. Mistakes regarding the Character of the Indian.— Extent of the West- ern Tribes —Their Character.- How a War against them should be conducted. — Reflections. — Closing Address to the Indian he- '0'"e 529 to 33 lie e- J9 ic at il- 14 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JAMES P. BECKWOURTE CHAPTER I. Birth-place and Childhood—Removal to St. Louis. I WAS born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on the 26th of Apnl 1798. My lather's fan.il/consisted of tlUr- teen cluldren, seven sons and six daughters. I was the thn-d child, having one sister and one brother older tiian myself. My father had been an officer in the Revolutionary War, and had held a major's commission. lie served throughout that glorious struggle which "Raised the dignity or' man, And taught him to be free.'' I well recollect when a smaU boy, the frequent meet- ings of the old patriots at my father's house, who vvould sit down and relate the different battles in which they had taken part during "those days that tried men s souls." According to the custom of those days, tlieir meetings were occasionally enlivened with some good old peacli brandy; the same kind, I presume, as hat with which the old Tory treated M'Donald when he delivered h.s splendid eliarger " Selim" to him for presentation to Colonel Tarleton, wlucli circumstance was very frequently spoken of by the old soldiers. - Often during tliese reminiscences every eye would 14 AUTORIOGIJAI'IIV OF dim, and tears course down the checks of the old vet- erans, as they thus fought their battles o'er again, and recalled their sufferings during tho struggles thej had passed through. My youthful mind was vividly impressed with the stirring scenes depicted by those old soldiers ; but time and subsequent hardship have obliterated most of their narratives from my memory. One incident I recollect, however, related by my father, when he formed one of a storming party in the attack on Stony Point made under General Wayne. When I was but about seven or eight years of age, my father removed to St. Louis, Missouri, taking with him all his family and twenty-two negroes. lie se- lected a section of land between the forks of the Mis- sissippi and Missouri liivers, twelve miles below St. Charles, which is to this day known as "Beckwourth's Settlement." At this early period of our history (1805-6) the whole region of country around was a " howling wil- derness," inhabited only by wild beasts and merciless savages. St. Louis, at that time, was but a small town, its inhabitants consisting almost wholly of French and Spanish settlers, who were engaged in trafficking with the Indians the commodities of civili- zation, such as Jire-ivater^ beads, blankets, arms, am- munition, &c., for peltry. For protection against the Indians, who were at that time very troublesome and treacherous, it became nec- essary for the whites to construct block-houses at convenient distances. These block-houses were built by the united exertions of the settlers, who began to gather from all quarters since the "Jefferson Purchase" had been eftected from the French government. The JAMES V. BECKWOURTII. 15 i settlers or inhabitants of four adjoining sections would unite and build a block-liouse in the centre of their possessions, so that in case of alarm they could all re- pair to it as a place of refuge from the savages. It was necessary to keep a constant guard on the plantations, and while one portion of the men were at work, the others, with their arms, were on the alert watching the wily Indian. Those days are still fresh in mj^ memory, and it was then that I received, young as I was, the rudiments of my knowledge of the Indian character, which has been of such inestimable value to me in my subsequent adventures among them. There were constant alarms in the neighborhood of some of the block-houses, and hardly a day passed without the inhabitants being compelled to seek them for protection. As an illustration of our mode oi life, I will relate an incident that befell me when about nine years old. One c?ay my father called me to him, and inquired of me whether I thought myself man enough to carry a sack of corn to the mill. The idea of riding a horse, and visiting town, possessed attractions which I could not resist, and I replied wiih a hearty affirmative. A sack of corn was accordingly deposited on the back of a gentle horse selected for the purpose, and " Young Jim" (as I was called) was placed upon the sack, and started for the mill two miles distant. About midway to the mill lived a neighbor having a large family of children, with whom I frequently joined in boyish sports. On my way I rode joyously up to the little fence which separated the house from the road, think- ing to pass a word with my little playmates. What was my horror at discovering all the children, eight in number, from one to fourteen years of age, lying in IG Al TUlJlUUUAJ'lIi OF various positions in the door-yard with tlieir throats cut, their scalps torn otT", and the warm life-blood still oozing from tJieir gaping wounds ! In the door-way lay their father, and near him their mother, in the same condition ; they had all shared the same fate. I found myself soon back at my father's house, but without the sack of corn — how I managed to get it off I never discovered — and related the circumstance to my father. He immediately gave the alarm throughout the settle- ment, and a body of men started in pursuit of the sav- ages wlio had perpetrated this fearful tragedy ; my fa- ther, with ten of his own men, accompanying them. In two days the band returned, bringing with tlicm eighteen Indian scalps ; for the backwoodsman fought the savage in Indian style, and it was scalp for scalp between them. The day when I beheld the harrowing spectacle of my little murdered playmates is still as fresh in my memory as at the time of its occurrence, and it never will fade from my mind. It was the tirst scene of In- dian cruelty my young eyes had ever witnessed, and I wondered how even savages could possess such relent- less minds as to wish to bathe their hands in the blood of little innocents against whom they could have no cause of quarrel. But my subsequent experience has better acquainted me with the Indian character, as the reader will leaiu in the course of the following pages. I also recollect a large body of Indians assembling in their war costume on the opposite side of the Mis- sissippi River, in what is now the State of Illinois. This was at Portage de Soix, twenty-five miles above St. Louis, and about two miles from my father's house ; and their intention was to cut oif all the white inhab- itants of the surrounding country. The alarm was a lAMKS I'. HKCKWOIRTII. I given ; a large party of the settlers collected, crossed the river, and after a severe engagement defeated the Indians with great loss, and frustrated their bloody purposes. Three days after this battle, a woman came into the settlement who had been three years captive among the Indians. Slie had made her escape during the con- fusion attending their defeat, and reached her friends in safety, after they had long supposed her dead. The name of this woman I do not remember, but I have no doubt tliere arc old settlers in that region who yet rec- ollect the circumstance and the general rejoicing with which her escape was celebrated. The news that she brought was of the most alarm- ing nature. She related ho// several of the Indian tribes liad held a grand council, and resolved upon a general attack upon 8t. Louis and all the surrounding country, witli the view to butcher indiscriminately all the wliite inhabitants, French and Spanish excepted. This intelligence produced the greatest alarm among the inhabitants, and every preparation was made to repel the attack. New block-houses were erected, old ones repaired, and every thing placed in the best pos- ture for defense. The Indians soon after appeared in great force opposite St. Louis. Blondo, an interpreter, was dispatched across the river to them, to inform them of the preparations made for their reception. He in- formed them of the intelligence communicated by the woman fugitive from their camp ; and represented to them that the people of St. Louis were provided with numerous "big guns mounted on wagons," whicli, in case of attack, could not fail to annihilate all their war- riors. They credited Blondo's tale, and withdrew their forces. 18 AUTOllIOGUAPIIY ()!-' At the period of which I speak, the major part of tlie inhabitants of St. Louis were French and Spanish. These were on friendly terms with all the Indian tribes, and wished to confine their long-established trafiic with the lied men to themselves. For this rea- son they discountenanced the settlement of Americans among them, as they considered it an invasion of their monopoly of the traffic with the Indians ; and St. Louis being the grand trading depot for the regions of the "West and Northwest, the jirotits derived from the in- tercourse were immense. The Indians, too, thinking themselves better dealt with by the French and Span- ish, united with the latter in their hostility to the in- flux of the Americans. When about ten years of age I was sent to St. Lou- is to attend school, where I continued until the year 1812. I was then apprenticed to a man in St. Louis named George Casner, to learn the trade of blacksmith. (Tliis man had a partner named John L. Sutton, who is yet a resident in St. Louis.) I took to the trade with some unwillingness at first, but becoming reconciled to it, T was soon much pleased with my occupation. When I had attained my nine- teenth year, my sense of importance had considerably expanded, and, like many others of my age, I felt my- self already quite a man. Among other indiscretions, I became enamored of a young damsel, which, leading me into habits that my boss disapproved of, resulted finally in a difficulty between us. Being frequently tempted to transgress my boss's rules by staying from home somewhat late of an even- ing, and finding the company I spent my time with so irresistibly attractive that I could not bring myself to obedience to orders, I gave way to my passion, and JAMKS P. JiECKWOUIlTII. lU d i felt indifferent whether my proceedings gave satisfac- tion or otherwise. One morning I was assailed by my principal in language which I considered unduly harsh and insulting, and on his threatening to dismiss me his house, I was tempted to reply with some warmth, and acknowledge that his doing so would exactly square with my wishes. Provoked at this, he seized a hammer and flung at rae. I dodged the missile, and threw it back at him in return. A scuffle then ensued, in which I, being young and athletic, came off mi . ter of the ground, and, accepting his polite dismissal, walked straight to my boarding-house. But a few moments elapsed before my assailant walked ii and forbade my landlady to entertain me farther on his account. I replied that I had plenty of money, and was com- petent to pay my own board. This provoked him to a second attack, in which he again came off worsted. Hereupon resolving to leave the house, I began to prepare for my departure ; but, before I had completed my preparations, a one-armed constable presented him- self at the stairs, and demanded to see me. Well knowirg his errand, I took a well-loaded pistol in my hand, and went to meet him, assuring him that if he ascended the steps to capture me I would shoot him dead. In my exasperated state of mind, I really be- lieve I should have executed my threat ; the consta- ble, perceiving my resolute bearing, after parleying a while, went away. Feeling confident that he had gone for another officer, who I feared might capture me, I expedited my departure, and, taking refuge in the house of a friend, concealed myself for three days, and thcu shipped on board a keel-boat, proceeding to the mines 20 Al'TOIUOGJJAIMIV OF on I''cvor River. But I was discovered by my boss and detained, lie holding IiiniHclf responsible for my ai)pcaranee until my father's decision was learned. Accordingly, 1 went home to my father, and related the difliculty 1 had recently had with my master, lie counseled me to return to my apprenticeship, but I de- clared my determination never to be reconciled again. My father then wished me to set up in business in his settlement, but I exj)ressed disinclination, and declared a growing wish to travel. Seeing my determination, my fatlier linally consented to my departure. He ad- monished me with some wholesome precepts, gave me five hundred dollars in cash, together with a good horse, saddle, and bridle, and bade me God speed upon my journey. Bidding adieu to all my friends, I proceeded to the boat and went on board. The object for which the boat was dispatched up the 1^'evcr Kiver was to make a treaty with the Sac Indians, to gain their consent to our working the mines, at that time in their possession. Tiie expedition was strictly of a pacific character, and was led by Colcnel R. M. Johnson. A brother of the coloneFs accompanied us, and several other gentlemen went in the boat as passengers. JAMES I'. BECK WUi; Kill. 21 CHAPTER II. Expedition to the Mines. — Ain Hunter to the Party. — First Trip to New Orleans. — Sick with Vcllow I'evcr. — Return Home. — First Trip to the Great West. The expedition consisted of from s' x to eight boats, eaiTying probably about one hundred men. The par- ty in our boat numbered some eight or ten men, among whom were Colonel Johnson, his son Darwin Johnson, ]\Icssrs. January, Simmes, Kennerley, and others, whose names have escaped me. 1 engaged in the capacity of hunter to the party. We pushed olf, and after a slow and tedious trip of about twenty days, arrived at our place of destination (Cralena of the present day). We found Indians in great numbers awaiting our disembarkation, who were already acquainted with the object of our expedition. The two tribes. Sacs and Foxes, received us peacea- bly, but, being all armed, they presented a very formi- dable appearance. There was a considerable force of United States troops quartered in that region, under the command of Colonel Morgan, stationed in detach- ments at Prairie du Chien, Rock Island, St. Peter's, iind Des ]\Ioines. After nine days' parleying, a treaty was effected with them, and ratified by the signatures of the contracting parties. On the part of the Indians, it was signed by Black Thunder, Yellow, Bank, and Keokuk (father to (he Keokuk who figured in the Blac.'t Hawk war). On the part of the United States, Colonels Morgan and Johnson attached their signatures. This negotiation 22 Al.TOlJKMiltArilV Ol concludod, tlic mines were tlicn first opened for eivil- i/xd enterpriHC. During the settlement of the preliminaries of the treaty, there was great diffieulty with the Indians, and it was neeessary for each man of our party to he on his guard against any hostile attempts of the former, who were all armed to the teeth. On the distribution of l)resents, wliicli followed the conclusion of the treaty, consisting of casks of whisky, guns, gunpowder, knives, Markets, &c., there was a general time of rejoicing. Pow-wows, drinking, and dancing diversified the time, and a few fights were indulged in as a sequel to the entertainment. The Indians soon became very friendly to me, and I was indebted to them for showing me their choicest hunting-grounds. There was abundance of game, in- cluding deer, bears, wild turkey, raccoons, and numer- ous other wild animals. Frequently they would ac- company me on my excursions (which always proved eminently successful), thus affording me an opportuni- ty of increasing my per=*onal knowledge of the Indian character. I have lived among Indians in the Eastern and Western States, on the Rocky JMountains, and in California ; I find their habits of living, and their re- ligious belief, substantially uniform through all the un- mingled races. All believe in the same Great Spirit ; all have their prophets, their medicine men, and their soothsayers, and are alike influenced by the appear- ance of omens; thus leading to the belief that the orig- inal tribes throughout the entire continent, from Flori- da to the most northern coast, have sprung from one stock, and still retain in some degree of purity the so- cial constitution of their jmmitive founders. I remained in that region for a space of eighteen .lAMKs 1'. ni:('KW<u;in'ii. •It inoiitli.s, occu])yiiig my leisure time by working in the, uiincM. During tiii.s time I accunnilutcd Hevcn hund- red dollars in cash, and, feeling myself to be (piite a wealthy personage, I determined upon a return home. ]\[y visit paid, I felt a disposition to roam farther, and took passage in the si am-boat Calhoun, Captain Glover, aljout to descend the river to New Orleans. j\Iy stay in New Orleans lasted ten days, during which time r was sick witli the yellow fever, which f con- tracted on the way from Natchez to New Orleans. It was midsunmier, and I sought to return home, hearti- ly regretting 1 had ever visited this unwholesome place. As my sickness abated, T lost no time in making my way back, and remained under my father's roof until J had in some measure recruited my forces. Being possessed with a strong desire to sec the cel- ebrated Kocky IMountains, and the great Western wil- derness so much talked about, I engaged in ( leneral Ashley's Rocky jMountain Fur Company. The com- pany consisted of twenty-nine men, who were employ- ed by the Fur Company as hunters and trappers. We started on the 11th of October with horses and pack-mules. Nothing of interest occurred until we approached the Kansas village, situate on the Kansas Tliver, when we came to a halt and encamped. Here it was found that the company was in need of horses, and General Ashley wished for two men to vol- unteer to proceed to the Republican Pawnees, distant three imndred miles, where he declared we could obtain a supply. There was in our party an old and expe- rienced mountaineer, named Moses Harris, in whom the general reposed the strictest confidence for his knowledge of the country and his familiarity with In- dian life. This Harris was reputed to be a man of 24 VLTOUlOGKArin (JF "'great leg,"* and capable, from liis long sojourning in the mountains, of enduring extreme privation and fa- tigue. There seemed to be a great reluctance on the part of the men to undertake in such company so hazardous ji journey (for it was now winter). It was also whis- pered in the camp that whoever gave out in an expe- dition with Karris received no succor from him, but was abandoned to his fate in the wilderness. Our leader, seeing this general unwillingness, de- sired me to perform the journey with Harris. Being young, and feeling ambitious to distinguish myself in some important trust, I asked leave to have a word witli Harris before I decided. Harris being called, the following colloquy took 2)lacc : " Harris, I think of accompanying you on this trip." " Very well, Jim," he replied, scrutinizing me close- ly, " do you think you can stand it ?" *'I don't know," I answered, "but I am going to try. But I wish you to bear one thing in mind : if I should give out on the road, and you olftei* to leave me to perish, as you have ''lie name of doing, if I have strength to raise and cock my rifle, I shall certainly bring you to a halt." Harris looked me full in the eye while he replied, "■'Jim, you may precede me the entire way, and take your own jog. If I direct the path, and give you the lead, it will be your own fault if you tire out." "That satisfies me," I replied: "we will be oif in the morning." The following morning wc prepared for departure. Each man loading himself with twenty-five pounds of * J. e.. a great traveler ; able to go a great distance in u Hay. JAMES P. BECKWOITKTH. 5y in, suppoi=!inp; he would follow- I swam under wa- ter as far as i could, to avail myself of the under cur- rent (tliis mode is always prr.cticed by the Indians in crossing a rapid stream). I struck the bluff a few Teet above the general. After taking breath for a moment or tw^o, I said to him (by the way, he was no swim- mer), " There is only one way I can possibly save you, and I may fail in that ; but you must follow my directions in the most minute degree, or we are certain- ly both lost." "Any thing you say, James, I will follow," said he. " Then," I continued, " when I Hoat down to you, place your hands on my shoulder, and do not take hold of my neck. Then, when I give you the word, kick out with all your might, and we may possibly get across." I then let myself down to the general, who was clinging to the rocks like a swallow. He did as I had directed, and I started, he kicking in my rear like the stern-wheel of a propeller, until I was obliged to bid him desist ; for, with such a double propelling power as w^e produced, I could not keep my mouth out of water. We swam to within a few yards of the oppo- site shore, where the main suck caught us, and, my strength becoming exhausted, we began slowly to re- cede from the shore toward inevitable death. At this moment Fitzpatrick thrust a long pole toward us, to the end of which he attached a rope which the party on shore retained possession of. I seized the pole with a death-grip, and we were hauled out of our perilous situation ; a few moment's delay, and the world had seen the last of us. • After this rescue, the general remarked to Fitzpat- rick, "That Beckwourth is surely one of the most sin- ()(J AITOniOrJKAIMlV OK gular men 1 ever met. I do not know what to think of liirn ; lie never speaks to me excc})t when absolute- ly unavoidable ; still, he is the first and only man to encounter peril on my behalf. Three times he has now saved my life when not another man attempted to succor me. He is a problem I can not possibly solve." Agreeably to previous arrangement, on the following morning our company proposed to disperse in different directions. While preparing to leave our comfortable camp to take our chance in the mountains, I happen- ing to be out among the stock, the general inquired for me, and I was pointed out to him where I stood. "He is a singular being," he exclaimed; "he knows we arc about to separate, yet he does not trou- ble himself to come and bid me good-by. I must go to him." Approaching me, he said, "James, we are now about to part ; these toilsome enterprises in the mountains are extremely hazardous ; although I hope to see you again, perhaps we may never meet more. I am un- der great obligations to you. You have several times rescued me from certain death, and, by your skill in hunting, you have done great service to my camp. When my mind was irritated and harassed, I was be- trayed into the use of language toward you which I regretted immediately after, and still regret. I wish you to forgive me, and desire to part in friendship. So long as you continue to use the same precaution you have hitherto used, I can securely hope you will escape all accident, and look forward to meeting you again under more auspicious circumstances ;" and he con- cluded by bidding me good-by. I bade him good-by, and we separated. JAMES P. ItECKWOUKTII. 25 provisions, besides a blanket, rifle, and ammunition each, "\ve started on our journey. After a march of about thirty miles, I in advance, my companion bring- ing up the re ,r, Harris complained of fatigue. V'e halted, and Iltrris sat down, while I built a large, cheer- ing fire, for the atmosphere was quite cold. We made coffee, and partook of a hearty supper, lightening our packs, as we supposed, for the following day. But while I was bringing in wood to build up the fire, I saw Harris tioize his rifle in great haste, and the next moment bring down a fat turkey from a tree a few rods from the camp. Immediately reloading (for olC mount- aineers never suffer tlieir guns to remain empty for one moment), while I was yet rebuilding the fire, crack went his rifle again, and down came a second turkey, so large and fat that he burst in striking the ground. We were thus secure for our next morning's meal. After we had refieshed ourselves with a hearty supper, my companion proposed that we should kill each a turkey to take with us for our next day's provision. This we both succeeded in doing, and then, having dressed the four turkeys, we folded ourselves in our blankets, and enjoyed a sound night's rest. The following morning we breakfasted off the choicest portions of two of the turkeys, and abandoned the remainder to the wolves, who had been all night prowling round the camp for prey. We started for- ward as early as possible, and advanced that day about forty miles. My companion again complained of fa- tigue, and rested while I made a fire, procured water, and performed all the culinary work. The selected portions of last evening's turkeys, with the addition of bread and coffee, supplied us with supper and breakfast. After a travel often days we arrived at the Repub- B 26 AUTOHIOGKAIMIY O'' lican Pawnee villages, when what was our consterna- tion and Uifc-'may to lind the place entirely deserted I They had rcMioved to their winter quarters. We were entirely out oi provisions, having expected to find abundance at the lodges. We searched diligently for tlicir caches ([)laces where provisions are secured), but failed in discovering any. Our only alternative was to look for game, which, so near to an Indian settle- ment, we were satisfied must be scarce. I would break my narrative for a while to afford some explanation in regard to the different bands of the Pawnee tribe ; a subject which at the present day is but imperfectly understood by the general reader — the knowledge being confined to those alone v/ho, by living among them, have learned their language, and hence become acquainted with the nature of their di- visional lands. The reader, perhaps, has remarked, that 1 related we were on a visit to Hepublican Pawnee villages. This is a band of the Pawnee tribe of Indians, which is thus divided : The Grand Pawnee Band. Republican Pawnee Band. Pawnee Loups or Wolf Pawnees. Pawnee Pics or Tattooed Pawnees, and Black Pawnees. The five bands constitute the entire tribe. Each band is independent and under its own chief, but for mutual defense, or in other eases of urgent necessity, they unite into one body. They occupy an immense extent of country, stretching from beyond the Platte River to south of the Arkansas, and, at the time I speak of, could raise from thirty thousand to forty thousand warriors. Like all other Indian tribes, they have li (( (( (( I JAAIES 1\ liECKWOUKTH. 27 Ind lal lite lof to |of, Ind Ive dwindled away from various causes, the small-pox and war having carried them oft' by thousands. Some of the hands have been reduced to one half by this fatal disease (in many instances introduced designedly among them by their civilized brethren) ; a disease more particularly fatal to the Indians from their entire ignorance of any suitable remedy. Their invariable treatment for all ailments being a cold-water immer- sion, it is not surprising tliat they are eminently un- successfid in their treatment of the small-pox. Horse- stealing, practiced by one band upon the other, leads to exterminating feuds and frequent engagements, wherein great numbers are mutually slain. The following interesting episode I liad from the lips of the interpreter : Some thirty-two years ago, during IMonroe's admin- istration, a powerful Indian named Tiw Axe^ chief counselor of the Pa\\ nee Loup band, went to pay his " Great Father," the President, a visit. He was over six feet high and well proportioned, athletic build, and us straight as an arrow. He was delegated to Wash- ington by his tribe to make a treaty with his Great Leather. Being introduced, his "father" made known to him, through the interj)reter, the substance of his proposal. The keen-witted Indian, perceiving that the proposed treaty " talked all turkey" to the white man and " all crow" to his tribe, sat patiently during the reading of the paper. The reading finished, he arose with all his native dignity, and in that vein of true Indian elo- quence in which he was unsurpassed, declared that the treaty had been conceived in injustice and brought forth in duplicity ; that many treaties had been signed by Indians of their " Great Father's" concoction, where- 28 ALTOBIOGllAPIir OF in they bartered away the graves of their fathers for a few worthless trinkets, and afterward their hearts cried at their folly ; that such Indians were fools and women. lie expressed his free opinion of the " Great Father," and all his white children, and concluded by declaring that he would sign no paper which would make his own breast or those of his people to sorrow. Accordingly, Two Axe broke uj) the council abrupt- ly, and returned to his home without making any treaty with his " Great Father." CHAPTER III. Return from the deserted Pawnee Villages. — Sullcrings on the Way. — Prospect of Starvation. — Fall in with the Indian.s most opportune- ly. — Safe Arrival at Ely's Trading-post at the moutli of the Kansas. My companion and myself took counsel together how to proceed. Our determination was to make the best of our way to the Grand Ne-mah-haw River, one of the tributaries of the JMissouri. We arrived at that river after nine days' travel, being, with the exception of a little coffee and sugar, entirely without provisions. My companion was worn out, and seemed almost dis- heartened. I was young, and did not feel much the worse for the journey, although I experienced a vehe- ment craving for food. Arrived at the river, I left Harris by a good lire, and, taking my rifle, went in quest of game, not caring what kind 1 met. As Fortune would have it, I came across an elk, and my rifle soon sent a leaden messenger after him. We encamped near him, promising ourselves a feast. He was exceedingly poor, however, and, hungry as we were, we made a very unsavory supper oflf his flesh. lAMKS i\ HE(JK\V<Hli'ni. 29 Ik, } The next morning wc continued our journey down the Nc-mah-haw, traveling on tor live days after I had kill- ed the elk without tasting food. The elk had been so rank that we carried no part of him with us, trusting to find some little game, in which wc were disappoint- ed. Wc had thrown away our blankets to relieve ourselves of every burden that would impede our prog- ress, which, withal, was extremely slow. On tlie fifth day we struck a large Indian trail, which bore evident marks of being fresh. ^ly com- panion now gave entirely up, and threw himself to the ground, declaring he could go no farther, lie pro- nounced our position to be thirty miles from the trad- ing-post. I endeavored to arouse him to get uj) and proceed onward, but he could only advance a few rods at a time. I felt myself becoming weak ; still, I had fnitli that I could reach Ely's, if I had no hinderance ; if I lingered for Harris, I saw wc should both inevi- tably perisli. He positively declared he could advance not a step farther ; he could scarcely put one foot be- fore the other, and I saw he was becoming bewildered. In the dilemma I said to him, " Harris, we must hotli perish if we stay here. If I make tiie best of my way along this trail, I believe I can reacli July's some time in the night" (for I was aware that the In- dians, whose trail we were following, were proceeding thither with their peltry). But Harris would not listen to it. "Oh, Jim," he exclaimed, " don't leave me; don't leave me here to die I For God's sake, stay with me ! " I did my best to encourage him to proceed ; I as- sisted him to rise, and we again proceeded upon our journey. I snw, by the progress we were making, we should :$(> ai:toht()(}rapiiy of never get on ; so 1 told liim, if 1 had to advance and leave him, to throw himself in the trail, and await my return on the following day with a good horse to carry him to the trading-post. We walked on, I a hundred yards in advance, but I became convinced that if I did not use my remaining strength in getting to Ely's, we should both be lost. Accordingly, summoning all my forces, I doubled my speed, determined to reach the post before I stop- ped. I had not proceeded half a mile ere 1 heard tlie report of two rifles, and, looking in the direction of the sound, 1 saw two Indians approaching with demonstra- tions of friendship. On reaching me, one of them exclaimed, "You are dead — you no live!" I explained to him that I had left my companion behind, and that we were both nearly starved to death. On this they spoke a few words to each other in their own language, and one started off like a race-horse, along the trail, while the other returned with me to my companion. As we approached him I could hear him moaning, "IIo, Jim! comeback! comeback! don't leave me!" We went up to him, and I informed him that we were safe ; that I had met the Indians, and we should soon be relieved. After waiting abou"; three hours, the rattling of hoofs was heard, and, looking up, we discovered a troop of Indians approaching at full speed. In another moment they were by our side. They brought with them a portion of light food, consisting of corn-meal made into a kind of gruel, of which they would give us but a small spoonful at short intervals. When Harris was sufficiently restored to mount a horse with the assist- JAMES I». IJECKWOURTII. 31 ancc of the Indians, we all started forward for the post. It appeared that the two Indians whom I had so fortunately encountered had lingered behind the main party to amuse themselves with target-shooting with their riilcs. Tlie one that started along the trail over- took the main body at a short distance, and, making our case known to them, induced them to return to our succor. We encamped with them that night, and they con- tinued the same regimen of small periodic doses of gruel. Several times a large Indian seized hold of an arm of each of us, and forced us into a run until our strength was utterly exhausted. Others of the party would then support us on each side, and urge us on till their own strength failed them. After this discipline, a spoonful or two of gruel would be admin- istered to us. This exercise being repeated several times, they at length placed before us a large dish con- taining venison, bear-meat, and turkey, with tlie invi- tation to eat all we wanted. It is unnecessary to say that I partook of such a meal as I never remember to have eaten before or since. Early the next day we arrived at the trading-post of Ely and Curtis, situate on the Missouri River, near the mouth of the Kansas. As I entered tlie house, I heard some one exclaim, *' Here comes Jim Beck- wourth and Black Ha ■ is," the name he went by where he was known. Ely sprang up to welcome us. *' Sure enough," said he, "it is they; but they look like corpses." Another voice exclaimed, "Halloo, Jim I what is the matter with you? Is it yourselves, or only your ghosts ? Come along and take some brandy, any way ; living or dead, you must be dry." 'A2 AITOimKSUAI'FCY Ol' Wc accepted the invitation, and took cacli a glass, wliicli, in our greatly reduced state, quite overpowered us. Left to my reflections, I resolved that, it' 1 sur- vived ray present dangers, 1 would return to civilized life. The extremities I had been reduced to had so moderated my resentments that, had I encountered my former dosfi, 1 should certainly have extended my hand to him with ready forgiveness. The Indians we had so opportunely fallen in with belonged to the Kansas band of the Osage tribe, and were on the way, as we had surmised, to dispose of their goods at the trading-post. Their wares consist- ed principally of peltry, obtained by their sagacity in trapping, and their skill in hunting the wild animals of the plains. In purchasing their skins of them, Messrs. Ely and Curtis rewarded the Indians very lib- erally with government atores for their humanity in succoring us when exhausted, and as an encouragement to relieve others whom they might chance to find sim- ilarly distressed. After thoroughly recruiting at the trading-post, where I received every attention from Messrs. Ely and Curtis, I started for St. Louis. On my arrival at G. Chouteau's trading-post, I calculated the intervening distance to St. Louis, and abandoned my intention of proceeding thither, delaying my return till the spring, when the ice would break up in the Missouri. Mr. Chouteau engaged me to assist in packing peltries dur- ing the winter, at twenty-five dollars per month. When the river was free from ice, I took passage in a St. Louis boat, and, after a quick run, arrived safe in the city early in the evening of the fifth day. Shortly after my arrival I fell in with General Ash- ley, who had returned to the city for more men. The gcnl % i me wIk dcclj afteil tiic .JAMKS I'. llECKWOUUTrr. :i:l gcu.ral was greatly surprised to sec nic, Iic having cone iuded that my fate liad been the same with hund- reds (t* others, engaged to fur companies, who liad per- ished with cold and starvation. The general informed me that he had engaged one hundred and twenty men, who were already on their road to the mountains, lie declared I was just the man he was in search of to ride after and overtake the men, and accompany them to the mountains, and added that I must start the next morning. My feelings were somewhat similar to those of a young sailor on his return from his first voyage to sea. I liad achieved one trip to the wild West, and had returned safe, and now I was desirous of spend- ing a long interval with my father. I suffered the ar- guments of the old general to prevail over mc, how- ever, and I re-engaged to him, with the promise to start on the following morning. This afforded me short time to visit my friends, to whom I just paid a flying visit, and returned to the city in the morning. After attending to the general's instructions, and receiving eight hundred dollars in gold to carry to Mr. Fitzpatrick (an agent of General Ashley then station- ed in the mountains), I mounted a good horse, and put on in pursuit of the party, who were five or six days' journey in advance. I may here remark that the general had been re- cently mnrriod, and, feeling some reluctance to tear himself away from the delights of Hymen, he sent me on for the performance of his duties. The general followed after in about a week, and overtook the party at Franklin, on the Missouri. It was early May when I commenced my journey. Unfolding Nature presented so many charms that my B2 JM MTOHKHJHAFMIV < H' j)rcviouH suftbrings were obliterated tVom my iniinl. Tlic trees were clothing theniselveH with freshest ver- dure, flowers were unveiling their beauties on every side, und birds were caroling their sweetest songs from every bough. These sights and sounds struck more pleasantly upon my senses than the Iiowl of the wolf and the scream of the ])anthcr, which assailed our cars in the forests and prairies of the wild West. After being joined by our general, we proceeded up the ]\rissouri to Council I Muffs, and thence struck out for the J Matte country. Soon after our arrival on the riatto we had the great misfortune to lose nearly all our horses, amountin^]j to about two hundred head, stolen from us by the Indians. \Vc followed their trail for some time, but, deeming it useless to follow mounted Indians while wc were on foot, our general gave up the pursuit. Wc could not ascertain what tribe the robbers belonged to, but I have since l)cen convinced they were either the I-a-tans or the Arrap- a-hos. Our general then gave orders to return to the ]\Iis- Rouri and purchase all. the horses wc needed, while he returned to St. Louis to transact some affairs of busi- ness, and possibly pay his devotions to his very esti- mable lady. Wc succeeded in obtaining a supply of horses after retracing about two hundred miles of our journey, pay- ing for them with drafts upon General Ashley in St. Louis. We then again returned to our camp on the Platte. This adventure occupied nearly the whole summer ; and we guarded against a repetition of the misfortune by strictly watching the horses day and night. While a portion of the company were engaged in making purchase of our second supply of horses, the 1 ■• Li .h\Mm v, luxKwuruTii. 85 othor portion rcniuinoil on tlu' ground to hunt and trap, and gatlicr tocjotlmr a .'supply ot' [)rovision tor our <'Oii- Huniption. Tliiiy nici "vvith oxcjdiirnt success, and cauglit a great innnbcr of bcavcrn and otters, together with a quantity of game. General Ashley rijoincd us in September, and by liis orders Fitzpatriek and a Robert Campbell pro- ceeded to the Ijoup fork, taking with them all the men, except eight, avIio remained behind with the general, to ascend the Platte in (piest of the company he left there the preceding winter, from which Harris and my- self had been detached on our expedition to the J*aw- ncc camp. After several days' travel we found the company wc were seeking. They were all well, had been success- ful in traj)ping, and had made some good trades with straggling parties of Indians in the exchange of goods for peltry. They had lured rather hard a part of the time, as game, which was their sole dependence, was often difficult to obtain. I should here mention that we found Harris in the course of our second trip, who rejoined our company, well and hearty. Fur companies in those days had to depend upon their rifles for a supply of food. No company could possibly caiTy provisions sufficient to last beyond the most remote white settlements. Our food, therefore, consisted of deer, wild turkeys (which were found in great abundance), bear-meat, and, even in times of scarcity, dead liorses. Occasionally a little flour, sug- ar, and coflee might last over to the mountains ; but those who held these articles asked exorbitant prices for them, and it was but few who tasted such luxuries. We were now in the buffalo country, but the In- 36 ACTOBKMiKAIMlY oK dians had driven thorn all away. Before wc left the settlcmcnits, our party niudc free use of the bee-hives, pigs, and poultry belonging to the settlers ; a maraud- ing practice commonly hidulged in by the mountain- eers, who well knew that the strength of their party secured them against any retaliation on the part of the sufferers. I'here were two Spaniards in our company, whom we one morning left behind ns to catch som ^ horses whi :h had strayed away i'rom the camp. The two men stopped at a house inhabited by a respectable white woman, and they, seemg her without protection, com- mitted a disgraceful assault upon her person. They were pursued to the camp by a number of the settlers, who made known to us the outrage committed U})on the woman. We all regarded the crime with the ut- most abhorrence, and felt mortiiied that any of our party should be guilty of conduct so revolting. The culprits were arrested, and they at once admitted their guilt. A council was called in the presence of the set- tlers, and the culprits offered their choice of two pun- ishments : either to be hung to the nearest tree, or to receive one hundred lashes each on the bare back. They chose the latter punishment, which was imme- diately inflicted upon them by four of our party. Hav- ing no cat-o'-nine-tails in our possession, the lashes were inflicted with hickory withes. Their backs were dreadfully lacerated, and the blood flowed in streams to the ground. The following morning the two Span- iards, and two of our best horses, were missing from the camp ; we did not pursue them, but, by the tracks we discovered of them, it was evident they had started for New Mexico. JAMES \\ I{i:(;KW()rRTH. M CIIAPTEU IV. Severe Sufferings in the Camp. — Grand Island. — Platte River. — Vp the South Fork of the Platte. — The Dog, the Wolf, and the firnt Buffalo. On our arrival at tlie upper camp, related in the pre- ceding chapter, we found the men, twenty-six in num- ber, reduced to short r.ations, in weakly condition, nnd in a discouraged state of mind. They had been ex- pecting the arrival of a large company with abundant supplies, and when we rejoined them without any pro- visions, they were greatly disappointed. General Ash- ley exerted himself to infuse fresh courage into their disconsolate breasts, well knowing himself, however, tliat, unless we could find game, the chances were hard against us. We remained in camp three or four days, until wc were well refreshed, and tlien deliberated upon our next proceeding. Knowing there must be game far- ther up the river, we moved forward. Our allowance was half a pint of flour a day per man, which wc made into a kind of gruel ; if we happened to kill a duck or a goose, it was shared as fairly as possible. T re- called to mind the incidents of our Pawnee expedition. The third evening we made a halt for a few days. We had seen no game worth a charge of powder dur- ing our whole march, and our rations were confined to the half pint of flour per day. We numbered thirty-four men, all told, and a dull- er encampment, I suppose, never was witnessed. jNo jokes, no fire-side stories, no fun ; each man rose in 38 Al'TOmOGUAlMlY OF the morning witli the gloom of" the precedhig night fill- ing his mind ; we huilt our fires and partook of our scanty repast without saying a word. At last our general gave orders for the best hunters to sally out and try their fortune. 1 seized my rifle and issued from the camp alone, feeling so reduced in strength that my mind involuntarily reverted to the extremity I had been reduced to with Harris. About three hundred yards from camp I saw two teal ducks ; I leveled my rifle, and handsomely decapitated one. This was a temptation to my constancy ; and appetite and conscientiousness had a long strife as to the dis- posal of the booty. I reflected that it would be but an inconsiderable trifle in my mess of four hungry men, while to roast and eat him myself would give me strength to hunt for more. A strong inward feel- ing remonstrated against such an invasion of the rights of my starving messmates ; but if, by fortifying my- self, I gained ability to procure something more sub- stantial than a teal duck, my dereliction would be suf- ficiently atoned, and my overruling appetite, at the same time, gratified. Had I admitted my messmates to the argument, they might possibly have carried it adversely. But I received the conclusion as valid ; so, roasting him without ceremony in the bushes, I devoured the duck alone, and felt greatly invigorated with the meal. Passing up the stream, I pushed forward to fulfill my obligation. At the distance of about a mile from the camp I came across a narrow deer-trail through some rushes, and directly across the trail, with only the centre of his body visible (his two extremities be- ing hidden by the rushes), not more than fifty yards distant, I saw a fine large buck standing. I did not I I AMES P. HErKWOUHTII. m Wc'iit for a nearer shot. 1 fired, and broke his back. I dispatched him by drawing ray knife across his throat, and, having partially dressed him, hung him on a tree close by. J'rocceding onward, 1 met a large white wolf, attracted, probably, by the scent of the deer. 1 shot him, and, depriving him of his meal, de- voted him for a repast to the camp. Before I return- ed, 1 succeeded in killing three good-sized elk, which, added to the former, allbrded a pretty good display of meat. I then returned near enough to the camp to signal to them to come to my assistance. They had heard the reports of my rifle, and, knowing that I would not waste ammunition, had been expecting to sec me re- turn with game. All who were able turned out to my summons ; and when they saw the booty awaiting them, their faces were irradiated with joy. Each man shouldered his load ; but there was not one capable of carrying the weight of forty pounds. The game being all brought into camp, the fame of "Jim Bcckwourth" was celebrated by all tongues. Amid all this gratulation, I could not separate my thoughts from the duck which had supplied my clan- destine meal in the bushes. I suffered them to ap- pease their hunger with the proceeds of my toil before I ventured to tell my comrades of the offense I had been guilty of. All justified my conduct, declaring my conclusions obvious. As it turned out, my proceed- ing was right enough ; but if I had failed to meet with any game, I had been guilty of an offense which would, ever after, have haunted me. At this present time I never kill a duck on my ranclie, and there are thousands of teal duck there, but I think of my feast in the bushes while my compan- 40 AlITOniOGHAlMIV i)V li ions were fainisliinc^ in tlio camp. Since tliat time 1 have never refused to share my last shiiHng, my last biscuit, or my only blanket with a friend, and 1 think the recollection of that " temptation in the wilderness" will ever serve as a lesson to more constancy in the future. The day following we started forward up the river, and, after progressing some four or hve miles, came in sight of plenty of deer-sign. The general ordered a halt, and directed all hunters out as before. We sal- lied out in diftcrent directions, our general, who was a good hunter, forming one of the luimber. At a sliort distance' from the camp I discovered a large buck pass- ing slowly between myself and the cam^), at about pis- tol-shot distance. As I happened to be standing against a tree, he had not seen me. I fired ; the ball passed through his body, and whizzed past the camp. Leaving him, I encountered^ a second deer within three quarters of a mile. I sliot him, and hung him on a limb. Encouraged with my success, I climbed a tree to get a fairer view of the ground. Looking around from my elevated position, I perceived some large, dark-colored animal grazing on the side of a hill, some mile and a half distant. 1 was determined to have a shot at him, whatever he might be. I knew meat was in demand, and that fellow, well stored, was worth more than a thousand teal ducks. I therefore approached, with the greatest precaution, to within fair rifle-shot distance, scrutinizing him very closely, and still unable to make out what he was. I could see no horns ; and if he was a bear, I thought him an enormous one. I took sight at him over my faithful rifle, which had never failed me, and then set it down, to contemplate the huge animal still farther. Fii I ed JAMES r. BECKWOIRTll. 41 II Finally, I resolved to let fly ; taking good aim, I jnill- ed trigger, the rifle cracked, and 1 then made rapid re- treat toward the camp. After running about two hund- red yards, and nearing nothing in movement behind me, I ventured to look round, and, to my great joy, I saw the animal had fallen. Continuing my course on to the camp, T encounter- ed the general, who, perceiving blood on my hands, addressed me, "Have you shot any thing, .rimV" I replied, " Yes, sir." " What have you shot ?" *' Two deer and something else," I answered. " And what is the something else f he incjuired. "I do not know, sir." "What did ho look like?" the general interroga- ted. " Had he horns ?" "I saw no horns, sir." "What color was the animal?" "You can sec him, general," I replied, "by climb- ing yonder tree." The general ascended the tree accordingly, and looking through his spy-glass, which he always car- ried, he exclaimed, "A buffalo, by heavens!" and, coming nimbly down the tree, he gave orders for us to take a couple of horses, and go and dress the buf- falo, and bring him into camp. I suggested that two horses could not carry the load ; six were therefore dispatched, and they all came back well packed with his remains. There was great rejoicing throughout the camp at such bountiful provision, and all fears of starvation were removed, at least for the present. The two deer were also brought in, besides a flne one killed by the general, and ducks, geese, and such like were freely 42 AITOBTOORAPTIY OF added Ly tlic other liunters, wlio had taken a v ider circuit. It appears strange tliat, although I had traveled hundreds of miles in the buffalo country, this one was the tirst 1 had ever seen. The conviction weighing ujioii my mind that it was a huge bear I was approach- ing had so excited me that, although within fair gun- shot, I. actually could not see his horns. The general and my companions had many a hearty laugh at my expense, lie often expressing wonder that my keen eye could not, when close to the animal, perceive the horns, while he could sec them plainly near two miles distant. A severe storm setting in about this time, had it not been for our excellent store of provisions we should most probably have perished of starvation. There was no game to be procured, and our horses were beginning to die for want of nourishment. We remained in this camp until our provisions were all expended, and our only resource was the flesh of the horses which died of starvation and exposure to the storm. It was not such nutritious food as our fat buftalo and venison, but in our present circumstances it relished tolerably well. Were (General Ashley now living, he would recol- lect the hardships and delights we experienced in this expedition. When the storm was expended we moved up the river, hoping to fall in with game. We, unfortunately, found but little on our course. When we had advanced some twenty miles we halted. Our position looked threatening. It was mid-winter, and every thing around us bore a gloomy aspect. We were without provisions, and we saw no means of obtaining any. At this crisis, six or seven Indians of the Pawnee Loup JAMES P. BECKWOTTRTH. 4;{ band came into our camp. Knowing them to be friend- ly, we were overjoyed to see them.. They informed our interpreter that their village was only four miles distant, which at once accounted for the absence of game. They invited us to their lodges, where tliey could supply us with every thing that we needed ; but on our representing to them our scarcity of hors(\s, and the quantity of peltry we had no means of pack- ing, they immediately started oft' to their village (our interpreter accompanying tliem) in quest of horses, and speedily returned with a sufticient number. Packing our effects, we accompanied tliem to their village, Two Axe, of whom I have previously made mention, and a Spaniard named Antoine Behelc, chief of the band; forming part of our escort. Arrived at their village, which we found well pro- vided with every thing we needed, the Indians gave us a hospitable reception, and spread a feast whicli, as they had promised, " made all our hearts glad." Our horses, too, were well cared for, and soon assumed a more rotund appearance. We purchased for our fu- ture use beans, pumpkins, corn, cured meat, besides some beaver-skins, giving them in exchange a variety of manufactured goods used in the Indian trade, of which we had a great plenty. We replaced our lost horses by purchasing others in their stead ; and now, every thing being ready for departure, our general in- timated to Two Axe his wish to get on. Two Axe objected. "My men are about to sur- round the I ufi'alo," he said ; " if you go now, you will frighten them. You must stay four days more, then you may go." His word was law, so we staid accordingly. Within the four days appointed they made "the 44 Al TnTMCKJRAIMt^ «H' Rurround,'' and killed fourteen hundred Ijuft'aloe.s. Tlu^ tongues were counted by (General Ashley himself.^ and thus I ean guarantee the truth of the assertion. To the reader unacquainted with the Indian mode of taking these animals, a concise description may not he uninteresting, o There were probably engaged in this Inmt from on(»- to two thousand Indians, some mounted and some on foot. They encompass a large S})ace where the buffa- loes are contained, and, closing in around them on all points, form a complete circle. Their circle at iirst in- closed may measure perhajis six miles in diameter, with an irregular circumference determined by tlui movements of the herd. AVlien "the surround" is formed, the hunters radiate from the main body to the right and left until the ring is entire. The cliief then gives the order to charge, which is communicated along the ring with the speed of lightning ; every man then rushes to the centre, and the work of destruction is be- gun. The unhappy victims, finding themselves hem- med in on every side, run this way and that in their mad cftbrts to escape. Finding all chance of escape impossible, and seeing their slaughtered fellows drop dead at their feet, they bellow with affright, and in the confusion that whelms them, lose all power of resist- ance. The slaughter generally lasts two or three hours, and seldom many get clear of the weapons of their assailants. The field over, the " surround" presents the appear- ance of one vast slaughter-house. lie who has been most successful in tlie work of devastation is cele- brated as a hero, and receives the highest honors from the "fair sex," while he who has been so unfortunate as not to kill a buffalo is jeered and ridiculed by the; JAMES 1». IJECKWOUUTII. 45 "vvliolc band. J'laying, dressing, and preserving the meat next engages their attention, and atibrds them lull employment lor several ■weeks. The " surround" accomplished, we received permis- sion from Two ^Vxe to take up our line of march. Ac- cordingly, we started along the river, and had only pro- ceeded live miles from the village when we found that tlie Platte forked. Taking the south fork, we jour- neyed on some six miles, when we encamped. So we continued every day, making slow progress, some days not advancing more than four or five miles, until we had left the Pawnee villages three hundred miles in our rear. We found plenty of buffalo along our route until we approached the Rocky Mountains, when the buffalo, as well as all other game, became scarce, and we had to resort to the beans and corn supplied us by the Pawnees. CHAPTER V. Sufi'firings on the Platte. — Arrive at the Rocky Mountains. — Fall out with General Ashley. — Horses again stolen by the Crow Indians. — Sickness of our General. — Rescue of the General from a wounil- ed Bullalo. — Remarkable Rescue of the General from the Grcon River " Suck." Not finding any game for a number of days, we again felt alarmed for our safety. The snow was deep on the ground, and our poor horses could obtain no food but the boughs and bark of the cotton-wood trees. Still we pushed forward, seeking +o advance as far as possible, in order to open a trade with the Indians, and occupy ourselves in trapping during tlte finish of the season. We were again put upon reduced rations, 40 AUT(jniU(jHAl'HY UF one pint of beans per clay being the allowance to a mesH of four men, with other articles in proportion. Jlere 1 had a .serious diflieulty with our general, which arose in the following manner. The general de- sired me to slioe his horse, which 1 cheerfully proceed- ed to do. 1 had finished setting three shoes, and had yet one nail to drive in the fourth, when, about to drive the last nail, the horse, which had been very restless during the whole time, \, .ihdrew his foot from me. My patience becoming exhausted, I iip2)lied the ham- mer several times to his belly, which is the usual pun- ishment inflicted by blacksmiths upon unruly horses. The general, who was standing near, flew into a vio- lent rage, and poured his curses thick and fast upon me. Feeling hurt at such language from the lips of a man whom I had treated like my own brother, 1 retort- ed, reminding him of the many obligations he owed me. ItOid him that his language to me was liarsli and un- merilod ; that I had thus far served him faithfully ; that I had done for him what no other man would do, periling my life for him on several occasions ; that I had been successful in killing game when his men were in a state of starvation ; and, warming at the re- capitulation, I added, "There is one more nail to drive, general, to finish shoeing that horse, which you may drive for yourself, or let go undriven, for I will see you dead before I will lift another finger to serve you." But little more was said on either side at that time. The next morning the general gave orders to pack up and move on. He showed me a worn-out horse, which he ordered me to pack and drive along. I very well knew that the horse could not travel far, even without a pack. t .lAlSIKS P. IJKCKWOITKTII. 47 Still, iriHuencud by the harsh language the gener- al had addressed to me on the previous day, I said, 'Mieneral, 1 will ])ack the horse, hut 1 wish you to understand that, whenever lie gives out, there 1 leave him, horse and paek." " Obey my orders, and let me have none of your insolence, sir," said the general. t was satisfied this was imposed upon me for pun- ishment, r, however, packed the horse with two pigs of lead and sundry small articles, and drove him along in the rear, the others having started a considerable time previous. The poor animal struggled on for about a mile, and then fell groaning under his bur- den. I unpacked him, assisted him to rise, and, re- packing him, drove him on again in the trail that the others had left in the snow. Proceeding half a mile farther, he again fell. I went through the same cere- mony as before, lie advanced a few yards, and fell a third time. Feeling mad at the general for imposing such a task upon me, my hands tingling with cold through handling the snowy pack-rojics, 1 seized my hammer from the pack, and, striking with all my pow- er, it penetrated the poor animal's skull. "There," said I, "take that! I only wish you were General Ashley." " You do, do you ?" said a voice from tlie bushes on the side of the trail. I well knew the voice : it was the general himself; and another volley of curses descended uninterrupt- edly upon my head. I was not the man to flinch. "What I said I meant,"! exclaimed, "and it makes no odds whether you heard it or not." " You are an infernal scoundrel, and I'll shoot you ;" 48 All'OUKJlJKAl'lIV UF and, suiting the action to the word, he cocked liis piece and leveled it. 1 cocked my rifle and presented it also, and then we stood at bay, looking each other direct in the eye. "(rcneral,"! at length said, "you have addressed language to nie which I allow no man to use, and, un- less you retract that last epithet, you or I must surely die." lie finally said, " I will acknowledge that it was language which never should be used to a man, but when 1 am angry I am apt to speak hastily. But," he added, "1 will make you suffer for this." "Not in your service, general,"! replied. "You can take your horse now, and do what you please with him. 1 am going to return to St. Louis." The general almost smiled at the idea. " You will play going back to St. Louis," he said, "when, in truth, you w*ere afraid of beino" ' illcd by the Indians, through beinff left too far bchi ith that old horse." I left general, horse, and pack, and started on to overtake the advanced party, in order to get my sad- dle-bags before leaving them. Approaching the party, I advanced to Fitzpatrick (in whose possession they were) and addressed him: "Hold up, Fitzpatrick; give me my saddle-bags. I am going to leave you, and return to St. Louis." "What !" exclaimed he, " have you had more words with the general ?" "Yes," I replied, "words that will never be forgiv- en — by Tne, at least, in this life. I am bound to re- turn." "Well, "said he, " wait till we encamp, a few hund- ! JAMKS 1*. BKCKWIUKTII. 40 '1 I red yards alicad. Your tilings arc in the pack ; when we stop you can get them." I accompanied them till they cncam})cd ; then, tak- ing my goods from the pack, I was getting ready to return, when the general came up. Seeing me about to carry my threat into execution, he addressed me: "Jim, you have ammunition belong- ing to mc ; you can not take t/iat with you." Luckily, 1 had plenty of my own, so I delivered up all in my possession belonging to him. *' Sir," 1 said, " as Fortune has favored me with plenty, I deliver up yours ; but, if I had had none of my own, I would have retamed a portion of yours, or died in the attempt. And it seems to me that you must have a very small soul tj sec a man turned adrift without any thing to protect him against hos- tile savages, or procure him necessary food in travers- ing this wide wilderness." lie then said no more to me, but called Fitzpati'ick, and requested him to dissuade me from leaving. Fitz- patrick came, and exerted all his eloquence to deter mo from going, telling me of the great distance before me, the danger I ran, when alone, of being killed by In- dians — representing the almost certain fact that I must perish from starvation, lie reminded me that it was now jMarch, and the snows were already melting ; that Spring, with all its beauties, would soon be ushered in, and I should lose the sublime scenery of the Rocky Mountains. But my mind was bent upon going ; all my former love for the man was forfeited, and I felt I could never endiu'e his presence again. Fitzpatrick's mission having failed, tlie general sent a Frencli boy to intercede, toward whom I felt great C .50 AI'TUBIOISKAI'IIY OF attaclimcnt. Jlo was named Baptistc La Jcunesse, and was al)Oiit seventeen years of age. I Iiad many limes protected this lad from the abuse of his coun- trymen, and had fought several battles on his account, for -vvliich reason he naturally tied to mc for protection, and had grown to regard me in the light of a father. AViien this boy saw that 1 was in earnest about leaving, fearing that all attempts at persuasion would be useless, he hung his nether lip, and appeared per- fectly disconsolate. The general, calling this lad to him, desired him to come to me and persuade mc from the notion of leav- ing. He pledged his word to Baptiste that he would say no more to displease mc ; that he would spare no efforts to accommi date mc, anl offered mc free use of his horses, assigning as a reason for this concession that he was unwilling for word to reach the States that he had suffered a man to perish in the wilderness through a little private difiiculty in the camp. At this moment Le Pointc presented himself, mani- festing by his appearance that he had something of im- portance to communicate. "General," said he, "more than half the men are determined to leave with Beckwourth ; they are now taking annnunition from the sacks and hiding it about. What is to be done?" " I will do the best I can." Then turning to the lad, he said, " I took Jim's ammunition, thinking to de- ter him trom going; had he insisted upon going, I should have furnished him with plenty. Go now," he added, "and tell him I want him to stay, but if he insists upon going, to take whatever he wants." Ba])tiste left the group which surrounded the gener- al, and made his way to mc, with his head inclined. "til tell .)AMi;« V. lilX'KWOUKTlI. 51 *'Mon frore,'* said the lad, addressing me as 1 sat, *•• the general talk much good. He vant you stay. I tell him you no stay ; dat you en colore. I tell him if" nion frere go, by gar, I go too. lie say, you go talk to Jim, and get him stay. I tell you vat I tink. You stay leetlc longer, and if de general talk you bad one time more, den vc go, by gar. You take von good horse, me take von good horse too ; ve carry our plan- kct, ve take some viande, and some poudre — den ve live. Ve go now — ve take noting — den ve die." T knew that the boy gave good advice, and, foregoing my former resolve, I concluded to remain. My decision was quickly communicated to the whole camp, and the hidden parcels of ammunition were re- stored to their proper places. The storm in the camp ceased, and all were ready to proceed. I have heard scores of emigrants (when stopping with me in my "hermitage," in Beckwourth Valley, California) relate their hair-breadth escapes from In- dians, and various hardships endured in their passage across the Plains. They would dwell upon their per- ilous nights when standing guard ; their encounters with Indians, or some daring exploit with a buffalo. These recitals were listened to with incredulous ears ; for there is in human nature such a love of the mar- velous, that traditionary deeds, by dint of repetition, become appropriated to the narrator, and the tales that were related as actual experience now mislead the speaker and the audience. AVlien I recurred to my own adventures, I would smile at the comparison of their sufferings with what myself and other men of the mountains had really en- dured in former times. The forts that now afford pro- tection to the traveler were built by ourselves at the 52 AUTOBIOGllAPIIVr OF constant peril of our lives, amid Indian trib'^s nearly double their present numbers. Without wives and children to comfort us on our lonely way; without well-furnished wagons to resort to when hungry ; no roads before us but trails temporarily made; our clothing consisting of the skins of the animals that had fallen before our unerring rifles, and often whole days on insufficient rations, or entirely without food ; occa- sionally our whole party on guard the entire night, and our strength deserting us through unceasing watching and fatigue ; these are sufferings that made theirs ap- pear trivial, and ours surpass in magnitude my power of relation. Without doubt, many emigrants were subjected 1o considerable hardship, during the early part of the em- igration, by the loss of cattle, and the Indians came in for their fuU share of blame. But it was through extreme carelessness that so many were lost ; and those who have charged their losses upon the Indians have frequently found their stock, or a portion of it, harnessed to wagons either far in advance of them, or lagging carelessly in their rear. The morality of the whites I have not found to exceed very much that of the red man ; for there are plenty of the former, belong- ing to trains on the routes, who would not hesitate to take an ox or two, if any chance offered for getting hold of them. But to return. At the time when I had concluded to proceed with the party, we were encamped in the prairie, away from any stream (having passed the fork of the Platte), and were again in a starving condition. Except an occasional hare or rabbit, there was no sign of supplying ourselves with any kind of game. We traveled on till we arrived at Pilot Butte, where were i was t and i worse to j^ro Imnt, i ing ne in difl ing. miles i reachcc survey this rcj ing fou served buffalo. oveijoy opportu accclcra my sue ened uf be at th The I to move left, anc goods tl] desired i ter, and The ] (wliich i so heavi but theii the gene JAMES r. BECKWOIJRTH. .03 two misfortunes befell us. A great portion of our horses were stolen by the Crow Indians, and General Asliley was taken sick, caused, beyond doubt, by exposure and insufficient fare. Our condition was growing worse and worse ; and, as a measure best calculated to procure relief, we all resolved to go on a general hunt, and bring home something to supply our press- ing necessities. All who were able, therefore, started in different directions, our customary mode of hunt- ing. I traveled, as near as I could judge, about ten miles from the camp, and saw no signs of game. I reached a high point of land, and, on taking a general survey, I discovered a river whicli 1 had never seen in this region before. It was of considerable size, flow- ing four or Ave miles distant, and on its banks I ob- served acres of land covered with moving masses of buffalo. I hailed this as a perfect Godsend, and was overjoyed with the feeling of security infused by my opportune discovery. However, fatigued and weak, I accelerated my return to the camp, and communicated my success to my companions. Their faces bright- ened up at the intelligence, and all were impatient to be at them. The general, on learning my intelligence, desired us to move forward to the river with what horses we had left, and each man to carry a pack on his back of the goods that remained after loading the cattle. He farther desired us to roll up snow to j^rovide him with a shel- ter, and to return the next day to see if he survived. The men, in their eagerness to get to the river (which is now called Green River), loaded themselves so heavily that three or four were left with nothing but their rifles to carry. Though my feelings toward the general were still unfriendly (knowing that he had 54 AlToHKHiKAl'HV UK expressed sentiments concerning me tJiat were totally mnncritetl), 1 could not reconcile myself to deserting him in iiis present helpless contlition. iVccordingly, I informed him that if he thought he could endure the journey, I would make arrangements to enable him to proceed along with the company. He appeared charmed with the magnanimty of the proposal, and declared his willingness to endure any thing in reason. Ilis consent obtained, I prepared a light litter, and, with the assistance of two of the un- laden men, placed him upon it, in the easiest position possible ; then, attaching two straps to the ends of the litter-bars, we threw them over our shoulders, and, tak- ing the bars in our hands, hoisted om* burden, and pro- ceeded with all the ease imaginable. Our rifles were can'ied by the third man. The anxiety of the general to remain with us pre- vented his giving utterance to the least complaint, and we all anived in good season on the banks of Green River. We were rejoiced to find that our companions who preceded us had killed a tine buffalo, and we abandoned ourselves that evening to a general spirit of rejoicing. Our leader, in a few days, entirely recov- ered, and wc were thus, by my forethought in bringing him with us, spared the labor of a return journey. Wc all feasted ourselves to our hearts' content upon the delicious, coarse-grained flesh of the buftalo, of which there was an unlimited supply. There were, besides, plenty of wild geese and teal ducks on the liv- er — the latter, however, I very seldom ventured to kill. One day several of us were out Imnting buffalo, the general, who, by the way, was a very good shot, being among the number. The snow had blown from the level prairie, and the wind had drifted it in deep mass- ng , T he to he ny m- on he k- o- re en ns ve :it V- )n V- 16 IC 1" H JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. in ID U IC W H a g o 1 cf? over the marpjins of the small hills, through •vvliicl) the butialo had made trails just wide enough to admit one at a time. These snow-trails had beeome ([uite deep — like all snow-trails in the spring of the }'ear — thus affording us a line opportunity for lurking in one trail, and shooting a huft'alo in another. The general had wounded a hull, which, smarting with pain, made a furious plunge at his assailant, burying Iiim in the snow with a thrust from his savage-looking head and liorns. I, seeing the danger in wiiich he was placed, sent a ball into the beast just behind the shoulder, in- stantly dropping him dead. The general was rescued from almost certain death, having received only a few scratches in the adventure. After remaining in camp four or five days, the gen- eral resolved upon dividing our party into detachments of four or five men each, and sending them upon dif- ferent routes, in order the better to accomplish the ob- ject of our perilous journey, which was the collecting all the beaver-skins possible while the fur was yet valuable. Accordingly, we constructed several boats of buffalo hides for the purpose of descending the riv- er and proceeding along any of its tributaries that might lie in our way. One of our boats being finished and launched, the general sprang into it to test its capacity. The boat was made fast by a slender string, which snapping with the sudden jerk, the boat was drawn into the current and drifted away, general and all, in the di- rection of the opposite shore. It will be necessary, before I proceed farther, to give the reader a description, in as concise a manner as possible, of this "Green River Suck." We were encamped, as we had discovered during C2 58 AUTOniOORAPIIY OP our frequent excursions, at tlie head of a great fall of the Green lliver, wlicrc it passes througli the Utah Mountains. The current, at a small distance from our camp, became exceedingly rapid, and drew toward the centre from each shore. This place we named the Suck. This fall continued for six or eight miles, mak- ing a sheer descent, in the entire distance, of upward of two hundred and fifty feet. The river was filled with rocks and ledges, and frequent sharp curves, hav- ing high mountains and perpendicular clifts on either side. Below our camp, the river passed through a canyon, or canon, as it is usually written, a deep river- pass through a bluff or mountain, which continued be- low the fall to a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles. Wherever there was an eddy or a growth of willows, there was sure to be found a beaver lodge ; the cun- ning creatures having selected that secluded, and, as they doubtless considered, inaccessible spot, to conceal themselves from the watchful eye of the trapper. To return to the general. His frail bark, having reached the opposite shore, encountered a ledge of rocks, and had hardly touched, when, by the action of the rolling current, it was capsized, and he thrown struggling into the water. As Providence would have it, he reached the bluff on the opposite side, and, hold- ing on to the crevices in the high and perpendicular cliff, sung out lustily for assistance. Not a moment was to be lost. Some one must attempt to save him, for he could not hold his present position, in such cold water, long. I saw that no one cared to risk his life amid such immi- nent peril, so, calling to aFrenchman of the name of Dor- way, whom I knew to be one of the best swimmers, to come to the rescue, I threw off my leggins and plunged iui cap tolc ibil if a JAMKJS 1'. BECKWOMHTM. 6] Previous to this, and after his rescue from the " Suck," he lucntioncd to iMtzpatrick that T ought to have the lead of a party, and tiiat he believed I was as capable as any one in the company for it. Fitzpatrick told him he did not believe I would accept the response ibility. The general bade him ask me. lie came and communicated to me our generaPs wish, and asked mc if I would take the leadership of one of our detached parties. I declined the offer, assigning ci.s my reason that I was too young to undertake tlie responsibilities of the charge ; that this was my first trip to the mountains, and I had but little experience in trapping, and that there Avere older men better qualified for the duty. The leadership of a party of a fur company is a very responsible post. Placed similarly to a captain of a whaling vessel, where all depends upon his success, if a captain is fortunate, and returns from a profitable voyage, of course, in the eyes of the owners, he is a first-rate officer, and stands well for the future. But if he has experienced unusual hardships, and returns more or less unsuccessful, he is disgraced in his com- mand, and is thrust aside for a more fortunate man. It is just similar with trappers in the mountains ; whatever is their fortune, good or bad, the leader is the person on whom the praise or blame falls. 62 AUTOniOfJItAPllY OF CHAPTER VI. Wo spparr.tR into six "Dotnchmcnts, and start out. — Trapping on Orcrn Uivrr. — Narrow Escape from a Massacre by tlic Arrap-a-hos. — Ow Man njunlcrcd in Camp. — llctrcat. — Fall in with a Detachment ot our Company. — Great Joy at tijc Meeting. — Return of the Detach ments to tlic Place of Rendezvous at the " Suck." Afteu "caching" our peltry and goods by burying them in safe phices, we received instructions from our general to rendezvous at the " Suck" by the first of July following. Bidding each other adieu, for wc could hardly expect we should meet again, wc took up our different lines of march. Our party consisted, led by one Clements, of six, among whom was the boy Baptiste, he always insist- ing on remaining with his brother (as he called me). Our route was up the river — a country that none of us had ever seen before — where the foot of the white man had seldom, if ever, left its print. We were very suc- cessful in finding beaver as we progressed, and we ob- tained plenty of game for the wants of our small party. Wherever wc hauled up a trap, we usually found a beaver, besides a considerable number we killed with the rifle. In moving up the river we came to a small stream — one of tlie tributaries of Green River — which wc named " Horse Creek," in honor of a wild horse we found on its banks. The Creek abounded with the objects of our search, and in a very few days we suc- ceeded in taking over one hundred beavers, the skins of which were worth ten dollars per pound in St. Lou- i i liun Ilor cecd cnco name niur( fijroat and JAMES P. nKCKWO'/IlTH. (\l\ h tc Ic |e I Id. Sixty skins, when dried, funned a pack of one hundred pounds. After having iinished our work on Horse Creek, wc returned to the main river, and pro- ceeded on, meeting with very good success, until we encountered another brancli, which we subsequently named Lc Brache Creek, from our comrade who was murdered by the Indians. Our success was mucli jGjreatcr here than at any point since leaving the Suck, and wc followed it up until wc came to a deep cahoiu ill which we encamped. The next day, while the men were variously en- gaged about the camp, happening to be in a more el evated position than the others, I saw a party of In- dians approacliing within a few yards, evidently un- aware of our being in their neighborhood. I imme- diately shouted, " Indians ! Indians ! to your guns, men!" and leveled my rifle at the foremost of them. They held up their hands, saying, "Bueno! bueno!" mcani.^g that they were good or friendly; at which my companions cried out to me, " Don't fire ! don't fire ! tluiy are friendly — they speak Spanish." lUit we wcro sorry afterward we did not all shoot. Our horses had taken fright at the confusion and ran up the canon. Baptiste and myself went in pursuit of them. When wc came back with them we found sixteen Indians sitting around our camp smoking, and jabbering their own tongue, which none of us understood. They passed the night and next day with us in apparent friendship. Thinking this conduct assumed, from the fact that they rather '* overdid the thing," we deemed it prudent to retrace our steps to the open prairie, where, if they did intend to commence an attack upon us, we should have a fairer chance of defending our- selves. Accordingly, we packed up and left, all the Indians following us. <M M TuBIO<JKArilV OK The next day tlioy continued to linger about the camp. AV(! liud but shiiht Muspioion of their motives, .•iltiiough, tor security, we kept constant guard upon them, brom this they proceeded to certain liberties (which 1 here strictly caution all emigrants and mount- aineers against ever permitting), such as handling our guns, except the arms of the guard, piling them, and then carrying them together. At length one of the Indians shouldered all the guns, and, starting oft' with then), ran iif(y yards from camp. Mentioning to my mates I did not like the mana'uvres of these fellows, I started after the Indian and took my gun from him, Baptiste doing the same, and we brought them back to camp. Our companions eluded us for doing so, saying we should anger the Indians by doubting their friendship. I said I considered my gun as safe in my OAvn hands as in the hands of a strange savage ; if they chose to give up theirs, they were at liberty to do so. When night came on, wc all lay down except poor Le Brache, who kept guard, having an Indian with him to replenish the fire. Some of the men had fall- en asleep, lying near by, when wc were all suddenly startled by a loud cry from Le Brache and the instant report of a gun, the contents of which passed between Ba2)tistc and myself, who both occupied one bed, the powder burning a hole in our upper blankets. We were all up in an instant. An Indian had seized my ritlc, but I instantly wrenched it from liini, though, I acknowledge, I was too terrified to shoot. When we had in some measure recovered from our sudden fright, I hastened to Le Brache, and discovered that a toma- hawk had been sunk in his head, and there remained. I pulled it out, and in examining tlie ghastly wound. .lAMKS P. HECKWOITRTII. 65 T re It, buried all four lingers of my right hand in his brain. We bound up his head, but ho was a corpse in a few moments. Not an Indian was then to be seen, but we well knew they were in the bushes close by, and that, in all probability, we should every one share the fate of our murdered comrade. What to do now was the universal inquiry. With the butt of my ritie I scat- tered the fire, to prevent the Indians making a sure mark of us. We then proceeded to pack up with the utmost dispatch, intending to move into the open prai- rie, where, if they attacked us again, we could at least defend ourselves, notwithstanding our disparity of numbers, we being but five to sixteen. On searching for Le Brachc's gun, it was nowhere to be found, the Indian who had killed him having doubtless earned it off. While hastily packiijg our articles, I very luckily found live quivers well stocked with arrows, the bows attached, together with two In- dian guns. These well supplied our missing rifle, for I had practiced so much with bow and arrow that 1 was considered a good shot. When in readiness to leave, our leader inquired in which direction the river lay ; his agitation had been so great that his memory had failed Iiim. I directed the way, and desired every man to put the animals upon their utmost speed until we were safely out of the willows, which order was complied with. While thus running the gauntlet, the bails and arrows whiz- zed around us as fast as our hidden enemies could send them. Not a man was scratched, however, though two of our horses were wounded, my horse having re- ceived an arrow in the neck, and another being wound- ed near the hip, both slightly. Pursuing our course, r,{\ ALTOUKKJIf.MMIY oK we arrived soon in 'he open ground, where we consid- ered ourselves comparatively sate. Arriving at a small rise in the prairie, I suggested to our leader that this would be a good pkce to make a stand, tor if the Indians followed us we had the ad- vantage in position. "iS'o," said he, "we will proceed on to New Mex- ico." I was astonished at his answer, well knowhig — thougli but slightly skilled in geography — that New Mexico must be many hundred miles farther south. I Fowevcr, 1 was not captain, and we proceeded. Keep- ing the return track, we found ourselves, in the after- noon of the following day, about sixty miles from the scene of murder. 1 he assault had been made, as we afterward learn- ed, by three young Indians, who were ambitious to dis- tinguish themselves in the minds of their tribe by the massacre of an .Vmerican party. We were still descending the banks of the Green River, which is the main branch of the Colorado, when, about the time mentioned above, I discovered horses in the skirt of the woods on the opposite side. JMy companions pronounced them buffalo, but I was con- fident they were horses, because I could distinguish white ones among them. Proceeding still farther, I discovered men with the horses, my comrades still confident I was in error ; speedily, however, they all became satisfied of my correctness, and we formed the conclusion that we had come across a party of Indians. We saw by their mana^uvres that they had discovered us, for they were then collecting all their property to- gether. We lield a siiort council, which resulted in a de- JAMES P. BECKWOIRTH. 67 termination to retreat toward the mountains. J, tor one, was tired of retreating, and refused to go farther. Baptiste joining nie in my resolve. We took up a strong position for defense, being a place of difficult approach ; and having our guns, and ammunition, and abundance of arrows for defense, considering our num- bers, we felt ourselves rather a strong garrison. The other three left us to our determination to fall togeth- er, and took to the prairie ; but, changing mind, they returned, and rejoined us in our position, deeming our means of defense better in one body than when di- vided. We all, therefore, determined to sell our lives as dearly as possible sliould the enemy attack us, feel- ing sure that we could kill live times our number be- fore we were overpowered, and that we should, iu all probability, beat them off. By this time the supposed enemy had advanced to- ward us, and one of them hailed us in English as fol- lows: "Who are you?" " We are trappers." " What company do you belong to ?" " General Asliley's." "Hurrah! hurrah I hurrah I" they all shouted, and we, in turn, exhausted our breath in replyin ^ " Is that you, Jim Beckwourth ?" said a voice from the party. "Yes. Is that you, Castenga?" I replied. He answered in the affirmative, and there arose an- other hurrah. We inquired where their camp was. They inform- ed us it was two miles below, at the ford, l^aptistc und myself mounted our horses, descended the bank, plunged into the river, and were soon exchanging salu- (W AITTOBIOGRAniY OP tations with another of the general's old detachments. They also had taken us for Indians, and had gathered in their horses while we took up our position for de- fense. The night was spent in general rejoicing, in relating our adventures, and recounting our various successes and reverses. There is as much heartfelt joy experi- enced in falling in with a party of fellow-trappers in the mountains as is felt at sea when, after a long voy- age, a friendly vessel just from port is spoken and boarded. In both cases a thousand questions are ask- ed ; all have wives, sweethearts, or friends to inquire after, and then the general news from the States is taken up and discussed. The party we had fallen in with consisted of sixteen men. They had been two years out ; had left Fort Yellow Stone only a short time previously, and were provided with every necessary for a long excursion. They had not seen the general, and did not know he was in the mountains. They had lost some of their men, who had fallen victims to the Indians, but in trapping had been generally successful. Our little party also had done extremely well, and we felt great satisfaction in displaying to them seven or eight pack- ets of sixty skins each. We related to them the mur- der of Le Brache, and every trapper boiled with indig- nation at the recital. All wanted instantly to start in pursuit, and revenge upon the Indians the perpetration of tlieir treachery ; but there was no probability of overtaking them, and they suffered their anger to cool down. The second day after our meeting, I proposed that the most experienced mountaineers of their party should return witli Baptistc and myself to perform the burial i: rit^ sell sh( conl M but I thoi ted OJ JAMES r. BECKWOUKTU. 69 rites of our friend. I proposed three men, with our- selves, as sufficient for the sixteen Indians, in case we should fall in with them, and tiicy would certainly be enough for the errand if we met no one. Ikly former comrades were too tired to return. We started, and arrived at our unfortunate camp, but the body of our late friend was not to be found, though we discovered some of his long black hair clot- ted with blood. On raising the traps which we had set before our precipitate departure, we found a beaver in every one except four, which contained each a leg, the beavers having amputated them with their teeth. We then returned to our companions, and moved on to Willow Creek, where we were handy to the caches of our ren- dezvous at the " Suck." It was now about June 1st, 1822. Here we spent our t*me very pleasantly, occupying ourselves with hunting, fishing, target-shooting, foot- racing, gymnastic, and sundry other exercises. The other detachments now came in, bringing with them (quantities of peltiy, all having met with very great succesB. y t 70 ALTUBlOGllArilY <Jl' CHAPTER VII. Arrival of General Ashley and Party. — His Relation of their SufVeriiiKS after leaving the Rendezvous. — Their Excursion to Salt Lake. — Fall in with a Fur Company before unknown to the Mountaineers. — His final Fortune, and return to St. Louis. SiTTiNC^ in camji one beautiful summer morning — for the month of June is always lovely in northern latitudes — an Indian lass stepped up to me, and wish- ed me to kill a deer or an antelope, and bring her the brains, wherewitli to di-ess a deer-skin, oftering me, in compensation, a handsome pair of moccasins. Think- ing to save two dollars by a few minutes' exertion, I took my riHc and alone left camp. After traveling two miles, I obtained sight of a fine antelope, which had also seen me, and kept himself at a respectful dis- tance. In following him up to get a fair shot, I at length found myself about ten miles from camp, with small prospect of getting either brains or moccasins. While among the wild sage, still trying to approach the antelope, I observed a horse and rider coming in my direction. Feeling satisfied that the rider was an Indian, I at once made up my mind to run no farther after the antelope, but to shoot him, and take his brains to the squaw, as she would know no differ- ence. I therefore concealed myself in the sage until he should come within range of my rifie. Becoming impatient, at length, at his tardy approach, I raised my head to take a look, when, to my utter astonish- ment, I saw General Ashley in tlie act of mounting his horse at a few paces' distance. He had stopped •'AMKs P. mcKwoinvni. yj On seeing wl.o it waTl bo 1 '"' '"^ '"«• !"/ '-d- if I had hoT ,1 >* r^ '•'«« f«" from "> camp that I was not ^nl ,' "'"« ^''<=" ''"own «''o«l<,,most undoubtedly wt ""r"-^" '» '""''I ""-or. I told the gene luf tl '''''"•S^'' '^"'' ''- '"><! just made. Hot" ' , ""^''^ "'"'^Pe i.o ';■■- i- an Indian,and : nSirrVi "''^ ""^'''^"'g ttey never traveled .i„2"^ " ^ ^"^ "<« kuo,v that j «''en inquired after h[; hc^lti, , ,,, J'»d met wifh,an<I then rehted ^ *''" ''"='"=«^ ''« and suecess generally. hI •„ '"! 'T ""'• <»vn losses .™^- I told him it was e OS nrr'' ,7''"'= *'"^ ^™1' '"g the general thither I,. "*"''• ^n <=onduct- '"•nd" mher distant. ' ' ''™"°""««'' -"^ "dose at ;;t::pi:;Te''6is:;^^^ f'c Suek and ,aAo„, in ih<^foZ '■"P""''*. tl'rough " We had a verv dan Jl' °"°" '"^ "'imtive : ^ er.and suffered mZ tf Hv' '""•r "°™ '^e riv- i '"• again. You are awC fZ '"''' *° -^-^^ "«"' "uf- i ™ion with „s, not e:^^eti rw !?"' '"' ""'« P^- I ed so far. I„ passing over fhe! ," '"T <'^*«"''- two boats and three gfns 1 n^ f ^'"^^' ^''^--e we lost ;"g down our hoatsTe^tL'tr "''"P"' »'<=*- <^" provisions soon gave out w f^T^ '''"«<=«• beaver „ the .«««„ f^ some „il. T^ ^'""'^ «*' fi"d them in as great plenty^ /, ""''' '^"''''"^""S '« "One of their eareasses w?.th *'" '"'^' ^'" «aved •^^ vve proeeeded, how vl 17, """=•■ °" *»»''• -nor^ searee, until there ^re^ ^"""^ """<' "-d we were entirely out o" ^ 1"^ %^ T"' "'' ^ ^ons. lo retrace the 72 AlITOHIOGIiAl'HY OF river was impossible, and to ascend the perpendicular cliffs, which hemmed us in on cither side, was equally impossible. Our only alternative was to go ahead. "After passing six days without tasting food, the men were weak and disheartened. I listened to all their murmurings and heart-rending complaints. They often spoke of home and friends, declaring they would never see them more. Some spoke of wives and chil- dren whom they dearly loved, and who must shortly become widows and orphans. They had toiled, they said, through every difficulty; had risked their lives among wild beasts and hostile Indians in the wilder- ness, all whic!i they were willing to undergo ; but who could bear up against actual starvation ? . "I encouraged them all in my power, telling them that I bore an equal part in their sufferings ; that I, too, was toiling for those I loved, and whom I yet hoped to see again ; that we should all endeavor to keep up our courage, and not add to our misfortunes by giving way to despondency. "iVnother night was passed amid the barren rocks. The next morning, the fearful proposition was made by some of the party for the company to cast lots, to see which should be sacrificed to afford food for the others, without which they must inevitably perish. My feelings at such a proposition can not be de- scribed. I begged of them to wait one day more, and make all the way they could meanwhile. By doing so, I said, we must come to a break in the can- on, where we could escape. They consented, and, moving down the river as fast as the current would carry us, to our inexpressible joy, we found a break, and a camp of trappers therein. "All now rejoiced that they had not carried their I ■""■""' '•• "'XKWOIHT,,. WuJ propo.si„o„ into eflect ;\- , , good l>a„,l.s,a„a slo,vIy recruitd ?'' '^""' "«° "I"" with when I was wc ac'',?X "/' '"■-■ '"^»^°- •■• v.ce, wo left the river ami '''''"',""«'• Hy Iiis ad- rcmained with ],i3 ,„; " ^ "^'''«<' "» .«i,h both. ^Y^ «»'t Ukc. Here 1 tu[ • ' 1? 7'"' "' "'« ^'-"^ <n.i)pcrs,com»oscdoff'.„..i " "So comnany of ""Jer the cotlunan^ of P STJ"' .'"I""'-'^ ^-""n" <'- .Northwest F„r Com « ' ^ w',, "',"■ ^■^"'•^^ »*■ ".ade a very good bargain rs^;„„y''' *'"^ P^'7 I amvo at our camp J.avin ' ^ , '"'" ^'=« ^'''on thev on veryreasonaUe^i.'^^'""'"''''' "" *''-' Htry ^iic general conclurlp^ i.- g.atulated by all ptsent " ?"""?• ""'' ^^»« <=»"- -ore all rejoiced to hear It it " f'^'''- ^^« or seven weeks, he had not l " 5 "" ''^'"""' '"'^'^ We then iwceeded fn , """• '■aO baried a't the " 1*:;'^^^ °"" «"»''«• -''-'' -« *'•« river to a point where the CaS'"'^'^ *" '"°^« "P )md engaged to meet him w th ,1 T' ""^ ^"^iana cral appointed me cap 1 ^f P''*'^" ^i-e gen- "adians, and escort ttm to tho''"'^ *° ""'"' *'«= Ca- '-ad proposed to them, wilt ""/'"=^°"' ^Wd. he ■^"■ained to bring up the loo^ '^ '"""" '""^ ""'or-s «ugar, coffee, blanlta, tobafco W T''''"^ "' «<>". a«.e OS necessary for Ihat ^n ''^' -'l «" other -Liiere were at ih' *• about two hundred ^enT^r^"'^^' ^* ^»^- --P children-for many o7the F T '"'"^ ^^"^^" ^nd "ied with a squav/ I toofc^T^'"^" ^^^^« ^eeompa- their women, chiJdr./l'^^„r*^^ ^« ^^'g^ty men ' ' ren, and effects, Jeav: 7) ighty ing for the with gen- 74 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF eral a strong guard of one hundred and twenty men, to escort the goods up the river. Two days after wc had started, being about a mile from the river, we stopped to dress a buffalo. While resting, a party of four hundred Indians passed at full speed between us and the river, driving a large num- ber of horses. "VVc mounted with all haste and started after them, but not in time to recapture the whole of the horses, which they had just stolen, or, rather, forced from the general in the presence of his men. We fired on tlie Indians, and, after a smart skirm- ish, in which I received an arrow in the left arm, we recaptured twenty-seven of the animals, the Indians running oif the remainder, amounting to seventy or eighty head ; a severe loss, for we needed them to carry our peltry. We found three dead Indians on the field, whom we scalped, leaving them for the wolves to feed on. I ordered a camp to be formed wherein to leave the women and children, with a guard, and then, mus- tering all the horses, we took the return track to the camp, fearing that the party had been surprised and perhaps all massacred. On the road we met a party which the general had dispatched to us, he having similar apprehensions in regard to us. They informed us that the Indians had broken in upon them in broad daylight, unawares, and stampeded one hundred head of horses ; that two of their men were wounded, of whom Sublet (since well known to the Western people) was one. It seems he was with the horses at the time the Indians rushed in upon them ; he fired at one, but missed him ; then clubbing his piece, he struck the Indian, nearly knocking him off his horse. The In- dian rallied again and fired at Sublet, wounding him slightly. Both the wounded men were doing well. i caj ma the or'j unij ors( and Vi for a On a of th their goods edto very f Wi there vous. ing at were w us who sugar, ^ as freel it for. heartine ^ The J our Salt of which I ^ith his I he had ] in excell Louis. JAMEH P. UiSCKWoUJtTH. M'''^f' *'" """P' ^-^ «'«"=d our culoit t. „ general. He was overiovp,! »^ i . "-^P""' to tlie captured so many l.c^i^wH 'T "'•"" '"' '«"' «" "•an. This was VS en! " "" '"'^^ <"'" ^'-gk . the capaeity of offieir ' . f ^'=™?' ^^'"' I'-clians^n • or Taylor feel „„,„ TxLl alr:uh''' """'""'^ «™" umph than did I in this ,r°fl"„ ' "'"' ""f ''''«""' '"- or so of horses were cap urld Itlhf ""' ''''""' " '"'"^ and two of my „,e„ reLwl " ,„! "''''"f °''"'>'«'^"" ^^0 all moved on fomhe'/-°""'''- 5 for a thousan.1 Indianf Z^f ^ '"^ T''^'"' « "»*<='' ; On arriving at the n^S^^^^'' "'7 <'"'•'= '» assail us. ^ of the Salt Lake party aS T """'" ""^ '>''•'"' ^^X tl'cir effeets. The il„„!f ^ "'.T ''"'' "'« '^'"olo of goods, e«epttobaco!„:SaS °'"",""""' '"' ^'- cd to make an equal distr 11 /"'"''' "■^ ''« ^"^l- i very searee in the moTn ;„" °" ', f f "''^ "■-« *''«» ' When all had e"me 'T' ''"''' ''^ °'^"'"'- ; there was a general ^i^; 'iT"';^ ''" ^°"''^' ""-l ; vous. We constitu/ed q,Ute a ]f„f "' "" ^-^'"I- : 7 "' '«-«' eight hund,^dl',i"^,r"' """'"^^^ were women and children Ti '""" »"<> ''»'<' "« who had not seen IL '"""' '°""' ""-ong -ga^&,forseveX2r"The^r'; ^^ ^°'^"' as freely as water, even at tZ\ '""''>' "'™t off " for- All kind; of s.^L ' «-^orb,tant priee he sold heartiness that would arn; I ' '"''"'«"<' '" '^'•"' a The general tranaetd at ""'''' f '"=="' -"»'-^- our Salt Lake friends ff! ^, J""""'"'' *rade with of whieh they had eoileeted "T "'''' "" "'«- beaver, ;'-'->l his purchases id hos: T '""'"'"^' ^° *'-' he had now one hundred 1/ •'""' "''" ^°"«"«". ■n excellent order, anfworth .lTor°"'' T'"' -" ■Lioms. ^^'^ «>XUOO per pack in St. 70 AITOIJKXJUAl'HY OF Tlicro lay tlm p^oncrar.s fortune in one immense pile, eollected at tli(^ expense of severe toil, privation, suf- fering, peril, and, in some eases, loss of life. It was supposed the general was indebted in the mountains and elsewhere to the amount of $75,0()(). The akins ho had purchased of the Northwest Com])any and free trappers had eost him eom[)aratively little; if he should meet with no misfortune on his way to St. Lou- is, he would receive enough to pay all his debts, and have an ample fortune besides. In about a week the generd was ready to start for Iioine. The packs Avere all arranged ; our Salt Lake friends offered him the loan of all the horses he want- ed, and enii;ai;(Ml to escort him to the head of Wind Jtiver, o!iC of the branches of the Yellow Stone. The number scjlected to return with the general was twenty men, including my humble self; thirty men were to accompany us as a guard, and to return the horses wc liad borrowed. The niglit j^revious to our departure, I and my boy Baptistc were slee})ing among the packs, as were also some of the other men, when the sentinel eame to mc to tell me that he had seen something which he be- lieved to be Indians. I arose, and satisfied myself that he was correct. I sent a man to acquaint the general, at the same time waking the boy and two men near mc. Vic noiselessly raised ourselves, took as good aim as possible, and, at a signal from me, all four fired. We saw two men run. By this time the whole camp was aroused ; the general asked me what I had fired at. I told him I believed an Indian. "Very good," said he; "whenever you see an In- dian about the camp at night, you do right to shoot him." M mor wlie] kne\i two (^ne body first r,lacJ Crow gins, M\ the AM built clay af fi-'cts fc given, ; of tJien our can for tJie I man to were wi l)arty) p; times nc cral; lie our cam yioBt for; miss fire, and not Vellow {• Green^ preter bei name w.' ^Wiore wc l,a,l ,li,ec ..lo,^ V ""' '"'"""■^ '/"'S <»-o men (irej will, shT ^, " «"""' '"'• «'«= other '«<'/; tl.e Cher was ,' n ' "'T'S'' "" ^"" ■•""' ''l"'k I'Vet, Lut we Lb ° ^'"''""•^''^'o-gecl to the fe'iMS whieh I took fi-om ," '"'"" <" '""^kski,, le.- ^y<- started w^ I, " ■'""' 1"" <"' "O-self ° >;'•■•'' our boats to de, :,,';;"""■ «'»-' ^vLerc wf 'l^y after Jeavi,,. e„„t w > ''""■• •^'" «'■« «i-xt!, '-'« for a,. ea,f. ,.' ' '"''^;™ ''■'^'■'= ■-■'-king our e. »--o„, and, „,. ]c^k,;Vu \:e'?" °'' ".^"•""■-'" «- "' «l'cm,well n,ou„tetl ctZ T"" ""'""'«<= "^"''r o»r can,,,. Every „; :°'>"f- ''"■''"y ''»»•» "!«, '- ''-e iiving to,.,,,r •'",;:^:'j-/'«e, and prepaU ""'» '0 fire until l,o did ,f "f,'!*' S"^" orde,-., for no "•cro within half pistol sLf •^< ' """ ""^ '"'li--"'« I-ty) pronouneed then.' CWs Cr'Tl <"" "'' °"^ '""<••« not to shoot. We l-en/' '"' *"" ^'''"^'•''l ""I; 1,0 pulled trigger but i°"'' '^■'' "''"' ""^S"'" 0"r camp was imn,tli, tX ti . ,^"",""''^'^'' «"=•»•"! •llost fortunate was it tbS It t." •''"''• ''''"'°'-^- -- fire, for the^ „„,„^ , "e general's gun did •■»"■ not a n,an of us wo.dl I """■«••""! «-ar,iors Vell«„, *.._ ^ "°"'<J 'mvo eseanerl ♦„ .._ ., Vellow Ston 0,-ecnwood, who k„.,v ,„c Fc'cr between our general a„d escaped to sec the ""V the C-ows, acted ";;"% »■■■•« Ap.,,a,-o.ka J tiie Indfan chief: ^et-sct-sa. A' as inter- wlioso ^pan'o,r~//a,rk 78 ATTTOBIOORAPHY OP After making numerous inquiries about our success in liunting, the chief inquired through the interpreter where we were from. *' From ( »reen lliver," was the reply. " You killed two Black Feet there ?" *' Yes." "Where are their scalps? ]\Iy people wish to dance." "Don't show them !" cried Greenwood to us. Turning to the Indian: "We did not take their scalps." " Ugh ! that is strange." During this colloquy I had buried my scalp in the sand, and concealed my Icggins, knowing they had belonged to a Crow. The chief gave orders to his waiTiors to move on, many of them keeping with us on our road to their camp, which was but a short dis- tance off. Soon after reaching there, an Indian woman issued from a lodge and approached the chief. She was cov- ered with blood, and, crying in the most piteous tones, addressed the chief: "These are the men that killed my son on Green River, and will you not avenge his death ?" She was almost naked, and, according to their cus- tom when a near relative is slain, had inflicted wounds all over her body in token of her deep mourning. The chief, turning to the general, then said, " The two men that were killed in your camp were not Black Feet, but my own warriors ; they were good horse-thieves, and brave men. One of them was a son of this woman, and she is crying for his loss. Give her something to make her cease her cries, for it an- gers me to see her grief." JAMES 1*. BECKWOURTII. 79 re in « The general clieerfully made lier a present of what things he had at hand, to the value of about fifty dol- lars. '*Now," said the chief to the woman, **go to your lodge and cease your crying." She went away seem- ingly satisfied. During the day two other Indians came to the en- campment, and, displaying each a wound, said, " See here what you white people have done to us ; you shot us ; white people shoot good in the dark." Tiiese were the two whom we had seen run away after our night-discharge on the Green River. They had been wounded by the other two men's sliot-guns, ' it their wounds were not serious. Tliey said that their intention had been to steal our horses, but our eyes were too sharp for them. The general distrib- uted some farther presents among these two men. Happening to look among their numerous horses, we recognized some that had been stolen from us at the time the general was sick, previous to our discov- ery of the Green River. The general said to the chief, " I believe I see some of my horses among yours." *' Yes, we stole them from you." " What did you steal my horses for ?" *'I was tired with walking. I had been to fight the Black Feet, and, coming back, would have called at your camp ; you would have given me tobacco, but that would not caiTy me. When we stole them they were very poor ; they are now fat. We have plenty of horses; you can take all that belong to you." The chief then gave orders for them to deliver up all the horses taken from our camp. They brought in eighty-eight — all in excellent condition — and deliver- «0 ai:tohioorai'Hy of ed them up to the general, wlio was overjoyed at their recovery, for he had never expected to see his horses again. On our issuing from their camp, many of the In- dians bore us company for two days, until we came to a pass in the mountains called liad Pass, where we encamped. Several of the party being out with their guns searching for game, a man by the name of Hap- tistc — not the boy — having a portion of a buffalo on his horse, came across a small stream ilowing near the trail, when he halted to get a drink. AVhilc stooping to drink, a grizzly bear sprang uj)on him, and lacer- ated him in a shocking manner. Passing that way, I came across his dismounted horse, and, following his tracks down to the river, discovered the poor fellow with his head comj)letely flayed, and several danger- ous wounds in various parts of his body. 1 quickly gave the alarm, and procured assistance to carry him to the camp. Soon after reaching the camp we heard a great rush of horses, and, looking in the direction of the noise, perceived a party of our half-breeds charging directly toward our camp, and driving before them an- other bear of enormous size. All the camp scatteretl and took to trees. 1 was standing by the wounded man at the time, and became so terrified that I hardly knew whether I was standing on the ground or was in a tree. I kept my eye on the bear, not supposing that he would enter our camp ; but he held his course di- rectly for me. I withdrew to look for a tree, but for some reason did not climb. Every man was calling to me, " To a tree, Jim ! to a tree !" but by this time the bear was in camp, and the horsemen at his heels. On his seeing the wounded man lying there all cover- ed with blood, he nuidc a partial halt. T profited l>v thci jnjr ins: then .lAMES r. mX'KWOl'UTU. «1 the incidont, and put a ball directly into his heart, kill- ing liis bearship in.stantly. Tiic general fired at the same moment, his ball also taking good etteet. The next day we went through \*nu\ l*ass, carrying our wounded companion on a liiter, who, notwithstand- ing his dreadful wounds, recovered. On arriving at the " liig Horn," as it is called there, we set about preparing boats, which, after five days, were ready for launching. There were far-trapj)ers with us, who, having made a boat for themselves, went on in ad- vance, intending to trap alojig down until wc should overtake them. They accordingly started. When wc went down wc found their boat and traps, which had been broken, but no remains of the trappers. ]5y the appearance of the ground, it was evident that the In- dians had surprised and murdered them, and afterward removed their bodies. Nothing else of conserpience occurred during our run down the 15ig Horn and Yel- low Stone to the junction of the latter with the 3Iis- souri, thus running a distance of eight hundred miles in our boats. In cftecting a landing at the junction of these two riverswe unfortunately sunk one of our boats, on board of which were thirty pacKS of beaver-skins, and away they went, floating down the current as rapidly as though they had been live beavers. All was noise and confusion in a minute, the general, in a perfect ferment, shouting to us to save packs. All the swimmers plunged in after them, and every pack was saved. The noise 'e made attracted a strong body of U. S. troops down to the river, who were encamped near the place, and officers, privates, and musicians lined the shore. They were under the command of (Jeneral Atkinson, then negotiating a treaty with the Indians of that re- 1) t? 82 AL'TOBIOGRAPHY OF gion on behalf of tlic government. General Atkinson and our general happened to be old acf[uaintances, and when we had made every tiling snug and secure, wc all went into camp, and freely indulged in festivities. *' Hurrah for the Mountains I" rung through the camp again and again. The next morning we carried all our effects from the boats to the encampment, and our hunters went out in search of game. Not a day passed but we brougiit in great quanties of buffalo, venison, mountain-sheep, etc. Of the latter, we cauglit some very young ones alive, one of which I presented to Lieutenant (now General) Harney, which circumstance, I have no doubt, he still bears in mind. After a stay of about a week, General Atkinson furnished us a boat of sufficient size to carry all our effects, and, breaking up the encampment, afforded us the pleasure of the company of all the troops under his command — we, gentlemen mountaineers, traveling as passengers. At our camping-places we very will- ingly supplied the party with game. At one of our encampments an amusing accident occurred. AVe were out hunting buffalo, and had suc- ceeded in wounding a bull, who, furious with his wound, made, with the speed of lightning, directly for the camp, leaving a cloud of dust in his track. The troops, per- ceiving his approach, scattered in all directions as though an avalanche was bursting upon them. On went the buffalo, overturning tents, baggage, and guns — leaping e\ery impediment that arrested his course ; then, turning, he plunged into the river and gained the opposite prairie, leaving more than a hundred sol- diers scared half to death at his visitation. They cer- tainly discharged their pieces at him, but, for all the mj old ano all eral JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 8H injury tlicy inflicted, he will probably live to a good old age. rival at Fort Clark met with Previous to our another serious misadventure. The beat containing all our general's eftects, running on a snag, immediate- ly sunk. Again all our packs were afloat, and Gen- eral Atkinson, witnessing the accident, ordered every man overboard to save the peltry, himself setting the example. In an instant, mount .incers, United States officers and soldiers plunged in to the rescue. For- tunately it was shoal water, not more than waist high, and all was speedily saved. General Atkinson related a difficulty he had had witli the Crow nation in the course of a treaty with them at Fort Clarke, on his way up the river. The Crows, in a battle with the Black Feet, had taken a half-breed woman and child, whom they had captured on the Columbia River some time previously. Gen- eral Atkinson ordered them to liberate the captives, which they refused to do, saying that they had taken them from their enemies, the Clack Feet, and that they clearly belonged to them. The general persisted in his demand, and the Indians refused to comply, even oftbring to fight about the matter. The general de- clined fighting that day, but desired them to come on the morrow and he would be prepared. The next ^lay the Indian force presented themsel v'^es for the onset, they bringing a host of warriors. One of the chiefs visited the military camp for a "talk." He had an interview with jMajor O' Fallen, who or- dered him to give up the captives or prepare to figlit. The chief boastingly replied, through Rose, the inter- preter, that the major's party was not a match for the Crows; that he would whip his whole army. On 84 AUTOBlOGKAPllY OF this, the major, who was a pas.ionatc man, drew his pistol and snapped it at tho chief's breast. It missed fire, and lie then struek the Indian a violent blow on the head with the weapon, inflicting a severe gash. The chief made no resistance, but remained sullen. When this occurrence reached the ears of the Indian warriors, they became perfectly infuriated, and prepared for an instant attack. General Atkinson paciticd them through Rose, who was one of the best interpreters ever known in the whole Indian country. During the liubbub, the Indians spiked the general's guns with wooden spikes, and stuffed them with grass. Their principal chief, "Long I lair," then visited the camp, and addressed the general : " White Chief, the Crows liave never yet shed the blood of the white peoj)le ; they have always treated them like brothers. You have now shed the first blood ; my people are angry, and we must fight." The general replied, "Chief, I was told by my liiond, the great Red-haired Chief, that the Crows were a good people ; that they were our friends. We did not come to iight the Crows ; we came as their friends." "The Red-haired Chief I" exclaimed Long llair, in astonishment; " arc you his peojjlc ?" " Yes," replied the general. "The Red-haired Chief is a great chief, and when lie hears that you have shed the blood of a Crow, lie will be angry, and punish }'ou for it. Go home," he added," and tell the Red-haired Chief that you have shed the blood of a Crow, and, though our people were angry, we did not kill It is people. Tell him that you saw Long Hair, the Crow chief, to whom he gave the red plume many winters ago." Long ILiir and Rose then went out and harangued the wJ womai crai nil and ai liighly The Travel] haired .Mr. Ch iio was tile h'vji to be a lord ovc The 1 again, m still in c ijook-ou was a tr ican Fur major ni; bear ibr i him befor v/ith a el think hin rious in 1 tion. Ill literally t We CO ing on sh tcllino* st( o free with was grea JAMK.S P. I»i:CKWOi:UTII. 85 the warriorR, wlio imnicdiatcly withdrew, and soon the woman and child were Lrouglit into camp. 'J'ho gen- eral made them a j)resent of a great nnniber of guns, and amnnmition in abundance, at which they were liighly deliglited. Tlie reader who has ])erused " I/nvis and Clarke's TraveLs"' will please to understand that the " Jied- liaired Chief" spoken of above was none other than Mr. Clarke, whom the Crows almost worshiped while he was among them, and who yet hold his name in the highest veneration. ]Ie was considered by them to be a great " medicine man," and they supposed Jiim lord over the whole white race. The loss of the boat being supplied, and all to rights again, we continued our course down the Missouri, still in company with the troops, until we reached Fort Look-out, where we encamped for the night. There was a trading-post at this fort, belonging to the Amer- ican Fur Company, in charge of Major Pitcher. Tiic major made General Ashley jiresent of a large grizzly bear for a j)laything, and a pretty plaything we found him before we were done with him. lie was made fast •with a chain to the cargo-box on deck, and seemed to think himself captain ; at any rate, he was more impe- rious in his orders than a commodore on a forei<::u sta- tion. lie would suiVer no one on deck, and seamed literally to apply the poet's words to himself, " I am monarch of all I survey, My riylit there is none to dispute." Wc continued our course down the river, encamp- ing on shore every night. We had a jovial time of it, telling stories, cracking jokes, and frequently making free with Uncle Sam's " O be joyful," of which tiiere was great plenty for the su])ply of rations to the 86 AITTOBIOGRAPHY OF troops. The soldiers listened with astonishment to the wild adventures of tlie mountaineers, and would, in turn, engage our attention with recitals of their own expedience. At length wo arrived at Council Bluffs, where we remained three days, feeling ourselves almost at home. "VVc of course had a good time at the Bluffs, and the three days passed in continual festivities. Providing ourselves with a good boat, we bade adieu to the troops, who stayed behind at the Blufis, and continued our descent of the river. The current of the Missouri is swift, but to our impatient minds a locomotive would have seemed too tardy in removing us from the scenes of hardship and privation we had just gone through to the homes of our friends, our sweethearts, our wives and little ones. Those who reside in maritime places, and have wit- nessed the hardy tars step ashore in their native land, can form an adequate idea of the happy return of the mountaineers from their wanderings on the Plains to St.Louis, which is their great sea-port; or, if a pun is admissible, I may perhaps say At^t'-port ; for there we eea our old friends, there we see our fun and merri- ment, and there we sometimes ^^see sights." Arrived at St.Charles, twenty miles above St.Louis, the general dispatched a courier to hii friends, Messrs, Warndorf and Tracy, to inform them of his great suc- cess, and that he would be in with his cargo the next day about noon. When we came in sight of the city we were saluted by a piece of artillery, which continued its discharges until we landed at tiie market-place. There were not less than a thousand persons present, who hailed our landing with shouts which deafened our ears. Those who heart; crow( never ap])ro£ crowd, part o 1 couI( ing thf Our ceivinir afterno( AVe ac( our pay to each and my: lars eaci immedia mountai; pay was our twer no fartlu conceal ( room, tli( cliose, an next mor Accord and had c ed with < included i called on had "run at his exf JAMES P. BECKWOIIRTII. 87 ted res lOt )iir )se who had parents, brothers and sisters, wives or swcct- lit'urts, met tiiem at the landing; and sucli a rushing, crowding, puihng, hauling, weeping, and laughing I had never before witnessed. Every one had learned our approach by the courier. 3[y father, wlio had moved to St. Louis, was in the crowd, and was overjoyed to see me. lie had lost a part of his property by being surety for othor men, and 1 could see that age had left its traces uj)on him dur- ing the little time that I had been absent. Our cargo was soon landed and" stored, the men re- ceiving information tiiat they would be paid oft' that afternoon at the store of ^lessrs.Warndorf and Tracy. We acccrdingly repaired thither in a body to receive our pa3^ The full amount was counted out in silver to each man, except three, namely. La lloche, Pellow, and myself. To us the general gave twenty-live dol- lars each, telling us he would sec us there again. I immediately thought of my difficulty with him in the mountains, and concluded that the remainder of my pay was to be withheld on that account. We took our twenty-five dollars each, and went away, asking no farther questions, though we took no trouble to conceal our thoughts. Before we left the counting- room, the general told us to repair to any hotel we chose, and have whatever we liked to call for until the next morning, and he would pay the bill. Accordingly, we all repaired to Le Barras's hotel, and had a glorious time of it. The house was throng- ed with our friends besides, who all felt tliemsclves included in the general's hospitality. General Ashley called on us the next morning, and, perceiving that we had "run all night,'' told us to keep on another day at his expense, adding that, if we wished to indulge in 88 ALTOHKKJUArilV OK a ride, he would pay for carriages. AVc profited by liiri lilnt, and did not fail to take into our 2)arly a good share of lasses and mountaineers. The next morning the general again visited us, and, seeing we were pretty soher, paid tiic bill (not a tri- fling matter), and desired us to call on him at the store at ten o'clock. AVe went as appointed, not knowing yet how he would treat us. When wc were assem- bled, he paid us our wages in full, made us a present of three hundred dollars each, and desired us to pur- chase a iirst-ratc suit of clothes each at his expense. *' I give you this extra,*' he said, "for your faithful services to me in the mountains ; for your watchful- ness over my property and interest while there ; for your kindness in caring foi me while sick and help- less, carrying me when unr.ble to walk, and not leav- ing me to perish in the camp alone." I forgot to mention the disembarkation of Grizzly at the proper time, but will do so here. After the peltry was all landed and stored, the bear still occupied his station. Hundreds were yet gazing at him, many of whom had never seen one of the kind before. The general said to me, 'SJames, how, under the sun, are we to get that animal oft* the boat ?*' I, having a few glasses of " artificial courage" to back me, felt exeecd- inj.^ly valorous, and thought myself able to throw a mill-stone across tlie Mississij)pi. Accordingly, I vol- unteered to bring him ashore. I procured a light stick, walked straight up to the boi-r, and, speaking very sharp to him (as he had to us all the way down the river), deliberately unfastened his chain. He look- ed me in tlie eyes for a moment, and, giving a low whine, drooped his head. J led him off the boat along a staging ])ropared for the purpose, the crowd instantly t-dlini witlu to tht a niili him icaderl Avas fc rived a])]jle- l<'nL'"th nie; tl Ji.'ld 111 1 tlu our ii-ei liad sen kind of made la The maj looking , bear, wh that he piggy lb] TJic u of Jiis /^<>i of those '•^"K'< I'. i;ii(Kn(,iKTii. J,, tailing back to a resnectC,,! ,I- , "'■",-•" «ccid..„t, .i,c'g: . ,' ■; 7'^^- ^■•-"■■s i.i... •0 Ih,. residence of M.^IT I ■"' "'" *" '™'' ''"" ■'-K J..„i„ = ncn look . '' :T rr"'" '1" '"'^ was follow nci- un .,f o , ? ? "** *^"^ crowd that ;'l'i''-<ree ti.at^stooS'I: "" Tf ' '"^^^y «'-^t 'o :.. '""c"; on,is chain, ,v],e, ]■„. , ,1 ^'i"^"'-^- «"' *» <'- -<'e fct ,i,e boa; I T^ ^^ ^ '- -here I baj '«kn,g at bin,, „ ,„„j, -^ ' "'• Wlnle we stood l'ear,,vben(;,.i.zly<Ie. t ? ^ '*,'""' '" i'""" "«"■ «l'o """ '» 'eft l.im'not a r.''''"" "■'■''' '"•^ 1«- })() ALTOHKJUKAI'JIV <»K ciLvrTER vni. TTnexpccted Kctum to the Rocky Mountains. — Camp removed. — Final Siicct'KH ill liiidin^ our party in itic MuuntaiiiR. — Joyful Meeting. — HorseH Ktoleii by t);e Puii-iiak liitiians. — A iiuttlc, and six Indians killed. — \Vc rcfapturc our Horses. I irAl) been in St. Louis only one week, when Gen. Asiiley came to me, and desired me to return to the mountains immediately, to carry dispatches to Mr. W. L. Sul)let, captain of the trappers, and ottering me tlic magnificent sum of one thousand dollars for the trip. I consented to go ; La Roche and Pellow were to ac- company me. A journey to the mountains was then called two thousand miles, through a country consid- ered dangerous even for an army. 1 left 8t. Louis this time with extreme reluctance. It is a severe trial to leave one's friends ; but the grief of separating from father and all other relatives sank into insigniticance when contrasted with the misery of separating from one in particular — one in whom all my aftections were reposed, and upon whom all my hopes of the future were concentrated. The contemplation of the anguish I was about to inflict by the announcement filled my heart with sorrow. One week more, and the happy event that would make one of two loving hearts would have been consummated. The general's business was urgent, and admitted of no delay ; after I had engaged, not a day, scarcely an hour was to be lost. The thousand dollars I was to receive looked large in my eyes ; and that, added to what I already possessed, would the better prepare me for a the mere forme 1 JAMES r. nErKWOI'KTIl. in ikl of ian to to »e 1 i I for a matrimonial voyage. I comforted myself with tlic rcHection that my services were conrined to the mere delivering of the dispatches ; that service per- formed, 1 was free to return immediately. 1 bid my aged father farewell — it was the last time I saw him. To my other IVicnds 1 said ciicerfully au nroi/; expecting to rctnvn to tiiem shortly. IJiit my greatest conflict was to come. I had en- countered perils, privation, and faced death itself; I had fouglit savages and the wild beasts of the mount- ains ; but to a})proach thiii tender lieart, tiiat had been aHianced to my own for years, unmaimed me. That heart that was then so light, so buoyant with hope, so full of confidence in the future, that 1 must plunge in utter darkness by the intelligence that in a few short hours 1 nmst leave her I (Jould 1 have communicated it to her by fighting a score of Indians, how nmch my 2)ain would have been mitigated I Hut time was ur- gent, and the sacred obligation to the lady nmst be performed. 1 called on my sweetheart ; she looked more love- ly than ever. She remarked my troubled looks. "James," she said, "you look saddened; what is the matter? Arc yo a unwell?" *' No, Eliza, I am well ; but—" " But what, James ? What has happened ? Speak ! " Knowing that I had no time for delay, I felt it my duty to break the news to her at once. " ^ly dear girl," I said, " I have loved you long and ardently. I have waited to see if the affection which you shared with me in childhood would stand the proof of maturer years. Wc are now both matured in years, and are capable of judging our own hearts. Through all my sufferings and dangers, my devotion IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A m 4f., ,<(^ ^ ^ :/, y. 1.0 I.I ^1^ i^ ■^ |3.2 I" m - F4S ill 2.0 1.25 ■ 1.4 1.8 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ ^^' L17 V ^\ -<"'\ LV "^^ 6^ . S^ 4i^ ^ MP Mo / I U2 AITUJHOGKAPIIY UF to you has grown with my growth and strcngtlicncd V ith my strength. Wc have decided on the day for our indissoluble union. 13ut, Eliza, I am yet young ; my means of supporting you as 1 could wish are in- adequate. I have just received a very tempting offer from General Ashley." "What to do, James?" " He offers me one thousand dollars to carry dis- patches to the mountains, which admits of my imme- diate return." "And are you going?" " Tliat is what 1 have come to inform you, Eliza. Understand my motive — it is solely to obtiin the means to enable us to start the fairer in life." " I care not for money, James," she said, bursting into a Hood of tears. My lieart sought relief from its overcharged feeling in the same way. I left her amid her sobs, promising to make a speedy return, and that we would part no more till death should separate us. The general had furnished us with two good saddle- horses each, and one stout nnile to carry our bedding. We mounted, and, leaving St. Louis, were soon some miles on our journey. We proceeded up the ^lissouri liiver, left the last white settlement, and issued out into the wilderness. We proceeded wiili the utmost caution ; always halting before dark, we built a fire and ate our sup})er ; then moving on farther to a secure camping-p]ace, we lit no fire, to avoid attracting the Indians to us. On arriving at the forks of the Platte, we held a council, and resolved to follow up the north branch to its source, tliencc cross over to Green River, thus striking it mucli higher up tjvin we had ever been on tliat stream before. We proceeded accordingly — .JAMi:« r. HKCKWOI'UTII. iKi Here wc found a parly belonging to Winter was now beginnino; crossed (.Irccn River, and held our course to the head of Salt Kiver. tlie generaFs company. to set in, and it was time for the whole company to go into winter quarters. As nearly as 1 can recollect, this was the end of October, 1823. A place of rendezvous had been previously agreed upon, and as it Avas certain that the various parties would soon assemble, 1 concluded to proceed to the rendezvous, and wait the arrival of Sublet, for the de- livery of my dispatches, rather tiian undertake a search for him in the mountain wilderness. I and my com- panions, therefore, continued with the party until we reached the rendezvous. The parlies, one after the other, came slowly in, and Sublet's was the last to arrive. It was now too late for me to return, and I had no alternative but to wait until spring. Our present rendezvous was in Cache Valley, but Sublet gave orders for all to remove to Salt Lake, which was but a few miles distant, and then go into winter quarters. We accordingly moved to the mouth of "Weaver's Fork," and established ourselves there. When all were collected together for the winter, our community numbered from six to seven hundred souls (from two to three hundred consisting of women and children), all strong and healthy as bears, and all hav- ing experienced very good success. Shortly after we had become well settled down, we had the misfortune to lose about eighty horses, stolen one dark, stormy night by the Pitn-naA's^ a tribe in- habiting the head v,aters of the Columbia River. On missing them the next day, we formed a party of about forty men, and followed their trail on foot — the ground was covered with snow at the time. E volunteered 94 ALTOBlOGliAi'HV OF with the rest, although fortunately my horses were not among the missing. After a pursuit of five days we arrived at one of their villages, where we saw our own horses among a number of others. We then divided our forces, Fitzpatrick taking command of one party, and a James Bridger of the other. The plan resolved upon was as follows : Fitzpatrick was to charge the Indians, and cover Bridger's party, while they stampeded all 4;he horses they could get away with. I formed one of Captain Bridger's party, this being the first affair of the kind I had ever wit- nessed. Every thing being in readiness, we rushed in upon the horses, and stampeded from two to three hundred, Fitzpatrick at the same time engaging the Indians, who numbered from three to four hundred. The Indians recovered a great number of the horses from us, but we succeeded in getting off with the num- ber of our own missing, and forty head besides. In the engagement, six of the enemy were killed and scalp- ed, while not one of our party received a scratch. The horses we had captured were very fine ones, and >ur return to the camp was greeted with the liveliebL :<m- onstrations. We found, on our return from the above marauding expedition, an encampment of Snake Indians, to the number of six hundred lodges, comprising about two thousand five hundred warriors. They had entirely surrounded us with their encampments, adding very materially to our present population. They were per- fectly friendly, and we apprehended no danger from their proximity. It appears this was their usual re- sort for spending the winter ; and, after pitching their lodges, which are composed of skins, they proceeded to build a large " medicine lodge." T Pari ymo^ Testj ocraci drear not JAMES r. BECKWOURTH. 95 ir io The word medicine (or, as they call it, Barchk- Parehk) signifies a prophet or dreainer, and is synon- ymous with the word prophet as employed in the Old Testament. The Indian form of government is a the- ocracy, and the viedicine inan is the high-priest. His dreams or prophecies are sacred ; if his predictions are not verified in the result, the fault is with themselves ; tliey had disregarded some of his instructions. When by accident his dreams are exactly verified, their con- fidence in their prophet exceeds all belief. The " med- icine lodge" is the tabernacle of the wilderness, the habitation of the Great Spirit, the sacred ark of their faith. Our long residence with the Snake tribe afforded us an excellent opportunity of acquainting ourselves with the domestic character of the Indians. They often invited us into their medicine lodge to witness their religious ceremonies and listen to their prophcsyings. The name of the old prophet was 0-mo-gua^ which in English means woman's dress. One evening he de- livered a prophecy for us. "I can see," said he, "white people on. Big Shell (Platte River) ; I see them boring a hole in a red bucket; I see them drawing out medicine water (whis- ky); I see them fighting each other; but Fate (Sublet) has gone down on the other side of the river : he does not see them. He has gone to the white lodges. Where are you going ?" *' We are going," answered Fitzpatrick, " to trap on Bear Head and the other small streams in the country of the Black Feet." "No," said the prophet, "you will go to Sheep Mountain ; there you will find the y'.now so deep that you can not pass. You will then go down Port Neif 90 Al'T(JJUO(;JlAI*IIV OF to 8nako Ttlvcr. If you arc fortunate you \vlll dis- cover the IJluck Feet before tliey sec yon, and you will beat tlieni. If tliey discover you lirst, tliey ^vill rul) you all out — kill you all. J>ad Hand (Fitzpatriek), L tel) you there is blood in your path this grass. If you beat the ]51aek Feet, you will retrace your steps and go to Bear Kiver, whose water you will follow un- til you come to Sage River. 'J'here you will meet two white men who will give you news." To return to my narrative: ^Ir. Sublet, having left the camp in con)])any Avilh my old companion, ]\lr. Harris, before we returned, had left a letter of instruc- tions for Fitzpatrick, desiring him to remove our camp as early in the spring as possible back to Cache \'al- ley, and to repair to Weaver's Lake, where he would rejoin him. Sublet and Harris had parted for St. Ijouis, which they reached in safety after a journey in mid- winter. Wc spent the winter very comfortably, rnd at the opening of spring we all moved — whites and Indians — back to Cache Valley. Soon after we arrived we commenced digging caches to secure seventy-five packs of beaver-skins in the possession of our party. While di2:2;ina: a cache in the bank, the earth caved in, killing; two of our party, who were Canadians. The Indians claimed the privilege of burying them, which ceremony they performed by hoisting them up in trees. This has ever been the method of disposing of the dead with most, if not all, of the Rocky ]\Iountain tribes. The body is securely wrapped in blankets and robes fastened wntli thongs, in which are inclosed the war implements, pipes, and tobacco of the deceased. If he had been a warrior, his war-horse is killed and bur- ied, together with his saddle and other implements, at the foot of the same tree. JAMEH i\ HECKWOriiTH. 9; c One more accid iit occurred, wliich at first occasion- ed us considerable alarm, bctbre wc quitted Cache Val- ley on our excursion. One of our men was out hunt- ing, and coming across an antelope, as he supposed, lired at the animal's head, and killed it. On going to cut the animal's throat, to his surprise he found he had killed one of the Snake Indians, who had put on this disguise to decoy the antelopes near him. This was an accident that we deeply lamented, as the Snakes were very friendly toward us. Before the Indians dis- covered the accident, we held a council, and resolved to make a precipitate retreat, as we felt very distrust- ful of the consequences. While we were preparing to start, tiie chief came among us, and was greatly sur- prised at our sudden departure, especially as we had given him no previous notice. Wc excused ourselves by saying we were going to engage in hunting and trapping. lie then asked what ailed us, saying we all looked terrified, and wished to know what had hap- pened. Fitzpatrick at length told him what had taken place, and how it came to pass. " Oh,*' said the chief, " if that is what you are alarm- ed at, take off your packs and stay. The Indian war a fool to use a decoy when he knew the antelope came into the sage every day, and that the white men shoot all they see." He then made a speech to his warriors, telling them vrhat had happened, and ordered some of his men to bring in the dead Indian. Then turning to us, he said, "You and the Snakes are brothers; we are all friends ; we can not at all times guard against accident. You lost two of your warriors in the bank, the Snakes have just lost one. Give me some red cloth to wrap up the bod v. We will bury the fallen brave." E \)H AUTOBIUGKAPHY OF \Vc gave the chief a scarlet blanket, as he had de- sired, and all was well again. CHAPTER IX. The Company removes from Cache Valley on a Hunting and Trapping Excursion. — Discovery of a Band of Black Feet. — A Battle ensues with them. — Description of the Battle. — Return to Rendezvous. — Fulfillment of the Medicine Chief's Prophecy. The peltry and other things not required in our expedition being all safely cached^ our whole party — numbering- two hi.ndrcd and fifty, besides women and children — left Cache Valley for the country of the Black Feet, expecting to make a profitable liunt. I had engaged to the J^'ur Company for the spring hunt for the sum of five hundred dollars, with the privilege of tak- ing for servant the widow of one of the men who had been killed in the bank. She was of light complexion, smart, trim and active, and never tired \^ her efforts to please me, she seeming to think that she belonged to me for the remainder of her life. I had never had a servant before, and I found her of great service to me in keeping my clothes in repair, making my bed, and taking care of my weapons. "VYe kept on till we came to Sheep-horn Mountain, but, finding it impassable for the snow, we changed our course, and proceeded down the Port Neif until we ar- rived at its junction with the Snake River, one of the main branches of the Columbia. No trappers having preceded us on the Port Neif, we met with excellent success all the way to the junction, a course which oc- cupied us three weeks. An advanced party arriving at the junction before the main body came up, immediate- ly u Sna wJio force hunt fifty polio we kc ccivc( tliem, No selves our ca side, knew their i determ being watch 1 stantly were al could s entertai conside: strong I could e: At d£ dians! t ing, we stolen, n cry then them do' and six ( ^y scalpe JAMES r. BECKWOURTII. 99 a ly upon landing discovered Indians coming down the Snake River. Tliey "were not perceived by the Indians, who were as yet at a considerable distance. Our whole force was soon prepared to meet them. Leaving one hundred men in camp, the remaining one hundred and iifty marched up the river, keeping in the timber ; our policy being to retain our foes in the open prairie, while we kept the protection of the woods. At last they per- ceived us ; but, seeing that we had the advantage of them, they made signs of great friendship. Not wishing to be the aggressors, we contented our- selves with observing the enemy, and retired toward our camp, without any hostile demonstration on cither side. Seeing signal-smokes arising on every side, we knew an attack on our little band was meditated by their thousands of moanted warriors. We therefore determined on a retreat as the safest course. There being many Indians about our camp, it required a strict watch to be maintained, every man having his gun con- stantly in hand, and the priming well looked to. We were able to convers(\ with them, as many of our men could speak their language ; but they still pretended to entertain toward us feelings of the "most distinguished consideration." We encamped that night, keeping a strong guard, and saw all around us, as far as the eye could extend, numerous signal-fires. At daylight one of our men shouted, " Stop the In- dians ! stop the Indians ! My rope is cut ! " On look- ing, we found that three of our best horses had been stolen, notwithstanding our unceasing vigilance. The cry then passed around, " The ropes are cut ! Shoot them down ! shoot them down !" Rifles began to crack, and six of the Indians fell, five of whom were instant- ly scalped (for the scalps are taken off with greater ease luo AirOBlUUJiAl'HY UF while the Lodies arc warm) ; ami tlic remaining Indian, luivino-crawlt.'d into the river aitcr rcceivinii; his wound, his scalp was lost. ( )nc of their chiefs was among tlic slain. He was shot in our camp before he had time to make his retreat with the others, who all ran as soon as our camp was alarmed. iS'ot a moment was then to be lost. \N e knew that their signal-llres would cover the whole prairie with savages, for we were in the very heart of their country. J'acking up, in a few minutes we were on the retreat, which we })ressed all day. We encamped the same night, as the Indians did not see fit to follow us. Soon after this occurrence a party of fur-trappers, consisting of twelve men, under the charge of one Lo- gan, left our com])any to try their fortune, but were never heard of afterward. Every exertion Avas subse- quently made to obtain some clew to the cause of their disap2)earancc, but nothing was ever learned of them. Beyond doubt, they fell victims to the treachery of the J^lack Feet. Our party continued trapping up the Port Neif until we came to Sheep ^lountain, which we passed without ditticulty, the snow having by this time disappeared. We proceeded on to ]5ear Kiver, and continued trap- ping upon that stream and its tributaries until we reached Sage River, where, very unexpectedly, and to our utter surprise, we met "two white men," Black Harris and my old friend Portuleuse. This verification of the prediction of the old chief was, to say the least, a remarkable coincidence, and one not easily accounted for. Our two friends informed us that they were from St. Louis, and had left General Ashley and Sublet but a short distance in the rear. We took up our traps and .lAMKH r. IU;(KW01I1 "H. 101 moved immediately to Weaver Tiakc, and formed a ren- dezvous to wait the arrival of the general and Sublet. While resting there, a party of sixteen Flat Heads came to our camp, and informed us that there were tliirty wliite men, with women and children, encamped on a creek twelve or iifteen miles distant. I'iiey stated that the party had twenty-six guns, Imt that their ani- numition was expended. Having some splendid hors- es, in the very Lest condition, I proposed to go and take them some ammunition, in the event of their having need ibr it on their way to our camp. IVovo, Jarvey, and myself mounted three of our llcctcst steeds, and found the party in camp. As we had expected, we found they were Campbell's party, among whom were many of our personal friends. They had met with very good fortune in their cnii.s(\ and had lost none of their men. Wc encamped with them that night, and escorted them to the rendezvous the next day. On our way to the rendezvous we heard singing in our rear, and, looking in the direction of the noise, we discovered a party of five hundred mounted Indians coming directly toward us. " Flat Heads ! Flat Heads !" was shouted; and, believin'g them to be such, I and my two friends wheeled to go and meet them. Approaching within a short distance, to our horror and surprise we discovered they were Black Feet — a tribe who prize white scalps very highly. Wishing to take us all together, probably, they ordered us back — an order we obeyed with alacrity, and we speedily gave the alarm. Placing the women and children in ad- van'*-'., and directing them to make all speed to a patch of willows six miles in front, and there to secure them- selves, we formed to hold the Indians in check. The w^omen made good time, considering the jaded state of 102 AI'TOniOGRAPnY OF their animals, for they were all accustomed to liorse- back-riding. By this time the Indians had commenced charging upon us, not so furiously as was their wont, but they doubtless considered tiieir prey sure, and, farther, did not care to come into too close proximity to our rifles. Situated as we were, it was impossible for them to surround us, for we had a lake on one side and' a mountain on the other. They knew, however, that we must emerge into the open country, where their chance of attack would be improved. When they ap- proached too near, we used our rifles, and always with eftect ; our Avomen the mean while urging on their an- imals with all the solicitude of mothers, who knew that capture was certain death to their oft'spring. The firing continued between botli parties during the whole time uf our retreat to the willows ; in fact, it was a running tight through the whole six miles. On the way wc lost one man, who was quite old. lie might have saved himself by riding to the front, and ] repeatedly urged him to do so, telling him that ho could not assist us ; but he refused even to spur on his horse when the Indians made their charges. 1 tarried with liim, urging liim on, until I found it would be certain death to delay longer. My horse had scarcely made three leaps in advance when I heard him cry, *'OhGod, I am wounded!" Wheeling my horse, I called on my companions to save him. I re- turned to him, and found an arrow trembling in his back. I jerked it out, and gave his horse several blows to quicken his pace ; but the poor old man reeled and fell from his steed, and the Indians were upon him in a moment to tear ofl* his scalp. This delay nearly cost two more Hves, for myself nnd Jarvey were sur- roun( yells clianc bank One 1 <lirect into tl order conipc Indian caping tllOUffll around more fi very si were si Atl( lion lia as lonir c gone, w ten tim quarter' Eroqi tlie won riod," h in 2)rotc memory Sixtc' ing the led the ( two rani every th liorse W£ a. throng .lA^^IES P. BECKWOIRTH. Km rounded with the Jilack Feet, and tlicir triumphant yells told us they felt certain of their prey. Our only chance of escape was to leap a slough liftccn feet from hank to hank, which we vaulted over at full speed. r)nc Indian followed us, but he was shot in the hack directly ujjon reaching the hank, and hack he rolled into the ditch. AVe passed on around the slough in order to join our companions, hut in doing so were compelled to charge directly through a solid rank of Indians. AVc passed with the rapidity of j)igcons, es- caping without any damage to ourselves or horses, al- though a shower of arrows and hullcts whistled all around us. As we progressed, their charges became more frequent and daring ; our ammunition now grew very short, and we never used a chaigc without we were sure of its paying for itself. At length we gained the willows. If our ammuni- tion had been plenty, we Avould have fought them here as long as they might have wished. Wlien all was gone, what were wc to do with an enemy more than ten times our number, who never grants or receives quarter? Eroquey proposed one bold charge for the sake of the women and children. " Let us put our trust in God," he exclaimed, "and if we arc to die, let us fall in protecting the defenseless. They will honor our memory for the bravery they witnessed." Sixteen of us accordingly mounted our horses, leav- ing the remainder to hold out to the last. Eroquey led the charge. In our fierce onset wc broke through two ranks of mounted Indians, killing and overturning (^-very thing in our way. Unfortunately, my beautiful horse was killed in his tracks, leaving me alone amid 11 throng of Indians. I was wounded with an arrow 104 AUTOBIOC+KAPHV OF in the head, the scar of which, with many other wounds received since, I shall cany to my grave. My boy Baptiste, seeing my danger, called upon his comrades to assist him to save his brother. They charged a second time, and the Indians who surrounded me were driven back. At that moment Baptiste rode up to me ; [ sprang on the saddle behind him, and retreated in safety to the willows. The foe still pressed us sore- ly, but their shots produced little effect except to cut off the twigs of the bushes which formed our hiding- place ; as for charging in upon us, they showed some disinclination. To hold out much loiU^er was impossible. Imme- diate assistance must be had, and it coi'ld come from no other place than our camp. To risk a message there seemed to subject the messenger to inevitable death; yet the ilsk must bo encountered by some one. " Who'll go ? who'll go ?'* was asked on all sides. I was wounded, but not severely; and, at a time so pressing, I hardly knew that I was wounded at all. I ft^id, "Give me a swift horse, and I will try to force my way. Do not think I am anxious to leave you in your perilous position." "You will run the greatest risk," said they. "But if you go, take the best horse." Campbell then said that two had better go, for there might be a chance of one living to reach the camp. Calhoun volunteered to accompany me, if he had his choice of horses, to which no one raised any objection. Disrobing ourselves, then, to the Indian costume, and tying a handkerchief round our heads, we mounted horses as fleet as the wind, and bade the little band adieu. ' ' God bless you ! " shouted the men ; the wom- en cried, " The Great Spirit preserve you, my friends." .lAMKH 1'. BE(JKVVOi:UTII. 105 u id \d d Again we dashed tlirough the ranks of the foe be- fore they had time to comprehend our movement. The balls and arrows flew around us like hail, but we es- caped uninjured. Some of the Indians darted in pur- suit of us, but, seeing they could not overtake us, returned to their ranks. Our noble steeds seemed to fully understand the importance of the mission they were going on. When about five miles from the camp we saw a party of our men approaching us at a slow gallop. We halted instantly, and, taking our saddle-blankets, signaled to them first for haste, and then that there was a fight, l^erceiving this, one man wheeled and returned to the camp, while the others quickened their pace, and were with us in a moment, although they were a mile distant when we made the signal. There were only sixteen, bat on they rushed, eager for the fray, and still more eager to save our friends from a horrible massacre. They all turned out from the camp, and soon the road was lined with men, all hurrying along at the utmost speed of the animals they bestrode. My companion and I returned with the first party, and, breaking once more through the enemy' ^ line, rode back into the willows, amid the cheert. of our companions and the loud acclamations of the women and children, who now breathed more freely again. The Indians were surprised at seeing a re-enforcement, and their astonishment was increased when they saw a whole line of men coming to our as- sistance. They instantly gave up tlie battle and com- menced a retreat. We followed them about two miles, until we came to the body of Bolliere — the old man that had been slain ; we then returned, bringing his mangled remains with us. On our siae we lost four men killed and seven E 2 100 yVL'TOBIOURAPlIV Ol' wounded. Not a woman or child was injured. From the enemy wc took seventeen scalps, most of them near the willows ; those that we killed on the road we could not stop for. We were satisfied they had more than a hundred slain ; but as they always carry off their dead, we could not ascertain the exact numhcr. Wc also lost two packs of heavers, a icw packs of meat, together with some valuable horses. After attending to our wounded, we all proceeded to camp, where the scalp-danco was j)erformed by all the half-breeds and women, many of the mountaineers taking part in the dance. The battle lasted live hours, and never in my whole life had I run such danger of losing my life and scalp. I now began to deem my- self Indian-proof, and to think I never should be kill- ed by them. The reader will wonder how a contest could last that length of time when there were but thirty to op- pose live hundred men, and we not meet with a great- er loss. Jt is accounted for by the Indian mode of warfare. The Indian is a poor marksman with a gun, more especially on horseback, and, to kill with their ar- rows, they must be near their mark. They often shoot their arrows when their horse is in full speed, and, unless they arc very near their object, they seldom take effect. When tney hunt the buffalo, their horses arc trained to keep by the side of their destined victim until the arrow is discharged ; then springing directly away, he escapes the charge of the infuriated animal, which becomes dangerous as soon as wounded. Un- like the Indians, we seldom discharged our guns unless sure of our man, for we had no ammunition to waste. Our victory was considered, under the circumstances, a glorious one, and all who participated in the battle JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. lu^ our comjtanions laudcjcl to the skies. The women, too, liiiilcd us as the " bravest of the Lravc," knowing that we liad preserved them from a captivity to wliieh death were preferable. Two days after the battle wc were again rejoined by our friends, the Snakes, to the number of four thou- sand. They all took part in our scalp-dance, and such a scene of rejoicing as wc held has seldom been wit- nessed in the mountains. They deeply lamented that they had not come in season to take part in the battle, so that not one of the Black Feet coul 1 have escaped. Their wishes for battle, however, were soon after grat- ified. The absent parties began to arrive, one after the other, at the rendezvous. Shortly after. General Ash- ley and Mr. Sublet came in, accompanied with three hundred pack mules, well laden with goods and all things necessary for the mountaineers and the Indian trade. It may well be supposed that the arrival of such a vast amount of luxuries from the East did not pass off without a general celebration. Mirth^ songs, dancing, shouting, trading, running, jumping, singing, racing, target-sliooting, yarns, frolic, with all sorts of extravagances that white men or Indians could invent, were freely indulged in. The unpacking of the med- icine water contributed not a little to the heightening of our festivities. We had been informed by Harris, previous to the arrival of the general, that General Ashley had sold out his interest in the mountains to Mr. Sublet, em- bracing all his properties and possessions there. He now intended to return to St. Louis, to enjoy the for- tune he had amassed by so much toil and suffering, and in which he had so largely shared in person. lub ACTOBUHiRAiHY Ob' CHAPTER X. Great Battle with the Black Feet. — Departure of General Ashley. — His Farewell Speech to the Mountaineers. — Removal of our Ren- dezvous. — Peace between the Flat Heads and Black Feet. — Trad- ing-post at their Village. — I become Son-in-law to the Black Foot Chief. — Trouble in the Family. — Wife punished for Disobedience — Troubled Waters finally stilled. Two days after the arrival of the general, the tocsin again sounded through our whole camp, " The Black Feet! the Black Feet !" On they came, making the very earth tremble with the tramp of their fiery war- horses. In their advance they surprised three men and two women belonging to the Snakes, who were out some distance from camp, gathering roots. The whole five were instantly overtaken, killed, and scalped. As soon as the alarm was given, the old prophet came to our camp, and, addressing Mr. Sublet, said, "Cut Face, three of my warriors and two women have just been killed by the Black Feet. You say that your warriors can fight — that they are great braves. Now let me see them fight, that I may know your words are true." Sublet replied, "You shall see them fight, and then you will know that they are all braves — that I have no cowards among my men, and that we are all ready to die for our Snake friends." "Now, men," added he, turning to us, -'I want ev- ery brave man to go and fight these Black Feet, and whip them, so that the Snakes may see that we can light, and let us do oui- best before them as a warning to w JAMES 1*. BECKWOirKTH. 10^) lo to them. E-emembcr, I want none to join in this battle who are not brave. Let all cowards remain in camp." Every man was impatient to take part ; but, seeing that his camp would be deserted and his goods ex- posed, he detained quite a number, as well to guard the goods as to keep the general company, he not wish- ing to take part in the battle. There were over three hundred trappers mounted in .1 few moments, who, with Captain Sublet at their head, charged instantly on the enemy. The Snake wamors were also on hand, thirsting to take vengeance on the Black Feet for the five scalps of their friends. After retreating before us about five miles, they formed in a place of great security, in a deep hollow on the border of the lake. At our arrival, the battle recommenced in good earnest. We and our allies fought them for about six hours, they certainly displaying great in- trepidity, for they would repeatedly issue from their stronghold and make a bold sortie against us. AVhen intrenched in their position, they had a great advant- age over us, as it was difficult for a man to approach them without being shot, and to charge on them as they were situated would have occasioned us great loss of life. One Indian issuing from their position was shot through the back bone, thus depriving his legs of all power of motion. Seeing him fall, Sublet said to me, "Jim, let us go and haul him away, and get his scalp before the Indians draw him in." We went, and, seizing each a leg, started toward our lines with him : the wounded Indian grasping the grass with both hands, we had to haul with all our strength. An Indian, suddenly springing over their breast-work, struck me a heavy blow in the back with his gun, causing me to loose hold of my les; and run. Both I 110 AL'TOBIOGKAPHY UF and my companion were unarmed ; and I, not knowing how many blows were to follow, deemed discretion on this particular occasion the better part of valor. Sublet made a strong demonstration against my assailant with his fists, at the same time calling me back and cursing me foi running. I returned, and, together, we dragged the Indian to one of our men, also wounded, for him to dispatch. But the poor fellow had not strength sufficient to perforate the Indian's skin with his knife, and we were obliged to perform the job ourselves. After six hours' fighting, during which time a num- ber of the enemy were slain, we began to want nour- ishment. Sublet requested our allies " to rub out" all their foes while we went and procured refreshment ; but on our leaving, they followed us, and wc all ar- rived in camp together. On our return to the field of battle we found the Black Feet were gone, having de- parted precipitately, as they had left a number of their dead, a thing unusual with the Indians. The fruits of our victory were one hundred and seventy-three scalps, with numerous quivers of arrows, war-clubs, battle-axes, and lances. We also killed a number of their horses, which doubtless was the reason of their leaving so many of their dead on the field of battle. The trappers had seven or eight men wounded, but none killed. Our allie? lost eleven killed in battle, besides the five blain before ; but none of those killed in battle were scalped. Had this battle been fought in the open plain, but few of our foes could have escaped ; and even as it was, had we continued to fight, not a dozen could have got away. But, considering that we were fighting for our allies, we did not exert ourselves. As usual on all such occasions, our victory was cel- ebrate confoi compi is, tak: Previc into h can rei "M the mc defatig cured r dencc i I shall I feel 1 of you ways b you ha friendl;^ one an( and dev the grai lieart, a: "My up my £ turn th] house, t( tered, ai ford you "I n( Mountai God ble; WeM was a m JAMES V. BECKWOURFU. Ill cbrated in camp, and the exercises lasted several days, conformably to Indian custom. General Ashley, having disposed of all his goods and completed his final arrangements, departed for St.Lou- is, taking with him nearly two hundred packs of beaver. Previous to his dejDarture, he summoned all the men into his presence, and addressed them, as nearly as I can recollect, in the following words : *' Mountaineers and friends ! When I first came to the mountains, I came a poor man. You, by your in- defatigable exertions, toils, and privations, have pro- cured me an independent fortune. With ordinary pru- dence in the management of what I have accumulated, I shall never want for any thing. For this, my friends, I feel myself under great obligations to you. ]\Iany of you have served with me personally, and I shall al- ways be proud to 'testify to the fidelity with which you have stood by me through all danger, and the friendly and brotherly feeling which you have ever, one and all, evinced toward me. For these faithful and devoted services I wish you to accept my thanks ; the gratitude that I express to you springs from my heart, and will ever retain a lively hold on my feelings. " My friends ! I am now about to leave you, to take up my abode in St. Louis. Whenever any of you re- turn thither, your first duty must be to call at m\ house, to talk over the scenes of peril we have encoun- tered, and partake of the best cheer my table can af- ford you. " I now wash my hands of the toils of the Rocky Mountains. Farewell, mountaineers and friends! jMay God bless you all ! " We were all sorry to part with the general. He was a man of untiring enerery and perseverance, cheer- 112 AlITOBIOORAFIiy OF fully enduring every toil and privation with his men. When they were short of food, he likewise hungered ; he bore full share in their sufferings, and divided his last morsel with them. There was always something encouraging in his manner ; no difficulty dejected him ; kind and generous in his disjiosition, lie was loved equally by all. If, which was seldom, he had any disagreement with them, if he discovered himself in fault, lie would freely acknowledge his error, and ask forgiveness. Before he left he had a word of advice for me. "James," he commenced, "since I have been here I have heard much of your exploits. I like brave men, but I fear you are reckless in your bravery. Caution is always commendable, and especially is it necessary in encounters with Indians. I wish you to be careful of yourself, and pay attention to your licaltli, for, with the powerful constitution you possess, you have many valuable years before you. It is my hearty desire to have you do well, and live to a good old age ; correct your fault of encountering risks for the mere ostenta- tious display of your courage. Whenever you return home, come and see me, James ; you will be a thou- sand times welcome ; ar d, should you ever be in need of assistance, call on me first. Good-by." He left the camp amid deafening cheers from the whole crowd. I did not see him again until the year 1886. At the general's departure, wc broke up our camp and marched on to the country of the Flat Heads, on the Snake Hiver. On our arrival at the new rendez- vous, we were rejoiced to learn that peace existed be- tween the two nations — the Flat Heads and Black Feet, and that they were in friendly intercourse to- JAMES P. ni:(^KAVOlJRTM, II.S gcther. le ir fP k This was very favorable for our purpose ; for it is with Indian tribes as with civilized nations, when at war, various branehes of business are impoverished, and it becomes inconvenient for those engaged in them to make more than trifling purchases, just for the sup- ply of their immediate wants. Hostilities are still more destructive to Indian commerce than to that of civilized nations, for the reason, that the time and re- sources of the whole community arc engaged in their prosecution. The " sinews of war" with the Indian mean, literally, himself and his horse. We spent the summer months at our leisure, trad- ing with the Indians, hunting, sporting, and preparing for the fall harvest of beaver. We made acquaint- ance with several of the Black Feet, who came to the post to trade. One of their chiefs invited Mr. Sublet to establish a branch post in their country, telling him that they had many people and horses, and plenty of beaver, and if his goods were to be obtained they would trade considerably ; his being so far off prevented his people coming to Mr. Sublet's camp. The Indian appearing sincere, and there being a prospect of opening a profitable trade. Sublet proposed to establish a post among the Black Feet if any of the men were willing to risk their scalps in attending it. I offered to go, although I was well aware the tribe knew that I had contributed to the destruction of a number of their braves ; but, to the Indian, the great- er the brave, the higher their respect for him, even though an enemy. So, taking my boy Baptiste and one man with me, we packed up and started for Beaver River, which is a branch of the Missoui'i, and in the heart of the Black Foot country. On our arrival, the Indians manifested great appear- 114 AL'TOniOGRAPIIY OF jince of friendship, and were higlily pleased at Iiaving a Irading-post so eonvcniently at hand. I soon rose to be a great man among them, and the chief oifered me liis daughter for a wife. Considering tliis an alliance tliat would guarantee my life as well as enlarge my trade, I accepted his ofl'er, and, without any sujierflu- ous ceremony, became son-in-law to As-as-to, the head chief of the iJhick Feet. Att-as'to^ interpreted, means heavy shield. To me the alliance was more offi'.ns'tvH than defensive, but tlrrift was my object more than Iiymcneal enjoyments. Trade prosjjcred greatly. 1 purchased beaver and horses at my own price. ]\Iany times I bought a line beaver-skin for a butcher-knife or a plug of tobacco. After a residence among them of a few days, I liad slight difficulty in my family aifairs. A party of In- dians came into camp one day, bringing with thcni three white men's scalps. The sight of them made my blood boil with rage ; but there was no help for it, so I determined to wait witli patience my day of re- venge. In accordance with their custom, a scalp-dance was held, at which there was much additional re- joicing. ]\Iy \c'»fe came to me with the information that her people were rejoicing, and that she wished to join them in the dance. I replied, "No; these scalps belonged to my people; my heart is crying for their death ; you must not re- joice when my heart cries ; you must not dance when I mourn." She then went out, as I supposed, satisfied. M^ two white friends, having a great curiosity to witness the performance, were looking out upon the scene. I reproved them for wishing to witness the savage re- iii:«;K\\oruTii itmmii'.s iiih uisoukdiknt wiff. JOIC (.) best all." Tl Tuki I waf wilb bank her h J (1 went Till (Icr th tliund with s com pa hold intercs brethre peeling Byt " Kill shouted Avhich '. knew tl Soon in a to hold! V All V " Warri brothers She was .lAMKS W HKCKWuI'KTII. II joic'mgs over the fall of white nicu wlio Imil probably lu'loni^'ed to our own company. One of tlieni answenid, "Well, your ■wife is the host tlancer of the whole party ; she out-danees them alh" This was a Hting wliich pierced 'uy very heart. Taking my battle-axe, and forcing my.seif into the ring, I watched my opportunity, and struck my disobedient wife a heavy blow in the head with the side of my battle-axe, which dropped her as if a ball had pierced lier heart. 1 dragged her tlirougli the crowd, and left lier ; 1 then went back to my tent. This act was j)crformcd in such a bold manner, un- der the very noses of hundreds of them, that they were thunderstruck, and for a moment remained motionless with surprise. AV hen J entered the tent, I said to my companions, " There, now, you had better prepare to liold on to your own scalps, since you take so much Interest in a celebration over those of your murdered brethren." Tlicir countenances turned ashy pale, ex- pecting instant death. By this time the whole Indian camp was in a blaze. "Kill him! kill him! burn him! burn him!" was shouted throughout the camp in their own language, which I plainly understood. I was collected, for 1 knew they could kill me but once. Soon I heard the voice of my father-in-law crying, in a tone wliicli sounded above all, " Stop ! hold ! hold! warriors! listen to your chief." All was hushed in an instant, and he continued: "Warriors! I am the loser of a daughter, and her brothers have lost a sister; you have lost nothing. She was the wife of the trader; I gave her to him. 118 AUTOniOGKAPHY OF When your wives disobey your commitnds, you kill ihcni ; that is your riglit. That thing disobeyed her husband; he told her not to dance; she disobeyed him ; she had no cars ; he killed her, and he did right. lie did as you all would have done, and you shall nei- ther kill nor harm him for it. 1 promised the white chief that, if he would send a trader to my people, 1 would protect him and return him unharmed ; this 1 must do, and he shall not be hurt here. Warriors! wait till you meet him in battle, or, perhaps, in his owr camp, then kill him ; but here his life is sacred. What if we kill them all, and take what they have ? It will last but a few suns ; we shall then want more. Whom do we get sach-o-pach (powder) from ? Wc get it from the whites ; and when we have expended what we have, we must do without, or go to them for When we have no powder, can we fight our more. enemies with plenty ? If wc kill these three men, whom I have given the word of a chief to protect, the white chief will send us nr* more, but his braves will revenge the death of their brothers. No, no; you shall not harm them here. They have eaten of our meat, and drunk of our water ; they have also smoked with us. When they have sold their goods, let them return in peace." At this time there were a great many Flat Heads at the Black Foot camp, as they were at peace with each other. After the speech of my father-in-law, a great brave of the Flat Heads, called Bad Hand, re- plied, " Hey ! you are yourself again ; you talk well ; you talk like As-as-to again. W^e are now at peace ; if you had killed these men, we should have made war on you again ; we should have raised the battle-axe, never to have buried it. These whites are ours, and JAMES P. BECKVVOlIKTIf. 119 the Flat Heads •would have revenged their deaths if they had heen iiillcd in your camp." The chief then made a loud and lono; harariTie, aft- or which all became quiet. As-as-to next came to my camp and said, "My son, you have done light; that woman I gave you had no sense ; her cars were stop- ped up ; she would not hearken to you, and you had a right to kill her. But I have another daughter, who is younger than she was. She is more beautiful ; she has good sense and good ears. You may have her in the place of the bad one ; she will hearken to all you say to her.'' " Well," thought T, " this is getting married again before I have even had time to mo am."' But I replied, " Very well, my father, I will accept of your kind offer," well knowing, at the same time, that to refuse him would be to offend, as he would sup- pose that I disdained his generosity. My second wife was brought to me. as her father had represented, far more intelligent and far prettier than her other sister, and I was really proud of the change. I now possessed one that many a war- rior had performed deeds of bloody valor to obtain ; for it is a high honor to get the daughter of a great chief to wife, and many a bold warrior has sacrificed his life in seeking to attain such a prize. During the night, while I and my wife were quietly reposing, some person crawled into our couch, sobbing most bitterly. Angry at the intrusion, I asked who was there. "Me," answered a voice, which, although well-nigh stifled with bitter sobs, I recognized as that of my oth- er wife, whom every one had supposed dead. After lying outside the lodge senseless for some hours, she had recovered and groped her way to my bed. I found her. 120 AUTOBIOGKAPHY OF "Go away, "I said, "you have no business here; 1 have a new wife now, one who has sense." *'l will not go away," she repHed; "my cars arc open now. I was a fool not to hearken to my hus- band's words when his heart was crying, but now 1 liave good sense, and will always hearken to your words." It did really seem as if her heart was broken, and she kept lier position until morning. I thought my- self now well supplied with -vives, having tv^o more than I cared to have ; but I deemed it hardly worth while to complain, as I should soon leave the camp, wives and all. It is a universal adage, " When you are among Ro- mans, do as the Romans do." I conformed to the cus- toms of a people really pagan, but who regarded them- selves both enlightened and powerful. I was risking my life for gold, that I might return one day with plen- ty, to share with her I tenderly loved. My body was among the Indians, but my mind was far away from them and their bloody deeds. Experience has reveal- ed to me that civilized man can accustom himself to any mode of life when pelf is the governing principle — that power which dominates through all the ramifica- tions of social life, and gives expression to the universal instinct of self-interest. By living with the savages, and becoming familiar with their deeds of injustice and cruelty — witnessing friends and companions struck dowii without a moment's warning — if a man has feel- ing, in a short time it becomes callous toward the re- lentless savage, who can mock the dying struggles of the white man, and indulge his inhuman joy as he sees his warm life-blood saturate the earth, on which, a few moments since, his victim stood erect in seeming se- JAMES P. BECKWOUKTII. 121 curlty. ]\Iany a companion have I seen fall in the wild prairie or the mountain forest, dying with some dear name upon his lips, his body left as food for the wild beasts, or his bones to whiten in the trackless wilderness. It will be said, " He i.iight have st?'d at home, and not have hazarded his life amid such dangers." So it might be said of the hardy mariner, whose compass guides him through all parts of the pathless ocean. The same motive impels them both on their perilous career — self-interest, which, while i: gratiney their in- dividual desires, at the same time enriches and ad- vances society, by adding its acquisitions to the mart of commerce. We left the Black Foot country after a stay of twenty- days, having purchased thirty-nine packs of beaver and several splendid horses at a sum trifling in real value, but i^diat they considered as far exceeding the worth of their exchanges. The chief lent us an escort of two hundred and iifty mounted warriors, in addition to which nearly one hundred Flat Heads returned with us to our camp, whom we met the second day on our road (they having become alarmed for our safety, and being on the way to revenge our deaths, in the event of the Black Feet having proved treacherous). On our arrival we were greeted with the liveliest expressions of joy. Presents were made to our escort, and ]\Ir. Sublet sent my father-in-law a valuable gift for his kindness to me, and as the assurance of his most distinguished consid- eration. I also sent some dress-patterns to my wives, in addition to the presents I had previously made them. The Black Feet, apparently well satisfied, re- turned to their homes. F 122 AUTUUIOUKAI'HY OF CHArTEK XL Removal of our Rendezvous. — Battle with our Friends, the Black Feet. — A Race for dear Life. — Great "Victory over the Grovan Band of Black Feet. After we had rested we departed for Snake River, making the Black Foot buttes on our way, in order to pass through the buffalo region. I received a severe lecture from Mr. Sublet for my rashness while at the trading-post. The second day of our march, one of our men, while fishing, detected a party of Black Feet in the act of stealing our horses in the open day. But for the man, they would have succeeded in making off with a great number. The alarm was given, and we mounted and gave immediate chase. The Indians were forty-four in number, and on foot ; there ore they became an easy prey. We ran them into a thicket of dry bush, which we surrounded, and then fired in sev- eral places. It was quite dry, and, there being a good breeze at the time, it burned like chaff. This driving the Indians out, as fast as they made their appearance we shot them with our rifles. Every one of them was killed ; those who escaped our bullets were consumed in the fire ; and as they were all more or less roasted, we took no scalps. None of our party were hurt, ex- cept one, who was wounded by one of our men. On the third day we found buffalo, and killed great numbers of them by a " surround." At this place we lost six horses, three of them belonging to myself, two to a Swiss, and one to Baptiste. Not relishing the idea of losing them (for they were splendid animals), JAMES P. UECKWOIKTH. 123 ras led id, jx- jat Iwe |\vo the and seeing no signs of Indians, I and the Swiss start- ed along the back track in pursuit, with the under- standing that we would rejoin our company at the Buttcs. We followed them -to the last place of rendez- vous ; their tracks were fresh and plain, but we could gain no sight of our horses. We then gave up the cliase, and encamped in a thicket. In the morning Ave started to return, and had not proceeded far, when, hearing a noise in our rear, I looked round, and saw between two and three hundred Indians within a few hundred yards of us. They soon discovered us, and, from their not making immediate pursuit, I inferred that they mistook us for two of their own party. How- ever, they soon gave chase. They being also on foot, I said to my companion, " Now we have as good a chance of escaping as they have of overtaking us." The vSwiss (named Alexander) said, " It is of no use for mc to try to get away : I can not run ; save your- self, and never mind me." " No," I replied, " I will not leave you ; run as fast as you can until you reach the creek ; there you can secrete yourself, for they will pursue me." v He followed my advice, and saved himself. I cross- ed the stream, and when I again appeared in sight of the Indians I was on the summit of a small hill two miles in advance. Giving a general yell, they came in pursuit of me. On I ran, not daring to indulge the hope that they would give up the chase, for some of the Indians are great runners, and would rather die than incur the ridicule of their brethren. On, on we tore ; I to save my scalp, and my pursuers to win it. At length I reached the Buttes, where I had expected to find the camp, but, to my inconceivable horror and dismay, my comrades were not there. They had found 124 A LTOBIOO KA ril V OF no water on their route, and had proceeded to the river, forty-iive miles distant. My feelings at this disappointment transcended ex- pression. A thousand ideas peopled my feverish brain at once. Home, friends, and my loved one presented themselves with one lightning-flash. The Indians were close at my heels ; their bullets were whizzing past me ; their yells sounded painfully in my ears ; and I could almost feel the knife making a circuit round my skull. On I bounded, however, following the road which our whole company had made. I was scorch- ing with thirst, having tasted neither sup nor bit since we commenced the race. Still on I went with the speed of an antelope. I kept safely in advance of the range of their bullets, when suddenly the glorious sight of the camp-smoke caught my eye. My companions perceived me at a mile from the camp, as well as my pursuers ; and, mounting their horses to meet me, soon turned the tables on my pursuers. It was now the Indians' turn to be chased. They must have suffered as badly with thirst as I did, and our men cut them off from the river. Night had begun to close in, under the protection of which the Indians escaped ; our men returned with only five scalps. According to the closest calculation, I ran that day ninety-five miles.* My heels thus deprived the rascally Indians of their anticipated pleasure of dancing over my scalp. My limbs were so much swollen the next morning, that for * Concerning this, great race for life, it may appear impossible to some for a human being to accomplish such a feat. Those who sur- vive of Sublet's company, and who know the distances from point to point of my celebrated race, will please to correct me publicly if I am in error in the distance. I have known instances of Indian runners accomplishing more than one hundred and ten miles in one day. — Narrator. (( JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 125 their My It for two or three days ensuing it was with great difficulty I got about. My whole system was also in great pain. In a few days, however, I 'was as well as ever, and ready to repay the Indians for their trouble. The third day after my escape, my companion Aleck found his way into camp. He entered the lodge with dejection on his features. " Oh !" he exclaimed, *' I thank God for my escape, but the Indians have killed poor Jim. I saw his bones a few miles back. I will give any thing I have if a party will go with me and bury him. The wolves have almost picked his bones, but it must be he. Poor, poor Jim ! gone at last !" " Ha I" said some one present, "is Jim killed, then ? Poor fellow ! Well, Aleck, let us go back and give him a Christian burial." He had seen a body nearly devoured on the way, most likely that of the wounded Indian who had chased me in his retreat from our camp. I came limping into the crowd at this moment, and addressed him before he had perceived me : " Halloo, Aleck, are you safe ?" He looked at me for a moment in astonishment, and then embraced me so tight that I thought he would suffocate me. He burst into a flood of tears, which for a time prevented his articulation. He looked at me again and again, as if in doubt of my identity. At length he said, " Oh, Jim, you are safe ! And how did you escape ? I made sure that you were killed, and that the body I saw on the road was yours. Pshaw ! I stopped and shed tears on a confounded dead Indian's carcass'" / Aleck stated that the enemy had passed within ten feet without perceiving him ; that his gun was cocked 12H ATTTOBIOGRAPITY OV and well primed, so that if lie had been discovered there would have been at least one red skin less to chase lie had seen no Indians on his way to camp. nic. 1 was satisfied that some (if not all) of my pursuers knew me, for they were lilack Feet, or they would not have taken such extraordinary pains to run me down. If they had succeeded in their endeavor, they would, in subsequent years, have saved their tribe many scalps. From this encampment we moved on to Lewis's Fork, on the Columbia River, where we made a final halt to prepare for the fall trapping season. 8ome small parties, getting tired of inaction, would occasion- ally sally out to the small mountain streams, all of which contained plenty of beaver, and would frequent- ly come in with several skins. I prepared my traps one day, thinking to go out alone, and see what my luck might be. I mounted my horse, and, on approaching a small stream, dis- mounted to take a careful survey, to see if there were any signs of beaver. Carefully ascending tlie bank of the stream, I peered over, and saw, not a beaver, but an Indian. He had his robe spread on the grass, and was engaged in freeing himself from vermin, with which all Indians abound. He had not seen nor heard me ; his face was toward me, but inclined, and he was in- tently pursuing his occupation. " Here," thought I, "are a gun, a bow, a quiver full of arrows, a good robe, and a scalp." I fired my rifle ; the Indian fell over without utter- ing a sound. I not only took his scalp, but his head. I tied two locks of his long hair together, hung his head on the horn of my saddle, and, taking the spoils of the enemy, hurried back to camp. JAMES P. HECKWOURTII. 12; 11 S is The next morning our camp was invested by two thousand five liundrcd warriors of the Black Foot tribe. We had now something on our hands which demanded attention. We were encamped in the bend of a river — in the "horse-shoe." Our lodges were pitched at the entrance, or narrowest part of the shoe, while our ani- mals were driven back into the bend. The lodges, four deep, extended nearly across the land, forming a kind of barricade in front ; not a very safe one for the in- mates, since, being covered with buffalo hides, they were penetrable to bullet and arrow. Tlie Indians made a furious charge. We imme- diately placed the women and children in the rear, sending them down the bend, where they were safe unless we were defeated. We suffered the Indians for a long time to act on the offensive, being con- tent with defending ourselves and the camp. I ad- vised Captain Sublet to let them weary themselves with charging, by which time we would mount and charge them with greater prospect of victory ; where- as, should we tire ourselves while they were fresh, we should be overwhelmed by their numbers, and, if not defeated, inevitably lose a great many men. All the mountaineers approved of my advice, and our plans were taken accordingly. They drove us from our first position twice, so that our lodges were between the contending ranks, but they never broke our lines. When they approached us very near we resorted to our arrows, which a' our half-breeds used as skillfully as the Indians. Finally, perceiving they began to tire, I went and ordered the women to saddle the horses in haste. A horse was soon ready for each man, four hundred in number. Taking one hundred and thirty men, I passed out through the timber, keep- 128 ArTOBIOaKAPHY OP ing near the river until we could all emerge and form a line to charge them, unobserved, in the rear. Wliile executing this diversion, the main body was to charge them in front. While defiling through the timber we came suddenly upon ten Indians who were resting from the fight, and were sitting on the ground unconcernedly smoking their pipes. We killed nine of them, the tenth one making good his retreat. Our mantt'uvre succeeded admirably. The Indians were unconscious of our approach in their rear until they began to fall from their horses. Then charging on their main body simultaneously with Captain Su- blet's charge in front, their whole force was thrown into irretrievable confusion, and they fled without farther resistance. We did not pursue them, feeling very well satisfied to have got nd of them as we had. They left one hundred and sixty-seven dead on the field. Our loss was also very severe ; sixteen killed, mostly half- breeds, and fifty or sixty wounded. In this action I received a wound in my left side, although I did not perceive it until the battle was over. As usual, there was a scalp-dance after the victory, in which I really feared that the fair sex would dance themselves to death. They had a crying spell after- ward for the dead. After all, it was a victory rather dearly purchased. A few days after our battle, one of our old trappers, named Le Blueux, who had spent twenty years in the mountains, came to me, and telling me he knew of a small stream full of beaver which ran into Lewis's Fork, about thirty miles from camp, wished me to accompany liim there. We being free trappers at that time, the chance of obtaining a pack or two of beaver was rather a powerful incentive. Gain being my object, I readily •lAMES r. HKr-KWOIKTII. r2i> acccdod to his proposal. A\'e \nit out from camp dur- ing the night, and traveled up Lewis's l''ork, leisurely discussing our prospects and confidently enumerating our unhatched chickens, when suddenly a Lirge party of Indians came in sight in our rear. The banks of the river "wc were travclinfj alone: were l^rccipitous and rocky, and skirted with a thick bush. Wc entered the bush without a moment's hesitation, for the Indians advanced on us as soon as they had caught sight of us. Le ]51ucux had a small bell attached to his horse's neck, which he took off, and, creeping to a large busi fastened it with the end of his lariat, and re- turned holding the other end in his hand. This strata- gem caused the Indians to expend a great amount of powder and shot in their eflbrt to kill tlic bell ; for, of course, they supposed the bell indicated the position of ourselves. When they approaclicd near enough to be seen through the bushes, wc fired one gun at a time, always keeping the other loaded. AYhen wc fired the bell would ring, as if the liorse was started by the close proximity of the gun, but the smoke would not rise in the right place. They continued to shoot at random into the bushes without injuring us or our faitlifiil ani- mals, who were close by us, but entirely concealed from the sight of the Indians. IMy companion filled his pi])e and commenced smoking with as much sang froid as if he had been in camp. " This is the last smoke I expect to have between here and camp," said he. "What are we to do?'' I inquired, not feeling our position very secure in a brush fort manned with a company of two, and beleaguered by scores of Black Foot warriors. In an instant, before T had time to tliink. crack went Y 2 180 AITOHIOOHAPnY OF his rifle, and down came an Indian, who, more boM llian the rest, had approached too near to our garrison. **Now,'' said J^e Jilueux, *' bind your leggins and moccasins around your head.*' T did so, while lie obeyed the same order. ** Now follow me."' ^ Wondering what bold project he was about to exe- cute, I quietly obeyed him. lie went noiselessly to 1 he edge of the bluff, looked narrowly up and down the river, and then commenced to slide down the almost perpendicular bank, I closely following him. We safely reached the river, into which we dropped our- selves. We swam close under the bank for more than a mile, until they discovered us. "Now," said my comrade, " strike across the stream in double quick time.'' We soon reached the opposite bank, and found our- selves a good mile and a half ahead of the Indians. They commenced plunging into the river in pursuit, but they were too late. We ran across the open ground until wc reached a mountain, where we could safely look back and laugh at our pursuers. Yv^e had lost our horses and guns, while they had sacrificed six or eight of their warriors, besides missing the two scalps they made so certain of getting hold of. I had thought myself a pretty good match for the Indians, but I at once resigned all claims to merit. Le Blueux, in addition to all the acquired wiles of the Red ]\Ian, possessed his own superior art and cunning. He could be surrounded with no difficulties for which his inexhaustible brain could not devise some secure mode of escape. We arrived safe at camp before the first guard was relieved. The following morning we received a severe JAMES P. liECKWOT'irm. 13:5 reprimand from Captain Sublet for exposing ourselves on so hazardous an adventure. As soon as the wounded were sufficiently recovered to be able to travel, we moved down the river to the junction of Salt River with Guy's Fork, about a mile from Snake River. The next day the captain re- solved to pasr^ up to Guy's Fork to a convenient camp- ing-ground, where we were to spend the interval until it was time to separate into small iiarties, and com- mence trapping in good earnest for the season. One day, while moving leisurely along, two men and myself proposed to the captain to proceed ahead of the main party to ascertain the best road, to reconnoi- tre the various streams — in short, to make it a trip of discovery. We were to encamp one night, and rejoin the main body the next morning. The captain con- sented, but gave us strict caution to take good care of ourselves. Nothing of importance occurred that day ; but the next morning, about sunrise, we were all thunder- struck at being roused from our sleep by the discharge of guns close at hand. Two of us rose in an instant, and gave the war-hoop as a challenge for them to come on. Poor Cotton, the third of our party, was killed at the first lire. When they saw us arise, rifle in hand, they drew back ; whereas, had they rushed on with their battle-axes, they could have killed us in an in- stant. One of our horses was also killed, which, with the body of our dead comrade, we used for a breast- work, tlirowing up, at the same time, all the dirt ve could to protect ourselves as far as w^ were able. The Indians, five hundred in number, showered their balls at us, but, being careful to keep at a safe distance, they did us no damage for some time. At length my com- 134 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF panion received a shot through the heel, while careless- ly throwing up his feet in crawling to get a sight at the Indians without exposing his body. I received some slight scratches, hut no injury that occasioned me any real inconvenience. Providence at last came to our relief. Our camp was moving along slowly, shooting buffalo occasional- ly, when some of the women, hearing our guns, ran to the captain, exclaiming, " There is a light. Hark ! iiear the guns I " He, concluding that there was more distant fighting than is common in killing buffalo, dispatched sixty men in all possible Laste in the direction of the reports. We saw them as t';iey appeared in sight on the brow of a hill not far distant, and sent up a shout of triumph. The Indians also caught sight of them, and immedi- ately retreated, leaving seventeen warriors dead in front of our little fort, wliom we relieved of their scalps. We returned to camp after burying our companion, whose body was literally riddled with bullets. The next day we made a very successful surround of buf- falo, killing great numbers of them. In the evening, several of our friends, the Snakes, came to us and told us their village was only five miles farther up, wishing us to move up near them to open a trade. After cur- ing our meat, we moved on and encamped near the friendly Snakes. We learned that there were one hundred and eighty-five lodges of Pun-naks encamped only two miles distant, a discarded band of the Snakes, very bad Indians, and very great thieves. Captain Su- blet informed the Snakes that if the Pun-naks should steal any of his horses or any thing belonging to his camp, he would 7'uh them all out^ and be wished the friendlv Snakes to tell them so. !SS- tlie mc my mp lal- to k! ng ts. )h. di- mt in, he if- g» Id ig LT- [ic tie id s, 11- Id is le Tw ed do\ set up camp ( were c Two h selves leader < We rived a village ately af no doul them. We up with they all "Wh "I wi men," I Tlieir ret nate ther "Go,' to make i I was raenced, j left of eit hundred i posed, am however, • liad been back and On info they expr JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 137 Two of our men and one of the Snakes having stroll- ed down to the Pun-nak lodges one evening, they were set upon, and the Snake was killed, and the two of our camp came home wounded. The morning volunteers were called to punish the Pun-naks for their outrage. Two hundred and fifteen immediately presented them- selves at the call, and our captain appointed Bridger leader of the troop. We started to inflict vengeance, but when we ar- rived at the site of the village, behold I there was no village there. They had packed up and left immedi- ately after the perpetration of the outrage, they fearing, no doubt, that ample vengeance would be taken upon them. We followed their trail forty-five miles, and came up with them on Green River. Seeing our approach, they all made across to a small island in the river. " What shall we do now, Jim ?" inquired our leader. " I will cross to the other side with one half the men," I suggested, " and get abreast of the island. Their retreat will be thus cut off, and we can extermi- nate them in their trap." " Go," said he ; "I will take them if they attempt to make this shore." I was soon in position, and the enfilading com- menced, and was continued until there was not one left of either sex or any age. We carried back four hundred and eighty-eight scalps, and, as we then sup- posed, annihilated the Pun-nak band. On our return, however, we found six or eight of their squaws, who liad been left behind in the flight, whom we carried back and gave to the Snakes. On informing the Snakes of what had taken place, they expressed great delight. "Right!" they said. i;58 ArTOBIOGUAl'HV OF " Pun-naks very bad Indians ;" and they joined in the scalp-dance. We afterward learned that the Pun-naks, when they fled from our vengeance, had previously sent their old men, and a great proportion of their women and chil- dren, to the mountains, at which we were greatly pleased, as it spared the effusion of much unnecessary blood. They had a great "medicine chief" slain witli the others on the island ; his medicine was not good this time, at least. We proceeded thence to a small creek, called Black Foot Creek, in the heart of the Black Foot country. It was always our custom, before turning out our horses in the morning, to send out spies to reconnoitre around, and see if any Indians were lurking about to steal them. When preparing to move one morning from the last-named creek, we sent out two men ; but they had not proceeded twenty yards from our corral before a dozen shots were fired at them by a party of Black Feet, bringing them from their horses severely wounded. In a moment the whole camp was in mo- tion. The savages made a bold and desperate attempt to rush upon the wounded men and get their scalps, but we were on the ground in time to prevent them, and drove them back, killing four of their number. The next day we were overtaken by the Snakes, who, hearing of our skirmish, expressed great regret tliat they were not present to have followed them and given them battle again. We seldom followed the Indians after having defeated them, unless they had stolen our horses. It was our policy always to act on the defensive, even to tribes that were known enemies. When the Snakes were ready, we all moved on to- gether for the head of Green River. The Indians num and altog more bclon W, er, wl stay c vicinii It^ break directi upon I numbe joiced extrem Tiie scalps tlie jiar how va defeatet see so r foes. \ so noblj the gref had seei Upon i\ tion; th tivate m of their One a Crow, his wife ford full i .JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. im) ps, licm, kes, icvret o and the bad ;t on lies, to- lians numbered six or seven thousand, inckiding women and children ; our number was nearly eight hundred altogether, forming quite a formidable little army, or, more properly, a moving city. The number of horses belonging to the whole camp was immense. We had no farther difficulty in reaching Green Riv- er, where we remained six days. During this short stay our numberless horses exhausted the grass in our vicinity, and it was imperative to change position. It was now early in September, and it was time to break up our general encampment, and spread in all directions, as the hunting and trapping season was upon us. Before we formed our dispersing parties, a number of the Crows came to our camp, and were re- joiced to see us again. The Snakes and Crows were extremely amicable. The Crows were questioning the Snakes about some scalps hanging on our lodge-poles. They gave them the particulars of our encounter with the Black Feet, how valiantly we had fought them, and how we had defeated them. The Crows were highly gratified to see so many scalps taken from their old and inveterate foes. They wished to see the braves who had fought so nobly. I was pointed out as the one who had taken the greatest number of scalps ; they told them they had seen me fight, and that 1 was a very great brave. Upon this I became the object of the Crows' admira- tion ; they were very anxious to talk to me and to cul- tivate my acquaintance ; but I could speak very little of their language. One of our men (named Greenwood), whose wife was a Crow, could speak their language fluently ; he and his wife were generally resorted to by the Crows to af- ford full details of our recent victory. Greenwood, be- 140 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP coming tired of so much questioning, invented a fiction, which greatly amused me for its ingenuity. He in- formed them that White-handled Knife (as the Snakes called me) was a Crow. They all started in astonishment at this informa- tion, and asked how that could be. kSaid Greenwood in reply, " You know that so many winters ago the Cheyennes defeated the Crows, killing many hundreds of their warriors, and carrying off a great many of their women and children." "Yes, we know it," they all exclaimed. " Well, he was a little boy at that time, and the whites bought him of the Cheyennes, with whom ht has staid ever since. He has become a great brave among them, and all your enemies fear him." On hearing this astonishing revelation, they said that I must be given to them. Placing implicit faith in every word that they had heard, they hastened to their village to disseminate the joyful news that they had found one of their own people who had been taken by the Shi-ans when a har-car-ta (child), who had been sold to the whites, and who had now become a great white chief, with his lodge-pole full of the scalps of the Black Feet, who had fallen beneath his gun and battle- axe. This excited a great commotion throughout their whole village. All the old women who remembered the defeat, when the Crows lost two thousand warriors and a host of women and children, with the ensuing captivity, were wondering if the great brave was not their own child ; thereupon ensued the greatest anxi- ety to see me and claim me as a son. I did not say a w^ord impugning the authenticity of Greenwood's romance. I was greatly editied at the inordinate gullibility of the red man, and when they JAx\IE.S I». IJECKWOUliTJI. 14| Our party now broke up ; detachments wore formed staited m all dircet.ons, receiving instructions to re- turn wtinn a certain day. There were a great many fur trappers with us, w]>o hunted for their lvnp"„fit^ and disposed of their peltry ,o the mountain "rafc .' Ti.e trappers w.re accon.panied by a certain numbe of hired men, selected according to their individual prd erenccs, the strength of their party being regulated bv tl.e danger of the countty tl/ey were gfing^to! If a party was gomg to the Black Foot country! it needed therrwo ,ld /' " "" '^""S'^' ""^ apprehended, toe would go few or many, just as was agreed upon dience to the will of Us captain or leader: his word was supreme law. °™ My party started for the Crow country, at which I I eLl: dTf"' ' '"[; '^'"^ '^ -PPO-d Crow ;; elf lief T ? I "";" *"""« them. It seemed a re let also, to be m a place where we could rest from o^ unsleepmg vigilance, and to feel, when we rose h^ 7e mo^ng, there was some probability of our 1 vi "g tS 142 Al TUBlUUliAl'HV Ol' CHAJ^TEU Xil. Departure from the Rcnilczvoua. — Trouble in Cauip. — Leave the Party and Traps. — Arrival at tlic Crow Villa';C. — (Jreat Stir among the Crows. — Joyful Meeting with my Crow ^ brents, Brothers, and Sis- ters. — Tiiree Years without seeing a White Man. I NOW parted with very many of my friends for the last time. JMost of the members of that large com- pany now sleep in death, their waking ears no longer to be filled with the death-telling yell of the savage. The manly hearts that shrunk from no danger have ceased to beat ; their bones whiten in the gloomy fast- nesses of the Rocky Mountains, or moulder on the ever-floweri ig prairies of the far West. A cloven skull is all tuat remains of my once gallant friends to tell the bloody death that they died, and invoke ven- geance on the merciless hand that struck them down in their ruddy youth. Here I parted from the boy Baptiste, who had been my faithful companion so long. I never saw him again. The party that I started with consisted of thirty-one men, most of them skillful trappers (Captain Bridger was in our party), and commanded by Robert Camp- bell. We started for Powder River, a fork of the Yel- low Stone, and, arriving there without accident, were soon busied in our occupation. A circumstance occurred in our encampment on this stream, trivial in itself (for trivial events sometimes determine the course of a man's life), but which led to unexpected results. I had set my six traps over iiiglit, found 1 sou^ on ni} tain 1 niounl jtressii \Vg s( for a I the m ten or length Tlie up the self cro missing a good cross w some t\ badger, inspecti trap, chi buftalo, the cliai on his s and the in some trap anc himself, his back away he forward would d( rather h JAMKS P. BECKWOUUTII. 14a night, and on going to them the following morning 1 tbiintl four beavers^ but one of my traps was missing. 1 sought it in every direction, but^vithout success, and on my return to camp mentioned the mystery. Cap- tain liridger (as skillful a hunter as ever lived in the niountains) offered to renew the search with me, ex- pressing coniidencc that the trap could be found. We searched diligently along the river and the bank for a considerable distance, but the trap was among tlic missing. The float-pole also was gone — a pole ten or twelve feet long and four inches thick. We at length gave it up as lost. The next morning the whole party moved farther up the river. To shorten our route, Bridger and my- self crossed the stream at the spot where I had set my missing trap. It was a buffalo-crossing, and there was a good trail worn in the banks, so that we could easily cross with our horses. After passing and traveling on some two miles, I discovered what I suppo?:ed to be a badger, and we both made a rush for him. On closer inspection, however, it proved to be my beaver, with trap, chain, and float-pole. It was apparent that some buffalo, in crossing the river, had become entangled in the chain, and, as we conceived, had carried the trap on his shoulder, with the beaver pendent on one side and the pole on the other. W^e inferred that he had in some way got his head under the chain, between the trap and the pole, and, in his endeavors to extricate himself, had pushed his head through. The hump on his back would prevent it passing over his body, and away he would speed with his burden, probably urged forward by the four sharp teeth of the beaver, which would doubtless object to his sudden equestrian (or rather bovine) journey. Wc killed the beaver and 144 AUTOBIOULAPHY OF took his skin, feeling much satisfaction at the solution of the mystery. When wc arrived at camp we asked our companions to guess liow and where we had found the trap. They all gave various guesses, but, failing to hit t!ic truth, gave up the attempt. '* Well, gentlemen," said I, "it was stolen." *' Stolen!" exclaimed a dozen voices at once. " Yes, it was stolen by a buffalo." *'0h, come, now," said one of the party, "what is the use of coming here and telling such a lie ?" I saw in a moment that he was angry and in ear- nest, and 1 replied, " If you deny that a buffalo stole my trap, you tell the lie." He rose and struck me a blow with his fist. Jt was my turn now, and the first pass I made brought my antagonist to the ground. On rising, he sprang for his gun ; I assumed mine as quickly. The by- standers rushed between us, and, seizing our weapons, compelled us to discontinue our strife, which would have infallibly resulted in the death of one. My op- ponent mounted his horse and left the camp. I never saw him afterward. I could have taken his expres- sion in jest, for we were very free in our sallies upon one another ; but in this particular instance I saw his intention was to Insult me, and I allowed my passion to overcome my reflection. My companions counseled me to leave camp for a ie,\v days until the ill feeling should have subsided. The same evening Captain Bridger and myself start- ed out with our traps, intending to be gone three or four days. We followed up a small stream until it forked, when Bridger proposed that I should take one fork and he the other, and the one who had set his traps first should cross the hill which separated thr JAMEH r. BECKWOIKTH. 145 two streams and rejoin the other. Tims we parted, (!xpecting to meet again in a few hours. I continued my course up the stream in pursuit of beaver villages until I found myself among an innumerable drove of horses, and I could plainly see they were not wild ones. The horses were guarded by several of their Indian owners, or horse-guards, as they term them, who had discovered me long before I saw them. T could hear their signals to each other, and in a few moments I was surrounded by them, and escape was impossible. I resigned myself to my fate : if thfy were enemies, I knew they could kill mc but once, and to attempt to defend myself would entail inevitable death. I took the chances between death and mercy ; 1 surrendered ray gun, traps, and what else I had, and was marched to camp under a strong escort of ho)'se-<j}(ar(h. I felt very sure that my guards were Crows, thcuibre I did not feel greatly alarmed at my situation. ( )n amving at their village, I was ushered into the chiefs lodge, where there were several old men and women, whom I conceived to be members of the family. ]\Iy capture was known throughout the village in five minutes, and Imndreds gathered around the lodge to get a sight of the prisoner. In the crowd were some who had talk- ed to Greenwood a few weeks before. They at once exclaimed, "That is the lost Crow, the great brave who has killed so many of our enemies. He is our brother." This threw the whole village into commotion ; old and young were impatient to obtain a sight of the "great brave." Orders were immediately given to summon all the old women taken by the Shi-ans at the. time of their captivity so many winters past, who had suffered the loss of a son at that time. The lodge was 140 ALTOBloGKAPHir OF cleared tor tlie eyaininimj conwiittee^ and the old wom- en, breathless with excitement, their eyes wild and pro- truding, and their nostrils dilated, arrived in squads, until the lodge was filled to overflowing. I believe never was mortal gazed at with such intense and sus- tained interest as I was on that occasion. Arms and legs w jre critically scrutinized. jMy face next passed the ordeal ; tiinn my neck, back, breast, and all parts of my body, even down to my feet, which did not es- cape the examination of these anxious matrons, in their endeavors to discover some mark or peculiarity where- by to recognize their brave son. At length one old womr^n, after having scanned my visage with the utmost intcatness, canii', forward and said, " If this is my son, he has a mole over one of his eyes." My eyelids were immediately pulled down to the ut- most stretch of their elasticity, when, sure enough, she discovered a mole just over my left eye ! "Then, and oh then!" such shouts of joy as were uttered by that honest-hearted woman were seldom be- fore heard, while all in the crowd took part in her re- joicing. It was uncultivated joy, but not the less heartfelt and intense. It was a joy which a mother can only experience when she recovers a son whom !she had supposed dead in his earliest days. She has mourned him silently through weary nights and busy days for the long space of twenty years ; suddenly he presents himself before her in robust manhood, and graced with the highest name an Indian can appreciate. It is but nature, either in the savage breast or civilized, ihat hails such a return with overwhelming joy, and feels the mother's undying affection awakened beyond all control. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 147 All the other claimants resigning their pretensions, I was fairly carried along by the excitod crowd to the lodge of the "Big Bowl," who was my father. The news of my having proved to be the son of Mrs. Big Bowl flew through the village with the speed of light- ning, and, on my arrival at the paternal lodge, I found it filled with all degrees of my newly-discovered rela- tives, who welcomed me nearly to death. They seized me in their arms and hugged me, and my face posi- tively burned with the enraptured kisses of my nu- merous fair sisters, with a long host of cousins, aunts, and otlier more remote kindred. All these welcoming ladies as firmly believed in my identity with the lost one as they believed in the existence of the Great Spirit. My father knew me to be his son ; told all the Crows that the dead was alive again, and the lost one was found. He knew it was fact ; Greenwood had said so, and the words of Greenwood were true ; his tongue was 'not crooked — he would not lie. He also had told him that his son was a great brave among the white men ; that his arm was strong ; that the Black Feet quailed before his rifle and battle-axe ; that his lodge was full of their scalps which his knife had taken ; that they must rally around me to support and protect me ; and that his long-lost son would be a strong breast- work to their nation, and he would teach them how to defeat their enemies. They all promised that they would do as his words had indicated. My unmarried sisters were four in number, very pret- ty, intelligent young women. They, as soon as the de- parture of the crowd wQuld admit, took ofl" my old leg- gins, and moccasins, and other garments, and supplied 148 AUTOBIOGtRAPHY OP their place with new ones, most beautifully ornament- ed according to their" very last fashion. My sisters were very ingenious in such work, and they wellnigh quarreled among themselves for the privilege of dress- ing me. When my toilet was finished to their satis- faction, I could compare in elegance with the most pop- ular warrior of the tribe when in full costume. They also prepared me a bed, not so high as Haman's gal- lows certainly, but just as high as the lodge would ad- mit. This was also a token of their esteem and sis- terly affection. While conversing to the extent of my ability with my father in the evening, and affording him full infor- mation respecting the white people, their great cities, their numbers, their power, their opulence, he sudden- ly demanded of me if I wanted a wife ; thinking, no doubt, that, if he got me married, I should lose all dis- content, and forego any wish of returning to the whites. I assented, of course. " Very well," said he, " you shall have a pretty wife and a good one." Away he strode to the lodge of one of the greatest braves, and asked one of his daughters of him to be- stow upon his son, who the chief must have heard was also a great brave. The consent of the parent was readily given. The name of my prospective fa- ther-in-law was Black-lodge. He had three very pret- ty daughters, whose names were Still-water, Black- iish, and Three-roads. Even the untutored daughters of the wild woods need a little time to prepare for such an important event, but long and tedious courtships are unknown among them. The ensuing day the three daughters were brought JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 149 bst ie- rd to my father's lodge by their father, and I was request- ed to take my choice. " Still- water" was the eldest, and I liked her name ; if it was emblematic of her dis- position, she was the woman I should prefer. " Still- water," accordingly, was my choice. They were all superbly attired in garments which must have cost them months of labor, which garments the young wom- en ever keep in readiness against such an interesting occasion as the present. The acceptance of my wife was the completion of the ceremony, and I was again a married man, as sacredly in their eyes as if the Holy Christian Church had fast- ened the irrevocable knot upon us. Among the Indians, the daughter receives no patri- mony on her wedding-day, and her mother and father never pass a word with the son-in-law after — a custom religiously observed among them, though for what rea- son I never learned. The other relatives are under no such restraint. My brothers made me a present of twenty as fine horses as any in the nation — all trained war-horses. I was also presented with all the arms and instruments requisite for an Indian campaign. My wife's deportment coincided with her name ; she would have reflected honor upon many a civilized household. She was affectionate, obedient, gentle, cheerful, and, apparently, quite happy. No domestic thunder-storms, no curtain-lectures ever disturbed the serenity of our connubial lodge. I speedily formed acquaintance with all my immediate neighbors, and the Morning Star (which was the name conferred upon me on my recognition as the lost son) was soon a com- panion to all the young warriors in the village. No power on earth could have shaken their faith in my ^tmme 150 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF positive identity with the lost son. Nature seemed to prompt the old woman to recognize me as her miss- ing child, and all my new relatives 'placed implicit- faith in the genuineness of her discovery. Greenwood }'.ad spoken it, " and his tongue was not crooked." What could I do under the circumstances ? Even if I should deny my Crow origin, they would not believe me. How could I dash with an unwelcome and in- credible explanation all the joy that had been manifest- ed on my return — the cordial welcome, the rapturous embraces of those who hailed me as a son and a broth- er, the exuberant joy of the whole nation for the return of a long-lost Crow, who, stolen when a child, had re- turned in the strength of maturity, graced with the name of a great brave, and the generous strife I had occasioned in their endeavors to accord me the warm- est welcome ? I could not find it in my heart to un- deceive these unsuspecting people and tear myself away from their untutored caresses. Thus I commenced my Indian life with the Crows. I said to myself, "I can trap in their streams unmolest- ed, and derive more profit under their protection than if among my own men, exposed incessantly to assas- sination and alarm." I therefore resolved to abide with them, to guard my secret, to do my best in their company, and in assisting them to subdue their ene- mies. Tliere was but one recollection troubled me, and that was my lonely one in St. Louis. My thoughts were constantly filled with her. I knew my afiection was reciprocated, and that her fond heart beat alone for me; that my promise was undoubtingly confided in, and that prayers were daily offered for my safety, thus dis- tant in the mountains, exposed to every peril. Re- JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 151 peatedly I would appoint a day for my return, but some unexpected event would occur and thrust my resolution aside. Still I hoped, for I had accumulated the means of wealth sufficient to render us comfortable through life ; a fortunate, return was all I awaited to consummate my ardent anticipation of happiness, and render me the most blessed of mortals. Before proceeding farther with my Indian life, I will conduct the reader back to our camp the evening suc- ceeding to my disappearance from Bridgcr. He was on the hill, crossing over to me as agreed upon, when he saw me in the hands of the Indians, being conduct- ed to their village, which was also in sight. Seeing clearly that he could oppose no resistance to my cap- tors, he made all speed to the camp, and communicated the painful news of my death. He had seen me in the charge of a whole host of Shi-ans, who were conduct- ing me to camp, there to sacrifice me in the most im- proved manner their savage propensities could suggest, and then abandon themselves to a general rejoicing- over the fall of a white man. With the few men ho had in camp it was hopeless to attempt a rescue ; for, judging by the size of the village, there must be a community of several thousand Indians. All were plunged in gloom. All pronounced my funeral eulo- gy ; all my daring encounters were spoken of to my prai-se. INIy fortunate escapes, my repeated victories were applauded in memory of me ; the loss of their best hunter, of their kind and ever-obliging friend, was deeply deplored by all. *'Alas ! had it not been for that lamentable quan'cl," they exclaimed, " he would still have been among us. Poor Jim ! peace to his ashes !" Bridger lamented that he had advised me to leave 152 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF the camp, and again that he had separated from me at the Forks. " If we had kept together," he murmured, "his fate might have been prevented, for doubtless one of us would have seen the Indians in time to have escaped." Thus, as I was afterward informed by some of the party, was my memory celebrated in that forlorn camp. Farther, having conceived a deep disgust at that vicin- ity, they moved their camp to the head waters of the Yellow Stone, leaving scores of beaver unmolested in the streams. The faithful fellows little thought that, while they were lamenting my untimely fall, I was being hugged and kissed to death by a whole lodge full of near and dear Crow relatives, and that I was being welcomed with a public reception fully equal in intensity, though not in extravagance, to that accorded to the victor of Wa- terloo on his triumphal entry into Paris. Bridger had never supposed that the Indians whom he saw leading me away were Crows, he being ignorant that lie was so near their territory. His impression was that these were Cheyennes, hence I was given up for dead and reported so to others. My death was communicated to the rendezvous when the fall hunt was over, and there was a general time of mourning in mountain style. I say " i.iountain style" in contradistinction to the manner of civilized circles, because, with them, when the death of a comracJe is deplored, his good deeds alone are celebrated ; his evil ones are interred with his bones. Modern politics have introduced the custom of perpet- uating all that is derogatory to a man's fair fame, and burying in deep oblivion all that was honorable and praiseworthy. Hence I say, Give me the mountaineer, JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 153 despite all the opprobrium that is cast upon his name, ibr in him you have a man of chivalrous feeling, ready to divide his last morsel with his distressed fellow — jiy, and to yield the last drop of his blood to defend the life of his friend. CHAPTER XIII. War between the Crow Nation and other Indian Tribes. — My first Victory as a Crow Indian. — A Melancholy and Sentimental Indian. — Indian Masonry. — Return to Camp. — Great Rejoicing among my innumerable Relatives. — The Little Wife. After feting for about ten days among my new neighbors, I joined a small war-party of about forty men, embodied for the ostensible purpose of capturing horses, but actually to kill their enemies. After ad- vancing for three days, we fell in with a party of eleven of the Blood Indians, a band of the Black Foot tribe, immemorial enemies of the Crows. Our chief ordered a charge upon them. I advanced directly upon their line, and had struck down my man before the others came up. The others, after making a furious advance, that threatened annihilation to our few foes, curveted aside in Indian fashion, thus losing the eftcct of a first onset. I corrected this unwarlike custom. On this occasion, seeing me engaged hand to hand with the enemy's whole force, they immediately came to my assistance, and the opposing party were quickly dis- patched. I despoiled my victim of his gun, lance, war-club, bow, and quiver of arrows. Now I was the greatest man in the party, for I had killed the first war- rior. We then painted our faces black (their mode of announcing victory), and rode back to the village, bear- G2 154 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP ing eleven scalps. We entered ihc village singing and shouting, the crowds blocking up our way so that it was with difficulty we could get along. My wife met me at some distance from our lodge, and to her I gave my greatest trophy, the gun. ]My pretty sisters next presenting themselves for some share of my spoils, I gave them what remained, and they returned to their lodge singing and dancing all the way. Their delight was unbounded in their new-found relative, who had drawn the first blood. My companions told how I had charged direct upon the enemy, how I struck down the first Indian at a blow, what strength there was in my arm, and a great deal more in my commendation. Again I was lionized and feted. Relatives I had not seen before now advanced and made my acquaintance. 1 was feasted by all the sachems and great braves of the village until their kindness nearly fatigued me to death, and I was glad to retire to my lodge to seek a season of quietude. It was a custom rigidly observed by the Crows, when a son had drawn the first blood of the enemy, for the father to distribute all his property among the village, always largely recollecting his own kin in the proposed distribution. I saw that my achievement had ruined my poor old father. He seemed contented, however, to sacrifice his worldly goods to the prowess of his illustrious son. It was the Crows' religion, and he was thoroughly orthodox. Another traditional me- mento was to paint a chief's coat with an image of the sun, and hang that, together with a scarlet blanket, in the top of a tree, as an offering to the Great Spirit, to propitiate him to continue his faTorable regards. Several small bands of the village had a grand dance after the victory, each band by itself. I watched them JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 150 Iss ^e- lin ito Im for some time, to see which band or clique contained the most active men. Having singled one, I broke into the ring, and joined the performance with great hearti- ness. Then their shouts arose, *' The great brave, the Antelope, has joined our band!" and their dancing in- creased in vehemence, and their singing became more hilarious. By the act of joining their clique 1 became incorporated with their number. For the next three weeks I staid at home, spending much of my time in trapping round the village. I was accompanied in these excursions by a fine and intelligent Indian, who ^vas without a relative. He was very successful in trapping. One day we went to our traps as usual ; he found eight fine beavers, but I had caught none. After fiaying them, he offered me four of the skins. I looked at him in surprise, telling him they were caught in his traps — that they were his. "Take them," said he; "you are my friend : your traps have been unlucky to-day." Previous to this, our success had been about equal. Then he wished me to sit down and have a talk with him. I sat down by him, and he began. "My friend," said he, "I am alone in the world: all my kindred are gone to the land of the Great Spirit. I now want one good friend — a confidential bosom friend — who will be my brother. 1 am a warrior — a brave — and so are you. You have been far away to the villages of the white man ; your eyes have seen much ; you have now returned to your people. Will you be my friend and brother ? be as one man with me as long as you live ?" I readily acceded to all his desires. " It is well," said he, " and we must exchange traps." I agreed to it. 156 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF " Now we must exchange guns." It was done. So wc went on until we had exchanged all our per- sonal effects, including horse, clothing, and war imple- ments. " Now," said he, " we are one while we live. What I know, you shall know ; there must be no secret be- tween us." Wc then proceeded to my father's lodge, and ac- quainted him with the alliance we had entered into, lie was much pleased at the occurrence, and ever after received my allied brother as his son ; but the assumed relationship debarred his ever entering the family as son-in-law, since the mutual adoption attached him as by ties of consanguinity. Shortly after, another war party was levied for an excursion after the enemy, or their horses, as occasion might offer. The party consisted of eighty or ninety warriors. My adopted brother inquired of me if I was going with the party. I told him I was, and asked the same question of him. "No," he said; "we are brothers; we must never both leave our village at once. When I go, you must stay ; and when you go, I must stay ; one of us must be here to see to the interests of the other. Should wc both be killed, then who would mourn faithfully for the other?" I was, as yet, but a private in the Crow army, no commission having been conferred upon me for what little service I had seen. We started in the night, as is their custom, leaving the village one or two at a time. My brother came to me in the evening, and ex- jiressed a wish to speak to me before I left, and pointed 10 a place where he wished me to meet him alone as .JAMES P. BECKNVUI'UTII. 157 ■\ve passed out of the village. I went as appointed, and found him there. lie first asked nic if 1 had done any thing in the village. 1 did not clearly see the import of his question, and I innocently answered " Xo." " AVhy, have you not been to war ?" "Yes." "iJid the warriors not impart to you the war-path secret f "Xo." "Ah! well, they will tell it you to-morrow. Go on, my brother." We all assembled together and marched on. In the forenoon we killed a line fat buffalo, and rested to take breakfast. The intestines were taken out, and a 2)ortion of them cleansed and roasted. A long one Avas then brought into our mess, which numbered ten warriors, who Ibrmed a circle, every man taking hold of the intestine with his thumb and finger. In this position, very solemnly regarded by all in the circle, certain questions were propounded to each in relation to certain conduct in the village, which is of a nature unfit to be entered into here. They are religiously committed to a full and categorical answer to each in- quiry, no matter whom their confession may implicate. Every illicit action they have committed since they last went to war is here exposed, together with the name of the faithless accomplice, even to the very date of the occurrence. All this is divulged to the medi- c'uie men on the return of the party, and it is by them noted down in a manner that it is never erased while the guilty confessor lives. Every new warrior, at his initiation, is conjured by the most sacred oaths never 168 ATTTOBIOORAPHY OP to divulgn tlio war-patli secret to any woman, on pain of instant death. Jlc swears by his gun, his pipe, knife, earth, and sun, which arc the most sacred oatlis to tiie Indian, and arc ever strictly observed. We marched on until we came to the ^Missouri Riv- er, and I was greatly edified at the novel manner in which wc crossed the stream. A sufficient number of robes were brought to the river bank, and a jmckerinfj- string run around the entire edge of one, irawing it to- getlier until it assumed a globulated form. Five or six guns, with other articles necessary to be kept dry, were put into it, together with a stone for bfdlast. An Indian would then attach one end of a string to the /tide tah^ and, taking the other end in his teeth, swim across with the novel bark in tow. When unfrcighted on the opposite shore, every thing would be as dry as when embarked. Thus all our freiglit was conveyed across in a very short time, and we recommenced our march. "VVe liad not proceeded far when our spies returned, and reported that they had discovered a village of the As-ne-boines on jMilk Kiver, about forty miles distant. Wc started for the village, intending to relieve them of a few of their horses, of which we tliought they had more than their share. We reached there, and suc- ceeded in driving off nearly three hundred head ; but, in re-crossing the Missouri, we lost about one third of them by drowning, in consequence of our crossing over a sand-bar, in which, thougli covered with water, the animals became involved and perisJied. We reached home in safety with the remainder without being pur- sued ; indeed, on our whole route we did not see an Indian. Although we brought no scalps, there was great re- JAMES P. DECKWOURTH. 159 Ire- joicing at our success. T received, in the distribu- tion, seventeen horses, which 1 gave to my friends, taking care to give my father a liberal share, in the place of those he had previously parted with on my account. I had a month's interval at home. Visiting at my father's lodge one day, he asked me why I did not I lead a party myself, and go on some expedition as leader. By so doing, he informed me, I stood a better chance of gaining promotion. "Your medicine is good," said he, " and the medicine of both will bring you great success." I replied that I had been domiciliated there so short a time that I did not wish to be too precipitate in push- ing myself forward, and that I prefen*ed to fight a while longer as a brave, rather than risk the ic«ponsibility o^ being leader. He replied, "Here is your brother-in-law, take him; also your brothers will go with you. If they all get killed, so be it; I will cheerfully submit to old age without them, and die alone." I reflected that, in order to advance by promotion, I must risk every thing ; so I consented to follow his advice. "Black Panther," my brother-in-law, was anxious to follow me, and there were seven young striplings, from ten to eighteen years old, that my father called his sons, though, in fact, half of them were what I call- ed nephews. I put myself forward as the leader, the party comprising only two men and the above-men- tioned seven boys. We departed from the village, and pressed on to the head-waters of the Arkansas, coming directly to the Arrap-a-ho and I-a-tan villages. At night we drove 160 AUTOBIOCfRAPHY OF off one Imiulred and eighteen iine horses, ^vith which we moved on in uU possible haste toward home. We were tiien about three hundred miles from our village, a:id two hundred from the Crow country. In passing througii til? i*ark* we discovered three Indians coming toward us, driving a small drove of horses. Wc con- cealed ourselves from their view by dropping back over the brow of a small hill directly in their route, until they had approached within ten steps of us. Wc raised the war-hoop, and rushed out on them, killing two of the three ; the third was at a greater distance, driving the cattle, and when lie saw the fate of his companions he mounted one of the fleetest, and was soon beyond pursuit. My company had achieved a great victory, the spoils of which were fourteen horses, in addition to those already in our possession, two scalps, one gun, two battle-axes, one lance, bow, quiv- er, etc. Tliis trivial affair exalted my young brothers in tlieir own esteem higher than the greatest veteran their village contained. During their return home they were anticipating with untiring tongues the ovation that awaited them. Wc fell in with no more enemies on our way to the village. The horses we had captured from the three Indians had been stolen by them from the Crows, and as a recovery of lost horses is a greater achievement in Indians' eyes than the original ac(juisition, our merit was in proportion. We entered singing, with our faces blackened, bearing two scalps and other trophies, and driving one hundred and thirty-two fine horses before us. The whole village resounded with the shouts with which our brethren and kindred welcomed us. I was * Formerly one of the greatest places for beaver in North America, and well known to the mountaineers. .JAMKH l». UECKWOURTH. 161 hca. hailed bravest of tlic brave, and my promotion appeared certain. My father and all liis family rose greatly in popu- lar favor. The Antelope's distinguished skill and bravery were reflected, in lucent rays upon their names, "(ireat is the Antelope," was chanted on all sides, " tlie lost son of ijig Jiovvl ; their medicine is good and prosperous." There is one trait in Indian character which civil- ized society would derive much profit by imitating. liUvy is a quality unknown to the savages. When a warrior has performed any deed of daring, his merit is freely accorded by all his associate braves ; his deeds are extolled in every public and private reunion, and his name is an incentive to generous emulation. I never witnessed any envious attempt to derogate from the merit of a brave's achievement. No damning with faint prais(; ; none " Willing to wound and yet afraid to strike ;" no faltering innuendoes that the man has not accom- plished so much, after all. The same way with the women. When a woman's husband has distinguished himself, her neighbors, one and all, take a pride in re- joicing with her over her happiness. If a woman dis- plays more ingenuity ihan common in ornamentiT-j her husband's war-dress, or in adding any fancy work to her own habiliments, she at once becomes the pat- tern of the neighborhood. You see no flaws picked in lier character because of her rising to note ; no asper- sions cast upon her birth or present standing. Such and such is her merit, and it is deserving of our praise ; the fact perceived, it receives full acknowledgment. This leads to the natural conclusion that civilization, in introducing the ostentation of display which is too 162 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF frequently affected without sufficient ground to stand upon, warps the mind from the charity that is natural to it, and leads to all tlic petty strifes, and scandalous tales, and heartburnings that imbitter the lives of so many in civilized life. I now engaged in trapping until the latter part of December. I celebrated Christmas by myself, as the Indians knew nothing about the birth of our Savior, and it was hard to make them understand the nature of the event. At tliis time a trading-party started from our village for the Grovan and Mandan country, where there was a trading-post established, for the purpose of buying our winter supply of ammunition, and tobacco, and other necessary articles. I sent thirty beaver-skins, with directions what to purchase with their value, and had marked my initials on all of the skins. Tliese letters were a mystery to the trader. He inquired of the Crows who had marked the skins with those letters. They told him it was a Crow, one of their braves, who had lived with the whites. Kipp, the Irader, then sent an invitation to me to visit him at his fort. While our party was away, our village was attacked by a combined i)arty of the Siouxs and Re-ke-rahs, numbering two thousand five hundred. So sudden was the attack that they inflicted considerable mischief upon us before we had a chance to collect our forces, l^ut when we at length charged on them, it was decis- ive. We penetrated their ranks, throwing them into the direst confusion, and they withdrew, leaving two hundred and fifty-three dead on the field. Our loss was thirty-one killed, and one hundred and sixty wounded. They had supposed that nearly all the war- riors had left the village, when but a small party had ing JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 163 to gone, and they met with such a reception as they lit- tle expected. I had three Iiorses killed under me, and my faithful battle-axe was red with the blood of the enemy to the end of the haft ; fourteen of the Siouxs had fallen beneath it. Although we had taken such a number of scalps, there was no dancing or rejoicing. All were busied iu attending the wounded, or mourning their relatives slain. Their mourning consists in cutting and hack- ing themselves on every part of the body, and keeping up a dismal moaning or howling for hours together. .Many cut off their fingers in order to mourn through life, or, at least, to wear the semblance of mourning ; hence the reason of so many Western Indians having lost one or more of their fingers, and of the scars which disfigure their bodies. The Crows fasten the remains of their dead in trees until their flesh is decayed ; their skeletons arc then taken down and inhumed in caves. Sometimes, but not frequently, they kill the favorite horse of the de- ceased, and bury him at the foot of the tree ; but that custom is not followed so strictly with them as witli most other tribes. I was pacifically engaged in trapping during the en- suing winter, and the season being open and pleasant, I met with great success. Could I have disposed of my peltry in St. Louis, I should have been as rich as I coveted. In the month of IMarch (1826), a small war-party of twenty men left our village on an excursion, and not one of them ever came back, their pack-dogs (used for carrying extra moccasins when a party goes to war) alone returning to intimate their fate. Another party was quickly dispatched, of whom I was appointed lead- lU AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP cr, and we soon came upon the remains of the massa- cred party, which yet bore the marks of the weapons that had laid them low. There were also many fresh Indian tracks about the place, which led us to the in- i'crcnce that there were enemies near. We made im- mediate search for them, and had only marched about six miles wlicn we came upon a village of nine lodges, wliich we instantly assaulted, killing every man but two. These were on a hill near by, and as they made off we did not follow tlicm. ]My personal trophies in this encounter were one scalp and the equipments of its wearer ; one young girl of about fourteen years, and a little boy. We killed forty-eight of the enemy, and took six women prisoners, together with a large drove of horses, and a valuable stock of beaver, otter, and otlier skins, with which we returned to the village. There was great rejoicing again (not one of our party was scratched), and the beaver-skins, to the number of one hundred and sixty-tluree, were bestowed upon me for my skill in command. Before we made the assault we felt convinced that this was the party who had killed our missing friends, and our convictions were substantiated subsequently by recognizing several vv^eapons in their possession which had formerly belonged to our braves ; indeed, some of our women prisoners acknowledged that our departed brethren had killed many of their people. The Crows treat the women whom they take pris- oners much better than other tribes do. They do not impose upon them a harder lot than their own women endure, and tliey allow them to marry into the tribe, after which they are in equal fellowship with them. On finding themselves captives, they generally mourn a day or two, but their grief quickly subsides, and they JAMKS P. «kckwoi;rtii. U>5 mc seem to care no farther for their violent removal from their own people. * At this time tlie Crows were incessantly at war with .•ill the tribes within their reacii, with the exception of the Snakes and the Flat Heads; and they did not es- ca])e frequent ruptures with them, brought about by the Indians' universal obtuseness as to all huv relating to the riglit of ])roperty in horses. The Crows could raise an army of sixteen thousand warriors, and, although there were tribes much more numerous, there were none could match them in an o])cn Hght. The Camunches and Apaches have tilted lances with them repeatedly, and invariably to their discomfiture. If the Crows ever suffered defeat, it was when overwhelmed by numbers. One principal cause of their marked superiority was their plentiful su])ply of guns and ammunition, which the whites al- ways more readily exchanged to them on account of tlieir well-proved fidelity to the white man. When other tribes were constrained to leave their lire-arms in their lodges for want of ammunition, the Crows would have plenty, and could use their arms with great effect against an enemy which had only bow and arrows to shoot with. Farther, they were the most expert horsemen of any Indian tribe, notwithstanding tlie great name bestowed upon the Camanches and Apaches — those two great terrors of Northern Mexico. I have seen them all, and consider myself in a position to judge, although some, perhaps, will say that I am prejudiced in favor of the Crows, seeing that I i?.m one myself. Previous to my going among the Crows, the small- pox had been ravaging their camp, caiTying tlicm away in thousands, until, as I was informed by themselves. 166 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP their number was reduced by that fatal Indian scourge to little better than one half. None of their medicine would arrest its course. After our last-mentioned victory, the Crows met with numerous reverses, which were attended with se- vere loss of life. In their small war-parties going out on marauding expeditions I had never much confi- dence, althougli, individually, they were good warriors ; therefore I never took part with them until six or eight of their parties would come back severely han- dled, and many of their braves slain. Thus their re- verses accumulated u.itil the whole village was one scene of mourning, numbers of them being self-man- gled in the most shocking manner, and tlie blood trick- ling from their heads down to the ground. Some had lost a father, some a brother, some a sweetheart ; in short, their appearance was too fearful to look upon, and their cries were too painful to hear. When the last party came in, defeated with serious loss, I had just returned with a party from the pursuit of horse-thieves. We had brought in four scalps, and were performing the scalp-dance in honor of the event. On hearing the disastrous news of the return of the defei.ted party, we arrested the dance, and I retired into my lodge. Soon, however, a crowd of women came and lifted it directly from over mc, leaving me .in the open air. They then threw before me immense quantities of all kinds of goods, leggins, moccasins, and other things, until I was nearly covered with their miscellaneous offerings. I called out, " Enough! I am aroused. I will go with your warriors and revenge the death of your friends." They were all satisfied, and stood still. The news then circulated through the village that the JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 167 Antelope was aroused, and himself going against the Cheyennes to revenge the deatli of their braves. I had as yet met with no reverses since my trans- lation. IVFy medicine had always bcGr: good and true. I had never come home without scalps or spoils, and they began to associate my name with victory. The next day five hundred warriors rallied round me, among whom were some who had suffered recent defeat, and their minds were burning for revenge. I sent forward fifty spies, and moved cautiously on with the main body. My reputation was committed to my piese it success, and I took more than ordinary pains to viiuli- cate the cause they had intrusted to my care. I^jvery man was well armed and mounted, and I had full con- fidence in our ability to give a good account of double our number. My command were very curious to learn my tactics. On one occasion, when they were completely harassing me with endless inquiries respecting my plan of attack, I told them, if they would bring me a silvcr-^ay fox, unhurt, my medicine would be complete, and that wc were sure of a great victory. In a moment they left me, and shortly returned with a live fox, which they had caught in a surround. I ordered them to choke it to death, and then flay it : it was done, and the beautiful skin was handed to me. I wrapped it round my medicine bow, and made a brief speech, informing them that the cunning of the fox had descended upon iny head, and that my wiles would infallibly circum- vent the enemy. Like another Alexander, I thus in- spired confidence in the breasts of my soldiers, and the spirit I was infusing in others partly communi- cated itself to my own breast. Some of the spies now returned and informed me iV 108 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF I hat they had discovered a village of Clieyenncs con- laining thirty-seven lodges. " \Veil," said 1, after learning where it was, " now return and watch them strictly ; if any thing happens, acquaint me with it promptly." Away tliey went, but soon returned again to report tliat the enemy had moved down the creek (which was then called Antelope Creek, a smal) tributary of the Missouri), had passed through the canon, and were en- camped at its mouth. I ordered them to send in all the spies except ten, and to direct those ten to keep a sharp look-out. I then determined to follow them down the canon and attack them at the mouth, thus cutting off their retreat into the canon ; but again I was informed that the enemy had moved farther down, and had encamped in the edge of the timber, with the evident intention of remaining there. I approached their village with great caution, mov- ing a few miles a day, until I occupied a position on a hill near it, where I had an almost bird's-eye view of the village underneath. I then sent all my extra horses, together with the boys and women, to the rear ; I divided the warriors into three parties, reserving the smallest division of fifty men to myself. I placed the two chief divisions in juxtaposition, out of view of the enemy, and, with my small party, intended to de- scend upon the horses, thinking to draw them after me ; my two concealed divisions would then inclose them as in a lane, and we, returning, would place them under a triple fire. I addressed them briefly, begging them to show the enemy they were Crows, and brave ones too, and that, if they would strictly obey my directions, we could retrieve all our recent reverses. The two coi^s d'annee being in position, T was ad- JAMES V. BPX'KWOrRTH. 169 Iter lose lem vancing with my small division, when we came sud- denly upon two of the enemy, whom we instantly killed and scalped. We rode on, being in full sight of the enem} , but they made no offer to come out of their camp. We tried every means to ])rovoke them to ad- vance ; we shook our two scalps at them, yet reeking with blood, and tantalized them all we could ; but they would not move. To have charged them as they were situated would have entailed upon us severe loss. We had taken two scalps without loss of blood, more glorious in an Indian's estimation than to take one hundred if a single life was sacrificed. We had braved our foes ; we had stamped them as cowards, which is almost equal to death ; so, contenting myself with what was done, I concluded to draw off my forces and return home. We were received at the village with deafening applause. Every face was washed of its mourning-paint; gloom gave way to rejoicing; and the scalp-dance was performed with enthusiasm and hilarity. I was illustrated with the distinguished name of Big Bowl (Bat-te-sarsh), and hailed as a de- liverer by all the women in the village. A little girl, who had often asked me to marry her, came to me one day, and with every importunity in- sisted on my accepting her as my wife. I said, " You are a very pretty girl, but you are but a child ; when you are older I will talk to you about it." But she was not to be put off. " You are a great brave," she said, "and braves have a right to paint the fp.ces of their wives when they have killed the enemies of the Crows. I am a little girl now, I know ; but if I am your wife, you will paint my face when you return from the war, and I shall be proud that I am the wife of a great brave, and can rejoice with the other women H 170 ArTOBIOaRAI'lIY OF wliose faces arc painted by their brave liusbancls. Vou will also give me tine things, fine clothes, and scarlet cioth ; and 1 can make you pretty leggins and mocca- sins, and take care of your war-liorses and war imple- ments." The little innocent used such powerful appeals that, notwithstanding 1 had already seven wives and a lodge for eacli, I told licr she might be my wife. I took Iicr to the lodge of one of my married sisters, told her that the little girl was my wife, and that she would make lier a good wood-carrier, and that she must dress her up finely as became tlie spouse of a brave. My sister was mu<^li pleased, and cheerfully carried out all my requests. As 1 sliaii have occasion to speak of this lit- tle girl again, in connection with the medicine lodge, 1 shall say comparatively little of her at this time. I spent the summer very agreeably, being engaged most of the time in hunting buffalo and trapping bea- ver. I had now accumulated three full packs, worth in market three thousand dollars. One day I took a fancy to hunt mountain sheep, and for company took my little wife with me. She was par- ticularly intelligent, and I found by her conversation that she surpassed my other wives in sense. She was full of talk, and asked all manner of questions concern- ing my travels among the great lodges and villages of the white man ; if the white squaws were as pretty as herself; and an endless variety of questions. I felt greatly pleased with her piquant curiosity, and impart- ed much information to her. Fixing her deep black eyes full upon mine, she at length said,'* I intend, some time in my life, to go into the medicine lodge." I looked ut her with astonishment. The dedication of a female to the service of the Great Spirit is a dangerous at- lAMKS P. BKCKWOrRTII. 171 ras rn- lOf as felt Lrt- tenipt. Like all forms of imposture, it requires a peeui- iar talent and fitness in tlic candidate who seeks to gain admission into the sacred lodge. The war-path secret is associated with the ministration, with many other fearful ceremonies. The woman who succeeds in her ambitious project is an honored participant in the sacred service of the Deity througii life ; but ■where one succeeds numbers fail, and the failure entails instant deatli. Three years subserpient to this conversation, 1 shall have to relate how my little wife, in the breath- less silence of ten thousand waiTiors, passed the fiery ordeal in safety, and went triumphantly into the lodge of the (ireat Spirit. I had good success in hunting, killing a great num- ber of sheep, and carried their skins with me to the village. < )n arriving, 1 called at the lodge of my allied brother, who insisted on ni v enterincr and takino; a meal. L accepted his ofler, while my little wife ran home to communicate my great success in hunting. Our meal consisted of strips of dried buffalo tongue, which, as the Indians did not half cook it, wao a dish 1 never partook of. What was served me on this occasion, however, was well done, and I ate a hearty meal. Sujipcr com- pleted, I was praising the viands, and chanced to in- quire what dish I had been eating. The woman re- plied that it was tongue, and expressed by her looks that 1 must have known what it was. jMy friend, know- ing that I had departed from my rule, inferred that I had infringed my medicine, and he started up in horror, shouting, "Tongue I tongue I you have ruined his med- icine ! should our hero be slain in battle, you are a lost woman." The poor woman was half dead with fear, her fea- tures expressing the utmost horror. 172 AirrOBIOORAPHY OF I issued from tho lodge, bellowing in iinitution of the buffalo, protruding my tongue, and pawing up tlif ground like a bear in fury. This was in order to re- move the spell that had settled over me, and reeover the strength of my medicine. 1 recovered at length, and proceeded toward my lodge, commiserated by a large crowd, who all deplored the taking of the food as a lamentable accident. That same evening the village was notified by the crier that on the following dry there would be a sur- round, and all were summoned to attend. I accompa- nied the party, and the surround was made, several hundred buffaloes being inclosed. On charging among them to dispatch them, we discovered seven JMuck Foot Indians, who, finding retreat cut off from them, had hastily provided themselves with a sand fort. I struck one of the victims witli a willow I had in my hand, and retired thereupon, declaring I had w^ounded the first enemy. This, I believe I have before mentioned, is a greater honor than to slay any number in battle. I had retired to a short distance, and was standing looking at the fight, when a bullet, discharged from the fort, struck the dagger in my belt, and laid me breath- less on tlie ground. Recovering immediately, I arose, and found myself bleeding at the mouth. Imagining the ball had penetrated some vital place, I gave my- self up for dead. I was carried to the village by scores of warriors, who, with me, supposed my wound to be mortal, and were already deploring their warrior's fall. The tnedicine men surrounded me, and searched for my wound ; but, behold ! there was only a small dis- coloration to be seen ; the skin was not perforated. The ball was afterward found where I fell, flattened as if struck with a hammer. It was then declared that T Tin; INHIAN I'lll.ltM'.MAN. JAMK8 I'. UECKWOURTII. 175 ■would recover. The enemy's bullets flattened in con- tact with my person — my medicine was infallible — 1 was impenetrable to wound I I did not afford them any light on the matter. As soon as the poor woman who had entertained me at supper heard that I was wounded, she left for an- other village, and was not seen again for six months. Supposing herself to have been instrumental in destroy- ing my medicine, and knowing that, if I died, her life would pay the forfeit of her carelessness, she did not dare to return. 8he clianced to see me unharmed at the village where she had taken refuge, and then she knew her life was redeemed. While the doctor and medicine men were going through their spells and incantations previous to un- covering my wound, my relatives, in their solicitude for my life, offered profuse rewards if they would save me. Home offered twenty horses, some fifty, some more, in proportion as their wealth or liberality prompt- ed. The doctors ransomed my life, and they received over five hundred horses for their achievement. One day a slight dispute arose between one of the braves and myself about some trivial matter, and as both of us were equally obstinate in maintaining our views, we both became angry. jNIy disputant remark- ed with great superciliousness, " Ugh I you pretend to be a brave, but you are no brave." We drew our battle-axes at the same instant, and rushed at each other, but before either had an oppor- tunity to strike, the pipe was thrust between us, com- pelling us to desist, to disobey wliich is instant death. This is the duty of certain Indians, who occupy the position of policemen in a city. They then said to my antagonist, " You said that ' Big l^owl' was no J7(i Al TOBIOttKAPJIV UF brave. Vou lied ; we all know that he is brave ; our enemies can testily to it, and you dare not deny it any more. Hoi'caftcr, if you wisli to show which is the j^reatcst brave, wait until you meet the enemy, then we can decide ; but never again attempt to take eacli other's lives." This interference procured peace. It was not long, however, before wc both had a good opportunity to de- termine the question of our valor. A small party of thirty warriors was embodied, myself and my antago- nist being of the number. After a short march wc loll in with a war-part}^ cf eighteen Cheyennes, who, not- withstanding the disparity of numbers, accepted brittle, well knowing that escape was impossible. 1 pointed out one of the enemy (who 1. could see by his dress and the peculiarity of his hair was a chief). " You sec him V" 1 said. " Well, we can decide which is tlie best man now. You charge directly against him by my side.*' This he readily assented to, but still I could detect in his countenance an expression which I deciphered, " I would rather not." I saw the Indian we were about to attack open the j)an of his gun, and give it a slight tap with his hand to render its discharge certain, lie presented his piece, and took the most deliberate aim as we advanced side by side to the attack. The death of one of us seemed inevitable, and I did not like the feeling of suspense. A few spurrings of our chargers, and wc were upon him. I seized the nmzzle of his gun at the very instant that it exploded, and cut him down with the battle-axe in my right hand. My left cheek was tilled with the powder from the discharge, the stains of which remain to this day. ]\ly rival dirl not even strike at the Indian I had killed. chain JAMES P. UECKWOURTII. 177 lie He then .said to mv, " Vou arc truly a great waiTior and a great Ibravc ; L was wrong in saying what 1 did. AVc are now good friends.*' C)ur few enemies were quickly exterminated, the loss on our side Leing four wounded, including my powder- wound. ]My fame was still farther celebrated, for J had ugain struck down the iirst man, who was a great chief, and had actually charged up to the muzzle of his gun, what few Indians have the stamina to do. On our re- turn with the S})oils of victory we were warmly con- gratulated hy the tribe, and I was still farther ennobled by tlie additional name of Bull's llobe, conferred on me by my father. It was now the fall of the year. I had been a Crow for many moons. It was time to repair to the trading- post to obtain what articles wc needed. I determined ^0 accompany the party, and at least attend to the sale of my own eftccts. What peltry I had was worth three thousand dollars in 8t. Louis, and I was solicit- ous to obtain something like an equivalent in exchange for it. We proceeded to Fort Clarke, on the Missouri. T waited until the Indians had nearly completed their ex- changes, speaking nothing but Crow language, dressed like a Crow, my hair as long as a Crow's, and myself as black as a crow. No one at the post doubted my being a Crow. Toward the conclusion of the business, one of my tribe inquired in his own language for "be- lias-i-pe-hish-a."' The clerk could not understand his want, and there was none of the article in sight for the Indian to point out. He at length called Kipp to see it' he could divine the Indian's meanino-. o I then said in l^^njnlish, " Gentlemen, that Indian wants scarlet cloth." 112 178 Al nmiUUKAlMIY of If a ])onib-,slicll had exploded in the fort tJicy could not have been more astonished. "Ah,*' said one of tlicni/'you spcakEnglish ! Where <lid you learn it V" "A\ ith the Avhite man." *■' How long were you witli the whites?" " ]\Iorc than twenty years." " AV'here did vou live witli them V" " In ^Sl. I^ouis." " In 8t. Louis I ill St. Louis I Vou have lived twcn- ty years in St. Louis I" Then they scaaned me eloscly from head to foot, and Kipp said, ""If you have lived twenty years in St. Louis, ['11 swear you arc no Crow." "No, 1 am not." "Then what may ho your name?" " JMy name in JCnglish is James Beckwourth." " (iood heavens I why 1 have heard your name men- tioned a thousand times. Vou were supposed dead, and were so reported by Captain Sublet." "lam not dead, as vou see; I still move and breathe." "This ex])lains the mystery," he added, turning to the clerk, "of tliosc bcaver-skins beino- niarkcd 'J. B." Well, well I if you arc not a strange mortal I" All this conversation was unintelligible to my Crow brethren, who were evidently proud to sec a Crow talk so Hucntly to the white man. " Now," 1 said, " I have seen you transact your busi- ness without interposing with a word. Yon have clear- ed two or three thousand ])er cent, of your exchanges. 1 do not grudge it you. AV'crc I in your jilace f should do the sanu\ llut I want a little more liberal treat- ment. 1 have toiled hard for what I have obtained, and T want the worth of mv earnings." ^till JAMES P. BECKWOLRTif. 179 to alk I set my own price upon my property, and, to the great asto'iislimcnt of my Indian brethren, 1 ^turned with as large a bale of goods as theirs would all vogeth- cr amount to. i^ut, as I have said, an Indian h, in no wise envious, and, instead of considering themselves unfairly used, they rejoiced at the white mar's profu- sion to me, and supposed the overplus he iiad givc!i me was an indemnity for the captivity they had lieM me in. On our return I made various presents to all my wives, some of whom I did not see for months togeth- er, and to many other rcUtives. 1 had still p good stock to trade upon, and could exchange with my brethren at any rate I offered. They placed implicit contidence in my integrity, and a beaver-skin ex- changed with me for one l>lug of tobacco contented them better than to have exchanged it for two with the white man. 1 had the fairest opportunity for the acquisition of an immense fortune that ever was placed in man's way. iiy saying one word to the tribe I could have kept the white trader fore\cr out of their territory, and thus have gained the monopoly of the trade of the entire nation for any term of years. That I am not now in possession of a fortune equal to that of an Astor or a Uirard is solely the fault of my own indolence, and 1 do not to tills moment see how I came to neglect the golden opportunity. While returning from the trading-post, we fell in with a party of about two hundred and fifty Chey- enne warriors, to oppose wiiom we numbered but two imndred warriors, besides being encumbered with a still greater number of women. As good fortune would have it, they attacked us in the daytime, while I8U ai:tohiuukai'JIv uk wc were moving; wliercas, had they but waited till we were encamped, and our lior.scs turned out, 1 do not see Jiow we could have e.scaj)ed defeat, in trav- eling, every warrior led his war-horse by his side, with lance and shield attached to the saddle. The enemy was iirst seen by one of our scouts at some little distance from the nuiin body. ( )n see- ing they were discovered, they gave chase to him, and f.ontinued on until they came upon our wliolc party. Iwery man transferred himself to his war-horse, and was instantly ready to receive them. They advanced upon our line, were received without wavering, and fmally driven back. It was now our turn to attack. Wc charged furiously with our whole force, complete- ly sweeping every thing from before us, and killing or dis.ibling at least fifty of the enemy. Tlicy rallied and returned, but the reception they met with soon put them to rout, and they Hed precipitately into the timber, where wc did not care to follow them. Our loss was severe : nine warriors killed and thir- teen wounded, including myself, who had received an arrow in the head — not so serious, however, as to pre- vent me doing duty. AYe also lost one pack-horse, laden with goods, but no scalps. We took eleven scalps upon the iield, and the Cheyennes afterward confessed to the loss of fifty-six warriors. AVhen we lost a horse in the action, the women would immedi- ately supply its place with a fresh one. We were nearly two hundred miles from home, and we carried our dead all the way thither. On arriving at home, I found my father greatly ir- ritated. He had lost two hundred and fifty head of horses from his own herd, stolen by the Black ¥cct, who liad raised a general contribution from tlie whole JAMES 1*. HEl'KWOLItTJI. 181 loet, hole village. His voice wns still for war, and he insisted on giving immediate chase. 1 dissuaded him *'rom his intention, representing to him his advanced years, and pxomising to go myself and obtain satisfaction for his losses. lie reluctantly consented to this arrange- ment; but, four or five days after my departure on the errand, his medicine became so strong that he started oft" with a party, taking an opposite direction to the one I liad gone on. JMy party consisted of two hund- i-ed and twenty good warriors, and my course lay for the head-waters of the Arkansas, in the Arrap-a-ho country. We fell in with no enemies on our way until we ar- rived at a village which contained upward of one hund- red lodges. We formed our plans for assaulting the place the next day, when we discovered four white men, whom we surrounded. The poor fellows thought their last day was come, and I was amused to ovcr- liear their conversation. They will surely kill us all," said one. In what manner will they kill us ?" asked another. They may burn us," suggested a third. Then they communed among themselves, little thinking there was one overhearing them who sympa- thized with every apprehension they expressed. They summed up their consultation by one saying, " If they attempt to kill us, let us use our knives to the best advantage, and sell our lives as dearly as possible." "Gentlemen," said I, " I will spare you that trouble." "Great God I" they exclaimed, " Mr. Beckwourth, is that you ?" " Yes," I replied, " that is my name. You are per- fectly safe, but you must not leave our camp till to- morrow," a ii a 182 AL'TUBIUOKAPHY OF "For what reason?" they inquired. " Jk'causc tlierc is a village close by which we mean to assault at daybreak, and we do not wish our design to be '"nown." "Oh," said they, "we should not communicate your designs, and wc did not even know of the village." They then poured out bctbre me a whole sea of mis- fortunes. They had been trapping — had met with very good success ; the Indians had stolen their liorses ; in attempting to cross the river by means of a badly-con- structed raft, the raft liad fallen to pieces, and they had lost every thing — })cltry, guns, and amnmnition. They were now making their way to New Mexico, with noth- ing to eat and no gun to kill game with. They were among Indians, and were two or tlmje hundred miles from the nearest settlements of Xew ^Mexico. I en- tertained them well while they staid, and, after our assault in the morning, I gave them two guns and twenty rounds of ammunition, and counseled them to take advantage of the surprise of the Indians to make good their escape. One of the four afterward inform- ed me tliat they reached the settlements in safety, having killed a buffalo and a deer on the way. We made the assault as appointed. Wc were mounted on ho''scs wc had taken from the village dur- ing the night, as Indians go on horse-stealing expedi- tions on foot. I divided my force into two bodies, giving my principal scout the command of one. I gave orders to run off their horses witliout riskirg a battle, if no opposition were offered ; but, if they show- ed tight, to kill whatever came in their way. TIic Arrap-a-hos are very poor warriors, but on this occa- sion they defended themselves with commendable zeal and bravery. We were, however, compelled to kill JAMEH BECKWUL'RTH. 18a iburtcen of them, for our own security, before we could oct tlicir liorses well started. Un our side we had four o wounded ; and if tliey had not delayed to scalp the fallen Indians, tliat might liavc been avoided. We succeeded in driving away over sixteen hund- red horses, all well conditioned, with which we arrived safely at home. jNIy father also returned about tho same time with near three thousand head, all superior animals. The Bull's Kobe family had certainly done wonders, and we were entertained to the greatest feast [ had ever seen. The whole village was illuminated with numerous feux de Joie, and such dancing was never known before. I received another addition to my list of titles hi commemoration of this event, Is-ko-chu-e-chu-rc, the Kneniy of Horses. A feud now broke out, which had been long brew- ing, between two diflcrcnt parties in our village, one of which worsliipcd foxes, and the other worshiped dogs. The warriors of the latter party were called Dog Soldiers, of which I was the leader ; the other party was led by Red Eyes. The quarrel originated about the prowess of the respective parties, and was fostered by lied JOyes, on the part of the rival compa- ny, and by Yellow Belly (in Indian A-re-she-res), a man in my company. This A-re-shc-rcs was as brave :in Indian as ever trod the plain, but he was also a very bad Indian — that is, he was disagreeable in his man- ners, and very insulting in his conversation. Red Eyes was equally brave, but of a diftcrent dis- position. His v,*as a reserved pride ; the braggadocio of A-rc-slie-res offended him. This rivalry developed into an open rupture, and the pipe-men were obliged to incerfere to prevent open hostilities. At length it was 1«4 Al TUBIOCIKAI'HY UF proposed, in order to cement .1 iinal ])C.ice between tho two warriors, tiiat each slioiiid .select i'rom liis own par- ty a certain number of men, and go and wage common war against some enemy — tlie question of bravery to be decided by the number of scalps brought in on eacli side. Kcd JOyes accordingly chose from his party eighteen of tlic best men, himself making tho nineteenth — men who would sutler deatii rather than show tiieir backs to the enemy. A-re-shc-res, with his accustomed fan- faronade, said, *' I can beat that i)arty with less men : I will only take sixteoi men, and bring in more scalps than they.'' lie came to me and said, "Enemy of Horses, I want you to go with me and die witii me. It is of no use for you to stay with this people ; tliey are not brave any longer. Come with me, and we will enter the spirit land together, where the inhabitants are all brave. There is better hunting ground in the country of the Great Spirit. Come I" 1 replied I would rather not go on such an errand. I have women to live for, and defend against the ene- nnes of the Crows ; that when J fought 1 wished to destroy the enemy and preserve my own life. "That," said I, " is bravery and prudence combined." " Ah !" answered he, " you a leader of the Dog Sol- diers, and refuse to go ! There are prettier women in the land of the Clreat Spirit than any of your squaws, and game in much greater abundance. I care noth- ing about my life : 1 am ready to go to the land of tho Cireat Sj)irit. Vou nnist go with me ; perhaps your medicine will save not only yourself, but all of us. li so, it will be so much the better." I, not wishing to be thought cowardly, especially by lAMKS I'. HKCKWOIKTII. i«rj A-rc-shc-res, at Icngtli consented to acconi])any liini, on tlie condition that he wouhl stiiic all liarsh t'eelinjx against our brethren, and, let our expedition result as it would, accept the deciaion in good faith, and never refer to the past. *' It is well," he said ; *' let it be as vour words speak.*' The two parties started on different routes to the (jiieyenne country. J regarded it as a foolhardy en- terprise, but if it resulted in the establisiinient of peace, I was contented to take part in it, at whatever per- sonal sacrifice. Wc used every precaution against a surprise, and A-re-she-rcs willingly adaj)ted his move- ments to my counsel ; for, though he was as brave as a lion, and fought with the utmost desperation, he was very inconsiderate of consequences, and had no power of calculating present combinations to come at a de- sired result. After traveling about twenty days, wc arrived at a considerable elevation, from whence we could see, at some distance on the prairie, about thirty of the ene- my engaged in killing buffalo. We could also see their village at a distance of three miles. "There is an opportunity, "said A-re-she-rcs; "now let us charge these Indians in the open prairie." " No, no," I replied ; "there are too many of them; the Cheyennes are brave wamors ; if you wish to car- ry home their scalps, we must get into their path and waylay them ; by that means we shall kill many of them, and run less risk of our own lives. We shall gain more honor by preserving the lives of our war- riors, and taking back the scalps of the enemy, than by sacrificing our lives in a rash and inconsiderate charge." ii^ ^>. ^.\^^^ %. o . V« IMAGE EVALUATEON TEST TARGET (MT-3) L<9 ^ 1.0 I.I i «»■ llll£ *- I. haUI. ill 1.8 1.25 1.4 14 ^ 6" — ► V] <^ /a ^' % > ^> /A V Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 f\ Q 4»^ o % y".. ^>/<i 1' .A. "^ 6^ k > '%^ ii^ L<p % ^ I .so AI'TOUJOUKAPIIV OF " Your words are true," said he, " and we will do as you say." " Then," added 1, "turn your robes the hair side out, and follow me." W'c wound our way down the trail through which they must necessarily pa?s to reacli their viilnge, and kept on until we reached a place where there wore three gullies worn by the passage of the water. Througli the centre gully the trail passed, tlius leaving a formi- dable position on each side, in wliicli an ambuscade had ample concealment. 1 divided my party, giving the command of one division to A-re-she-rcs. We took our stations in the ditches on each side the trail, though not exactly opposite to each other. I directed the opposite party not to fu'c a gun until they should hear ours, and then each man to take the enemy in the order of precedence. The unsuspecting Cheyennes, as soon as they had finished butchering and dressing the builalo, began to a2)proach us in parties of from three to eight or ten, their horses loaded with meat, which tliey were bearing to the village. When there were about a dozen abreast of my party, I made a sig- nal to fire, and nine Cheyennes fell before our balls, and eight before those of A-re-she-res's party. Some few of the enemy who had passed on, hearing the guns, re- turned to see what the matter was, and three of them became victims to our bullets. We all rushed from our hiding-places then, and some fell to scalping the prostrate foe, and some to cutting the lashings of the meat in order to secure the horses, the remainder keep- ing the surviving enemy at bay. Having taken twenty scalps, we sprang upon the horses we had freed from tlieir packs, and retreated precipitately, for the enemy was coming in sigl in great numbers. iiorse wlierc irom ■ advan as in .'<cvera ancmy cd ass ILS. 1 hut AVC To sea Burj Lcg-iu- aimed braves. weapon wound ; lie mar midst. % th whicli i: v.ould b wouiidet witii a I made lip- no Jongc] 'ixe with WJien perceived impossib] us with I ■calps at '^■at, we p; JAMES 1'. IJECKWOriiTH. l.s; AVc made direct for the timber, and, leaving our horses, took refuge in a rocky place in the mountain, where we considered ourseb/es protected for a while irom their attacks. To storm us in front they had to advance riglit in the face of our bullets, and to reacli us in the rear they had to take a circuitous route ot' several miles round the base of the mountain. The enemy evinced the utmost bravery, as they made repeat- ed assaults riglit up to the Ibrtification that sheltered U.S. Their bullets showered avound us without injury, ijut Avc could bring down one man at every discharge. To scalp them, however, was out of the question. During the combat a great Cheyenne brave, named Lcg-in-the-AVfiter, charged directly into our niitlst, and aimed a deadly thrust with his lance at one of our braves. The warrior assailed instantly shivered the weapon with his battle-axe, and inflicted a ghastly wound in his assailant's shoulder with a i'econd blow. He managed to escape, leaving his horst dead in our midst. J3y this time we were encompassed with the enemy, which induced the belief in our minds that retreat v.ould be the safest course. jN'one of our party was wounded except A-re-she-res, who had his arm broken with a bullet between the shoulder and elbow. He made light of the wound, only regretting that he could uo longer discharge his gun ; but he wielded his battle- axe with his left hand as well as ever. AYlien night came on we evacuated our fortress, un- perceived by our enemies. They, deeming our escape impossible, were quietly resting, intending to assault us with Lheir whole force in the morning, and take our .;calps at all hazards. ^Moving with the stealth of a oat, we proceeded along tlie summit of a rocky clifl IHH AUTOKlUiJKAl'JlV OF until we came to a cleft or ravine, through which W(^ descended from the bluff to the bottom, which was covered with p heavy growth of timber. A\'^e then hastened home, arriving there on the twenty-eigbth day from the time we left. They had given us over for lost ; but when they saw us returning with twenty scalps, and only one of our party hurt, their grief gave way to admiration, and we were hailed witli shouts of applause. Our rival party, under lied i'^yes, had returned live or six days previou.«ly, bringing with them seventeen scalps, obtained at the loss of one man. Our party was declared the victor, since we had taken the great- er number of scalps, with the weaker party, and with- out loss of life, thus excelling our rivals in three sev- eral points. lied Eyes clieerfully acknowledged him- self beaten, good feeling was restored, and the subject of each other's bravery was never after discussed. We had still another advantage, inasmuch as wo could dance, a celebration they were deprived of, as they had lost a warrior ; they, li^^'^ever, joined our party, and wanted nothing in liea^L" (;ss to render our dance sufficiently boisterous to suffice for the purpose of both. All the dancing is performed in the open air, witli the solid ground for a floor. It consists of jumping up and down, intermixed with violent gestures and stamping ; they keep time with a drum or tambourine, composed of antelope-skin stretched over a hoop, the whole party singing during the performance. JAMES V. BECKVVOUKTil. 189 CHAPTKJl XIV. Chcyenncs. 'Natural 1 ort.— Trouble with the .ilS?jr,!-^'°A^ '''^",* "<"^^°'"'y occurrence un- til fl e following JIarch. when we moved from the wcst- Xongue Elver Mountain, one of the peaks of the 11 .ky .Mountain eham. The buftUloes had .eecded from tS environs of our old eamping-ground, and had been a! traeted to lie region whither we removed in eonse- quenee of the gi-ass being in a more forward state. Our community numbered ten thousand souls- n2ZZT' """^ ^'i"''^— together with an immense umbe, of horses. In crossing tlie mountain, we found tlie snow to be of so great depth, being tlrtherTn- creased with a three days' recent storm, tliat the mountain was impassable. In this seve.; journ y vliich occupied tlirce days, we had twelve mndred horses perish in tlie snow. Previously, ihe Black Feet <lition to follow them, as we were all engaged in pack- ing up for removal. We reached the prLe, on tt astern sule of the mountain, after a toilsome journej' and found good camping-ground on Box Elder Creek The morning following our arrival we started on a ritio '" ^ \ "' "'■'^ '"'^ "P""''' «^ «- -hole saddle-horse. I had nee proceeded far before I hefrd 190 ALTOIUOIUUPIIY OK a noise that sounded very much like a war-hoop. I stopi^cd my horse to listen. Those near me said it was a signal from one of tiio parties, who had discov- ered buffalo, and we proceeded on our journey. Soon, however, i heard the yell again, and I became satislicd there was something more than buffalo astir. I rode to a small eminence close by, and descried a party of our hunters at a distance making signals for others to succor them. I turned back to my wives, and dis- patched two of them to the village for my war instru- ments, and then galloped on to ascertain the cause of the alarm. Not more than fifty of our warriors were then before me. I then learned that they had before tlnm a party of one hundred and sixty I^lack Foot warriors, who had thrown themselves into an apparently impregnable fortress. It was a Stronghold manifestly thrown up in some of Nature's grand convulsions, it would seem, for the very purpose to wliich it was now applied. It was a huge mass of granite, forming a natural wall in front of a graduated height, varying from twenty-five feet to six feet, the lowest part; it was solid, and nearly perpendicular all round. There was in our camp a young Kentuekian named Robert Mildrum, naturally a brave fellow, though he seldom went out in the war parties ; but when the vil- lage was assaulted, he always fought like a tiger. He was a good trapper and a skillful blacksmith, and had been out in the employ of the American Fur Coi^pa- ny. I met him while we were surveying the enemy's stronghold. I said to him, " Mildrum, if the adage is true, there is policy in war. These Indians make no question of our bravery; had we not better resign to them the >• H ft > H H C >■ H i it 3V- 011, icd ode of 3 to dis- tru- ; of vere r 1 I )rof had > H r able >• 1 uyi 2em, . It > .11 t-fi in vc !ar ly Lm ed li lie vil- He had Iherc of the bru cau] tern a fray the ( (( T ber ( the i chief. iindei the a soon taken by st( our hi what 1 Lor riors, 1 emy h, from it retreat I rej old mei and chi Feet: i here, we I'iors thj our frier those in us there. Oreat Sj 'f we do JAMES r. BKCKWOUKTII. 193 brunt of this encounter, and not expose our lives in a cause that we have no concern in ? How do you in- tend to act?" "As for me," said ]\Iildrum, "I must be in the fray. If we are to sec any fun, I want my share of the entertainment." " Well," said I, " I shall endeavor to keep by you." The Indians had by this time assembled to the num- ber of from five to seven hundred, and were watching the fort indecisively, awaiting instructions from the chief. Many had succeeded in mnning and sheltering under the wall, while several had been shot in making the attempt. I ran to the wall to reconnoitre it, and soon saw there were two ways in which it could be taken ; one was by bombardment, and the other was by storm. Bombardment was out of the question, as our heaviest calibre was a rifle-bore. I waited to see what steps would be taken. Long Hair, the head chief of the nation, said, "War- riors, listen ! Our marrow-bones are broken ; the en- emy has chosen a strong fort ; we can not drive them from it without sacrificing too many men. Warriors, retreat!" I replied, " No ; hold ! Warriors, listen I If these old men can not fight, let them retire with the women and children. We can kill every one of these Black Feet : then let us do it. If we attempt to run from here, we shall be shot in the back, and lose more war- riors than to fight and kill them all. If we get killed, our friends who love us here will mourn our loss, while those in the spirit land will sing and rejoice to welcome us there, if we ascend to them dying like braves. The Great Spirit has sent these enemies here for us to slay ; if we do not slay them, he will be angry with us, and 194 Al'TUIJUJCRAI'lIV OF will never Ruflor us to conquer our ononiios again. lie will ilrivo oil" all our Inill'alocs, and will witlior the o;ra.ss N< wo will iiu'lit as Ion;'' on tlic ]>ran'U's. A o, warriors . ,,,. ,, ^. us one ot' them stii vivos. Conic, follow mc, and I will sliow von linw tlic hraves ot" the tiTcat white chiel" o il<i'lit tlu'ir (MK'inics 1" o " JCncniy of Horses,**' exclaimed hundreds of the brave an<l impatient warriors who were crowded round me, ""lead us, and we will follow you to the spirit land." ^Vcceptinn; the charge, I stationed a large Lody of those who were never known to ilinch on one side of the position, which 1, with my followers, intended to scale. 1 thus thought to enG;aij;c the attention of the enemy initil we made good our entrance, when I felt no longer doubtful of success. I then told them as J threw up my shield the third time, and shouted "lloo- ki-hi,"they were to scale the wall as fast as possible, and beat down whatever resistance might be oft'ered them. I had divested myself of all my weapons except my battle-axe and scalping-knifc, the latter being attached to my wrist with a string. I then made the signal, and when 1 raised the shout " lloo-ki-hi," the party opposite began to hoist one another up. When 1 sprang for the summit of the wall, I found that my women were holding my belt ; I cut it loose with my knife, and left it in their hands. I was the first on the wall, but was immediately followed by some scores of warriors. The enemy's whole attention, when we entered the arena, was directed to the opposite party, and we had time to cut numbers down before they were aware of our entrance. The carnage for some min- utes was fearful, and the Black Feet fought with des- JAMES I'. UKCKWf^rUTH. 11)5 L-ed pcration, knowing their incvitaolc doom if taken. The clash ot* battle-axes, and the yells of the opposing coni- Ijatants were truly appalling. ]Many leaped the wall only to meet their eertaiii doom below, where hundreds of Ijattle-axcs and lances were ready to drink their blood as soon as they touehed ground. The interior surface of this huge rock was concave, and the blood all ran to the centre, where it formed a poo^ which emitted a sickening smell as the warm vapor ascended to our nostrils. It was also a work of great difliculty to keep one's feet, as the mingled gore and brains were scattered every where round this fatal place. The blood of the Crow and the Jilack Foot mingled togeth- er in this common pool, for many of our warriors fell in this terrible strife. All was silent within a few minutes after we had gained an entrance. Victims who were making away with their bowels ripped open were instantly felled with the battle-axe and stilled in death. The wound- ed were cared for by tlieir friends, and the dead re- moved from sight. Upward of forty Crows were kill- ed, and double the number wounded. There were en- gaged on the side of the Crows about twenty white men, and only one was wounded, though nearly all scaled the wall with the Indians. Mildrum was seri- ously injured by leaping from the heights after an In- dian, but he soon recovered. Our spoils were one hundred and sixty scalps, and an immense quantity of guns and ammunition, a large amount of dried meats, with arrows, lances, knives, in great abundance. Here an incident happened with my little wift and mother worth mentioning. They were seated outside, and under the wall, when Owl Bear, one of the chiefs. 196 Ai:TuiU()(iUAi'ii\ or liapponing to pass, asked the girl if she was not the wife of the Kiicmy of Jlorscs. Hlie answered that slu; was. "I thouglit so," he said, "because you are such a pretty little Kfjuaw ; but you liave no husband now; he was shot through the head in the fort, and instant- ly killed ; and here you are playing with sticks I" Tlic poor tiling, together with her mother, screamed out at the intelligence, and, seizing a battle-axe, each cut off a finger. The girl then stabbed her forehead with a knife, and was instantly dripping Avitli blood. The chief came laughing to me, and said, " That little wife of yours loves you better than any of your other wives." *' How do you know?" I inquired. *' I^ccause I told them all you were dead, and she was the only one that cut otf a finger ;" and he laugh- ed aloud as he passed on. Soon, however, she climbed the Avail, and forced her way into the fort, and came directly to me. She pre- sented a sickening spectacle, and w^as covered entirely with blood. Seeing me, she burst into tears, and as soon as she could articulate, said, " Why, you are not dead, after all ! Owl Bear told me you were killed, and I came to seek your body." "Who arc you mourning for?" Tasked; "is your brother or father scalped ?" "No ; I mourned because I thought you were kill- ed; Owl Bear told me you were." " You must not believe all you hear," I said; " some Indians have crooked tongues. But come and spread your robe, and carry this gun and spoils of my first victim to the village, and there wash your fac» and bind up your linger." .i.\Mi:s I'. HKcKWunriii. 11)7 )ur lill- Shc did as 1 directed her, and departed. As soon us we liad colleeted all the tropliics be- queathed us by our fallen toes, and gathered all our own dead, we moved back to the new camp. ( )n our way, 1 exerted myself to the utmost to console the af- ilictcd mourners. I told them that their friends were happy in the spirit land, where there were no ene- mies to fight, where all was everlasting contentment, and where they were happy in endless amusement. I said that in a few days 1 wouhl avenge the fall of our warriors, and depart for that ])eaceful land myself. I could nlainly sec that this last promise aiforded them more satisfaction than all my other consoling re- marks ; but I disliked to sec their horrid lashion of mourning, and my promise of future victory speedily washed their faces of their present grief; for a prom- ise from me was confided in by all the tribe. There was, of course, no dancing, for we had lost too many warriors ; but in the evening there was great visiting throughout the village, to talk over the events of the day, and hear the statements of those who had taken part in the battle. Long Ilair came to the lodge of my father to congratulate me on my great feat in scal- ing the wall, and to talk of the victory of his people achieved through my valor. All who were present re- lated the deeds they had performed. As each narrated his exploits, all listened with profound attention. While this was going on, my little wife, who sat near by, crawled behind me, and, whispering in my ear, inquired if I had obtained any coos. These coos she inquired after arc the same as counts in a game of billiards : the death of one warrior counts as one ; of two warriors counts as two ; every battle-axe or gun taken counts one to the victor's merit. I said I had J 98 at:tobiograpiiy op not, at wliich she looked aghast. But when the ques- tion was ])ut to me by the chief shortly after, I an- swered "Eleven." On this she administered eleven taps on my back with her hnger, and again whispered, "Ah! I thouglit your tongue was crooked when you told me you had no coos.'''' All the coos are registered in the great medicine lodge in favor of the brave who wins them. I trust that the reader does not suppose that I waded through these scenes of carnage and desolation with- out some serious reflections on the matter. Disgust- ed at the repeated acts of cruelty I witnessed, I often resolved to leave these wild children of the forest and return to civilized life ; but before I could act upon my d cision, another scene of strife would occur, and the Enemy of Horses was always the first sought for by the tribe. 1 had been uniformly successful so far : and how I had escaped, while scores of warriors had been stricken down at my side, was more than I could understand. I was well aware that many of my friends knew of the life I was leading, and I almost feared to think of the opinions they must form of my character. But, in justification, it may be urged that the Crows had never shed the blood of the white man during my stay in their camp, and 1 did not intend they ever should, if 1 could raise a voice to prevent it. They were con- stantly at war with tribes who coveted the scalps of the white man, but tlie Crows were uniformly faithful in their obligations to my race, and would rather serve than injure their white brethren without any consider- ation of profit. Tn addition to this, Self-interest would whisper her counsel. I knew I could acquire the riches of Croesus if I could but dispose of the valuable stock of peltry I iiacl the means of i oyect in view to t^^^"^- ^ ""^"^'''^ ''^ «" "•c thousand, of tra « L; f "''T "*' *''^ ^"di-ns ,o 'vouM occasionaJly u e arl, '""' ^^ '» ™'^'- I *!'cir "nprofitabicWbld !""""'',*" *"" «-"■ ^on d'-'-y. But I fb„„d\Te I„7°" *''? '■" ''---ful in. i J'ey would ansH-er "oT"'- '-e must fight and ^^ them T","' ^''^■''' »" horse. : "■™; ^^'ithout horsfrl 'et^ 'f "S"-- or .steal i„ could we, to protect our- iTveTfil "";"'''""«'^S nor . Mack our villages. " ° ' °'"' '"cs ivhen they I'o prepared to defend the:!:'/' ";;"?' ""' ""^^ t> of Indian troubles arise tio ,?;; • ' '"''S" ""^J""- I"-opr.ation of each otI,cr-s 1 ' ""' ""''''■^'■••■"•"eJ ap- I'l-aneh of wealtl, ; like tlL '• ^' '•^ *''"'■ on v S-'-d for horses oln n tb ^'thf 7"' ';;-^ «<"''' *'-> '""tB are n,erely attended to • 1 '^^ *''^"- °«''"- ;;«e'i supplied, they ,00k no fjT '^ *° ''■''>- «-> 'o;^o,.es is insatiable: the, ' ' f' Y ""^"- "W^ti.. W'Uram and myself hadVr '■ ''""™''"'S '"ore. »"''ject while he was sm , ^ '^'""■O'-^'tiou on the -ved in leaping ^^ t t ? i^" '"r/''^'"-^ ^^ - ;™»«''. 1 an, pretty ..^U ;J^rT^'^'-y- "^'O.}^ ''7f i-a great doall", ;,,."' *" ""« I'""-' Jifc; i t link of n,y old Kentuel v , " '""• '^"' '^'■en ;nJotherfriends,vl,o„l£:,'"r°'''^'''^^' "-'''-. oould be so happy, r won , ?"' ""<■ "'''*'" ^^-''om f'f/'olds n.eherl'famonXV-'V '^ "^="-"'<""' •'l'"''' I^attles, and risking „-,y bTe f , .S'^'' «•?''«"« tl'-ir ;;"Ppose exeeeds in value Zu7 ""'^P; '''''"^' ^ «>'>ly <''"-«ty heathen. How i„ V , """'■'"'' °^ *''-«» Wood- o^v. in the name of all that is sa- 200 Al TUJilOUKAPHV OF crcd, can we reconcile ourselves to it ? V/ liy don't wo leave them ?" The medicine men held a council, and resolved to remove the village ; the Great Spirit was displeased with the spot, and had therefore suffered all our war- riors to Le killed. We accordingly pulled up stakes and moved a short distance farther. While we were busy moving, my little squaw an- gered me, and I drove her awr". She not daring to disobey me, I saw no more of her until she supposed my anger was appeased. She then came to the lodge while I Wiis conversing with my brothers, and, putting her childish head into the door, said humbly, " I know you are angry with me, but I want you to come and stay at our lodge to-night ; we are outside the village, and my father and mother pre afraid." "Yes," said my brother, " she has no ears now ; she is but a child ; slie will have ears when she grows old- er; you had bet+cr go and protect the old people." I told her to run home, and I would soon follow. I went to the lodge accordingly. In the night I heard the snorting of horses, which were tied near the lodge door. I crept softly out and looked carefully around. I then crawled, without the least noise, out of the lodge, and caught sight of an Indian, who I knew was there for no good purpose. He Avas using tlie ut- most precaution ; he had a sharp-pointed stick, witli which he raised the leaves that lay in his way, so that I lis feet might not crush them, and thus alarm the in- mates of the lodge. Every step brought him nearer to the animals, who, with necks curved and ears erect, gave an occasional snort at the approach of the Indian. This would bring him to a halt. Tlien again he would bring his ptick into action, and prepare a place for an- JAMES P. BECKWOIJRTH. 201 other step, not mistrusting that he was approaching- (lie threshold ot" diviUi. The ropes were tied dose to the lodge door, and to untie them he must approach ^\'ithin six feet of where I lay on the ground. J. let him advance as near as I thought safe, when, with one bound, I grappled him, and gave the war-hoop. He was tlie hardest to hold that ever I had my arnip nround, but I liad both his arms pinned in my embrace round his lithe and nimble body, and he could not re- lease one so as to draw his knife. Instantly we were surrounded with fifty armed warriors ; and when I saw a sufficient breastwork round about, I released my hold and stepped back. lie was riddled with bullets in an instant, and fell without a cry. His scalp sufficed to wash off the mourning-paint from every face in the village, and all was turned into mirth, although this general change in feeling did not restore the dismembered fingers or heal their voluntary Avounds. Greater than ever was the Enemy of Horses, and I received a still more ennobling appellation, /SAas- l-a-o-/ufs/f-a, the Bobtail Horse. The village exhaust- ed itself in showing its admiration of my exploit ; and my single scalp was greeted with as much honor as if I had slaughtered a hundred of the enemy. mid CHAPTER XV. ;^hort Account of Pine Loaf, the Crow Heroine. — Twenty Days' Bat- tle with the Cheyennes. — Return of the Villajre to the west Side o!" the Mountains. — Letter from M'Kenzie. — Visit to his Trading-po>t at the Mouth of the Yellow Stone. In connection with my Indian experience, I conceive it to be my duty to devote a few lines to one of the I 2 L'U2 Al T0B10(ii<Al'HV uF m bravest women that o /er lived, namely, l^ine Leaf- Indian, J:{ar-clicc-am-pc. For an Indian, she possess- ed great intellectual powers. She was endowed with extraordinary muscular strength, with the activity ol" the cat and the speed of the antelope. Her features were pleasing, and her form symmetrical. She had lost a brother in the attack on our village before men- tioned — a great brave, and her twin brother. lie was a fine specimen of the race of red men, and bade fair to rise to distinction ; but he was struck down in hir- strength, and Pine ]^eaf was left to avenge his death. She was at that time twelve years of age, and she sol- emnly vowed that she Avould never marry until she had killed a hundred of the enemy with her own hand. Whenever a war-party started, Pine Leaf was the first to volunteer to accompany them. Her presence among them caused much amusement to the old veterans ; but if she lacked physical strength, she always rode the fleetest horses, and none of the warriors could outstrip her. All admired her for her ambition, and as she ad- vanced in years, many of the braves grew anxious for the speedy accomplishment of her vow. 8he had chosen my party to serve in, and when I engaged in the fiercest struggles, no one was more promptly at my side than the young heroine. She seemed incapable of fear ; and when she arrived at womanhood, could fire a gun without flinching, and use the Indian weapons with as great dexterity as the most accomplished war- rior. I began to feel more than a common attachment to- ward her. Her intelligence cliarmed me, and her mod- est and becoming demeanor singled her out from her sex. One day, while riding leisurely along, I asked her to many me provided we botli returned safe. She r ■9 H S 3 but V. the 3 trip ad- r, ■J. for C had K I in > my ible r. ■J fire ons irar- to- od- hcv :ea Uie aJ m th su he ba yo gai it c ^ ' p lea"v tliej S (( 17 n a tish n a li I let lier V form immc my SI W( to ke lAMKS I*. BKCKWUl'KTII. 2iK') flashed her dark eye upon mine, " You have too many jjrcady," she said. "Do you suppose I would break iny vowto the Great Spirit? He sees and knows all things ; he would be angry with me, and would not suffer me to live to avenge my brother's death." I told her that my medicine said that I must marry her, and then I could never be vanquished or killed in battle. She laughed and said, " Well, I will marry you." "AVhen we return?" "No ; but when the pine-leaves turn yellow." I reflected that it would soon be autumn, and re- garded her promise as valid. A few days afterward it occurred to my mind that p'ne-leaves do not turn yellow, and I saw I had been practiced upon. When I again sj^oke to lier on the subject, I said, ' Pine Leaf, you promised to marry me when the pine- Icavos should turn yellow : it has occurred to me that they never grow yellow." She returned no answer except a hearty laugh. " Am I to understand that you never intend to mar- ry me ?" I inquired. "Yes, I will marry you," she said, with a coquet- tish sniile. "But when?'' " When you shall find a red-headed Indian." I saw I advanced nothing by importuning her, and I let the matter rest. However, to help her on with her vow, I never killed an Indian if she was by to per- form it for me, thinking that when her number were immolated there might be better chance of pressing my suit. We frequently shifted our camping-ground, in order to keep up with the buffalo and furnish our horses 2{m AITOHlU«JKAl'lIV Ml' witli sufficient grass, for we had sucli an immense num- ber that the prairie round our lodges in a few days had tlie appearance of a closely-mown meadow. Finally, we removed to the western side of the mountain again, and encamped on Little Horn lliver, one of the sources of the A'ellow Stone. Shortly after our encampment, we found there was a village of Cheycnnes about twelve iniles distant, and an incessant warfare was maintained between the two villages for twenty days. Sometimes tliey would take three or four Crow scalps ; in return, our party would retaliate by taking as many of theirs. Thus they went on, with varying fortune, during the whole twenty days. I had never been engaged in these skirmishes ; but one evening, I, with three others, among whom was Yel- low Belly, resolved to go on an adventure. Accord- ingly, we started for the Cheyenne, arriving there the next morning, and unhesitatingly entered their village while the inmates were quietly reposing. After ]j ss- ing through one quarter of their village, we saw an In- dian approaching, who, on perceiving us, wheeled his horse to escape. I shot an arrow into his back, but, before he fell, I rode up, cut him down with my bat- tle-axe, and rode on. One of our party, not wishing to lose his scalp, dismounted to take it. In doing so he lost his horse, which followed us, leaving his rider on foot close to the enemy's village, whence the aroused warriors were issuing like hornets. Perceiving his danger, I rode back, and took him up behind me. We had to run for it ; but we made good our escape, driv- ing home before us seven horses captured from the en- emy. This was considered a great achievement by our Crow brethren, and they again washed their faces. The enemy now charged on our village, killing six JAMES r. iiE(;K»V(ii mil. 207 ;es. six Crows, among whom wa^ a brotlicr-in-law of mine. His relatives appealed to me to avenge them. Sup- posing that the enemy would renew the attack the next day, I selected one hundred and thirty warriors, all well mounted, to waylay them. \Vc posted our- selves midway between the belligerent villages, but the Cheyennes had passed within a few hundred yards before we were in ambush. ]3eing there, the idea oc- curred to me to await their return. On their repulso from the village we would spring im and cut off their retreat, and, I made no doubt, succeed in killing a great number of their warriors. It fell out as I had expected. The Crows drove them back with a loss to the enemy of four ; and when they neared us, their horses were badly jaded, and our friends hotly in pursuit. AVe sprung up, cutting off their retreat, and they, sorely pressed in their rear, seeing our party in front cutting down right and left, became panic-struck, and fled in all directions. We took sixteen scalps, with the horses and equip- ments of the fallen warriors, and returned home in tri- umph. This made twenty scalps taken in one day, which was considered by the Crows a glorious victory, and the scalp-dance was performed with unusual vi- vacity. In this battle the heroine was by my side, and fought with her accustomed audacity. I counted iive cooSy and she three, for three enemies killed with lier lance. The Cheyennes, disconcerted with their misadventure, moved their village away from the Crow territory. We also took up our line of march, and moved on 1o Clarke's Fork, a branch of the Yellow Stone, where we found abundance of buffalo and good grass. While encamped here I received a letter from Mr. M'Kenzie, •ins Al romoCKAI'IIY UK ^vrilton at l"'orl Unioji, at llio montli of \\\o Yellow Stone, A\ here lie desired me to see liiiii. it was deliv- ered io iiie bv .Mr. W inters, who, in eonipany with one man, liad i'ound his way unharmed. iM'Kenzie uished mo to see him immedial(dy on l)nsin(\sH of imjiorlanee, as ]u\ wished, throngli my inlhicnec, to establish i\ trade with the Crows. ( >n eomnmnicatinn; my intention ol' ]H'rrormintjj th<> ionrnt>y, all exjioslnlated at my goinj;;. I L;aN'(' them my jx^silive word th.it I wonld vetnrn in eiiL:;hleen snns. it' not killed on the Avay. It, was a long and liazard- ons ji)nrney to nndertake, Jiaving to traverse a distanee oi' seven hundred and sixty miles, (>x])osed to nnmer- ous bands of hostile Inilians. I sneeeeded in reaeh- inu" the tort in sal'etv, where I I'onnd M-Ken/ie with a li'reat stock of mise(>llaneous goods. 1 arrived lato in the at'ternoon, dispateluul my bnsiness with him hasti- ly, and started on my retnrn in tJic morninp;. 1 took ten jiaek-horses laden with goods to trade with the In- dians, in addition to which several boats were freiaht- vd and sent to me up the Yellow V^tone. '^^IVo men accor.panied me to the Crow country. AVe had no trouble on our way until we arrived within a few miles of our village (as I supposed it), when, as we were marchina: on, i reniarked somethinir unfamiliar in the ajipearanee of the place. I ordered the two men to turn their animals uj) a little valley close by, while 1 took a nearer look at the village. A closer inspection eoniirmed my mistake ; I saw the lodges were painted a ditierent color from our own. I followed the pack- horses, and. found a trail which led to the Crow villaao, and concealed from the observation of the village aao had approached. Soon after entering the trail, I dis- covered the fresh tracks of iive Indians, going the di- .jAf.ji:s I'. ni;('K\v-M KTii. 2iV.> ht- 10 1o 1 11)11 :k- go. reel ion tljal wo. wcrt!. i lialtcd llio, pack-IiorMCH^ tuul lodo on to ^(;t ji Hi<;lit of tlicni. At a sliort (lisljincc. I perccivcil tlic live nuni, and, unobserved hy them, I rode on and entered a low j)lane until I approaelied within a few rods of tlieni. I took a short survev of tlieni, and coneluded that they must be cnenTKis be- longing to the village we had just left. T'-ey were on tool, and 1 eoneeived myself a mateh f"r llie whole five. I leveled my rille, and was taking aim, wlien my horse moved his head and diseoncerte'l my sight. 1 tried again, with ])reeisely the same result. I then dis- mounted, and advanced two or three steps nearer my object. As I was about to fire, having the rein on my arm, the horse made another motion, thus spoiling my aim for tlie third time. At that moment one of them made a yawning expression in the Crow language, and 1 was so terrified at his narrow cscap(; that the ritlc dropped from my hand. I called to them, telling them the danger they had escaped. " Why," said they, *'you would not have attacked tivc of us V" "Yes," I said, "and would have killed every one of you, had you been enemies." They then informed me that they had lost two men that day near the village of the Black Feet, who were now, beyond doubt, dancing over their scalps. 1 did not wait to hear more, but directed them to return to my horses and assist the men in getting on to the Crow village as soon as possible. I rode forward to make my arrival known. My return was welcomed with the liveli3st demon- strations of joy by the whole tribe. But I delayed no time in ceremonial. I called a council forthwith, and informed them that the Black Feet vv'ere encamped ten 210 AlITOIUOflRAIMIY OP niik;s distant, that two ot our warriors had that day I'alieii by tlicir liaiuls, and that wc must go and avenge their death. The chief assented ; but, as a prelimin- ary, directed me and another to count their lodges thai niglit. I undertook tiie dangerous task, although ex- tremely fatigued with my long journey. Wc succeed- ed in the object of our expedition, and found tlieir lodges outnumbered ours by one. There arc, as a gcn- <ial thing, from four to six warriors to a lodge; tlie Black I'oot village comprised two hundred and thirty- three lodges ; hence wc could form a pretty acciu'at(^ estimate of the number of warriors we had to contend with. Their village was closely watched by our spies ; every movement made by the enemy was promptly reported to our chief. During the niglit they appear- ed to sleep soundly, probably fatigued witli a late dance. ]5ut in the morning they were astir betimes, and having packed up, started forward in our direc- tion, apparently una . arc of our presence. On they came — men, women, and children ^ — utterly uncon- scious of the terrible shock that aAvaited them. Our warriors were never better prepared for a conflict, and never more certain of victory. We were drawn up on a high table prairie, our whole force concealed from view at no greater distance than half pistol-shot. Their cliicf led the van, and with him were several young squaws, who were laughing and dancing around him, evidently to his great amusement. They were near enougli to launch the thunders of war upon them, and our chief gave orders to charge. The order was instantly carried into effect. The chief who, a mo- ment before, was so joyous, surrounded by his tawny young squaws, was the first to fall beneath my battle- JAMKS P. FU'/'KWOrRTjr. 211 ;ixc, and his attciulantH scattered like eliatl' l)ctovo the wind. We were upon the warrior.s so unexpectedly that they hat! hardly time to draw their weapons be- tbre tliey were overthrown and put to flight. 'I'hcy were encumbered with women, ■children, and baggage. ( )ur attention was directed solely to the men ; the wom- en were unharmed, except those who were overturned bv our horses. During the engagement, a powerful Black I'oot aimed a blow at nic with his battle-axe, which i*ino Leaf deprived of its elfect by piercing his body through with Iier lance. In a few moments the fighting was over, and after pursuing the flying enemy through the timber, we returned to collect the spoils of victory. We took one hundred and seventy scalps, over one hundred and fifty women and children, besides abund- ance of weapons, baggage, and horses. The Crows liad twenty-nine wounded. Thi« was a severe blow to the Black Feet; such a .slaughter is of rare occurrence in Indian warfare. Not- witlistanding this sad defeat, they rallied their broken ijand, and attacked us again in the afternoon ; but it amounted to nothing, and they fled in gloomy confusion beyond the Crow territory. Pine Leaf never signalized herself more than on this occasion. She counted six coos.^ having killed four of the enemy with her own hand. She had but ^vay su- periors in wielding the battle-axe. ]\Iy horse was kill- ed by the blow which was aimed at my head by the Indian whom the heroine killed. I •wore a superb head-dress, ornamented with eagles' feathers and wea- sels' tails — the labor of many days. Early in the ac- tion, three of these tails were severed by a bullet which grazed my head. "These Black Feet shoot close," •il2 AUTOBIOGIiAPHV OF .said the heroine, as she saw the ornaments fall; "but never fear; the Great Spirit will not let them harm us. ?» I took a very pretty young woman prisoner, but was obliged to give her up to one of the braves, who had my promise before the battle that if I took one I would give her to him, and if he took one he should give her to me. When a warrior (of the Crow tribe) takes a woman prisoner, she is considered his sister, and he (!an never marry her. If she marries, her husband is brother-in-law to her captor. Our prisoners soon for- got their captivity ; they even seemed pleased with the change, for they joined with great alacrity in our scalp- dance over the scalps of their own people. All Indian women are considered by the stronger sex as menials : they are thoroughly reconciled to their degradation, and the superiority of their "lords and masters" is their chiefest subject of boast. They are patient, plodding, and unambitious, although there are instances in savage life of a woman manifesting supe- rior talent, and making her influence felt upon the com- munity. During my visit at Fort Union I er raged to build a fort for ]\I'Kenzie to .tore his goods in safety at the mouth of the Big Horn River, one of the branches of the Yellow Stone. Accordingly, I repaired to the place to select a good site and commence operations. On arriving at the spot, I found the boats close by, but as there was no secure quay at the junction of the streams, I selected a site about a mile below. There were fifty men, who had arrived with the boats, hired to assist me in erecting the fort. The stipulated dimensions were one hundred and twenty yards for each front, the builduig to be a solid square, with a block-house at opp eigh we the aboi JAMES P. BECKWOURTll. 213 opposite corners. The fort was erected of hewn logs plnnled perpendicularly in the ground ; the walls were eighteen feet high. As soon as the pickets were up, we built our houses inside, in order to be prepared for the approach of winter. When i had been engaged about six weeks upon its construction, four hundred lodges of Crows moved into our immediate vicinity, thus affording us plenty of company, and a sufficient force to protect us against the attacks of hostile tribes. When we had completed our building we unloaded the boats, and commenced trading with the Indians. During the first year the company was very unsuc- cessful, sinking over seventeen thousand dollars in the undertaking. This, however, was principally attrib- utable to the outlay upon the fort (the wages of the fifty men engaged in constructing it ran for twelve months), and to the number of presents whicii it is customary, on such occasions, to distribute ranong the Indians. After the Crows had removed to the fort, they were repeatedly annoyed with attacks from different hostile tribes. I was engaged in two small encounters during the winter, in both of which we were completely vic- torious. The Crows were fully occupied in protecting their own horses, or levying contributions upon their neiglibors. During the winter we accumulated a large amount of peltry, which in the spring I sent down to Fort Union in five Mackinaw boats, built by ourselves for the purpose. I sent a sufficient number of men to take good care of the boats, and to return up stream with a fresh supply of goods. I then left the fort in charge of Winters, leaving him thirty men for a guard. T also had provided an ample stock of dried meat, so 214 AUTOniOGRAPHY OP that they might avoid tlie risk of hunting for provis- ions. Early in May we commenced our march in searcli of summer quarters. We traveled by easy stages, and on a circuitous route, so that when we finally arrived at liosebud Creek, a branch of the Yellow Stone, we found ourselves but twenty miles distant from the fori. After we had remained aboit a week at our encamj)- ment, our village was invested by a large war-party of Black Feet. It happened very fortunately we were; building a medicine lodge at the time, and our whole force was at home, which circumstance most probably preserved us from a disastrous defeat. Our enemic.5 numbered about four thousand warriors, to oppose whom wc had two thousand eight hundred practiced warriors, besides the old men, who always acted as vil- lage guards. At daybreak the enemy advanced upon our village with great impetuosity. Our war-horses being tied to our lodge doors, the first alarm found our defenders ready mounted to meet the assailants. "VVc did not allow them to enter the village, but advanced on to the plain to meet them. The contest was severe for several minutes, and the clash of battle-axes and the fierce yells of the opposing forces made the whole prairie tremble. The two parties charged alternately, according to the Indian mode of warfare ; but the Crows gained ground at every attack,, for they fouglit with every thing at stake. The fight lasted for sever- al hours. Early in the action we discovered a ma- noeuvre of the enemy which would probably have re- sulted seriously for us had we not perceived it in time. About half their force was detached to attack us in the rear, and take possession of the village. I formed from fifteen to eighteen hundred warriors into a body, and JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 215 )Ugllt sever- ma- re re- I time. in tlic from r, and rode down to meet their detachment as it wound around the foot of a small Iiill. They were in quick march to jrain tlieir position, and approached in seeming security, ^ly warriors hcirg formed upon the brow of a hill un- der which the ci emy was passing, I gave the order for a rush down the hill upon t' ^m. The attack was made with such irresistible force that every thing in our way was overthrown, and warriors and horses were knocked into promiscuous piles. AVc happened to burst upon their centre, thus severing them in two, and the confusion they became liivolved in was so irreme- diable that tlieir only hope was to get back to their m^Mi body with as little delay as possible. In the attack, a lance thrown by a Black Foot per- forated my leggin, just grazing the calf of my leg, ;mu entered the body of my horse, killing him on the Hpot. j\Iy ever-present friend, Pine Leaf, instantly withdrew it, releasing me from a very precarious situ- ation, as I was pinned close to the horse, and his dy- ing struggles rendered such proximity extremely un- safe. I sprang upon the horse of a young warrior who was wounded, and called to some of our women to con- vey the wounded man to a place of safety ; the hero- ine then joined me, and we dashed into the conflict, ller horse was immediately after killed, and I discov- ered her in a hand-to-hand encounter with a dismount- ed Black I'oot, her lance in one hand and her battle- iixe in the other. Three or four springs of my steed brought me upon her antagonist, and, striking him with the br^;ast of my horse when at full speed, I knocked him to the earth senseless, and before he could recover, .'he pinned him to the ground with her lance and scalp- ed him. When I had overturned the warrior, Pine Leaf called to me, " Ride on ; I have liim safe now." 216 AUTOBlOGliAPHY 01' I rode on accordingly, but she was soon mounted again and dt my side. The surviving Black Feet speedily dispersed, and i}iey all retreated together, leaving the Crows mr.ster of the iield. They left be- hind ninety-one killed, besides carrying off many dead with their wounded. We lost thirty-one killed, and a large number wounded. I had live horses killed under me, but received no wound. Our enemies, in their retreat, drove c fF sixteen hundred horses, among which were cightv of my own, but we had plenty left, and we considered these only lent to them. We had no dance, and the reladves of the slain \vcnt through their usual mourning. A few days after this battle a messenger arrived from the fort with a request for me to return as quick- ly as possible, as the Black Feet were continually harassing the men, and they were in fear of a general attack. Accordingly, I returned .n the latter part of June, and found affairs in a very serious condition. The Indians had grown very bold, and it was hazard- ous to venture outside the fort. One morning seven men were sent about one mile away to cut house-logs, it being supposed there were no Indians in the vicinity. Some time in the fore- noon I heard the report of a rifle close to our gate. I ran out, and just caught sight of the retreating In- dians as they entered the bushes. They had shot and scalped one of our men as he was chopping only a few paces from the gate. The danger that the other men might be placed in then occurred to me, and, ordering the men to follow me, I mounted my horse and hast- ened to their rescue. I was followed by about one half the men, the remainder preferring the protection of the wooden walls. T soon discovered our men : JAMES P. BECKWOUKTII. 217 they were surrounded by forty Indians, the chief of whom appeared to by addressing the sun, and was ges- ticulating witli his battle-axe. On his r^^sing his arm, I sent a ball through his body, and then shouted to the men to run to me. They started, but one of them was shot down before they reached me. The surviv- ors were so terrified that they did not dare to stop when they reached me, but continued their course un- slackened until they gained the fort. My followers, seeing their alarm, became fugitives in turn, and I was left alone within gunshot of tiie remaining thirty-nine Indians. Uttering deafening yells, they made a rush for me ; my horse became f i ightened, and I could scarce- ly mount him. However, by running by his side a few paces, I managed to leap on his back, and retreated at full speed, while thei/ bullets and arrows flew around rae like hail. When I approached the fort, a voice near mc cried, " Oh, Jim ! don't leave me here to be killed." I wheeled round, and, with my double-barreled gun in my hand, made a charge toward the whole approach- ing party, who, seeing my resolute bearing, turned and scampered off. I rode up to the person who had call- ed me, and found him an old man, who was unable to run, and had been abandoned by his valorous com- panions to the mercy of the savages. I assisted him on to my horse, and was about to spring on behind him, when the horse sprang forward, leaving the old man's gun behind, and carried him safely to the fort. By this time the Indians had returned upon me. I ran wherever a shelter offered itself; and, when close- ly pressed, would face round and menace them with my guns. Within a few hundred yards of the fort I came to a small covering which had been used as a K 218 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF shelter by the horse-guards, and I sprang into it, witii the Indians at my heels. After expending the con- tents of my guns, I plied them with arrows to their hearts' content, until they gave up the fray and re- tired. This took place in fair view of the fort, when not one of its doughty inmates dare come to my as- sistance, and who even refused to resign their iire-arms to tlie women, who were anxious to come to my rescue. When at length I succeeded in reaching the fort, I favored the men with my unreserved opinion of them. 1 had been the means of saving their lives even after the chief of the savages had returned thanks to the sun for their scalps, which he had already deemed se- cure. I really believe that with Pine Leaf and three other squaws I could have stormed and taken the fort from their possession. These men were not mountaineers ; they were near- ly all Canadians, and had been hired in the East ; they were unused to savage warfare, and only two of them had seen an Indian battle. If they had come out like men, we might have killed one half the Indians, and I should have been spared a great deal of hard feeling. They acknowledged, however, that I had flogged the Indians alone, and that six of them were indebted to me for their lives. In July, after the arrival of the boats, the Crows again returned to the fort. They came to make pur- chases with what small means they possessed, as they had disposed of all their peltry on their previous visit. They, however, brought in a great quantity of roots, cherries, berries, etc., which they traded for articles of necessity ; they also sold sixty horses, which we sent to M'Kenzie at the lower fort (Clarke). It greatly charms the Indians to see new goods : pers with JAMKS i'. DKUKWOCRTU. 21t> When they have the means to buy there is no e.ul to thcr purchases. W],en the ianees, battle-^xes !n guns are spread before their eyes, gli terin'So" burnished steel, notwithstanding tlier mZ t dozen servieeaUe weapons at hole,Zy "-st ^h" biy purehase a new one. If one purehLs al t" t" oUow; henee there is no limit to their demand b he very .mportant one imposed by the exten of their excliangeable commodities. ans^tl/'sIrlnT" •'^ \T "'^'''^ ^'"""^ -"> Canadi- ans, an strangers m the country noirlv nil h • beenimp^^^^^^^^ n>.t to the hardslnps of such a life for a smaller re- muneration than men hired in the States. On he l he Indians, and what feats I had performed again" hem smgle-handed. They listened'to the marfdou tales^and gazed at me in wondering admiration. When Canadians are fairly broken in, and have become famihar with Indian character, the; make the best of Indian fighters, especially when put to it de ense of their own lives. They become superior "rap- P s too, bemg constituted, like their native ponies w th a capacity to endure the extreraest hardshipsTnd 220 AUTOBIOGKAPHY OF CHAPTER XVI. Departure from Fort Cass. — Capture of Squaws. — Battle with the Black Feet ; with the Cheycnnes. — Great Success of the Crows in stealinir Horses. — A successful Fall for Beaver. — Return to the Fort with Peltry. iVjTER having arranged every thing in the fort (which I have forgotten to mention we named after j\Ir. Cass), and given all needful instructions to Win- ters, who was in charge, I again left. My inten- tion was to induce the Crows to devote their undi- vided attention to trapping, not alone for their own henefit, but for the interest of the company in whose service I was engaged. I well knew that if I was with them they would capture five beavers to one if left to themselves. I had obtained great influence in the medicine lodge, and could often exert it to prevent a war-party from making a useless excursion against their enemies. I would tell them in their council that my medicine told me not to go to war ; that it was to their interest to employ their warriors in trapping all the beavers possible, so that they might have the means of purchasing ammunition and weapons for themselves, as well as beads, scarlet cloth, and blan- kets for the women ; that by-and-by we should be at- tacked by the enemy, and be unprovided with the means of defense ; that they would then kill all our warriors, and make captives of our women and chil- dren, as the Cheyennes had captured my mother when I was an infant, many winters gone ; that they should save all their warriors against a time of need, and only JAMES r. UECKWOrJtTIl. 22] engage in war when tlic safety of their village was at stake. These representations would frequently dissuade them from their belligerent purpose, and heaver-skins would be brought into the village by the pack ; but they would soon tire of their pacific occupation, an<l their enemies' horses would offer them temptations which they could not resist. Nearly all the Crows having left the fort before I did, only a few warriors remained to bear me company. [ engaged to meet them at the mouth of the Little Horn within a given number of nights, and I knew I should be expected. We arrived in safety at the place appointed, and within the time I had specified. Soon after our arrival, it was proposed to send out a war-party, not so much to fight as to reconnoitre ; to see where horses could with least difficulty be pro- cured, and gain a general intelligence of how matters stood. We set out, and had traveled slowly along for nearly two weeks, when our scouts returned to apprise us that there was a large crowd of women approaching toward us. We were then in a forest of plum-trees, bearing large red plums, which were fully ripe, and were very delicious. Feeling satisfied that the women were coming to gather fruit, we secreted ourselves, intend- ing, at a given signal, to surround them while they were busily employed. Accordingly, we waited until they all set themselvt about their task, they keep- ing up an incessant jabber among themselves like so many blackbirds or bob-o-links, and having no sus- picion that the Crows would so soon come in for their share. At a sound from the whistle, they were entire- ly surrounded, and their merry chatter was hushed in an instant. We marched them to an open piece of 222 AIITOBIOGUAPHY OF ground, made them form a line, and proceeded to make a .selection. TIk' aged, the ill-l'avorcd, and the matrons we withdrew from the bodj, telling them to return to the village, and depart without clamor. They went away in suUennesSj with their eyes flashing lire. The remainder, to the number of fifty-nine, very attractive looking young women, we carried along with us ; and as we were but three miles distant from their village, and could plainly sec the smoke of their lodges, we deemed it prudent to lose no time in making our way home. There were three warriors in the company of the women when first descried, but they were not in- dosed in our surround, and we could find no traces of ihem in any direction. On our return toward home the captives were, as usual, gloomy for an hour or two; but they very quick- ly brightened, and amused us with their smiles and conversation during the whole of the journey. In four (lays we reached the village, and were received with ''thunders of applause." Four of the prisoners were adjudged my prizes, who, according to Indian customs, Ijecame my sisters. For my services in this expedi- tion I was honored with the name of Boah-hish-a (Red L^'ish). Our prisoners were kindly received, and treat- (id with becoming attention. I carried my four sisters to my lodge, and distributed them among my relatives. They were all married to Crow braves, and added ma- terially to the strength of my band of relatives ; for it is esteemed a great honor to marry the sister of a great brave, which appellation I had long borne. Pine Leaf had captured two prisoners, and offered me one of them to wife. I answered, "You once told me I had already wives enough. I will not add to their number until I marry the heroine of the Crow nation." akc 'ons 1 to rent The tivc and age, , ■vve way f of : in- s of ;, as lick- and four with were oms, pedi- ;Red reat- sters ives. [ ma- for it great id me d me their ion. 75 JAMES I'. HKCKWOIIRTII. 22') (( •J Y. a IS < 3 H M M •J •All, you liavc found tlio red-handed Indian, then," she said, hiughing mockingly. ►She always received my advances with this unsatis- factory nonchalance, that it was with some unjjleasant- ness of feeling I approached the subject. JJut the more I saw of her lofty bearing, and witnessed the heroic deeds that she performed, the more ardent became my attachment to her. AVhen she was by my side in bat- tle, it seemed as if I had increased strength and cour- age ; when she was away, which happened rarely, J felt a vacancy which no other warrior could supj)ly. There was none bolder than herself, and she knew it ; there were others of greater strength, but her deficien- cy in muscular power was more than indemnified by her cat-like agility, and she would kill her man while others where preparing to attack. There was one thing that irritated the noble girl's curiosity, and that was th. war-path secret. Having killed many in battle, having followed where any dared to lead, " Why am I debarred from that important communication?" she would ask. "Why am I sent oif with the women and children, when that secret is told the warriors of but one battle ?" I would tell her that the misfortune of her sex ren- dered it impossible that she could ever have the secret unveiled to her ; that, should she break her trust, she would feurely pay the forfeit with her life. She would become angry at such representations, and her black eyes would glow like fire. Soon after this capture, a band of Black I eet made reprisals by breaking our inclosure and taking sev- en hundred horses. I immediately collected a small party and went in pursuit. We speedily overtook them, and recovered all the horses except sixty, bear- K2 •2'2{) Al TOBIUCJRAPHY OF Ing the cneiiiy, who precipitately fled, leaving two of their party dead. On our return we were received witli the usual demonstrations of joy, and the horse-danco. was performed by the village, together with the scalp- dance, which lasted nearly all night. About this time my allied friend raised a war-party, and went in quest of the enemy ; the heroine, ever act- ive and prepared, aecompai'ying him. I staid behind. They returned in a few days, bringing eight scalps of the Coutnees — one of the bands of the Black Feet. They had lost two of their warriors, much to the annoy- ance of the heroine, as she was prevented from dancing, although she had counted two coos. She then declared that she Avould go to war no more, except in my com- pany ; but she had to break her word, and the next time she engaged in tight she received a severe wound. She wished me to raise a force immediately, and go and kill an enemy, so that she could wash her face. I declined, however, on the ground that I was soon to go to the fort, and that I would engage in no hostile en- counters until my return. When a war party loses one of its members, the sur- vivors are compelled to wear tlieir mourning-paint, un- til that same party, or an individual member of it, has wiped out the blot by killing one of the enemy with- out incurring loss of life. Thus it not unfrequently happens, when no opportunity of avenging a loss oc- curs, that the mourners wear paint for months, regu- larly renewing it as it wears off. Small parties were continually going out and return- ing with varying success. The grand total of horses stolen by the Crows from all other tribes during that year amounted to near oix thousand head. During the same period, however, they lost a great number stolon from tliom. JAMES P. 3ECKW0CRTH. 227 Iring I visited the fort again in October, with three hund- red lodges of the Indians, the remainder following us in a few days. A great number of the Indians had been busy with their traps for about two months, and we took into the fort a great quantity of peltry, which procured for the Indians every thing they needed, be- sides linery for the women. When I arrived, I was informed that the head-hunt- er of the fort had been killed during my absence. " Now," said Pine Leaf, "you will go to war for one of your jDcople, and I will go with you, so that I can wash my face." The fort had been subject to alarms during the whole time of my absence, but had only lost the man here referred to. As soon as the Indians hcd finished their trading, I directed them to move to the Yellow Stone, as far up as " Pompey's Tower," telling them that I would join them in four nights. Then, as soon as I could get ready, I loaded twelve pack-horses with goods for re- tail, and, taking two Canadians with me, I went on and joined the village at the appointed place. This much performed, I then attended to the fre- quent solicitations of the heroine, by leading a party, and going in pursuit of the Black Feet to chastise them, as I told the Crows, for killing the white hunter. We were absent eleven days, and returned with only four scalps and seventy-four horses. I received an arrow in my head ; and there wxre three other warriors wounded, but none killed. The heroine then washed her face of the mourning-paint, which she had been grieving about so long. At this time I was third counselor of the nation, Iiaving been fifth and fourth previously. In tlio Crow K2 228 ALTOHIOGKAPHY ( >!' nation tlicrc arc six counselors, and by them the na- tion is ruled. There arc also two head ehiet's, who sit with tlic counsel wlicncvcr it is in session. The olUce of iirst counselor is the highest in the nation, next to the head chiefs, whose authority is equal. If in any of these divisions, when a matter is brought to the vote, the suliVages arc equal, one of the old pipe-men is sunnnoncd before the council, and the subject under discussion is stated to him, with the substance of the arguments advanced on both sides ; after hearing this he gives his casting vote, and the question is tinally settled. When war is declared on any tribe, it is done by the council. If any party goes out without the authority of the council, they arc all severely whipped ; and their whipping is no light matter, as 1 can personally test- ily. It makes no diflcrencc how high the offender ranks, or how great his popularity with the nation — there is no favor shown ; the man who disobeys orders is bound to be lashed, and if lie resists or resents the punishment, he suifers death. We raised a war-party of three hundred men to act against the Cheyennes, having one of the head chiefs as leader. We moved on foot toward their country, which was about two hundred and iifty miles from our village. In this expedition I acted in the capacity of head spy, and was of necessity continually in ad- vance of the main party. Being near the enemy, ac- cording to our calculations, I was some distance ahead, with four other spies, when we discovered live of the Cheyenne warriors in the act of dressing a buffalo, which they had just killed. We crept slyly up with- in gunshot of them, and each singled out hi** man and fired. Four fell at the discharge ; the other mounted r * JAMES P. BECKWOURTIl. 229 his horse and fled. I mounted one of the other horses, .'ind ])ursucd liim within sight of his viUagc, when I Avliccled an^l returned to the camp, well knowing that we should be pursued immediately after the fugitive communicated his news. 1 found the camp readily,' and acquainted tie chief with what had happened, although it is against orders for spies to commence any attack. I told him that we were compelled to fight them to save our own lives, as the enemy had discovered us. " That is all riglit," he said, " but they will Lc soon after us, and vv^e must retreat as fast as we can." We returned on our steps without losing a moment, and traveled all night. It was very cold, with consid- erable snow on the ground. In the morning we built a fire, and as soon as we had warmed ourselves we moved on. One man, who was lame, lingered by the fire after we had left, and he rejoined us in great alarm, telling us that the Cheycnnes were on our trail in great force, and were but a short distance behind us. We tlien put our boys and horses into a deep gully close by, and also stepped in ourselves, as soon as we had discharged one volley at our pursuers, who were then within short gunshot distance. They numbered from fifteen hundred to two thousand warriors, all mounted, while we were but a very few warriors, and liad not more than a dozen horses in all. We were in a strong position, however, one which they dared not to storm, even with their whole force. Frequently a few more daring cavaliers would advance to the edge of the bank, and hurl their lances into our midst ; but they rarely escaped our bullets. We had killed and wounded a great number in this manner, which taught our foe to be more cautious in his approaches ; when our chief, losing heart, declared there was no hope 230 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ibr us, and that we infallibly should be all "rubbed out." He addressed his son, a lad about sixteen years ot" age, in the following strain : " My son, we shall be all killed here. The Cheyennes are very brave, and ''hey iiave a eloud of warriors before us. It must never be said that my son was killed by them, therefore I must kill you myself before 1 die. Die, my son, iirst !" In an instant his son was a corpse, prostrate at the i'eet of his savage father. This, thought I, is the first time I ever saw a person killed to save his life. The actions of the old chief were wild throughout the whole proceeding. After killing his son, he rushed upon the top of the bank, and addressed himself to the enemy, an exposed mark to their arrows, as follows : " Ho, Cheyennes ! hero I am I come and kill me ! I am the great chief of the Crows. Come and kill me iirst, and then you can easily kill my warriors. jMany of your braves have fallen by my hand ; their scalps darken my lodge. Come! come and kill me!" I was astonished at such rashness, and still more astonished at the enemy, who, on seeing him a fair mark for their bullets, even withdrew to a greater dis- tance, and appeared to be perfectly paralyzed. After a while, our head chief descended, and took a long smoke at his pipe. The enemy retired without troub- ling us farther. In the night we decamped, and made all possible haste to our village, where we arrived in safety without any molestation from the enemy. TJic chief attributed our escape to the interposition of tlic Great Spirit, wlioi.i the sacritice of his son had propi- tiated in our behalf. We killed fourteen of the enemy Avhile in our in- trenchment, making eighteen, and wounded a great iiun( proc Fori a C] vilh and we \i the in or and viliaj camp \vere JAMES P. 13ECKW0UjRTif. 231 number We had eiglit killed, including the chief, son, and ten or eleven slightly wounded. When we arrived at home there was* great mourn- ing, and we all assumed paint on our faces as usual J ut we wore it only a short time before we took am- Pj^revenge. Pine Leaf did not accompany us on this CHAPTER XVII. Four days after our return, our chief, still smartinc •'t the sacrifice he had made for the salvation of his people, burned for revenge. He selected a body of over two hundred warriors, and started forthwith in search of the enemy. The night following his departure, I also raised two imndred men, and started in a contrary direction. We proceeded on until we came to Laramie Forks, where l^ort Laramie has since been built, and were in siVht of a Cheyenne village. While we were surveying the village, eleven of tlieir men, laden with meat, came up and encamped within a few hundred yards of where ' we were. We immediately threw ourselves flat upon the ground, resolved to wait until the coming of ni-ht m order to make secure work of our attack on them' and prevent any of their number escaping to alarm the village. At a Ixte hour we silently approached their camp when they were all sound asleep ; a dozen guns were discharged at them in a moment, and we rushed 232 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF in with our battle-axes to complete the work. We took their scalps, and were soon on the retreat, bearing away all the meat we needed, besides nineteen horses, and the slain warriors' equipments. We returned to the village, and washed oft' the mourning-paint, mak- ing the whole village ring with our dancing and rejoic- ing. The additional name of ^\j-ra-e-dish (the Bloody Arm) was conferred upon me. Tiic old chief came in three days subsequently, bringing fourteen scalps and equipments, without hav- ing lost a single man. Many of my readers will doubtless wonder how a man who had been reared in civilized life could ever participate in such scenes of carnage and rapine. I have already related that I was brought up where sim- ilar outrages were committed upon the defenseless in- habitants of the new settlements. Impressed with the recollection of these early scenes, I hardly ever struck down an Indian but my mind reverted to the mangled bodies of my childish play-fellows, which I discovered on my way to the mill, barbarously murdered by the savages. In after years I have experienced the nat- ural ferocity of the savage, who thirsts for the blood of the white man for no other purpose than to gratify the vindictive spirit that animates him. I have seen the paths of the trappers dyed with their blood, drawn from their hearts by the ambushed savage, who never knew mei 0}-, but remorsely butchered all who came in his way. Such is Indian nature. When I fought with the Crow nation, I fought in their behalf against the most relentless enemies of the white man. If I chose to become an Indian while living among them, it concerned no person but myself; and by doing so, I saved more life and property for the white man than JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 2:5:i linst HI so, Ithan a whole regiment of United States regulars could have done in the same time. Before 1 close this narrative, I shall take the liberty to express my opinions, and afford those having con- trol of the War Department some counsel about the cheapest, most expeditious, and most certain method of quelling their Indian troubles, on which the news- papers are harping so much. 1 know that with five hundred men of my selection I could exterminate any Indian tribe in North America in a very few months. But so long as our government continues to enlist the offscouring of European cities into our army, and intrusts the command to inexperienced officers fresh from West Point, just so long will they afford food for the Indians in and about the Rocky Mount- ains. Encumbered as our army is with baggage-wag- ons and artillery, an Indian chief can move his whole community farther in one day than our soldiers can follow them in three. When our victorious celebration was over, I started on a small trading expedition to the Snake Indians. I had received an invitation from their chief to trade among them, and I selected eight warriors to accom- pany me. On arriving at their village, I found that the Utahs had joined them, and a great number of them were thronging the village. Knowing that the Utahs and Crows were deadly enemies, I sedulously watched their movements, and very speedily felt dis- trust for the safety of myself and party, as the whole camp savored strongly of treachery. I mustered my little party around me, and found them without guns. On inquiring the cause, they informed me they had traded them away for horses. I suppose my looks expressed my disapprobation. Mistaking me, they 234 AUTOBIOGKAPHY UF said there was yet one fine horse left, which I could have at tlie price of my gun. I liad finished my traffic, and had disposed of every thing except my gun, when the Snakes came to mc. and offered to trade for that. I said, *' No ; 1 never sell my gun, except when at home and among my own people." The Snakes then told us to go, that things were bad in their camp. We sprang upon our horses, and struck out at full speed ; but we soon discovered a large party of Indians were in close pursuit. We then found they had not sold us their fastest horses, as they gained on some of my party, and shot and scalped them without our ability to defend them. 1 succeeded in reaching the mountain with two of my men, having lost six noble young warriors in my flight. I knew there would be terrible mourning and loss of fingers, until I could teach the Snakes a lesson which would serve them to remember for a long time. After devoting a short space to bewailing my mis- fortune, I requested a council to be called, and never did I enlarge with such wrathful vehemerkce as I then fulminated against the Snfkes, holding them up to the abhorrence of the fathers for their treachery in decoy- ing our unsuspecting warriors into their camp, and then letting loose a pack of murderous savages at our heels, after we had, ihrough their complicity, parted with our only means of defense. I demanded five hundred war- riors to go and wipe out the stain, and inflict summary chastisement on the village for their duplicity. ]\Iy argument was listened to with the profoundest attention, and all I proposed was readily acceded to. "Let the Red Arm have all that he asks," was the unanimous voice of the assembly. My warriors rallied around me almost at a moment's JAMES P. BECKWOUIiTlI. 23r> notice, and we mounted our horses and sped in the direction of tlie Snake country, on Green Kiver. On the eighth day our scouts came in and reported that tlioy had found a large number of the Snakes, scat- tered in small parties, who were engaged in killing buf- falo. We held on until we came in sight of them. 1 distributed my warriors as the occasion suggested, or- dermg them to attack the various small camps, whih^ I, with my party, should attack their main body. They were overthrown and dispersed by my brave warriors, with severe loss. AVe took over one hundred scalps, and a great quantity of guns and other warlike imple- ments. We had sixteen men wounded, including my- self (I received two slight wounds from arrows), but none of them dangerously. This blow brought the Snakes to their senses, and they immediately sent a deputation to our village to sue for peace. A circumstance happened on the evening preceding our attack which caused me the deepest regret. While the spies were reconnoitring, they perceived two In- dians, as they supposed, leave the enemy's camp, and proceed down the canon. This circumstance they re- ported to me. I ordered them to return, and kill them if they could find them. They went in pursuit of the two stragglers, and when they came in sight of them they had their robes over their heads, and vcre kneel- ing down over a fire. They fired, and one of the two fell mortally wounded; the other sprang out of his robe, when, to their surprise, they sjaw he was a white man. They, however, took him prisoner, and brought him to my camp. I was absent at their return ; but on the following morning I remarked a very dejected look on their countenances, and I asked them what was the matter. 2:i6 AUTOUIOGKArHY UF "We have done very Lad," said one; "we have reddened our hands with the blood of the white man." "Well, how did it occur?" I inquired. "Ask that white man, and he will tell you all." I walked up to the unhappy prisoner, whose looks betrayed the keenest anguish, and addressed him in English. " How are you, my friend ?" He started as if electrified, and looked me closely in the face. " What brought you here ?" I continued. " I was brought here by these Indians, who killed my companion while wc were building a fire to warm ourselves. I suppose I am brought here to be killed also?" ' ' No, my friend," I said, " you are safe. The Crows nevc:' kill white men." " Are these Crows ?" " Yes." * ' Well, well ! Then you must be Mr. Beekwourth ?" " Yes, that is my name. And now, without the least fear of danger, relate the occurrence fairly : if my warriors have killed a white man intentionally, they shall be punished." He then related how he and his companion went into the canon, and how they made a fire to render them- selves comfortable away from the Indian camp ; how that their robes were over their heads, entirely conceal- ing their faces from view, and that he felt fully con- fident that my warriors, in firing upon them, had mis- taken them for Indians. "Well," I said, "since the mistake is so apparent, you will greatly serve me to make the same statement to your companions when you return to your camp; JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 237 into liem- how Iceal- con- mis- for the Crows are entirely innocent of any design to shed th^j hhod of the white man, and it would be de- plorable for any misunderstanding to arise in conse- (juence of this lamentable occurrence." " I shall make a fair statement of the fact," he said, "and should be very sorry to be the means of any trouble." He then informed me that he and his late compan- ion were trappers ; that his party were in winter-quar- ters, and encamped with the main body of the Hnakes ; and that they had come out with this party after meat. I then gave him my reasons for attacking the Snakes, and begged him to commend me to all the old mount- aineers. ** There is not a day passes," he said, " but some one mentions you, to wonder where you are, and what you are now doing. I can tell them all that I have seen you, and conversed with you." I then told him he was at liberty to go at any time ; that he could take all the horses belonging to him, and all else that he needed. We assisted him with the body of his unhappy friend upon the back of a horse, and, bidding me adieu, he departed. The Snakes dispatched a deputation of forty war- riors and a medicine chief to the Crows to negotiate peace. They attached all the blame of the late rup- ture to the Utahs, whom, they said, they could not con- trol, and that the death of our six young warriors was entirely against their wish. This we knew was false, for there were ten Snakes to one Utah in the camp at the time of the outrage. They also pleaded that they had tried for a long time to induce the Utahs to return home, knowing that they were enemies to the Crows. We at length adjusted 2^8 ALrOHJCKSUAI'hV OK tho conditions of j)c<acc, Hi.iokcd the cjilumot, and, after an cxclwingc of prcscntH, they returned to their lionie. vVbout tliis time a brave, named JJig Rain, was cleet- ed chief of the village for the term of six moons. His fliilics 'vvere to superintend all the village removals, to scleet sites for camj)S, order surrounds ; in sliort, he was a kind of mayor, and alone subject to the liead chief. Big Kain j)0ssesscd the most beautiful squaw in the whoh; village ; she was the admiration of every young br.ave, and all were plotting (myself among the rest) to win licr aw.iy from her proud lord. [ had spoken to her on several occasions, and, whenever op- portunity offered, would tender her my most ceremoni- ous obeisance ; but she never favored me with any re- turn. Not oidy was she beautiful, but she was very intelligent, and as proud as Jiucifer; and the gor- geous dyes of the peacock were not more variegated or more showy than her attire. 8incc the e' ation of her husband, I fancied that she assume 'her Iiaughtier airs ; and 1 determined to steal her from her lord, be the consequences what they might. I went one evening to her brother's lodge, and ac- (ptainted him that there was a woman in our villac;o that 1 loved, and that I must have her at all hazards. " Well, warrior," said he, " if it is any of my rela- tives, I will assist you all in my power. You are a great brave, and have gained many victories for us, and it is but right that your desires should be gratified.'' "Thank you," said I; "but I will try alone first, and if I do not succeed, then I shall be very glad of your assistance." As an acknowledgment for the prompt tender of his services, I presented him with a quantity of tobacco. "Now," added I, " I want you to call in all your (( (( (( JAMKH v. HKCKWOCKTII. •<f It' his icco. roiir lu'ighbor.s to-niglit, and let thoiii .smoke as long as they please. After they are assembled, bar the door of your lodge, and anuisc them as long as you ean with the re- hearsal of your adventures, in the mean time, 1 will be engaged." I then went to my bosom friend and brotiier, and made part to him of what 1 had in hand, which reve- hition greatly amused him. 1 requested him to act as sentry over the lodge where they were all smoking — liig Rain with the rest, for 1 had seen him enter — and remain there until he was satisHed they had filled their pipes for the last time, and then to call out to me, but to mislead them in the place where he was addressing me. This he promised to perforin, and we both start- ed on our errands. I went to Big llain's lodge, dressed and painted in tlie extreme of the fashion, and sa^v the lady reclining, Iialf asleep, upon her couch, and several of her female- relatives asleep about the room. Nothing daunted, I strode to the couch of Mrs. Big Rain, and laid my hand gently on her brow. Slic started up, saying, "Who is here?" "Hush!" I replied; "it is I." "What do you want here?" " I have come to see you, because I love you." "Don't you know that I am the chief's wife?" " Yes, I know it ; but he does not love you as I do. lie never goes to war, but stays idly in the village. 1 am a great brave, and always go to war. I can paint your face, and bring you fine horses ; but so long as you are the wife of Big Rain, he will never paint your face with new coos.'''' "My husband will kill you." " Well, then the Crows will talk of you for many 240 AUTOBIOUKAI'IIV OP winters, and say that tlic great brave, * The Bloody Arm,' died for a pretty woman." '* Your father," she said, " will lose all his horses, and all his other property, and will beeomc poor in liis old age. I respect your father, and all your relatives, and my heart would cry to see them poor." " If my father loses his horses, I can steal more from our enemies, lie would he proud to lose his horses if his son could get a wife as handsome as you are. You can go to war with me, and carry my shield. With you by my side, I could kill a great many ene- mies, and bring home many scalps. Then wc could often dance, and our hearts would be made merry and glad." "Go now," she pleaded ; "for if my husband should return, and lind you here, he would be very angry, and I fear he would kill you. Go ! go ! for your own sake, and for mine, and for the love you have for the Crows, go!" " No," said I, " I will not go until you give me a pledge that you will be mine when an opportunity of- fers for me to take you away." She hesitated for a moment, and then slipped a ring off her finger and placed it on mine. All I now had to do was to watch for a favorable chance to take her away with me on some of my excursions. Just as I was about to leave, my friend called me as though I had been three miles away. I went out and joined him, " What luck ?" inquired he. "Good," said T. " Prove it to me, I will believe," said my friend. I held out my finger to him, displaying the ring. "Enough," said he; "but I could not otherwise have believed it." .JAMIiS I'. HECK woe Kill. 241 Tlie following day, with six warriors in full co.s- tume, I visited Wig Rain at his lodge. *' Ah !" said he, " you arc going on a war-excursion, my friend ?" "No," I answered. "\Vc carnc to sec which way you arc going to move, how many days you will trav- el, and how far each day ; so that we may lind good places to encamp, and know where to find the village in case we should encounter the enemy." "You are very kind," said he; "then you intend to be my spy. I have many brothers and other rela- tives among the braves, but not one has ever made me that offer." "No," thought I, "they don't care as much about your wife as I do." "Go," said he, "and the Great Spirit will protect you." I then left, accompanied by my six warriors. The second day out, in the afternoon, as we were traveling .slowly along, I discovered, at about a mile distance, a party of twenty-seven Black Foot warriors, just emerg- ing from the Bad Pass. We immediately retraced our steps toward home, and traveled all night, until we ar- rived within three miles of the village. When within sight, we telegraphed with the aid of a small looking- glass, which the Crow scouts usually carry, and every motion of which is understood in the village. I made a signal that I had discovered the enemy, and a second that they were approaching. In a moment I could discover a great stir in the village. When we arrived, I reported to his honor, Big Rain, how many we had seen, what tribe they were, where they had passed the previous night, and where they could then be found, rhe chief then ordered his madam to bring us some J J 242 AUTOBIOGKAPHY OF water, an order she complied with, smiling coquettish- ly at nic tlie while. I then retired to my lodge to change my dress, as portions of it were stained with our travel through the mountains. While I was in my lodge, madam came over with a splendid war-horse, which her husband had sent me, on which to return and fight the Black Feet I had just discovered. She said, "My husband has sent this war-horse to the Bloody Arm, and requests him to lead the Crows to the enemy." I was soon on the road, with enough mounted war- riors to eat the whole party of the enemy ; for they were only a short distance from our village, and, desir- ous of excitement, every one wished to go. Judging where the enemy would encamp that night, we travel- ed on until we arrived near the anticipated encamp- ment. Previous to starting, my little wife, who, by being the wife of a great brave, was as good as any woman, wished to bear me company and carry my shield. But I refused her, alleging that the danger was too great, and promising to paint her face when I returned. One of my sisters then volunteered, and I accepted her of- fer, taking her with me to carry my shield and lead my war-horse. As soon as it was light enough in the morning, I sent out small parties in all directions to look for their trail, that we might track them to their den. In ten or fifteen minutes after the parties left, we heard the re- port of a gun, and the war-hoop raised. The Crows assembled in the direction of the report, all drawing toward a centre. When I arrived, I saw that the Black Feet had chosen a strong position, and that we had another fort to storm. It was built partly by na- JAMES P. BECKWOUKTH. 24J ture, but human industry had improved the stronghold. It was low water, and there was a pile of drift on a naked sand-bar, and trees had been felled from the bank npon the drift-pile, forming quite a shelter. Over this position the enemy was placed, protected with a breast-work formed of timber taken from the drift. When I reached the ground, I saw two of our reckles^^ braves talking carelessly under the enemy in this in- closed space, as if they had been in a secure lodge. 1 regarded them for a moment, and, thinking to display as much bravery as they had, I dismounted and ran to the place, although several shots were fired at me from tlie fort, none of which took effect. "What are you here for?" inquired one of them of me. "In the first place," I said, "tell me what you are here for." " Why we are old warriors, and you are not." " If I am not an old warrior," I answered, " I will be one." I then regarded the rough flooring over head, which separated us from our foes, and perceived an aperture hardly large enough to admit my fist. I stood under it a moment, and as the warriors were moving about, one of them stepped over the aperture and remained there. I thrust my lance up with my whole force, and drew it back reeking with blood. "There, old warriors," said I to my two companions, " who has drawn the first blood now ? W^ho struck tliem first ? Old warriors, or a young brave ? How do you like the look of my lance ? Do you see it ?" " Yes, yes, we see it. You have done well, young brave!" "Well," said I, " you can stay here out of danger ; 244 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF but I am going out to my warriors, and then to storm the fort." I ran back with the same success that I had enter- ed it, brandishing my dripping lance, and ordered a charge, which was obeyed as soon as given. In five minutes there was not a Black Foot left within alive. They made scarcely any defense, so sudden and over- whelming was the shock. We had one warrior killed by the first discharge of the enemy, and six wounded. We then returned home, and, notwithstanding our slain warrior, we celebrated a dance, and devoted the next day to mourning our loss. In robing his remains for the spirit land, we dressed him in the most costly manner, using trink- ets, seam-embroidered cloth, and the most costly ar- ticles, to show the inhabitants of the spirit land that he was a great brave, and much respected on earth. Over all was wrapped the best of scarlet blankets, and his arms were enfolded therein. Oh shroud him in his hunting-shirt, And lay him in the glen, Away, away from jealous foes, Away from sight of men — With bow and painted arrow. That never failed its aim. When by his fleet and favorite steed The bounding bison came. Go, kill the warrior's favorite horse, His crouching, lonely hound ; To shield so brave a warrior In the happy hunting-ground. While the villagers were crying and putting on a coat of mourning-paint for the departed warrior, I was bus- ied in my domestic affairs. I sent my sister to madam with a large quantity of service-berries, which had been .lAMES P. BECKWOIJKTII. 245 a coat bus- adam been finely dried the preceding summer, together with some sweet potatoes, telling her to request madam to send me her extra moccasins, in order to lash them together with my own on my pack-dog, and to appoint a place to meet me that evening. My sister was astonished, and said, *' Is it po;;sible that you intend to take Ba- chua-hish-a (Red Cherry) with you ? Why, we shall all become poor ! We shall not have a horse to ride ! But I don't care; she is a pretty woman, and will make a good robe-dresser." Away she hied, and soon returned with my lady's moccasins. Ah, ah ! thought I, I am all right now ! I expected that the course of true love would not run very smooth with me in the end, but would, on the contrary, carry me over breakers which would most probably break my neck ; but I fortified myself with the old adage, "Faint heart never won fair lady, "and I determined to hazard all consequences. The appointed time had arrived, and, on going to the place of assignation, I found my lady true to her word — in fact, she was there first. W^e joined the par- ty, thirty-four in number, and traveled all night in the direction of the Black Foot country. On the sixth (lay, at nightfall, we arrived at the IMussel Shell Riv- er, a little below the mouth of the Judith, and in sight of a village of the enemy. I looked out a good place for a reserve camp, and then, selecting eighteen of the most expert horse-thieves, we started for the village. We succeeded in capturing one hundred and seventeen horses without being discovered, and arrived safe with them at the camp. We all started immediately back for the village. The warriors took but two horses each, giving the rest to me and my new wife. Meanwhile, Big Rain made discovery of the loss of 246 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF his wife, and was greatly disturbed in mind. My fa- ther, knowing the aggressor, commenced giving away to his near relatives all his choicest stock and other valuable property, until the storm should blow over. When we rode in, the people came out to meet us, rejoicing at our success. Big Rain Avas out likewise : he took no part in the rejoicing, however, but ordered his wife and me to be surrounded. I was seized by Big Bain, together with half a dozen of his sisters, all armed with scourges, and they administered a most unmerciful whipping. I lay down to it, and received it with true Indian fortitude, thousrh I certainly did think they would beat me to death. If I had resisted, they would have been justified in killing me ; also, if they had drawn one drop of blood from me, I should have been justified in taking their lives. They laid it on so unmercifully, that I became angry, and hoped they would draw blood. After the flagellation was performed, the next penalty was, to strip my father and myself of all our horses and other effects (our war-implements excepted). My father was stripped of five hundred horses. I lost about eighty. " Pretty dear for a very pretty woman," thought I. However, I soon had my horses made up to me by presents from my friends. We performed the horse-dance that night, though I danced without owning one. During the amusement I conveyed word to the wife of Big Bain that I should go out again the next night, and should expect her company, appointing her to meet me at tlie same place as before. She returned a favorable answer. My little wife hauled me over the coals for stealing a tnarried woman, when tliere were enough maidens in the vil- lage that I could select. I told her that I wished to JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 247 fa- ;htL le by have the handsomest woman in the village for my lodge. The appointed hour arrived, and Big Rain's wife was faithful to her promise. We started off with only seventeen warriors. We were gone four days, and re- turned with three sealps. We met a war-party of nine warriors, six of whom outstripped us and escaped. On my return I was again seized, and received an- other such a flogging as the first, laid on with equal good-will. After my dressing, I retired to my lodge, when a woman approached me hearing some burden in her arms. She addressed me: "Here is something will gladden your heart ; he will make as great a brave as his father : his name is Black Panther. Here, look at your child." Sure enough, my little wife had presented me with a son, who is at this present time (1855) first counsel- or of the Crow nation. Two nights afterward, I started on a third expedi- tion with a party of sixty-three warriors, my new wife accompanying me for the third time. We took a southerly course toward the country of the Black Feet, and captured near two hundred head of horses, with which we returned home by way of the fort. On ar- riving at the fort, I found that my services were re- quired, and that they were about to dispatch a courier after me on business of great importance. I told the commander that I must go home with my party, but that I would return to the fort with the least possible delay. Accordingly we started on. On tlie road we fell in with a small party of trappers, who were under the conduct of an old schoolmate of mine, David Adams. They seemed greatly dejected, and I inquired 24H AlTOHIOlJliAlMlV (JF of tlicm the cause. Adams then related that he had been rt)Ll)cd of every tiling he possessed hy some oi' his men confederated with a number of my Indians, and that they had sent him off in the forlorn condition in which I now saw him. I asked him to describe the appearance of the Indians who took part in robbijiv^ him. *'One of the party," said he, "was not an Indian, but a mulatto." " Tiicre was no mulatto when I left," I answered, "and you must be mistaken." " No," he replied, " I am not. You will find him there on your return." "Well," said I, "get up and return to the village with me ; I will sift this matter to the bottom.'' lie declined to accompany mc. "They told me, if I returned," he urged, " that they would kill us all ; and I dare not go back." " Come with me," I said. " If there is any killing to be done, I will have a hand in it." He at length consented to return with mc. On gain- ing the village, I rode up to my father's lodge, and said, " How is this ? You allow white men to be rob- bed in the village, directly under your eyes I Do you wish to call down the vengeance of the great white chief upon the Crows ? Do you wish them to be made poor and miserable, like the other tribes ? Have I not often told you of the immense number of white war- riors ; that they were like the sand of the prairie — as the leaves of the forest ?" " Hold, my son ! I had nothing to do in the matter. My heart was sorrowful when I heard of the crime. It was High Lance who committed it." "Then I will go and kill him, or be killed my- JAMES I*. BECKWOURTU. 24'J ter. It self," said I; and away I sped to the lodge of High Lance. "Go with him — go with him!" exclaimed my father to all my brothers and relatives around. "He is mad; go and protect liim." I advanced to High Lance, who was standing at his lodge, who, on seeing me approach, stepped in and shut his door. I dismounted, and +o;e his door down in an instant, and demanded of him what he had been doing. I remarked that his lodge was extremely well supplied with goods. "High Lance," said I, in an authoritative tone, "re- store to these men their horses without one moment's delay." " I have taken no horses," said he, sullenly. " Send for them in an instant," said L By this time my Dog Soldiers, the bravest men in the nation, were surrounding me. " What does our chief want ?" demanded they. I told them that I wanted all the goods taken out of the lodge of High Lance, for that he had assisted to steal them from a white man, who was my friend. Instantly the lodge was hoisted, and torn into a thou- sand pieces, and High Lance, the mulatto, and eleven white men, were exposed to plain view. I then accosted the mulatto: "What are you doing here, you black velvet-headed scoundrel ? You come here in my absence to put the devil into the heads of the Indians, who are bad enough already ? I will have your scalp torn off, you consummate villain!" The poor fellow was frightened almost to death, and trembled in every joint. He replied, "The Crows gave me liberty to stay here and trap in their country, -d- L 2 250 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ** Not another word," interrupted I ; " though I will hang you, at any rate." Then, turning to the eleven renegade white men, I said, "I give you just live minutes to leave tlu; village ; if you are longer in going, I will order my warriors to scalp every one of you. You assume to be white men, and yet think no more of yourselves than to enter an Indian village and set such an ex- ample to the savages ; whereas, if they were to treat you in such a manner, you would think death too light a punishment. You rob your own race, and forbid their return to the village under pain of death, allying yourselves with the worst Indian in the tribe. After stripping your victim, you forcibly deprive him of his few trusty followers, and bid him go through these trackless wilds, filled with murderous savages, who, had they come across him, would have murdered him before he reached the fort." I rated them thus soundly, but not one offered to lift his hand. The stolen horses were very quickly forthcoming, and the purloined property was readily produced. I restored it to my friend before them. "Now," I said, addressing the gang, "you can re- turn to the fort with Mr. Adams ; but if I hear that you offer to molest him in any way, your scalps shall pay for it." Then, turning to the mulatto, I said, *' You have instigated all this mischief, and I should only be doing my duty to put my threat into execution, and hang you as I promised. However, you can go to the fort with these men. I shall be there about as soon as you will, and I will attend to your case then. I'll see if I can not teach you better than to come among the Crows again." JAMES 1'. BECKWOURTH. 251 lang fort as see the ]\Ir. Adams belonged to Captain IJonneville's com- pany, and was leader of a party of about twenty men ; Jic had come into the Crow country for the purpose of trading and trapping. The mulatto had arrived previously, and had brought a Canadian with him : the mulatto could speak the Crow language tolerably well. IFe had become acquainted with High Lance, who was a bad Indian, and had relations as bad as himself; and through this clique he had obtained permission to stay and trap in the country. On the arrival of !Mr. Adams, the mulatto made himself very familiar with his men, representing to them that they were fools to travel for hire, when they could stay among the Crows with him and do so much better. By these arguments he induced eleven of ^Ir. Adams's party to desert him, when, with the participation of High Lance and other bad Indians, they stripped him of : -1 his goods. IMr. Adams expressed his warmest thanks to me for my interference. I told him I had only done my duty, as I always had done in like cases, and should continue to do as long as I remained with the Crows. This business settled, I received a third sound thrashing from my new wife's husband and relatives for again making free with his wife. After the lapse of three days I left for the fort, again taking my friend's lady. Her husband, finding that I was incorrigible, grew furious, and declared he only wished to have me in his power once more. ]\Iy Dog Soldiers said to him, *' You have whipped him three times, and you shall whip him no more, neither shall you do him any farther harm. Red Cherry loves him, and she does not love you ; she will always go with him. You might as well try to turn Big Horn 252 AIJTOHHXJIJArilY OF back to its mountain sources as to attempt to separate tliun, unless you kill them. Vou would not be so cowardly as to spill the blood of the pretty Jted Cher- ry beeausc she loves our chief. If you should tight him, he av 111 kill you ; and if you should assassinate him, wc Avould avenge his death. No, no ! J5ig Kain must not hurt our chief. ]5ut wc will buy your claim to the lied Cherry, and give her to Red i\rm for his own. Vou, a great chief, should despise to want a woman who loves another warrior beUer than you!" I Jig Kain drooped his head on finding the Dog Sol- diers were against him, and gave v/ay to deep reverie, lie loved the lied Cherry as children love the delicious fruit bearing the same name. After weighing the mat- ter well, he reluctantly acceded to the oiler, and con- sented to resign all interest and title in Mrs. Big Rain for the consideration of one war-horse, ten guns, ten chiefs' coats, scarlet cloth, ten pairs of new leggins, and the same number of moccasins. The stipulation was forthwith produced by my faith- ful Dog Soldiers, and I had the exclusive right to the Ked Cherry, without the fear of a drubbing every time I returned. Such acts are as common among the Rocky ]\Iount- ain tribes as they have been among the whites in Cal- ifornia since the discovery of gold there, though in the latter place, the penalty is frequently more severe than among the wild tribes of the mountains and prai- ries. ]My new wife was the perfection of symmetry. Few of the Caucasian race could boast of handsomer feat- ures, and noiliing but the rich olive color of the skin betrayed her Indian origin. Big Rain always regard- ed me with an evil eye after the transaction, and sev up tlie Th JAMKS I'. iu:(;kvvoi;ktii. 2r):i oral times attcm])tc(l to iiuliicn tlic lady to return to him. Many warriorrt, wluwc wives Jiad played truant, had cut oil' their nones to dejjrive them of their attrac- tions. 1 told Red Cherry that if ever she should re- turn to Big Uain, he would surely serve her so. She never manifested any disposition to leave me ; and my engagement to the American l''ur Company enabled me to dress my wives better than any other woman in the whole nation. It was now early spring, and T started for the fort. Before 1 left, I. told the Crows what time 1 wished tlieni to follow me with their peltry. On my arrival, I was informed that a ]\Ir. Johnson Gardner had bought quite a large lot of goods, which he had taken to his camp, eighteen miles down the river. The morning after my arrival, three men were dispatched from the fort to acquaint him tl*at I had come. I liad two hundred warriors with me ; and on the night of our arrival we formed a camp and turned out the horses, not apprehending any danger. Early in the morning one of my followers went out to fetch up the horses, when he found th^m all missing, and tlie trail visible on which they had been taken away. The alarm was instantly given, and I ran to the top of the hill to take a general survey. I saw two objects on the ice, which appeared to me to be men ; and tlrs excited my apprehensions that they were two of the men dispatched from the fort, as they lay in the direc- tion which they had taken. I collected my warriors instantly for the pursuit, placing all our women and children in the fort. I ordered some of the white men down on the ice to bring in the supposed bodies. Alas ! my suspicions proved too true ! All three men had been butchered, and when we rode up their bod- ■..T..Tf f.tS-CMSms^fr-r.'X^—^ ■ .j«i».»,^>|^.— ^^(n|-,( , f^ | n 254 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ics were scarecly cold. The eyes of the warriors flash- ed fire, and, without delaying a moment, on we swept in pursuit of revenge. We traveled about thirty miles ('^ach man leading liis war-horse), and our saddle-horses v.ere beginning to tire, and we saw nothing of the en- emy. l3arkne';s would close over us, we feared, before we could overtake them. We then mounted our war- horses, which were as swift as the wind, and, leaving the saddle-horses behind, on we went faster than ever. Darkness was already upon us, when we came in sight of a large fire in the distance. " Now, boys, we have them !" cried I. We rode on until we neared the camp of the enemy, as we supposed, and then I examined their position previous to the onset. Just as I was about to give the order to charge, 1 heard a voice from the camp saying, " Throw them in I D — n them, throw them in t" I then saluted the camp, shouting at the top of my voice, " Halloo the camp ! Don't shoot, boys ; we are Crows! I am Jim BeckwourthI" I then rode up with my whole party, and found that they had taken two prisoners from the very party we were in pursuit of, and under the following circum- stances : The pursued party rode up to the camp, and several of them dismounted, among whom was Antoine GaiTO (a Canadian half-breed), well known in St. Louis. Garro coultl speak tolerably good English. He accosted Gardner with "How d'do ? You have got a good fire." "Who are you," inquired Gardner, "that you speak English ?" "My name is Garro." '*What Indians are those with you?" JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 255 St. " Oh, they are good Indians ; they will not hurt you." Gardner discovered that too many were dismount- ing and crowding round his camp; and he perceived that many of them rode in the direction of his horses, and he became alarmed, as he well might be at his situation. "Garro,"said he, again, "tell me, what Indians are these?" " They are Re-ka-ras," said he ; " they have bor- rowed your horses, but they will bring them back again." He said this as he saw Gardner look in the direction of his horses. " Re-ka-ras !" repeated Gardner. " To your guns, men; seize them!" Old Garro stepped away with an accelerated pace, and two only of the Indians were arrested. Garro stood off at a safe distance, and demanded the two Indians. "You can not have them until you bring me my horses," said Gardner. "Then we will have the tops of your heads," threat- ened the old rascal. " Yes, you would have the tops of our heads ; but come and take them, if you can." They rode off, taking every horse that Gardner pos- sessed ; and if he had not been on the alert, they would have taken a few scalps as well. These were the two prisoners that were in question when we rode up. They had bound them with trap- chains, and were in the act of throwing them into a tremendous log fire that was burning in the camp. They opened the logs on the top of the fire, and, swing- ing the two victims into the flames, rolled back the burning logs. There was a terrible struggle for a mo- 256 AUTOBIOGIIAPHV OF ment ; then all was still. A blue flame towered high above the pile, and quickly subsided. j\Iy Indians begged the privilege of scalping them before they were burned ; but Gardner told them he wished to burn them up clean. " You are going after their companions," he said, "and you can get plenty more scalps." "Yes," they replied, "we will get plenty, and bring your horses back besides." I really felt proud of my warriors in seeing them animated with so true a spirit. We breathed our horses for a few minutes, for they were in a perfect foam, and then started after them again in hot pursuit. By next morning, we came within two gunshots' dis- tance of the enemy without being perceived, as a roll in the prairie hid us from their view. We rested for a few moments, to refresh our horses and prepare them for the charge. AVe heard a continual firing, as if kept up by the enemy, and then a terrific explosion, which made the earth tremble ; yells of the savages succeeded to this, and I then learned that there had been a battle between the Indians and traders, and that the whole stock of the traders' powder had ex- ploded. Now, thought I, is the time to charge ; and I gave the word to my impatient warriors. We were among them like a thunder-bolt, even before they had time to mount their horses ; for they had not yet recovered from the fright of the explosion. We cut down one hundred and seventy-two of them before they had time to fire twenty shots. The whole force of the enemy amounted to four hundred men, and those who remain- ed unhurt scattered in all directions. We did not pursue them, as our horses were so badly jaded. Pine Leaf, who charged gallantly by my side, was JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 257 wounded with a bullet, wliich l^rnkc her left arm just below the elbow. Placing her wounded arm in her bosom, she grew more desperate than ever, and three of the enemy met their death from the point of her lance after she received her wound. Becoming faint from loss of blood, she was constrained to retu'e.* We had twelve others wounded. AVc recovered all our own horses, and recaptured those belonging to Gardner, besides a great number in the possession of the enemy. For spoils we gathered near two hundred scalps, and a vast amount of fire- arms and other equipments. After this signal victory we returned to Gardner's camp, reaching there the same evening. Before leaving, however, wc took three blackened and disfigured bodies, the remains of the trappers who had so heroically defended themselves, and who, to all appearance, had blown themselves up rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. This supposition was waiTanted by the appearance of the ground. Evident- ly the savages had set fire to the grass all round, think- ing to burn them out; but it had not reached them. I surmised that the Indians had charged on them in a body, and, when near to the trappers, had been scat- tered with the ignition of three kegs of powder in the jjossession of the trappers, for some of the carcasses of the Indians \Nerc badly scorched. Our reception at the camp of Gardner was enthu- siastic. *' Beckwourth and his brave warriors forever I " rent the air in acclamations. They joined us, and went was * The heroine's arm was set in good style by Dr. Walton, at Gard- ner's camp, and in a few weeks it was sound again. The Indians have no bone-setters ; when their bones get broken, they tic them up as well as possible, and trust in Providence for the result. 258 AUTOBIOGKAPHY OP on to tlie fort with us. When we came in sight of the place we formed all in line, and displayed our scalps on the ends of sticks, and discharged our guns, and sung at the top of our voices. This brought every person out of the fort to look at us. We then opened our column, and I requested Gardner to drive all tho horses with full speed to the fort. Just before hv reached there we spurred our horses on to the front, and encircled the fort several times, still displaying our scalps, and singing the scalp-dance burden louder and louder, while all the occupants of the post joined in. There were hilarious times round the fort that night. We had sent word to the village to summon the Crows to the trading-post, to help us mourn for the three white men who had recently been killed on the ice, and who were yet unburied. I omitted to mention in proper place that Glass's body was found near the fort — probably on his retreat after he had discovered the Indians. The whole village, accordingly, started to join us, while I and my party went out to meet them and acquaint them with our success. In con- sideration of my distinguished services, I was elevated to second counselor of the nation. We met them about a day's ride from the fort, and had a great celebration over the communication of our victory. We returned together and buried the three men, amid the most terrible scenes that I had ever witnessed. The crying was truly appalling. The three men were well known, and highly esteemed by the Crows. When their bodies were lowered to their last resting-place, numberless fingers were voluntarily chopped off and thrown into the graves; hair and trinkets of every description were also contributed, and the graves were finally filled up. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 2oy I then set the men to work in building boats, to carry our peltry down to Fort Union, at the mouth of the Yellow Stone, whither I intended going as soon as the river was free from ice. When completed, I put on board seven hundred packs of buffalo robes — ten robes in each pack — and forty-five packs of beaver. I forwarded orders for such goods as were wanted, and also word for another clerk in the place of poor Rose, who had lost his life in the service of the company. i,, and pf our three CHAPTER XVIII. Departure from the Fort with the Crows. — I am elected First Coun- selor of the Nation. — Death of the head Chief — I am appointed Successor. — Last Moments of the Chief. The Indians having made all their requisite pur- chases, moved on to the Little Horn River, six or eight days' travel from the fort. We encamped here for the purpose of planting t-^bacco, which is done by the prophets and medicine men ; after which a great feast is provided, and a general time of dancing and rejoic- ing follows. The tobacco-plant grows spontaneously in the Snake country, but it is cultivated by the Crows and several other tribes. It is a tolerably good substitute for the cultivated species, for the purpose of smoking, but it is unfit to chew. The plant very closely resembles garden sage, and forms into heads ^Mmiha* to the do- mestic flax. At this camp the First Counselor made a speech to the warriors, and spoke in substance as follows: "Warriors! Red Bird has served you faithfully many winters. He is now old. He can be young no more. 2(50 AUTOBIOGItAPUV oF His body has been made weak by the numerous wounds he has received in lighting the enemies of the Crows. He now wishes for repose, and not to be dis- turbed in his slumbers by being called into the coun- cil at all hours of the night, when his body, once so powerful, now requires rest. He is desirous of joining the medicine men, that he will not be compelled to go to war ; but he will always be ready to defend his own village, the women and the helpless, and to give up his life for them. Red Bird's medicine in the war- path has grown weak ; let the younger warriors, who are brave and active, have an opportunity to try their medicine. We have plenty who deserve to be pro- moted, who are as brave as the she-bear, and as swift as the anteloj^e. Warriors, I now give up my position as first counselor. I have done." Long Hair replied as follows : *' lied Bird, we feel tliat our hearts are sorry that you have seen fit to cease to be our first counselor, rou have served our people long and faithfully. Your counsel has been good : under your wise direction we have prospered. We would rather that you had still directed us ; but you say it is your desire to have re- pose. Be it so. We know that your body is weak. Wc know that you have received numerous wounds fi-om the weapons of our enemies. We know that you nev- er turned your back upon the foe. Now we need a sixth counselor, and must select one from the braves here present. Will you name him for us ?" " No," said the old man ; "I have never had any enemies among my braves, and I do not wish to make them now. I should not know which to choose, were I to attempt it. They are all brave." It was at length resolved that one of the medicine (( JAMES P. BECKWOITRTH. 261 men should be blindfolded, and go among the most distinguislied braves, and whoever he first placed his Iiand upon should take his seat as sixth counselor. The distinguished braves then gathered promiscuous- ly together ; a close bandag^^ was placed over the eyes of the medicine man, and away he went among the crowd. The five counselors being among the braves, lie placed his hand on one of them, and cried out, " Here is your sixth counselor." "You are ■wrong," said Long Hair; "he is counselor already." He then went through the crowd, and laid his hand upon another brave, crying out as before. Long Bow was therefore declared to be the choice of the people for sixth counselor of the nation. When the seat of the first counselor falls vacant, the others are elevated one degree, thus leaving the lowest station vacant. The village now crossed the Big Horn on their way to Sun River Creek, a small tributary of the Yellow Stone. At Big Horn I took forty warriors, and start- ed in quest of Black Feet and horses. After traveling two days, I was overtaken by the head chief, A-ra-poo- ash, with one hundred and seventy-five warriors. He was evidently chagrined about something. Not wish- ing him to go to war, as I expected nothing less than that he would rush in and throw away his life, I told him that I should avoid the war-path, that my medi- cine told me my war-path was bad, and I intended to return to the village. I started forthwith, and he fol- lowed me. On coming in sight of the village, we halt- ed and encamped for the night. I stole away in the night with seventy-five warriors, and made for the enemy's country, hoping that the old chief would return to the village. But he took my 262 AUTUBKKJKAl'HY OF trail the next morning, and overtook me with his re- maining followers. He advanced to me, and said, " Bloody Arm, you are a great warrior ; you do not wish me to go to war, but I will. I shall never return to the village. I am going to die. The Crows are fools. I have given them good counsel, and they would not listen to my words. I have fought for them during many years. I have shed much blood for them. I have tried to make them a great people, but they have closed their ears. I am going to the big village of the Great Spir- it. If you do not wish to go in the path with me, you can go in another path ; I will find the enemy alone, and die." When he had finished speaking, he dismounted. Then, placing the edge of his shield on some buffalo chips, he said, " Warriors, you see my shield. If it rises, I shall die before I return to the village ; if not, I shall return." He then addressed the sun for some minutes, after which he took his lance and made sev- eral motions with it. Then, giving a bound, the shield was raised as high as his head, and not a warrior saw him touch it. Then every one present believed his words, namely, that he would never return alive to the village. I knew that the shield must have some ele- vating agency, but it was concealed : my attention was so riveted upon the chief, that I did not discover the power that produced the seeming miracle. The scouts now ran in to report that there were fourteen Black Feet but a short distance oflT, wlio were approaching us on foot. All was then bustle of prep- aration for a moment, and the trick of the shield was forgotten. Away we sped to find the enemy. We speedily found them, and they, perceiving escape was .IAME.S 1'. UKCKWOCHTH. 263 I were I were )rep' impossible, prepared to sell their lives as dearly as they could. The old chief was the first to charge impetuously upon the scanty foe ; as iiis steed plunged through them, he cut down one with his battle-axe ; then, wheeling and again passing their line, he clove a second. Again turning to pass the enemy's line a third time, he had already raised his arm to strike, when an arrow en- tered his body just below the hip, and passed clean through, showing itself near the shoulder. Every wcrrior paused in astonishment at seeing their chief thus fiiriously engaged ; but when he fell a demon seemed suddenly to possess them, and the few surviving Black Feet were hewed to pieces in a mo- ment. Every warrior gathered round the dying chief; his life-blood was fast draining from his mortal stroke. "Wari'iors,'* he said, *' I came here to die. Mv wish will soon be gratified. A-ra-poo-ash will lead you no more to war. My home will soon be in the Spirit Land. My people were fools, and would not listen to my counsel. Bloody Arm, come to me. You must now take the place of A-ra-poo-ash. You are brave t-nd wise. You fight the enemy, and vanquish them without losing our own warriors. Your medicine is powerful. Warriors, listen to your dying chief! You, Bloody Arm, are the only brave who can keep the na- tion together. The Crows disobeyed my orders, and I did not like to punish them for it. I loved my peo- ple too well; I was too kind to them for their own good. I was too indulgent. They all fear you, and will obey your words. If they obey you, they will increase and become a powerful people, as I have wish- ed them to he ; but if they disobey you, they will not be a nation two winters more. Their enemies are 264 AlJTOU10(tKAl*JIV OI' numerous and powerful, and tliey will rub out all thf. Crows unless tlicy hearken to what you say. My eyes grow dim. Red Arm, arc you listening ? I can not sec." " I am listening to all you say," I replied. "It is well. Then take this shield and this medal; they both belong to you. The medal was brouglit from our great white father many winters ago by the red-headed chief. When you die, it belongs to him who succeeds you. Listen. Tell Nam-i-nc-dishce, the wife that I have always loved, that if our child, yet unborn, shall be a son, to tell him who his father was. lied Arm, listen." ** I hcr.v you," I said. "Let my body be buried under this spot. Suffer no warrior to make a track on this war-ground for one season. Then come and seek my bones, and I will have something good for you. " I can hear the voice of the Great Spirit. It sounds like the moaning of the mighty wind through the dark, gloomy forest. lie calls for A-ra-poo-ash to come to the spirit land. I must go. Re — mem — ber!" The word "remember" expired on his lips as his soul winged its flight to the spirit land. Every war- rior (except Yellow Belly, who was a brother of the old chief) immediately set up the most dismal cryings that I have ever heard in my life. I dispatched a herald to the village to inform them of the head chief's death, and then burying him according to his direc- tions we slowly proceeded homeward. My very soul sickened at the contemplation of the scenes that would be enacted at my arrival. When we drew in sight of the village, we found every lodge laid prostrate. We entered amid shrieks, cries, and yells. Blood was icd a [hief's Idircc- soul would rlit of We was iih.viii (ir A-:iA-ri>ii-.\-ii. jAMr.s I'. BECKwoi irm. 2<»; ptrcnming iVoin ovt'iy concoivablo part ol* the bodies ot' all who were old enough to comprehend tluiir loss. Hundreds of lingers were dismembered; hair, torn i'rom the head, lay in profusion about the paths; wails and moans in every dircetion assailed the; ear, where un- restrained joy had a tew hours befon; prevailed. This fearful mournin"; lasted until cveninu; of the next dav. Tiie morning following I ordered the removal of the village in the direction of the Hose Jjud. We there built a council-lodge, and all the prophets and medi- cine men in the village were assembled in it on its completion. The national records were read over, and, after a lengthy ceremony performed by the great men, it was unanimously declared that they had elected nn; First Counselor, and that, conjointly with Long Hair, I was head chief of the nation. Which lyvoninicla- iiiiento was recorded. It then devolved upon mc to deliver my inaugural ad- dress. As nearly as I can recollect, I spoke as follows : "Brothers and warriors I The great A-ra-poo-ash is no more. He has met his fiithcrs and kindred who preceded him to the Spirit Land. lie has told all con- cerning you that yet survive on earth. lie has related your deeds of bravery, which makes the spirits rejoice; he has also told of your disobedience to your chief, which has made them cry and become dark. The (ireat Spirit becomes angry at you when he sees his lierocs mourn. But, although you displeased A-ra- poo-ash by disobedience, and made his heart to mourn, he intercedes for you there, that, if you now obey the chiefs you have chosen to lead you, your war-paths may constantly be prosperous ; your buftUJo and bea- ver shall always abound, and you may become a great and powerful people. 2(i.^. Al lonKKJKAI'lIY UK "• I am now your great chief. It' you obey what 1 say to you, 1 can make you all you wish to be. lly jiiy long stay with the whites, 1 possess advantages wliieii the ehiel's of no other tribe possess. I can get twice as mueh for our robes and beavers as you evir got before. 1 eame back to you. 1 can talk to our white brethren, and they understand all my words. They know that if they cheat my peojile I shall findi it out. *' !My medicine tells mc that wc must not make war on our enemies, unless tliey first kill our people or steal our horses : we nmst then attack them with many war- riors, so that we may run no danger of being rubbed out. 1 shall never consent for our nation to have more than two villages at one time. Let those two villages keep their warriors, their wives, and their children to- gether, and not subdivide, when they arc sure to be attacked by the enemies. When our village is united, no enemy will ever dare to attack it. *'!My brother. Long Hair, is a very great brave, a wise chief, lie will guide one village, and it will bo my duty to guide the council and direct the other. 1 want all my warriors to lay aside the battle-axe and lance for a season, and turn their attention to hunting and trapping. Our streams are full of beaver, as also arc our prairies with buffalo. Our squaws excel all others in dressing robes, for which the whites pay us a great price. Then let us get all the robes they can dress, and not keep them in idleness as mere play- things. If we keep them at work, they will be heal- thy, and strong, and brave, when they become warriors. They can also buy every thing they require, both for themselves and their children, while the beavers of the Wfirriors will also su])ply onr wants. JAMES P. HECKWOI'irni. 2<)i) " Warriors I How can wc do all this, it' we scatter over the country in numerous little villages, subject to continual attacks from our enemies, who will cut us oft', a few at a time, until wc are all rubbed out ? No ; obey me, and keep yourselves undivided ; and if ene- mies attack us, we caii kill ten of them when they kill one Crow: thus my medicine says, l^ut if you dis- obey me, and will not hearken to my Avords, tlien 1 .shall surely leave you, and return to my wlutc friends, not enduring to see the nation become weak, and fly- ing before their enemies, and our women and chl'dien carried into captivity. C)bcy and assist me, then, and 1 will do my best ir your behalf. Warriors, I have done.'' This oration was received with undisguised approv- al, and I received the name of Ciood War Road. A herald having been dispatched to our other vil- lage to acquaint them with the death of our head chief, and request them to assemble at the Rose ]5ud, in or- der to meet our village and devote themselves to a general time of mourning, there met, in conformity with this summons, over ten thousand Crows at the place indicated. Such a scene of disorderly, vociferous mourning no imagination can conceive, nor any pen portray. Long Hair cat off a large roll of his hair, a thing he was never known to do before. The cutting and hacking of human flesh exceeded all my previous experience ; fingers were dismembered as readily as twigs, and blood was poured out like water. ]\Iany of the warriors would cut two gashes nearly the entire length of their arm ; then, separating the skin from the riesh at one end, would grasp it in their other hand, and rip it asunder to the shoulder. Others would carve various devices upon their breasts and shoulders, I t irlf/j 991 270 Al TomoGKAI'lIV OV and raiso llio skin in the same manner, to make tiic Hears .show lo advantacre aitcr tlie wound wa.s heaUHl. Solium (tl'lhcir nuitiiationH were ghastly, and my heart sickened to look at them ; but they would not appt^ar lo reeeive any pain iVoni tluMn. it was iVeipUMitly asked of me why \ did not mourn. '. told tlieni that my medieino ibrbade me to mourn in fheir manner, hut liiat 1 mourned in my heart, and in paintint; my taee. 1 would iVecjuently represent to ihem liie folly of maiming themselves, and apj)eari!ig before the eyes of the (ireat Sjiirit so greatly disfig- ured ; but I lost my labor. Hy torturing themselves their ])agau minds su])posed they were rendering ae- eej)lable saerilices to the (Jreat S})irit, a!ul performing penanee for olVenses against his will, it was ndigion ; and to interfere with their received opinions would have subjeeted me to the imjmtation of infidel, and perhaps have entailed upon mc expulsion from my hiilh otliee. The mourning over. I selected seventy young war- riors, and started out in search of feats of arms (ac- cording to their custom), to prove my fortune in my new otHce. I crossed the JMissouri into the .Vs-ne-hoine country, where we fell in with fifteen Indians and four <dd wonuMi. We killed them all, and returned home witli their scalps. There was but slight rejoicing on my return, on account of our recent aHliction. I should have mentioned that at the assembly of our two villages a grand council was held, Avherein certain princ'i])les of action were deliberated and ad- justed. On the death of a chief all his plans die witli him, and it devolves uj)on his successor to come to an understanding with his confederate head chief. In this deliberation it is determined upon what rules the with look for." on to TJi .lAMKS P. HIK^KWUCHTir. 271 villages shall move, which direction each shall take, and wiiat shall be the relations existing betweini them. There is generally a harmony ]}reHerved between the cljiets, and nmcii method is shown in the preliminary adjustment of details. Long Hair and myself were ilie hest of friends, and my allied brother was the elect 10 the office of Sixth Counselor, so that there was a promising indication of unanimity in, our administra- tion. The villages tlicn separated, w.ih tin understanding tliat they should again assemble at tiic fort in one moon. The attention of the nation was turned to trap- ])ing and killing hutialo, and the stock of accumulated peltry tiiat fall was prodigious. When I started on my excursion to the As-ne- boines, Pine Leaf begged to accompany me. Ilcr arm was far from sound, and I refused to take her. How- ever, soon after I had left, one of my leader's invaded tiie Cheyenne country, and, regardless of my wishes, she accompanied the expedition. She was brought home, as all supposed, mortally wounded. A ball had penetrated her left breast, just escaping the heart ; it had passed through her body, coming out at the shoul- der-blade, and tearing away a portion of it in its exit. On seeing her in this pitiable condition, I resigned all liope of her recovery. " So much," said I, " for dis- regarding my counsel. I would not allow you to go with me, in consideration of your wound ; but you took advantage of my absence, and now you arc done for." "Well," she replied, "I am sorry that I did not list- on to my chief; but I gained two coob'.^^ The party accompanying her lost four warriors, wounded in rescuing her, and saving her scalp. She 272 AUTumoaJiAI'HY UF event ually recovered, but it was a long while before she could aj^ain go to war. The Cheyennes were de- feated in the end, with the loss of three scalps, which were brought into camp. The two villages met at the time appointed at the fort, anil disposed of all their ])eltry. A ]\Ir. 'I'uUeck was sent up as clerk, and to liim I intrusted full clmrgc of the fort, promising him the ])rolectlon of tiie Crows for the winter, as 1 intended that one of our villages should take up tlieir Avintcr rjuarters in his vicinity. I was at this time salaried by the American Fur Company at tln-ce thousand dollars ])er amnnn, to reside with the Crows and })roeure tiieir trade for the com- pany. Our whole nation tlien crossed the VeUow Stone, and moved on to ]\Lusscl Shell Kiver, whence we pur- posed to go and gather the remains of our late iiead chief, as the tinui he had specitied for their removal had arrived. The Indians count four seasons in the yeiir ; namely, green grass, yellow grass, leaf falling, and snow falling. Our ])arty destined to collect the bones consiste(l of seven or eight hundred ]iersons of both se\es. On arriving at the gTave, we discovered a new Indian trail ])assing directly over the spot, and we started in innnediate pursuit. After a march of six miles, we eanie upon a ]?lack J^'oot village of twenty- seven lodges, who were returning from the trading-posi, having made extensive ])urchases. .Vt sight of them, every warrior's breast kindled with revenge, they re- mem))ering the fall of their chief. AVe charged furi- ously upon them, killing and taking prisoners about one hundred and tifty of their ]iarty. While the war- riors were engaged in the attack, our women attacked the Black Foot wonien, and killed many of them and JAMES I'. HKCKWOlirril. 27:i their children before wcr coiihl interfere to stop it. Wo rijitnred (juite a iminl)er of yonnjjj woin<'n and little boys, with an almndance of horses, \veaj)oiis, annninii- tion, scarlet cloth, beads, and sundri(>s. We did not re- ceive a scratch, as wo attacked them with snch over- Avhelniing nnmbers that they ottered tritlinf]^ resistance, their chief endeavor being to save themselves by flight. We took np the body of our chief and returned with it to the camp. Then there was aiiother cerenionv of cutting and maiming, and a body of two luindre(l lodges was sent to deposit the remains in the burin 1-ground of the chief's ancestors. Wiiile this party were away on their mission, those who remained with us busied themselves in collecting the various sorts of fruit \vith which the conntrv abounded. I now received my last name — for T was on the })in- nacle of my fame, and they could ennoble me no far- ther — Nan-kup-bah-pah (Metliciue (Jalf). After tarrviuLi" about tiiree weeks, we returned to the fort, where avc again spent a short time, and then pro- ceeded to the liig Horn, where w(5 had engaged to meet Bear's 'J'ooth, who had the condu(!t of the burial party. While we were resting at the fort, a small i)arty of twent^'-three warriors, led by Little (Jray Ibdl, stole t'rom our camp at night, unknown to tlie chiefs, and when at a safe distance sent vis word that they were going to the Cheyenne country in pursuit of spoils. Thev were the r/Jta of our i)arty, the brdves des braves. Not one of that devoted band ever returned. What fate befell them remains to be shown. M 2 274 ALTOBIOGRAPIIY OP CHAPTER XTX. Departure from tho Fort. — Arrival of Fitzpatrirk ami Party at the Crow \'ill;i<rc. — llair-hroadth I-^scapc from a Massacre. — Rescue and Restoration of Property to the Owners. — Departure of tlic Party. — My Return to tlie Fort. — Escape from Black Feet. — Defeat of the Crows. AViiiLE stnying at our camp on tho Big TTom, a mos- soncior nrrivod Avitli the intelligence that Tiionias Fitz- patrick was back upon the mountain, and tiiat he wished me to visit him without loss of time. ^ly ati'airs were In such a })osition that I could not possibly leave, but I sent my father and two of my best warriors to escort liim into the village. The next morning they returned with Fitzj)atrick and party, to the number of thirty- live men, and over two hundred horses. They en- camped a short distance out. I visited the camp, and was received with a cordial welcome. I was intro- duced to a Captain Stuart, an English officer, who had figured conspicuously, as I was informed, under the Iron Duke, and was now traveling the Far West in })in*suit of adventure ; also to a Dr. Harrison, a son of the hero of Tip})ecanoe, and to a Mr. Brotherton, with several other gentlemen, who were all taking a pleasure excursion. AMiilc sitting in their quarters, I observed some of the Crows looking very wistfully at the horses belong- ing to our new friends. Knowing that tho moi^t incor- riiptiblc of Indians have a moral weakness for horses, I ordered some of my taitliful Dog Soldiers to Avatch them. I then invited the gentlemen to the village, JAMES I'. liKCKWOrRTH. 275 wliicli invitation thoy readily accoptod. The visitors left at ail early hour, but Fitzpatrick remained to talk matters over until (piite late in the eveiiini;'. 1 oiVered him a hed in my lodge, but he preferred sleeping in his own (piarters. Shortly after his arrival, P^itzpatrick incidentally mentioned that the Chevennes had killed an entire party of Crows (but he omitted all mention of the ]>art his men had taken in the massacre), and that one of his men had been wounded in the aflair. lie had also a horse that had belonged to one of the fallen heroes, purchased by him of the Cheyennes. Had he ac- quainted me with this circumstance when he tirst saAV me, the very unpleasant ser|uel that 1 am about to re- late vvould have been avoided. One of the Crew braves was son to a member of the party massacred, and he recognized his late father's horse. This discovery had occasioned the scrutiny which I had remarked early in the evening, but the cause of which I was in utter ignorance. On the re- tiring of Fitzpatrick I lay down for the night. I had not fallen asleep, when the murdered brave's son en- tered my lodsxc, and addressed me : '* ^Medicine Calf, what must wc do with these white incnV" " What must you do with them V" repeated I, not apprehending his meaning. "Yes, I say so." *' Why, take them into your lodges and feast them, and give them beds to sleep on, if they wish it." *' No, no, that is not what I mean," he said ; "you know these are the white men who killed my father. They have his horse here with tlieni, and a wounded man — wounded in their light with the Crows."' He then left me to go, as T supposed, to liis lodge, 27<) ALTOlJIOUUArilY (iF and I thoiiglit no more of the matter. I soon fell asleep, and woke no more till morning. On awaking, I heard a great rush or trampling of horses, and, spring- ing out of bed, 1 inquired of a squaw what was tin; matter in the village. "Why, don't you know the whites arc all deadV" she made reply. "The whites are all dead I" repeated I, thunder- struck. 1 ran out and ordered my war-horse to be got ready in a moment. 1 next ran to the lodge where Winters slept, and found it filled with Crows. 1 asked what all this uproar meant. " 1 don't know," said he ; " I have wished to go to your lodge to see you, but they would not lot me h^ave. They have been clamoring about Thoma?. — Thomas — Thomas, all night." At this moment Fitzpatrick rode up, with an Indian behind him. " Fitz," said I, " what in the name of God does all this mean ? Where are your men V" " They are all dead, 1 expect, by this time," said he, blankly; "and I presume you have sent for me to nuirder me at your own discretion." " Wh^n did you leave them ? Were they alive when you left them ?" " They were going down the river, and a thousand Indians in hot pursuit after thei.i," he said. " ( io over to my father's lodge," I said to him, " and stay till 1 return." I then mounted my war-horse, being well armed, and addressed my father: "I am mc'\d," I said; "I am going to die." He gave the war-hoop so loud tliat my earn fn irly (( .lAMr.S I'. UKCKWOrRTII. 277 tingled, as a signal tor my relatives to follow inc. Tiicy gathered round. *' Uo," said he, "and die witli liie ^ledieine Calt." On 1 dashed, in mad career, tor six or seven mile:s along the bank of the river, until 1 came in sight of the men. I seemed to have traveled the space in the same number of minutes, for the horse flew with light- ning speed upon his errand. He dropped dead be- neath me ; in his prodigious exertions he had burst u blood-vessel. I ran forward on foot, shouting to Fitzpatrick's men, "Ilun to nic! Run to me (juicklyl*' They heard me, and hesitated at my summons. At length one started, and the others followed, running at their utmost speed toward nic. A hill rose on each side the river, closing together and arching over the stream, at a short distance in advance of the party when I arrested their steps. In this pass the Crows Iiad taken their position, intending to massacre the party as they attempted to force their passage. As they reached me, I serried them around mo, the Crows charging from the hills upon us at the same lime. 1 now saw my band of relatives and friends ap- proaching us from the village. As the exasperated Indians came surging on toward us, I advanced toward them, and ordered them to desist. Tliey arrested their course : '* What do you want ?" they asked ; " do you wish those whites to live V '-After you have killed mc,*' 1 said, "you can march over my dead body and kill them, but not be- fore." They then wheeled, and fell in with my party of rela- tives, who were fast arriving and encircling the whites. I then requested each man to mount horse behind my 27H AITOIUOnUAI'IIV OF rclativos, and return with us to the village. AH did HO except Stuart. I requested liim also to mount. " No," said he, *' I will get on behind no d — d rascal ; rind any man that will live with such wretches is a d — d rascal." " 1 thank you for your compliment," I returned : "but I have no lime to attend to it here." "Captain Stuart," said Charles A. Wharfield, after- ^*ward colonel in the United States army, ** that's very unbecoming language to use at such a time." " Come, come, boys," interposed Dr. Harrison, " let us not be bandying words here. Wc will return with them, whether for better or for worse." After I had mounted the party, I borrowed a horso of one of my warriors, and led them back to the vil- lage. For temporary safety, I deposited the party in my father's lodge. Fitzpatrick inquired of me, "Jim, what in the name of God are you going to do with us ?" " I don't know yet," I said ; " but I will do the best possible for you." I then called the Dog Soldiers to me, and command- ed them, together with the Little Wolves, to surround the village, and not suffer a single person to go out. They all repaired to their stations. I next took fifty faithful men, and made a thorough search throughout the village, beginning at the extreme row of lodges. By this means I recovered all the goods, once in the possession of Fitzpatrick, in good condition, except his scarlet and blue cloths, which had been torn up for blankets and wearing apparel, but still not much in- jured for the Indian trade. I also recovered all his horses, with the exception of five, which had been taken to Bear's Tooth's camp. I had the goods well .lAMKS P. HK("KWOIIMII. 279 out. fit'tv cliout 111 the )t liis p for |h in- 11 his [been well .socurcd, and a stroncr iruard of inv rtdativcs i)lac(Ml over thcni. Tlio rcador may pcrhap.^ iikjuIvc wliat rostraincd tho. infuri.atcd Crown from molesting the rcsc\ied party on their way to tlio viUagc. Simply tliis : when an In- dian has anotlirr one mounted beliind liim, tlw, .su]>po- sition is tliat ho has taken liiin prisoner, and is con- ducting him to Jiead-quartcrs. While thus j)lacod, the Indian having Inm in charge is responsible witli his hie for his security ; if he fails to protect him, him- scH' and all his kindred are disgraced ; an outrage \ipon tlic prisoner is construed into pusillanimity on the part of the custodian. Prisoners are also safe wliilc in cus- tody in the village ; their inviolability is then trans- t'crred to the responsibility of the chief. This is In- dian morals. T was informed subsequently that the Englishman, as soon as he approached me, cocked his gun, intend- ing to shoot me. It was well for him, as well as his party, that he altered his mind ; for, if he had harmed me, there would not Iiavc been a piece of him left the size of a five-penny bit. I was doing all that lay in my power to save the lives of the party from a parcel of ferocious and exasperated savages; his life depended by the slightest thread over the yawning abyss of death ; the slightest misadventure would have proved fatal. At that moment he insulted me in the grossest manner. The language that he addressed to me ex- torted a look of contempt from me, but I had not time for anger. I was suspected of complicity with the In- dians, or, rather, of having instigated the iiendish plot. No man of common sense could entertain such a sus- picion, when he sees the part I took in the aflair. Had I conspired the tragedy, I had but to rest in my bed IMAGE EVALUATrON TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4r 1.0 f^^ iiM I.I 1.25 1^ 1^ 22 112.0 .8 1.4 IIIIII.6 6" V] v^ 7i 7: Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 I 0^ 280 AUTOBlOGRAPItY OF until tliG deed was consummated. Every man would have been killed, and no one but the conspirators liavc known tlicir fate. To be sure, I was in the service of the American Fur Company, and Fitzpatrick was trad- ing upon his own accourit; ; but that could afford no motive to conspire his death. I had not the faintest objection to his selling every thing he had to the Crows. But they had nothing to buy with ; they had disposed of all their exchangeable commodities but a short time since at the fort. Further, I was personally acquaint- ed with Fitzpatrick, with whom I never had an ill word ; and some of liis party stood high in my regard. Dr. Harrison, if only for his noble father's sake, I would have defended at the risk of my own life. They were all bound to me with the ties of hospitality, and I have yet to hear of any action committed by me that would warrant the assumption of such deep perfidy. I have been informed that Captain Stuart offered one thousand dollars to a certain individual to take my life. I can hardly think the charge is true, for the individual thus said to be bribed has had many opportunities of earn- ing his reward, and still I am alive. After the goods were secured and the horses brought up, it was discovered that Captain Stuart's horse, a fine iron-gray, was missing. It was traced to the posses- sion of High Bull, a very bad Indian, and I was in- formed that he had declared he would kill tho first man that should come after him. Stuart valued his horse highly, as well he might, for he was a noble animal ; he was, therefore, very anxious to obtain him. Fitz- patrick had acquainted Stuart that I was the only per- son in the nation that could procure the horse's resti- tution. Accordingly, he visited me, and said, '* Mr. Beck- JAMES P. BECKWOURTIi. 281 ,voultl i have, ice of trad- »r(I no lintcst ^rows. 5poscd •t time [uaint- word ; . Dr. would y were I have ; would I have ousand I can J tlms earn- Drouglit 3, a tine yas m- st man s horse animal ; Fitz- ily per- s resti- '. Beck- Avourth*' (he mistered me that time), '*can you get my liorse for me ?" I replied, " Captain Stuart, I am a poor man in the service of the American Fur Company, to sell their goods and receive the peltry of these Indians. The In- dian who has your horse is my best customer; he has a great many relatives, and a host of friends, whose trade I shall surely lose if I attempt to take the horse from him. Should the agent hear of it, I should be dis- charged at once, and, of course, lose my salary." " Well," said he, *' if the company discharge you for that, I pledge you my word that I will give you six thousand dollars a year for ten years." ** Captain Stuart is a man of his word, and able to perform all he promises," said Fitzpatrick. " Well," replied I, "I will see what I can do." I then dispatched an Indian boy to II.' gh Bull with the message that I w anted/ tho gray horse he had in his possession. The boy delivered his message, and the Indian retorted with a *' Ugh!" which startled the boy almost out of his skin, and he came bounding back again, saying the Indian was mad. In a short time High Bull came riding his horse, and said, " Medicine Calf, did you send for this horse ?" "I did." "Well, here he is." " Take him back," I said, " and keep him safe until I send for him." Stuart was wonder-stricken at this proceeding, as our discourse was unintelligible to him. "If I could get my hand on that horse's neck," he said, " the whole village should not get him away from me. I was annoyed at this braggadocio, and was glad the Indinns did not understand him. 282 AUTUBIOGKAl'llY OF Fitzpatrick requested Captain Stuart to remain quiet, saying, "• Beckwourth has passed his word to you tiiat you shall have your horse. He will he forthcoming when you want him." The next morning they prepared to leave the vil- lage. The horses were all packed, and every thing iu readiness. *' Am I to have my horse?" said Captain Stuart. "He will be here in a moment, sir," said I. High Bull then rode the horse up to the party and dismounted, giving me the reins. " Now, sir, you can mount your horse," said I, de- livering him into his owner's possession. He mounted, and the party started. I took one hundred and fifty of my choice Dog Soldiers, and es- corted them a distance of fifteen miles. Before leaving them, I cautioned Fitzpatrick to keep on his journey for three days without stopping to encamp. I told him that the Indians Avere exasperated, and the two villages were together, and it was not in my power to keep them from following them. I ■ -* apprehensive they would dog them a considerable distance, but that a three days' journey would place them in safety. Instead of following my advice, he encamped the following afternoon. Within an hour after his delay, almost all his horses were taken by the Indians, not leaving him enough to pack his goods. I afterward learned that Stuart saved his gray horse. I saw the Crows had r-iade free with my friends' horses, for I saw several of them about the village &absequently. However, I was satisfied I had done my duty ; 1 could not have done more to my own father cr brother. Still my life was sought after, and my character base- ly assailed. (( JAALKS r. JVKCKWOrUTH. 2S-^ [uict, L that c vil- ng 111 art. iy and I, dc- )k OIK' ^nd cs- eavuig Tlic fate of the Crow waniors I will mention epi- sodically here, as I gatheied it from Fitzpatrick, and afterward from the Cheyennes. The party had encamped between two villages, hav- ing the Clieycnnes on one side and the Siouxs on the other. They were in utter ignorance of their danger- ous proximity. ]5eing quickly discovered by one of the enemy, he returned and alarmed his village, and dispatched a messenger to the neighboring village ; and in a few moments our small band was surround- ed by a force of fifty times their number. Their ^ >- sition was a strong one, being chosen in a deep hollov/ or gully. They received the assault with unflinch- ing intrepidity, and fought until they were all exter- minated except their chief — they killing thirty-four of their foes. The chief seemed to wear a charmed life ; neither lead nor arrows could harm him. He advanced from his position and tantalized his foes. He invited them to come and kill him, saying that the scalps of liis enemies made his lodge dark, and that he had rid- den their horses till he was tired of riding. They were filled with admiration of his daring. They told him he was too great a brave to be killed ; that he might go, and they would not hurt him. " No," said he, pointing to his dead companions ; " you have killed all my warriors ; they have gone to the land of the Great Spirit ; now kill me, so that I may go with them. I am the Little Gray Bull ; come and kill me. I ask not to live. My heart disdains your ofters of mercy. My brothers and friends will avenge my death." He would frequently advance toward his swarming enemies ; as he approached, they retired. He then re- turned towai'd his dead companions, and again defied 284 ArTOBlOailAPlIY OF them to coinc and kill him. He was eventually shot down, probably by a bullet tiiea by one ol' Fitzpat- rick's men, who, being encamped with the Cheyennes, had joined them for the sport of shooting Indians. There were two small boys in the party of Crows, who went as moccasin-carriers. They were taken prison- ers, and placed behind two warriors to be conveyed to the village. While on the way thither, each drew liis knife and plunged it into the body of his custodian, each killing his man. The little fellows were cut to pieces in an instant, which was their own choice, rath- er than to be captive to the enemy. When I returned from escorting Fitzpatrick, I in- formed the Crows of the fate of their party ; but I with- held all mention of the participation of the whites. Thereupon ensued another dreadful time of mourning. When I parted from Fitzpatrick and party, they all appeared very grateful for thei^* deliverance, and, if they had not lost their horses when they encamped, t presume they never would have entertained other but friendly feelings toward me. Shortly after this occurrence we held a grand coun- cil relative to certain national affairs. I then again })roceeded, taking Winters and four warriors with mo. When we had approached within a mile of the fort, 1 happening to be considerably in advance of the party, in ascending a small hill, when near the summit, I peered carefully over, and discovered a party of Black Feet, not more than three hundred yards distant, sit- ting by the roadside, smoking their pipes. I drew back my head, for I saw one Indir.n coming directly upon me, and motioned my men to a ravine close by. Then, dismounting, I crept back to the brow of the hill, and lay down flat until the Indian's head came within JAMKS l». IU;(WvWULKTH. 28r» f shot tzpat- ennes, dians. s, who Di'ison- yccl to ■ew hi.; todiaii. cut to 3, rath- c, I iii- I with- whites. arning. hey ail land, if mped, I •er but coun- agaiu sight. I aprang instantly to my feet, and shot him dead. In less than a niinu':c I had his scalp ; ran back and mounted my horse ; then, riding to the sum- mit of the hill, I displayed the scalp to the Indians, who were advancing at their topmost speed. As soon as they saw me they turned and fled, thinking, no doubt, that I had a strong force lying in wait. I rode on and overtook my party, and we reached die fort without molestation or pursuit. About two hours aft- er, the Indians presented themselves before the fort, and challenged us to come out and light. We hoist- ed the scalp I had just taken in answer to the invita- tion. I consider we may thank my acquired habit of caution for our escape, for, had the Indian surprised us instead of my surprising him, it is more than prob- able that every one of us would have been killed. We were detained at the fort tor the space of eight days, on account of the numbers of the Black Feet prowling about. They finally left, and as soon as we were satisfied that the way was clear, we loaded ten pack-horses with goods, and Winters and myself — taking two men each — returned to the Crow village. The villages had separated during our abser e ; Long Hair and his village having taken one direction, and mine having taken another. W^inters took Long Hair's trail, with the goods ; I followed my village through the Bad Pass, and overtook it at Black Panther Creek. I then went on to Wind River, trapping and hunting very successfully all the way, the journey occupying about a month. We went into winter quarters under Wind River jMountain, at the mouth of Po-po-on-che (Long Grass Cre^^k). Here, after gathering a sufficient v|uantity of buffalo and elk horns, we supplied our- selves with a laro-e outfit of line new bows. The horns 28() AITTOniOdKAPHY iW arc tiirown into hot springs which abound in that re- gion, wlicrc they arc kept until they are perfectly nial- hibie ; they arc then taken out and straightened, and cut into stri})s of suitable width. It takes two buffalo horns to niaivc a bow of sufficient length. Tliey arc pieced in the centre, and riveted ; then they are bound strongly at the splice with sinew. Bows made of this material are equaled by none other except those mad'; from the horn of the mountain sheep. While we were encamped here, numerous small par- ties of Crows went to war without leave, and in almost every instance were defeated ; on some excursions they WQi'd entirely destroyed. One party, consisting of thirty-nine warriors, led hy the Constant Bird, a great war-chief, went to the ]Mack Foot country, and evciy one of them was killed. They had killed and scalped one of the enemy, whom they met alone, and again journeyed on, when they came suddenly upon a whoh^ village of Black Feet, ana were themselves instantly discovered. To save themselves they resorted to an ingenious device, which certainly offered fair to save them. On being discovered, instead of retreating, they kept on and entered the enemy's village, pretending they came with authority to conclude a peace. The Indians, putting faith in their mission, concluded peace ficcordingly. While thus engaged proposing terms and smoking cozily, one of the l^lack Foot squaws stolo a sack belonging to them. After the departure of the Crows, the sack was examined, and among its contents was found the identical scalp they had taken a short time previously. Raising the war-hoop, the Black Feet assembled in great numbers, and, making imme- diate pursuit after the Crows, they overtook them, and massacred every one. This intelligence was brought JAMES P. nECKWOrUTII. 2.S( lat re- T mal- lI, and juli'alo ey arc bound of this i mad". all par- almost ns they ting of a great tl evciy scalped (1 again a whole istantly to an to save ig, they ending , The d peace vr terms ws stole c of the ontcnts a short 3 Black g imnic- ein, and brought by express from Fort !Maria, the HKack Foot trading- post, to Fort Cass, the Crow trading-post. On re- ceipt of this intelligence, there was another general Fcenc of mourning and vowing vengeance. I used all the arguments that I could frame to prevent these mis- chievous guerilla expeditions, bui they would steal oil' in the night in spite of my entreaties or my denuncia- tions, and I did not like to resort to punishments. Several of the Iiigli functionaries incpiired of me to what cause 1 attributed such repeated disasters. J answered as follows: "Warriors! the causes arc clear enough. i\Iy medicine tells me the causes. Firstly, you robbed my white friends, stealing their horses away, and even attempting to take their lives when they were under my protection,* and when you knew It grieved my heart to have wrong done to them. A second cause : you are continually acting contrary to the wishes of A-ra-poo-ash, who went to the Spirit Land on account of your disobedience. I have also express- ed the same wishes to you, telling you to apply your- selves to collecting skins, in order to liave the where- with to purchase the things that you need. These, my orders, are openly disobeyed, and the Great Spirit is very angry with the nation for their thieving, and disregard of the orders of their head chief." They then inquired what they should do to appease the wrath of the Great Spirit. I answered again : " Warriors ! to appease the just anger of the Great Spirit, you must discontinue your war-parties, and re- main peaceably at home for one moon. You can then prepare a great sacrifice, and do penance for that time, and let the Great Spirit see that you really repent the evil you have committed. By so acting, you may re- cover the favor which the Great Spirit has evidently 2.SS ACTOIMOOUAIMIY Ol' witlidrawn from you ; by continuing in your obstinat • ways, you Avill assuredly be rubbed out as a nation." The saeriliees that they oiler on such occasions arr curious. One sacrilice is made by shaving the mane, and tails of some of their best war-horses, and paint- ing* on their bodies a rude delineation of the sun. 'i'hey then turn them out, but never drive them away: and if they follow the other horses, it is a sure sign that the Great Spirit is following them also. I had become so sickened with their constant mourn- ing, which was kept up through the whole village da}- and night, that I determined to take a small party and see if I could not change the face of affairs. Accord- ingly, I raised fifty warriors, and started for the Chey- enne village, near the site of the present Fort Laramie. The first night we encamped on the Sweet Water lliv- er. The morning ensuing was clear and cold, and wc started across a plain twenty miles wide, with neither trees nor bushes in the whole distance. Across this plain was a mountain, which I wished to reach that night, in order to provide ourselves with fire-wood and have a warm camp. When we had traversed this desert about midway, a storm came on, which is called by the mountaineers a Poo-der-ee. These storms have proved fatal to great numbers of trappers and Indians in and about the Rocky Mountains. They are com- posed of a violent descent of snow, hail, and rain, at- tended with high and piercing wind, and frequently last three or four days. The storm prevented our see- ing the object for which we were directing our course. We all became saturated with the driving rain and hail, and our clothing and robes were frozen stiff; still we kept moving, as we knew it would be certain death to pause on our weary course. The winds swept with JAMK.S 1'. BK^KWO"KTH. 289 ?tinat-' tion." )ns art' niaiic.; paint- .0 sun. away : .re sign mourn- agc day irresistible violence across the desert prairie, and' we could sec no shelter to j)rotect us from the freezing blast. Kventually we came to a large hole or gully, irom eighteen to twenty feet deep, wliich had been made by the action of water. Into this place wc all huddled, and were greatly protected from the wind. Being exhausted with our exertions, we wrapjxsd our- selves as well as we could in our frozen robes, and lay down. How long wc lay there I could form no idea. When I attempted to stir, it required the exer- cise of all my strengtli to free myself from the mass of snow tliat liad fallen upon me while asleep. I saw that if we tarried there it would be inevitable death to us all, and it was still storming furiously. I aroused my second in command, named "A Heap of Dogs," and told him that we must arouse ourselves and bestir our warriors, or we should all perish. " No," said he ; " it is too painful ; let us stay here and all die together." I told liim that I should go at all risks, and made a spring thereuj)on, he laying himself down again. 1 had not proceeded much more than three hundred yards when I came upon a gulch, or dry creek, in which was a drift pile composed of a large accumulation of dry wood. I made an opening and crawled in ; then strik- ing tire, I got it v/ell burning, and returned to my per- ishing warriors to relate my discovery. They arose and shook off the loose snow from their robes, and es- sayed to proceed. But many of them were so weak and stiffened that they could but craAvl along. After getting thawed and comfortably warmed before a blaz- ing tire, I found there were two of our party missing. I returned with two or three others to search for them, and we had to dig away the snow to arrive at them : N 290 ArTomOC^KAPHY OF Init tlio vital Ppark had flod — tlicy wrro stiff in doatli. Wo Htaid l)V our fins wliicli increased in Imdv and waniifli, for two days, by wliieli time the storni iiavin^ Hiihsidcd, we returned liome. Thv relatives of tim lost waiTiors made a great mourninui; for them, while the friends of those who returned with me showered pres- ents and hlessin^H u])on me for having been instru- mental in saving their kinsmen's lives. It was a time of intense cold. Our whole party were more or less frostbitten; my face and cars were severely frozen, and were sore for a long time. The wild buffalo approaclied so near to our fire that we could shoot them without stirring from onr seats. As an excuse for my ill success, I infomied the Crows that the wrath of the CJreat Spirit was not yet appeased. Soon after this catastrophe, I informed my people tliat 1 wished to wander solitary for a space, to mourn for my two waiTiors who had perished in the snow. My real intention was to get to the fort, and thus have a respite from the unceasing crying and howling that was kept up throughout the village. On making my intention kno^vn, two white men, named Mildmm and Cross, who were staying in our village, desired to accompany me. We started accordingly, taking one squaw with us as servant. On our second day out, we were surprised by a party of two hundred and fifty Black Feet. We took shelter in a thicket of willows, resolved to make a brave stand, and sell our lives for all they were w orth. The squaw showed herself a val- uable auxiliary by taking good care of our horses, six in number, and building us a little fort of sand, behind which we stood in great security, watching our enemies as they ever and anon made their appearance. We were thus invested for thirty-six hours, the Indians hover- JAMES r. FlKCKWorUTII. 21) I V and lavin}; 10 lost ilo the I prc!S- instvu- » party rs were .. The that we ts. Ap )ws that :;asccl. f people niourn le snow. n6 mrf about, and losinp; one of tlieir nunil)er at ovcxy dis- cliargo, witliout darin<jj to rush in nj)on us, which had tiiey ventured upon wouhl liave ])roved our incvitaitU^ destruction. We were situated so ch)sc to tiie river that we could be supplied with water at all times by the S(juaw without incurring danger. The second night, our besiegers, having wearied of tlieir exertions, gave us comparative repose. Availing ourselves of the lull, wc nuiiHed our horses' feet with our capotes, cut to pieces for tlie purpose, and, stealing gently down the slope of the bank, wc forded the shal- low stream, and made the best of our way home. We went whooping and galloping at full speed into the vil- lage, displaying nineteen sca'ps on various ])arts of our liorses. Our victorious return created the most thrill- ing sensation throughout the village. Every face was washed, the scalp-dance was performed (the first time for two months), and the hilarity was universally in- dulged in. The Great Spirit's wrath was appeased, the tide had turned in favor of the Crows, and a con- tinuation of victory was predicted from this brilliant achievement. CHAPTER XX. Excursion to the Fort— -Arrival of Long Hair's Village. — Building ol' a new Medicine Lodge. — Triumphant Entrance of my little Wife into the Lodge. — Attack on the Crow Village by the Siouxs. — Meet- ing of the two Crow Villages. — Visit of the Grovans. — Visit to the Grovans and Fort Clarke. A PARTY of nine trappers happening to call at the village on their way to the fort, among whom was my old friend Harris, I proposed to accompany them. We started, and reached the fort witliout accident, except 2i).2 AUTOHIOORAPHY OF sustaininp; another siogc from the Black Yart. After oiu' (l('|)arture, tlie whok) village followed to pm'chase tluiir s})ring supply of necessaries at the fort. They hronglit an immense stock of peltry, with which they pm'chased every thing that they stood in need of. Abont a week aft(>r our arrival, the other Crow vil- lage, under Long I [air, encani})ed without the fort, all of them deep in mourning. The same ill luck had at- tended tliem in their excursions as we had sutfered, and eighty warriors had fallen without one gleam of suc- cess. I availed myself of this opportunity to impress upon the miiids of Long Hair and his followers that the c ase of their misfortune was owing to the conduct of the Crows toward Fitzpati-ick and his party, which representation they all lirmly believed. When the two villages had linished their trading, we all moved back to the Big Horn, where we con- structed a new medicine lodge for the medicine men, prophets, and dreamers to prophesy and hold their de- liberations in. These lodges are erected every year — the first moon in May ; the whole tribe is assembled at the festival, and the ceremonies are continued for seven days. Before the poles are raised, the medicine men select from the assembled multitude a warrior whom they deem qualified to assume the functions of a medicine chief The man they select is compelled to serve ; no excuse that he can frame is accepted as valid. He is then taken to a lodge-pole and lashed to one end ; an eagle's wing is placed in each hand, and a whistle (similar to a boatswain's) placed between his lips. Thus equipped, he is hoisted a distance of forty feet, until the pole assumes its perpendicularity and is adjusted in its proper place, liaising the first pole is analogous to laying the first stone. The first one ther drf virt^ JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 293 ^fter hase rhey they V vil- •t, all id at- 1, and [' suc- ipress 3 that )nduct which •ading, re con- men, icir de- |year— imbled led for edicinc kvarrior ions of pelled ted as shed to ,d, and een his of forty ty and |rst pole irst one being hoisted, abundance of others are raised into their places, until the whole space is inclosed. They are then covered with green buffalo hides, descending to within six feet of the ground, the inclosure being left open at the top. About one hundred and twenty hides are generally required for the purpose, and a space is thus obtained capable of holding from seven to eight hundred persons. I was the subject selected on this occasion ; and when I was raised upon the pole in the manner I have just described, the officials declared that I wasi raised solely by the elevating power of my wings, whence they inferred that my medicine was very powerful. When the lodge is completed, the medicine men and other functionaries assemble the most distinguished braves within the building for a rehearsal of their achievements and an enumeration of tlieir coos. Each brave then gives an account of his exploits thus : " T killed one or more Cheyennes (as the case may be) on such a day, in such a place, and took such and suci?. spoils. You know it. Crows." The medicine chief then exhibits his marks, pronounces the warrior's statement correct, and confirms it by his record. This ratification each warrior passes through, and there is seldom any discrepancy between his statement and the record. Sham battles are then fought in il- lustration of the manner in which the different trophies were acquired, the rehearsal reminding the civilised spectator of a theatrical representation, only that in this case the performance is more in earnest. This examination gone through with, the lodge ii: then prepared for the medicine men, prophets, and drf mers to go through the ceremony of initiating a virtuous woman. The members of the conclave en- 294 AUTOBIOGIcAPHY OP dure a total abstinence from food and water for seven dajs previous to the ceremony, unless any one faints from exhaustion, in which case some slight nourish- ment is afforded him. The warriors are then drawn up in two lines, *' in- ward face," a few feet apart, and the female Ct^ndidate for " holy orders" presents herself at the lodge door. She harangues them when she iirst presents herself, and then marches between the extended lines of the dusky warriors. Here is the fearful ordeal. If she has ever been guilty of any illicit action, her declara- tion of innocence is refuted by a dozen voices, a thou- sand bullets riddle her body in a moment, and her flesh is hacked into morsels. This is the fearful war-path secret. It will be re- membered that my little wife had resolved to dedi- cate herself to mis service ; when only a child she had determined upon entering the medicine lodge. On this occasion she was candidate for admission. Slie came to me to be dressed for the ceremony ; she was robed in her best attire, and I painted her as the cus- tom prescribes. The warriors are in line, and the Sanhedrim in read- iness. The herald announces that Nom-ne-dit-chee (The One tliat Strikes Three), wife of the head chief, JVIedicine Calf, offers herself for election. Intense ex- citement prevails through the assembly as her name is pronounced, and it is re-echoed through the lines of the warriors. She presented herself at the door of the lodge, and calmly met the concentrated gaze of thousands. A breathless silence prevailed. She commenced her address. " Can it be said that there are no virtuous women among the Crows ? Can it be true that our medicine men can not make medi- JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 295 3veii lints risli- " in- itiate door, irself, )f the i she clara- thou- d her "be re- 1 dedi- he had . Oil She le was le cus- n read- it-chee chief, nsc ex- r name lines Joor oi' raze of le aid that ? Can medi- cine, nor our prophets propliesy, nor our dreamers dream, because so few of you are virtuous ? Oh wom- en! it is shameful to you to be so faithless. Our nation is disgraced because of your conduct, and the Crows will soon cease to be a people. The Great Spirit is angry with you, and has brought disgrace upon our warriors on account of your evil practices. < )ur prairies will become wastes like yourselves, pro- ducing no good thing; and our buffalo will bellow at you, and leave the hunting-grounds of the Cro\,'S, and go to the country of a more virtuous people." Then addressing the warriors, she continued : "Warriors! I have this day volunteered to carry tlie sand, the wood, and the elk-chips into the lodge. You are brave warriors, and I hope your tongues are not crooked. I have seen our women attempt to do it, and they have been cut to pieces. I am now about to try it myself. Before I start for the materials at the other end of your extended lines, if there be a war- rior, or any other man under the sun. who knows any thing wrong in me, or injurious to my virtue, let him speak. I, too, am ready to go to the spirit land, for there is one there who knows me innocent of the bad deeds which disgrace the women of our country." She then passed with a firm step between the lines of the warriors to the sand. Taking the bowl, she dipped a small quantity, and returned with it to the lodge, and then made two other trips for the wood and elk-chips. Returning for the third time, she received the vociferations of the assembled multitude. The functionaries came forth to meet her, and passed their liands over her head, shoulders, and arms, extolling lier to the skies, and proclaiming there was one virtu- ous woman in the Crow nation. She was then pre- 296 ArrOBIOCiRAPHY OF sented with my medicine shield hy the great medicine chief, to preserve and carry for me, no one but myseh" having authority to take it from her. I trembled while she was passing this perilous or- deal, and its triumphant termination filled me with de- light. She was a gu-1 of superior endowments, and, if they had heen fostered by a Christian education, I know no woman who would surpass her in worth, ele- gance, or attainments. Had she ever failed in her conduct, it would have been thundered in her ears when she stooped to gather the sand, and a cry would have arisen that she was polluting the medicine of the nation. If the candidate is killed during the inau- guration ceremonies, nothing more is done in the same medicine lodge : it is immediately torn down, and the tribe moves to some other place, where it builds anoth- er lodge, and the same observances are again gone through with. In the mean while, women are engaged cooking and preparing a siunptuous feast of every thing in season. All kinds of meats and dried berries, variously cooked, are spread before the partakers, which includes all who can obtain seats, except the medicine men, prophets, and dreamers. Their fast continues for seven days, during which time their inspiration is continually mov- ing them. There are plenty of warriors in attendance to convey messages and execute orders, like deputy sheriffs in a justice's court ; and as fast as an ordinance is dreamed out, prophesied upon, and medicined, the instructions are delivered to the messengers, and away they start, one party in this direction, and one party in another, to communicate the instructions and execute orders. While we were yet at the lodge, a deputation of JAMES l. BECKWOURTH. 29: iciiie ^selt" Ls or- ;h de- nd, if ion, I li, ele- n her r ears would of the 1 inau- e same .nd the anoth- n gone ng and season, cooked, all who ophets, n days, y mov- ndance deputy dinance Led, the d away arty in execute Ition of about a dozen Grovan warriors came to solicit our as- sistance against tlie Chcyonncs and Siouxs, who liad made a combined attack upon them, killing about four hunched of their warriors. In reply to the application, wc told them that we had lost many warriors during the past winter, and that we must avenge our own men first ; but that we would go and sec them in the course of the sunmicr, and hold a conference with them on the subject. There are two bands of the Grovans : the Grovans of the Missouri, which the Crows sprung from, and whose language they speak, and the Grovans of the prairie, who form a band of the Black Feet. The Gro- vans of the Missouri were then a weak tribe or band, having, by their incessant wars with the suiToundiixg tribes, been reduced to a very insignificant number of warriors. When the Crows separated from them, the nation wa^ deemed too numerous. This separation was eflfecteci, according to their reckoning, above a cen- tury since. Those Grovans and the Crows have al- ways been on very friendly terms, and even to this day consider themselves descend:mts of the same family. They do not move about, like many wandering tribes, but remain stationary and cultivate the ground. Their lodges are built of poles, filled in with earth ; they are spacious, and are kept comparatively neat. I would here remark that the name " Crow" is not the correct appellation of the tribe. They have never yet acknowledged the name, and never call themselves Crows. The name was conferred upon them many years ago by the interpreters, either through their ig- norance of the language, or for the purpose of ridicul- ing them. The name which they acknowledge them- selves by, and they recognize no other, is in their lan- N2 298 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF guago, Ap-sah-ro-kee, whicli signifies the Sparrowhawk peo[)k\ Tlie viUages separated at this time. Lor.g Hair went up the Yellow Stone, to Clarke's Fort, in order to kill buffalo and gather fruit when ripe, while I went with my village on a circuit, and finally rested on the hanks of Powder lliver, a branch of the Yellow Stone. While busy killing buffalo, we were suddenly attacked by the Cheyennes to the number of two thousand warriors. 1 had been advised by my scouts of their contemplated attack, and was consequently prepared to receive them. They were seriously disappointed in charging upon our empty lodges ; and, while they were in confusion, we thundered upon them from our concealment, driving them before us in all directions for upward of two miles, (^ur victory was complete. We took sixty-three scalps, besides horses and weapons in abundance. We had eighty warriors wounded, principally with lances and arrows, but every one recovered. The heroine did good service, having thoroughly recovered from her terrible wound. She had two horses killed under her, but es- caped unhurt herself, using her lance as adroitly as ever. The village moved on, directly after the battle, in the direction of uur friends the Grovans ; but, before we ar- rived, we rubbed out a party of eleven Cheyennes, who had been to the Grovan village on a war excursion, and we carried their scalps and presented them to the Grovans. When we arrived in sight of their villages — five in number — and halted with our whole force on a small hill which overlooked their towns, on perceiv- ing us they were filled with alarm, believing us to be the Cheyennes, returned with a force sufficient to ex- terminate them. But they discovered us to be Crow friends and their joy was now proportionate to their JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 299 lawk went )kiU with )anks Vhile y tlio riors. plated them. )n ouv 3n, \vc iriving miles. scalps, ie had es and d good terrible jut es- is ever. , in the we ar- es, who mrsion, to the villages 'orce oil perceiv- is to he t to ex- )e Crow to their former despondency. Wc passed through their vil- lages two abreast, and all were out upon the tops of their lodges to welcome us as wc rode through. The. acclamations resounded on every side. They looked upon us as their deliverers and friends, who had come to protect the weak against the strong, that their wrongs iniglit be avenged, and their faces be washed once more. From tlieir villages we rode on to Fort Clarke through the jVIandan villages, defiling before the fort in double columns. Every man in ihe fort was on the battle nients, gazing at our long lines of mounted warriors. While deiiling past, we were correctly counted by ^Ir. Kipp. Several alighted and visited the fort, and Mr. Kipp inquired for the Crow who spoke English. No era understood him until he came across a Mandan who spoke the Crow language fluently. They inquired of him for me. I replied he was somewhere about. I was dressed in full costume, and painted as black as a Crow, and neither the Mandan nor Kipp recognized me. The Mandan informed Kipp that I was present. "Yes," said I, "Beckwouith is present." "Well, well!" exclaimed Kipp, in astonishment; " is that you, Bcckwourth ?" I replied that it was, indisputably. "Then why did you not declare yourself when I was inquiring for you ? I certainly should never have distinguished you from any other Indian." At this moment my wife entered, carrying my boy in her arms. A great interest was taken in him by all the inmates of the fort, greatly to the delight of his proud mother, and by the time the child had passed through all their hands he had received presents enough to load a pack-mule. We staid with our friends ten days, part of which ;jou AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF time was occupied in arranging a combined plan of de- fense against tlic ]51ack i'ect. When wc departed. Long Hair presented vis with an amj)le stock of corn and punipKins. We passed ihc Yellow Stone, and traveled on by easy marches to the Mussel Shell River, killing and dressing buffalo during our whole journey. Here we encamped to await the arrival of Long Hair. Our spies kept us advised of tiic movements of the en- emy, and intelligence was brought us that he was mani- festly concentrating his forces at the Three Forks of the Missouri for a grand attack. I knew that wc wero also vigilantly watched by the enemy's spies, and I de- termined to make no movement that would warrant the suspicion that their movements were known to us. Long Hair shortly joined us with his whole force, and I felt pertcctly at ease now, notwithstanding the most strategical movements of our enemy. After various demonstrations on either side, we feign- ed a division of our forces, and marched one half of them to a spot which concealed them from the table- land, thus leading the enemy to the belief that we were still ignorant of his intentions and his numbers. At daybreak the following morning we heard the noise of their innumerable horse- hoofs, and shortly after they burst upon our tenantless lodges like a thun- der-cloud. I suffered about one third of their warriors to become entangled in the village, and I then gave the order to charge. The shock was irresistible ; their ad- vancing division was attacked on all sides, and the ap- pearance of my concealed warriors sent a panic through the tribe. They tied precipitately without venturing to look round to see if they were pursued. It was a complete rout, and purchased at but slight cost to our- selves. We gathered over four hundred scal})s, and JAMES 1'. BECKWOURTH. 301 [' dc- L'tcd, corn anil ivcr, nicy. Hair. LC cn- maui- ks ol" J were . I de- ,nt the to us. ;e, and 3 most p I'eign- lalf of table- VG were took fifty women prisoners ; we captured iivc hundred horses, one Inuuh-ed p;uns, and weapons, blankets, and camp C(pupage heyond emmicration. Our loss was four killed and three himdred wounded, some of whom afterward died of their woimds. Our wounded warriors attended to, and our spoils gathered, wc moved on without delay to our tobacco plantation, as it was now time to gather our crop. We journeyed by way of the fort, and on our road fell in with a party of fifteen Black Foot wamors, who were driving a large drove of horses they liad stolen from the Snakes. We entrapped the enemy into a ditch and killed the whole party, and their recent acquisition came in very serviceably, as our stock of horses was greatly diminished. We found our crop excellent, and, as our numerous hands made light work, our harvest was soon gathered. We then passed on at our leisure, killing more or less buffalo daily, until we arrived at Tongue River, about the new moon of Leaf Fall. On our way we lost nearly three hundred head of horses, which were stolen by the Black Feet. We did not trouble ourselves to pursue them, as we felt confident they were but lent them, and that they would shortly be returned with good interest. At Tongue River we confederated with our friends, the Grovans, in an attack upon the Cheyenne village ; from thence we returned to the Yellow Stone, when I de- tached a party of one hundred and sixty warriors on an excursion to the Black Foot village, and they returned bringing six hundred fine horses with them. W^e then passed on to Fort Cass, where we witnessed much de- jection and gloom, occasioned by a serious reverse which they had experienced since our last visit. :)02 ALJTOmuUliAl'IlY UF CIIArTETl XXI. Attacks of the Black Fcpt on the Fort. — Six White Men killed.— Abandonment of Fort Cass. — Fort constructed at the Mouth of the " Hose Hud." — Removal of the Village. — Peace concluded with th<' As-nc-boines. — Hair-breadth Escape. — Death of Mr. Hunter, of Ken- tucky. While wc wore indulging in a display of our cap- tured horses Avliile encamped outside the fort, the Spot- ted iVntelope, one of my relatives, came to me, and hi- timated that 1 had Letter visit the fort, as they had lost six men by the Black Feet. He was in mourning-paint for the victims, because the whites were his friends. I dismounted, and passed through the encampment on my way to the gate. As usual, I found my father's lodge, in which my little wife resided, jjitched nearest to the fort, with the other lodges jf my various rela- tives grouped in a row, their contiguity to my parent's lodge heing gi'aduated by their propinquity cf kin. 1 Ibund Pine Leaf seated by my wife, amusing herself with the Black Panther (whose civilized patronymic was lAttle Jim), while almost all the other women were dancing. I delayed a moment to inquire why these two women were not dancing with the others. Pine Leaf, with solemn air and quivering lip, said, " Your heart is crying, and I never dance when your heart cries." " Neither do I," said the little woman. This was a greater concession than the heroine had ever made to me before. She had told me that she would marry me, and she had frequently informed my ;■♦ JAMES P. JUUJKWUIJUTII. aoa sisters and my little wife of a similar intention; but this promise was always modified with a ])royiso — a iOiitumacioiis "if,'' which eoidd never be avoided. " t will marry the Medicine Calf," she would say, ^^ifl marry any man." A great many moons had waxed and waned since she first spoke of the pino leaves turn- ing yellow, but they had not yet lost their verdure, and I liad failed to discover a red-handed Indian. In conversation with j\Ir. TlU^ck, the commandant of the fort, 1 learned that they had been incessantly harassed by the Black Feet ever since our last visit, who had invested them on all sides, rendering it ex- tremely dangerous for any of the inmates to venture outside the gate. He furtiier informed me that he had had six men massacred and iifty-four horses stolen. He had sent for me, he said, to come and select a new site, Avhere they would be liable to less molestation, and be less in fear of their lives. I consulted with our chiefs and braves upon the se- lection of a more secure location for a new fort, and it was unanimously agreed upon that the mouth of the Rose Bud, thirty miles lower down the river, ottered the best situation, as the country was fair and open all round, and afforded the hostile Indians no good places of concealment. There was also a fine grazing country there, and plenty of buffalo, so that a village of the Crows could winter under the fort, and afford them the protection of their presence. As soon as the Crows had completed thr'ir purchases, I started them up the Big Horn on their way back, with the promise that I would rejoin them in a few (lays. I then took a boat filled with goods, and twenty men, and dropped down the river until we came across a beautiful location for the new fort. We then return- :jo4 AITOHIOUUAI'IIY UF cd, and removed the eftccts of the present tort to tin new .site, and then inuncdiately net altont (!onHtructiiiL; a new post. VVe nieasnred oH'onc htnuU-ed and eighty yardH square, whicli we inclosed as ([uickly as possihir witli liewn timber eigliteen feci higli, and of suthcicnt thickness to resist a ritle hall : all the houses required i'or the accommodation of the inmates were conmiodious- \y constnicted inside. Having finished the constniction of the fort, T gave full instructions for the management of its affairs, and then departed for the village, where my ])resence was required to incite the Indians to devote themselves to trapping and hunting buffalo, for which service I was paid by the American Fin* Com})any. As I was about starting, a deputation of fifty As- ne-boines came to the post, leaving a letter from Mr. M'Kenzie at the lower fort addressed to me, requesting me to constrain the ^ 3-ne-boines into a treaty of peace; with the Crows, in order that their incessant wars might be brought to a close, and the interests of the company less interfered with. Had they anived earlier, while the village was present at the old fort, I would have immediately called a council of the nation, and had tlio business settled. I seriously regretted their inoppor- tune arrival, as it not only delayed the conclusion of the proposed peace, which was in every way desirable, ])ut it woTild have saved me a very hazardous and anx- ious journey with the whole deputation of hostile In- dians on our way to the village, where I had but one; companion as a guarantee for my security. I was aware that the Indians remembered many a hovse-bor7'owi?}r/ adventure wherein I had taken an active part, and I had had too much experience of Indian character not to appreciate to the full the imminent danger I incurred ./AMES I*. IJKt'KWOrUTH. ;i06 in trusting myaelt* with thin band of savages in our in- tended journey across tlio wildonioss. Mr. Kean, a native of Ma sachusetts, was my com- panion on this excursion. \Vc started on foot, in com- ])any with tiic party of As-ne-boines. Every tiling went well imtil our fourth day out. We were travel- ing leisurely along, the Indiana in close conversation among themselves, of which I understood but little — not rnough to make out the subject of their consultation, though I mistmsted 1 formed the matter of their dis- course. One of the chiefs and his son were a few rods in advance, in close conversation. The party at length halted, and sat down on the gi-ass to smoke. jVly com- panion, unsuspicious of evil, started on to kill buffalo while the party rested. The chief and his son, who were in advance, returned, and passed one on each side of me. I instantly heard a gun-click, which 1 felt cer- tain was the soimd of cocking it. 1 turned my head, and saw the chief's son with his piece leveled ready to shoot. I sprang to my feet, and grasped the barrel of his gun just as he discharged it, the load passing into the air. I drew my battle-axe, and raised it to strike tlie treacherous rascal down ; but a chief aiTCsted my ann, saying, as nearly as I could understand him, " Hold 1 Don't strike him : he is a fool !" A general melee then ensued among the party ; high words were bandied, and there seemed an equal divi- sion among them on the propriety of taking my life. By this time I had withdrawn a few yards, and stood facing them, with my rifle ready cocked. On hearing the report, my companion ran back, and, seeing how matters stood, exclaimed, "There is a fort just ahead, let us run and get into it ; we can then fight the whole parcel of the treacherous devils." 306 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP We started for it, but the Indians were ahead of us ; they arrived there first, and took possession of it, and again had a long confab, while we remained at their mercy outside. The party opposed to killing me ap- peared greatly to predominate, and we were not again molested, though neither I nor Mr. Kean slept one mo- ment during the ensuing night. In the morning wo started on our way, but v/e kept strict watch on their movements. The following afternoon I discovered two Indians on the hill-side, and, although they were at a great distance, I conceived them to be Crows, most like- ly spies from the village, which proved to be the case. No one had seen them but myself, and I imparted my discovery to my friend. I then told the head chief, who well understood the Crow language, that we were near the Crow village, and that if any of them should visit our camp during the night, he must be sure to call me before he suffered any of liis people to speak to them, or they would be all inevitably massacred. He accord- ingly issued orders to that purport to all his men, and erected his lodge in front of the party, so as to be the first inquired of by the Crows. I and my partner then lay down, and soon w< o somid asleep. About midnight the chief shook me, and informed me the Crows were coming. A host of warriors swarmed around our encampment, and, pointing their guns at the camp, said, "What people are you ? Bud- da-ap-sa-ro-kee" (we are Sparrowhawks). " Go back," I replied ; "I have other people with me, who are come to make peace." On hearing my voice, which they readily recognized, they retired. The next morning we moved on and met the vil- lage, who were approaching- toward us. The As-nc- JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 307 boiriGS, on seeing such a host, began to tremble. Our soldiers came driving along, my brave Dog Soldiers ineffectually striving to keep them back ; for, as they restrained them in one place, thf^y broke through in another, until the warriors rode almost upon the toes of their guests. A council was shortly called to listen to the arguments of the envoye extraordinaire from the As-ne-boine nation. Several of the council ap- plied to me for my sentiments on the subject, but I deferred it to the collective wisdom of the nation. When I had at first arrived, like many another fool- ish man, I mentioned to my wife the narrow escape of my life I had just made, and she, like many an- other foolish woman, unable to contain herself, re- lated the information to Pine Leaf, who was her bosom friend. While the council were busy deliberating, and some explanatory statements had been liste^ied to re- garding a matter which I supposed would nave afford- ed no food for discussion, the heroine entered the as- sembly. "Warriors!" she said, "you are assembled here, I believe, to deliberate on peace or war with the As-ne- hoines. In coming to our village with the Medicine Calf, they attempted to take his life, and came very near accomplishing their end. Will you conclude peace with a people who possess such base hearts ? I do not believe you will." Such an instantaneous change of countenance in an assembly was never before seen. Pine Leaf, the na- tion's favorite, had spoken, and, as usual, had spoken to the purpose. Though a woman, her influence was every where strongly felt, even in council. She had !i gift of speech which the bravest warriors might well cr\yj ; she was ever listened to with admiration, and 308 AUTOBIOaRAPHY OF in truth, though young, her judgment on all important matters was generally guided by sound sense. Every eye in the assembly flashed fiie at the intel- ligence of this contemplated treachery, and was direct- ed first upon me and then upon the As-ne-boines. 1 immediately arose and said, "Warriors! I conducted these people to our vil- lage because they said they were anxious to make peace with us. "While on the road, one young As-ne- boine, whom they declared to be a fool, attempted to shoot me, but the others interfered to prevent him, and were soiTy for what he had done. This was no delib- erate treachery ; it was the folly of the young man, and the party showed their friendly intention by their prompt interference. Do not allow this to make any ditficulty in the way of a peace with the As-ne-boines." My obligation to the Fur Company made it my duty to smooth the matter over, for at this moment the slightest whisper from me would have sufficed to hack the whole deputation to pieces in a moment. The council held a short consultation together, and the first councilor arose and thus addressed himself to the chief of the As-ne-boines : " As-ne-boines ! you behold that chief (pointing to me)? Our women and all our warriors carry him hero (holding out his left hand, and indicating the palm with a finger of his right hand); he is our chief; he is our great chief; he and his brother (Long Hair), who sits by him, are the two great chiefs of our nation. It is he who has made us great and powerful ; it i^ he whc has rendered us the terror of other nations ; it is ho who, by living with his white friends for many win- ters, and knowing them all, has brought us guns and ammunition, and taught our young men how to uro JAMES P. BECKWOUKTH. 309 lortant J Intel- direct- les. 1 ur vil- ► make As-nc- pted to ini, and delib- g man, by their ake any boines." 3 it my moment tfficed to ent. ler, and mself to nting to lim hero ilm with le is ouv who sits It is he wlic it is ho iTiy win- uns and to UPO them. It is he who has built us a fort, where we can at all times go and buy every thing we require. He loves the white man, and has made all the whites to love us. We tight fo' the whites, and kill their enemies, be- cause they are ihe friends of our chief. If you had killed him, our nation would have mourned in blood. " Listen, As-ne-boines ! If you had killed our chief, our whole nation would have made war on you, and we would have put out your last lire, and have killed the last man of your nation. We would have taken possession of your hunting-grounds ; our women would have become warriors against you; wq would luxve hunted you as we hunt the wild beasts. Now go ! we will not harm you. Go! W"e will sleep to-night; but we will not make peace until we sleep, and our liearts have considered upon it. Come to us again when your hearts arc clean : they are foul now ; and Avhen you come, you must have your tongues straight. You are poor ; you have no horses. We have plenty, and will give you horses. I have done. Go!" They made no reply, but went straightway out of the lodge. A horse was furnished to each man ; those who were without guns received one, and several arti- cles were presented to them by our women. *'Go! go! go!" was dinned in their ears from all present; and, accordingly, they went. They proceeded immediately to the trading-post, where they ga^ e a stirring narrative of what they had seen. They told them they had seen many chiefs, but never one approaching to the great Crow chief; that all his people loved him ; that when he entered the village, all the children ran up to him, and shook him by the hand ; and that they had never seen a chief so much respected b}* his warriors and all his people. 310 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF They lold how, when I arrived, I was presented with the host war-liorsc they had ever seen ; that he had two panther-skins on his saddle, and a collar about his neck trimmed with bears' claws, and a bridle sur- passing all they had ever heard of. They said that they would all have been killed on their approach to the village, as the Crows came to the camp during the night ; but that the great chief only spoke one word, and the tribe was stilled, and departed in a moment. Not a word did they mention about their attempt on my life. They merely said that the Crows would not make peace with them^ but had wished to treat again with them at some future time. I suspect they must have told marvelous tales when they reached home, for we were not troubled with them any more for a long time. The Crows have something of the Gallic tempera- ment : they must have excitement , no matter whence derived, although the excitement of war suits them by far the best. They were again clamorous for war, they did not care against whom, and I alone must lead them, as my presence was a guarantee of success. Many of my friends opposed my going. My father's medicine told him that I should meet with a great dis- aster. My wife pleaded with me to remain. Even the heroine, who never before showed reluctance to engage in war, had forebodings of disaster, and earnestly en- treated me to stay. But I had previously given my word to my warriors, and had selected one hundred and fifty-four of my best followers to engage in an ex- pedition. I must confess that if I had obeyed my own feelings, or, rather, if I had attended to my own mis- givings, I should certainly have staid at home. What motive prompted me to go ? and what gain could pos- JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 311 sibly accrue to mixing with savages in their intestine broils with other savages ? However, we started. Little White Bear, as brave 11 warrior as ever drew bow-string, was my second in command, and Pine Leaf was one of the number. We started for the Black Foot territory, traveling by way of the fort, where we staid three days. They had al- ready finished their pickets, and the work was progress- ing finely. There were fifty men employed upon it. Mr. TuUeck inquired where I was going. I told him tliat my warriors wanted employment, and, to gratify them, I was going to the Black Foot country in quest of scalps or horses. He said, " For God's sake, do not go, Jim ! I have a presentiment that a great ca- lamity awaits you — that I shall never see you again. For your own safety, turn back to the village, or rest liere." Many of my friends, who were working at the fort, expressed the same sentiments ; all mentioned a fore- boding that, if I should venture into the Black Foot country with my little force, I should infallibly be cut to pieces. I thought such despondency only natural, since they had been so badly harassed with the enemy that their fears magnified the danger. Still it was sin- giUar that both civilized and savage should give way to such forebodings. The morning for our departure came ; my warriors were impatient to get on. Some had galloped on ahead, and were prancing and curveting, awaiting my departure. I prepared my going with a heavy heart, which ill fortified me against the representations of my friends. I started, Mr. Tulleck and several of my friends accompanying me a few rods. I bade them good-by : my friend TuUeck's eyes filled with tears. I was 312 AUTOBIOGRAPF.Y OP .seized with momentary hesitation: what did all thi« j)ortcnd? I looked round for my moccasin-bearer; h(>, Jiad gone on : this determined me ; I dashed off to my waiTiors, resolved to listen to no such idle fears. There was a young gentleman with me named Hunt- ir, a Kentuckian, who, having a great curiosity to wit- ness an Indian battle, insisted on joining in the expe- dition. The first night that wc were encamped, behig influenced by what I had heard all around me, and fear- ing some disaster might happen to him among us, ] begged of him to go back to the fort and await our re- turn there. He refused to listen to me. We then of- fered him as many of our best horses as he might wish to select after our return, as an inducement for him to l»c Jiired to go back. But all in vaui. "I have start- ed witli you," he said, "and I will go ; if I am to lose my life, there is no help for it." My warriors did not wish him to go, as they feared a white man might bring us bad luck. Some expressed a fear that he might be killed with us, and that I should tlien cry. He was a free trapper in the country, and much respected at the fort. We continued our course until we arrived at Little Box Elder Creek. Here our spies discovered a Black l^'oot village, which, from a cursory examination, we (concluded consisted of but few lodges. At midnight we abstracted a large drove of about seven hundred horses, and started directly upon our return. We did not drive so fast as is customary on such occasions, for we thought that the few Black Feet that the village contained could be easily disposed of, should they ven- ture to molest us. About ten the next morning, our spies, being about six hundred yards in advance of us, signaled to us to JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 313 1 this cr; Ik'. to my Hunt- to wit- i expe- , being id I'ear- g us, 1 our re- tlien ot- ;lit wish • him to re start- 1 to lose y feared xpressed I shouhl try, and lat Little a Black ition, we lidnight [hundred Wc did Iccasions, le village (hey ven- about to us to hasten, as they Iiad discovered some men. Wc accel- erated our speed, thinking there might he a chance of adding a few scalj)s to our present booty. Having ad- vanced a few liundred yards, we discoAered more Jilack Veet than we liad bargained for, and I became aware that a terrible battle must ensue. The whole scene appeared alive with them, outnumbering us ten to one. There was not a moment to lose. I directed all i-ic boys to drive on the horses with the utmost speed pos- sible, and to await us two days at the fort ; if we should not arrive during that time, to go home and report to the village that wc were all slain. I also requested Mr. Hunter to select the best horse in the herd, and go with the boys. But he refused, saying, if there was any lighting in the wind, he wanted to have his hand in it. I then endeavored to persuade the heroine to go, but was answered with an emphatic "No!" The boys started with the horses, but only succeed- ed in reaching the fort with about two hundred. We had a very poor chance for defending ourselves against such an overwhelming force as was then before us in an open field-fight. There was no fort, nor breast-work, nor rocks, nor bushes to protect us, but we were ex- posed to the storm of bullets and arrows that they pour- ed upon us without ceasing. At last we discovered a large hole in front of a hill, and we all leaped into it for shelter. The enemy, confident of an easy victory, dis- played great bravery for Black Feet. They charged up to the very brink of our intrenchment, discharging their volleys at us in lines, which, considering the ad- vantage of their position, produced comparatively little effect. One of my warriors repeatedly ran out of the intrenchment alone, and drove all before him. Exas- perated at my cursed misadventure, and absolutely sick- O 314 AUTUBlOaRAFHY OF ening at tlic sceno of inouming we should occasion at the village, I grew desperate, and lost all consideration of sal'ety. I sprang from the gully, and rushed singly among a crowd of besiegers ; wherever I advanced tlic enemy drew Lack. It was truly astonishing to see three or four hundred recede, and many of them fairly run, as often as two or three of us showed ourselves at the top of tiic bank, when they might have burned us to death with the powder from the muzzles of their guns. They seemed to be panic-stnick or bewildered. '^I'ho warrior who had charged so often among them had his thigh broken ; he then sat down and tantalized them. He told them who he was, how many of their warriors' scalps he had taken, and at what times ; how many of their squaws and horses he had captured ; and then de- sired them to come and finisli him, and take his scalp, for it had long been forfeit to them. He reminded me of the words of the poet, which I had read when at home: " Remember the wood where in ambush we lay, And the scalps which we bore from your nation away ; Remember the arrows I shot from my bow, And remember your chiefs by my hatchet laid low." He was soon killed, being pierced with numerous ar- rows and bullets. An old brave in the pit exclaimed, *'Let us not stay in this hole to be shot like dogs ; let us go out and break through the ranks of the Black Feet. They can not kill us all ; some will get away. I will go fore- most; I can break through their ranks alone." Some hundreds of the enemy had climbed the hill, as they could not half of them get to the side of the pit, and thence they showered volleys of stones upon us, which annoyed us more than their bullets. At length. Little White Bear desired the old brave to lead, and we JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 315 n at tioii ngly L tl'e sec airlv cs at VIS to The id liis them, rriors' iny of en de- scalp, led nie home: ay; ■ous ar- ^ot stay )ut and ley can TO fore- 1 hill, as [the pit, Jpon us, length, and we would follow and break tlirough their line. I request- ed Hunter to keep as near the front as possible wlien we made the charge, as he Avould incur less danger of being cut dovvn. lie took his place accordingly. Out we rushed from the pit, the old warrior leading the way, and liewing down right and left, until the enemy finally opened tlieir column and suffered ua to pass through. We left twenty-four of our party behind, either killed in the pit, or cut down in forcing their column. I was near the rear, and, after passing a short distance from their line, I came upon poor Hunter, who Iiad his back broken by a ball, and was in a dying condition. I ask- ed him if he was badly hurt ; he answered, " Yes, I am dying; go on and save yourself: you can do me no good."' When the Little Bear came up to him, he sat down by his side and refused to leave him. He said, " I will die with my white friend, and go with him to the spirit land." I looked and saw him fall over upon the body of poor Hunter ; he was also killed. Pine Leaf had cut her way through in advance of me, and was dodging first one w^ay and then the other, as she awaited for me to cut up. " Why do you wait to be killed ?" she inquired. *'If you wish to die, let us return together ; I will die with you." We continued our v treat for a few miles, but the enemy no longer molested us ; he had not followed us more than two hundred yards. We had left all our robes behind us in the pit, that we might not be bur- dened with them in our charge. The weather was ex- tremely cold, and we halted to build a large fire, which we rested by all night, warming one side at a time. ai6 AIITOBIOIJUAI'HY OF The old l)ravc wlio led tlio uHaanlt loaf a son in the Htrit'c ; lie continued to sing all the wjiy until he became hoarse, and he could ning no more. 1 le prayed to the Great Spirit to give him an op))ortunity to avenge his loss, which ])rayer was accorded several times over dur- ing the ensuing winter. The heroine lost one joint off the little tinger of her right hand, amputated with a bul- let ; the little tinger of her other hand she had cut off at the death of her twin-brother. Fortunately, I had saved my capote, and I gave it to her to wear, as she was sufi'ering severely with the cold. We also killed several buffaloes on our way to the fort, and made wrap- pers of the raw hides for many of the men ; still a num- ber were badly frozen in tlieir bodies and limbs. This was my Russian campaign. I lost more men, and suffered more from the cold on this expedition, than in any other in which I had command either before or {^ince. The boys reached the fort with the horses before we did. They had more than enough to mount us all on our way home. There was great joy at the fort at our return in such numbers, as they had supposed it im- possible for one of us to escape. When I left the lamented Hunter upon the field, he said, " Jim, when you pass this way, I ask you to take my bones to the fort, and have them buried. Write home to my friends, and inform them of my fate. Good- by ! Now go and save yourself." " It shall be done," I said ; and the following spring it was done as I had promised. We resteJ. at the fort four or five days to recruit ourselves. While staying there, a party of thirty war- riors from Long Hair's village came to see how they were progressing with the fort. There were some in lar JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 317 I the Kunie the V his • (lur- it off ibul- iitoff 1 had IS she killed wrap- L num- e men, n, than tore or fore we all on at our it im- ield, he to take Write Good- spring recruit ty war- )w they some in my party who belonged to that villn,«;c, and they re- turned witli them. Thoy also inlbrniod ns where our village was, as it had been removed during our ab- sence. Having provided ourselves with robes in the place of those we had left behind, we started onward with dejected feelings, and in deep mourning. On our arrival we found the village likcnvise in mourning. They had lost four warriors by the Black Feet while resisting an attempt to steal our horses. When informed of our disaster, there was a general re- newal of their lamentations ; more fingers were lopped, and heads again scarihed. The ^Medicine Calf had been defeated, and for some lii<iden cause the Great Spirit was again wroth with the (Jrows. CHAPTER XXII. Meteoric Shower. — Its Effect upon the Indians. — Their Sacrifice to the Great Spirit. — Continued Hostilities with the Black Feet. — A Black Foot burned in the Crow Village. — Visit to the Fort. In case any captious " elders of the congregation" had been inclined to throw the blame of my recent dis- aster upon my shoulders, I was provided witii a suffi- cient portent to screen me from consequences. After quitting the fort on our way to Little Box Elder (as be- fore related), and while exhausting all my powers of persuasion to induce Mr. Hunter to return, we observed a remarkable meteoric shower, which filled us all (more particularly my followers) with wonder and admiration. This was at our first encampment after leaving the fort in the latter end of October, 1832. Although my war- riors were ready to face death in any form, this singu- lar phenomenon appalled them. It was the >vrath of 818 AUTOBIOaRAPHY OP llio (Jronl ►Spirit Blioworod vinibly upon them, and they looknl <o mo, in rpiality of niodicinc, chid', to intnrprot tho -woiidor. t waH aa nuich struck with the prodig- ious occTirronco, and was equally at a loss with my un- tut(>rr(l followers to account for the s])cctacle. Kvi- (Icntly 1 nnist augur some result therefrom, and my dejected spirits did not prom])t nu*, to deduce a very encouraging one. 1 thought of all the impostures that arc practiee<l n])on the credulous, and my imjigination suggested some brilliant figures lo my mind. 1 thought of declaring to them that theCireat Spirit was pleased with our expedition, and was lighting us on our way with spirit lani})s ; or that these meteors were the spir- its of our (le))artcd braves, coming to assist us in our forthcoming tight. Hut 1 was not sanguine enough to indulge in any attractive oratory. [ merely informed them 1 had not time to consult my medicine, but that on our return to the village I would interpret the mir- acle to tliem in full. On our arrival, I found the people's minds still agi- tated with the ]n-odigy. All were speaking of it in wonder and amazement, and my opinion was demand- ed res])ecting the consequences it portended. Admon- ished by my defeat, I had no trouble in reading the stars. I informed them that our people had evidently offended the (Ircat Spirit ; that it was because of his wrath I had suffered defeat in my excursion, and re- turned with the loss of twenty-three warriors. I thence inferred that a sacrifice must be made to appease the wrath of the Great Spirit, and recommended that a solemn assembly be convened, and a national oblation offered up. I was fully confident that by thus countenancing such pagan superstitions I was doing very wrong, but, pie wa^ was JAMES V. BECKWOUKTII. 319 they •yiret )(lig- r un- Kvi- l my very \ that ation aught cased r way » apir- in our iish to brmcd it thjit ic mir- ill agi- f it in mand- dmon- ; the dently of his [ind re- thence ase the that a blation lancing ng, but, like many a more prominent staleaman in civilized govcrnmentH, 1 had found that I must go witli the cur- rent, and I reconnncnded a measure, not because it was of a nature to benefit the country, but simply ])e- cause it was popuhir with the mass. Tlie camp in wliich we tlicn were was a mourning- camp, in wliich medicine would have no ('(feet. There- fore we moved to Sulphur River, ten miles distant, in order to offer up our sacrifice. All the leading men and braves assembled, and I was consulted as to the kind of offering j)roj)er to make for the purpose of averting the wrath that was consumine; us. 1 ordered them to bring the great medicine kettle, which was of brass, and capable of holding ten gallons, and was pur- chased Jit a cost of twenty fine robes, and to polish it as bright as the sun's face. This done, I ordered them to throw in all their most costly and most highly- prized trinkets, and whatsoever they cherished the most dearly. It was soon filled with their choicest treasures. Keepsakes, fancy work on which months of incessant and patient toil had been expended, trin- kets, jewels, rings so highly prized by them that the costliest gems of emperors seemed poor by their side — all these were thrown into the kettle, along with a bountiful contribution of fingers, until it would hold no more. I then had weights attached to it, and had it carried to an air-hole in the ice where the river was very deep, and there it was sunk with becoming cere- mony. Three young maidens, habited like May queens, carried the burden. This gi'eat sacrifice completed, the minds of the peo- ple were relieved, and the result of the next war-party was anxiously looked forward to to see if our oblation was accepted. Their crying, however, continued unar 320 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF bated, so much to the derangement of my nervous sys- tem that I was fain to retire from the village and seek some less dolorous companionship. My bosom friend and myself therefore started off unnoticed, and traveled on without stopping until we came to a hill some seven or eight miles distant. He was pre-eminently a great brave, at all times self-possessed and unobtru- sive. I always considered him as endowed with the most solid sense, and possessing the clea^ est views of any Indian in the nation. His spirits were generally somewhat dejected, but that I attributed to the loss of all his relatives. When I wished to enjoy a little converse or sober meditation, he always was my chosen companion, as there were qualities in his character which interested me and assimilated with my own. He never craved popularity, never envied the elevation of others, but seemed rather to rejoice at another per- son's success. He would listen to me for an entire day when I spoke of my residence with the whites, and told of their great battles, where thousands were slain on both sides ; when I described their ships car- rying immense guns capable of sweeping hundreds of men away at a discharge ; and when I depicted to him their forts, to which our forts for size or strength were but as ant-hills. I then would tell him of the great Atlantic Ocean, and the millions of white men living beyond it ; of countries where there was no summer, and others where there was no winter, and a thousand otlier marvels, of which I never spoke to other warriors, as their minds were too limited to comprehend me. After listening to me with the deepest attention until I would grow tired of talking, he would seem to be per- fectly amazed, and would I e lost in a deep reverie for f^ome time, as though endeavoring to raise his ideas to JAMES P. BECKWOUUTH. 321 us sys- [id seek 1 friend raveled il some linently .nobtrii- ^ith the lews of enerally the loss • a little Y chosen haraeter ly own. devation ther per- ,n entire whites, ids were [lips car- reds of Id to him th were ,ie great In living summer, liousand rarriors, me. ion until be per- ^erie for 1 ideas to a level with the vast matters he had been listening to. Occasionally he would tell me of the traditions handed down from generation to generation in the Indian race, in which he was " elegantly learned." He told me of the mighty tribes of men who had once inhabited this vast continent, but were now exterminated by inter- necine wars ; that their fathers had told them of a great flood, which had covered all the land, except the highest peaks of the mountains, where some of the in- habitants and the buffaloes resorted, and saved them- selves from destruction. We were on a hill, as before mentioned, some seven or eight miles from the village, engaged in one of these long cosmographical discussions, when my companion, chancing to turn his head, descried some object at a great distance. Pointing it out to me with his finger, " There is a people," he exclaimed. I looked in the direction indicated, and saw a small party of Black Feet approaching. " Sit still," said I, " and let us see where they en- camp ; w^e will have every one of them to-night." We watched them until they halted at a couple of small Indian forts, with which the country abounds, and we saw they were soon joined by four or five oth- ers who came from another direction, and who were ev- idently scouts. From the direction which they came, I saw they had not discovered our village. "Now," said I, "let us return; we will have that party. We will collect a few trusty warriors, and not mention our discovery to a living soul, not even tell- ing our warriors the errand we are upon until we get within sight of the camp-fires of the enemy. Then we will return with their scalps, and put an end to this howling that deafens my ears." 02 322 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP We started on our way to the village. I desired him to select from his friends, and I would assemble my own. "No," said he, "my friends are fools. I don't want them. But you collect your warriors, and I will be one of them." Accordingly, I went to my father, and desired him to send for about seventy-five of my brothers and rel- atives, and tell them the Medicine Calf wished to see them ; but I charged him not to tell them they were going a vay from the village. As they mustered one at a time, I acquainted them that I wanted them to leave tiie village singly and with the utmost secrecy, to meet me with their guns and battle-axes at a cer- tain hour and in such a place, and in the mean time to answer no word to whatever question might be asked them. At the appointed hour I repaired to the post, and found them all in readiness. I then marched them to the place of attack. When we arrived within sight of our foes we found them all very merry ; they were sing- ing the Wolf Song, or Song of the Spies, they having no suspicion that they were so near to the Crow vil- lage. We went cautiously up to the forts, which were but a few yards apart ; and while they were yet sing- ing we pointed our guns, and, at a signal given by me. all lired. The whole party were slain ; their notes were cut short in death. Taking their scalps (nineteen in number) and guns, we reached our village by day- light, and entered it singing, dancing, and shouting. The village was aroused, and men, women, and chil- dren came running from all directions to learn the cause of the disturbance. We displayed our nineteen scalps, and I took to myself full credit for the force of my JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 328 nble want 11 be L him d rel- ;o see were id one em to icrecy, a cer- ime to asked st, and hem to ;htof e sing- having ow vil- 2h were 3t sing- hy me. r notes lineteen y day- ting, d chil- iie cause scalps, of my medicine in divining where to find the foe, and cogni- zance was taken of the fact in the medicine lodse. We liad five days' dancing to do full justice to this brilliant achievement, and I had become so tired of their continual mourning that their savage yells of de- light seemed quite a luxury. One i.iglit a party of Black Feet came to borrow some of our horses, and liappened to be caught in the fact. Tlie alarm was given, the marauders fired upon, and one of them had his leg broken by a ball. He was found the next morning, unable to get awaj^; but lie sat up and defended himself until he had shot his last arrow. He was then brought into the village, and it was decided to burn him. A large fire was built, which was surrounded by hundreds, and when the fire was well burnt up the poor fellow was thrown in. This was the first act of the kind I had ever known the Crows to commit ; but there was no preventing it. It is an appalling sight to behold a human being, or even an inferior animal, perish in the flames ; I trust my eyes may never witness such another scene. To see the writhing agony of the suffering wretch when cast into the darting flames, and hear his piercing slu-ieks as the blaze gradually envelops his whole body, until the life is scorched out of the victim, and he falls prostrate among the logs, soon to become a charred mass of cinders undistinguishable from the el- ement that consumed it — it is indeed a sight only fit for savages to look at. I learned this one truth while I was with the In- dians, namely, that a white man can easily become an Indian, but that an Indian could never become a white man. Some of the very worst savages I ever saw in the Rocky Mountains were white men, and I could :^24 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF mention their names and expose some of their deeds, but they have most probably gone to their final ac- count before this. Our village now moved on toward the fort to pur- chase our spring supplies. Both villages could only raise forty packs of beaver and nineteen hundred pa-^ks of robes ; but for tlicir continual wars, tiiey could as easily have had ten packs for one. But it is impos- sible to confine an Indian to a steady pursuit — not even fighting ; after a while he will even tire of that. It is impossible to control his wayward impulses ; applica- tion to profitable industry is foreign to his nature. He is a vagrant, and he must wander ; he has no associa- tions to attach him to one spot ; he has no engendered habits of thrift or productiveness to give him a constant aim or concentration of purpose. Both villages at length assembled at the new fort, and our spring trading was briskly entered into. We rested for over a week, and I then proposed moving, as the time was approaching for our building a new medi- cine lodge. The night preceding our proposed depart- ure, thieves were discovered among our horses ; the alarm was given, and a party went in pursuit. They returned with six Sioux scalps, and two of our own men wounded. The remainder of the rascals succeed- ed in getting away with sixteen of our animals, we not considering them worth follo^ving after. We then postponed oiu* departure four days, and de- voted ourselves to noise and festivity. The welkin ning with our shouts, and the fort shook with the thun- der of our earthquake step. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 32/ ;> CHAPTER XXIII. Removal to our Tobacco-ground.-Expedition to the Arrap-a-hos for Horses. -Discovered, and the Party scattered. - Wanderings for fourteen Months.-Return at last amid tremendous Rejoicing We left tlic fort, and proceeded toward our tobacco- ground. We planted the seed, and spent a short time m festivity. It was deemed inexpedient to build a medicine lodge this season, as all the business could be transacted in a temporary one. Our stock of horses being greatly diminished, we deemed this a fitting time to try and replenish it, and various small parties sallied out for that purpose. I left with only seventeen wan-iors for the country of the Arrap-a-hos, situated on the head-waters of the Arkan- sas. On arriving at their village we found a great number of horses, upon which we made a descent; but we were discovered before we could lay our hands on any, and had to scatter in all directions in our effort to escape. One of our party had his leg broken with a rifle ball, but he did not fall into the enemy's hands, as lie crawled away and secreted himself. Two months subsequently he found his way home, with his leg near- ly healed. He stated that, after receiving his wound, he plunged into the river, which flowed close by, and swam to an island, there concealing himself in a thick brush. The enemy moved away the next day, and lie swam back to thdr camping-ground, where he found an abundance jf meat, which he carried over to his quarters; upon this he fared sumptuously until he .n2() AITTOniOGRAPHY OF was .strong enough to walk; then Jio made hia way home. I saw tlie villag<' move the next monn'ng, and, gath- eri. <2' t'our ot'mv scattered eompanions, I followed tiie en- emy at a respectt'nl (Ustance until they oneamped lor the next night. We then made another descent upon their J'old, anil sneeeeded in obtaining eaeh man a horse. Wi; saw no more ot' the remains of our ]»arty until Ave re- lunKvl to our village upward of a year suhs(M|uently. Wo eame to the resolution to quit the .\rra|)-a-lioa, and pay the Snakes a visit. On reaeliing them avc found horses in ahundanee, and could have levied upon them for any numl)er; hut, being at ])eace with tlie trihc, we contented ourselves with exchanging our jaded and foot-sore animals for tive tVcsh ones from their drove. Here we drop|)ed an arrow, and they recogni/,c(l it for a Crow arrow reaihly ; Ave also ])ut on new moccasins, and left our old ones behind us. AMien the Snakes i'ell in Avith the CroAvs some time after, they charged them Avith stealing their horses, Avhich charge tlie C/roAVS strenucmsly denied. '^IMie Snakes ])ersisted, and, to contirm their accusation, produced the arroAV and the abandoninl n\occasins. This satistied the Crows thai it nmst he some of the Arrap-a-ho expedition, and hopes of our sat'ety Avere revived. From the Snakes Ave ])assed on to tlie Flat Head territory, Avhere avc found thousands of horses, but felt ourselves under the same moral restrictions as Avith the Snakes. Vccordingly, aa'G merely exchanged again, and again left hvc pairs of moccasins. Subsequently they made the same charge against the CroAA^s, and accused them of infringing the treaty. The CroAvs again plead- ed innocence, and a&ain the moccasins convicted them of their guilt. They, however, resorted to diplomatic JAMES P. nECKWOlIRTU. 327 fjiessr,, aiul ..:' a|)])rul to .'iriiiH was averted. Again tlu;ir liOj)os were rekindled of .seeing us once more. We tlien took a notion to pay tiic Coutnees a fly- ing visit, where we made another exchange. Wc could have taken all the horses we wanted, hut, to get home witli them, we must have taken a wide circuit, or have passed through the lerritory of two hostile nations. "We next moved lo the As-ne-boine Iliver, which emp- ties into Hudson's Bay. Here we borrowed one hund- red and fifty head of hne horses from the Blood Indians, and started on our way home. Wc arrived, without accident, at the IMussel Shell liiver, within one day's ride of our own people, where wc encamped, intending to reach liome the next day ; but that night the Crows swept away every liorse we had, not even leaving us one for our own use. AV' c nmst liave slept very sound- ly during the night ; indeed, wc were all greatly fa- tigued, for we did not hear a single movement. In getting our liorses, they glorified themselves over hav- ing made a glorious haul from the JMack Feet. Not liking to be foiled in our resolution to return home with a respectabki accompaniment of horses, we retraced our steps to tlie As-ne-boine River, intending to start another drove. On our return we found our friends had left, and had crossed to the other side of tiie mountain. Wc followed on, but delayed so long on the western slope, that the heavy snow-storms now falling cut off all possibility of returning home before spring ; therefore we built a comfortable lodge in what was called Sweet jMountain, in a cafion, where we could kill a buffalo every day, the skins of which, cov- ered entirely over our lodge, made a very agreeable abode for the winter. We also killed several large wolves, and dressed their skins in the nicest manner. 328 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP We likewise took three Black Foot scalps. The In- dians whose horses we had been in pursuit of, after having roamed about considerably, had gone into win- ter quarters only twelve or lifteen miles distant ; their smoke was visible from our lodge. On the return of spring we visited our neighbors' camp, and selected one hundred and twenty head of sucli horses as wc thought would stand the journey. We then returned over the mountain, and reached as far as the Judith in safety, which was within three days' ride of the village. We were greatly fatigued, and halted to encamp for the night and rest our jaded horses. Agair the Crows stripped us of every horse, leaving us on fcot once more. Resolved not to be beat, we determined to try our luck a third time before we returned to our village. I told my four companions that my medicine promised me success, and that when we did eventually get home we should be able to see what amount of aifection was felt toward us by our people, by ascertaining how much crying had been done for us. I had no doubt w'e had been mourned as dead, for we had been absent above a year. During this time, we subsequently learned, there had been great mourn- ing for us, and many had cut off their hair. My fa- ther, however, still persisted that I was alive, and would some day return, and he would allow none of his family to cut off their fingers for me. At the time the Flat Heads went in wuth their complaint, they were about to elect another chief to fill my place ; but when they saw tlie five pairs of moccasins produced, they knew they must have had Crow wearers, and their hopes were revived of again seeing us, and tlie election ceremony was postponed. My father would have no steps taken toward filling my vacant place be- JAMES P. BECKWOIRTH. 321) fore tlie erection of the next medicine lodge. He said he did not know where his Calf hud rambled, and it was his firm belief that in the course of time he would ramble home again. When we reached the As-ne-boine for the third time, we found that our friends who had accommodated us with the two previous droves of horses had gone over the irountain, and passed down that river to Fort Row, one of the Hudson's Bay trading-posts. By the ap- pearance of their trail we judged that they had been joined by other villages, probably from the Coutnees and Pa-gans, all on their way to the trading-post for tlie purchase of their spring supply of goods. Wo followed their trail for several days, which grew fresh- er and fresher, until one afternoon we came suddenly upon a horse. We were at that time in thick timber, with a dense growth of underbrush, and thousands of wild pea-vines about. On seeing the horse we halted suddenly. On look- ing farther around, we discovered horses of all colors and stripes, ring-streaked and speckled. Shortly the sound of voices reached our ears. In an instant we stooped down and crept under the almost impenetra- ble vines, nor did we venture to move from our hiding- place until night. We could distinctly hear the chat- ter of men, women, and children around us, and some of the squaws came most dangerously near when gath- ering tire-wood for their camp-fires. We could occa- sionally peep out, and we saw in those glimpses that they had beautiful horses, and, besides, that they were in good traveling condition. We then felt no doubt that the Coutnees were in company, since they al- ways prided themselves in spotted horses, as Jacob of old took pride in spotted cattle. In that encamp- 330 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ment it so little entered into their heads to anticipate nioleatation that they had placed no ho»se-guards to keep watch. Tlie noise of the horses in tearing through the pea- vines assisted us materially in our nocturnal enter- prise. We selected two hundred and eighty of their largest, strongest,, ar ^ handsomest cattle, with which we lost no time in making direct for Crow-land ; nor did we venture to give rest to their hoofs until a jour- ney, continued through three days and nights, placed what we considered a safe distance between us. We then ventured to encamp for the niglit, to afford to the poor tired-out animals an opportunity to rest for a while, but starting off at early dawn to preclude all possibility of recapture. On the fifth day we discovered an Indian a short ^stance from our trail, who was coming in an oblique direction toward us. lie stopped on the hill-side at some little distance off, and motioned for us to ap- proach him. Supposing him to be a Crow, I desired my companions to drive on, while I went to see what he wanted. When I had approached within a few yards of him, he put on an air of surprise, and placed his hand to his shoulder with the intention of drawing his bow. I sprang upon him instantly and cut him down, and despoiled him of his scalp and quiver. When about to leave to overtake my companions, I perceived the distant smoke of a Black Foot village sit- uated immediately in the direction that we were jour- neying, and it was beyond doubt that the Indian I had just killed was a spy belonging to that village. He must have mistaken us for some of his own tribe, and only discovered his mistake when I approached near enough for him to distinguish my features. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 3:n ticipate ards to the pca- l entcr- of their ii which nd ; nor I a jour- 5, placed IS. We •d to the !St for a jlude all . a short I oblique l-side at s to ap- [ desired see what in a few id placed ' drawing cut him quiver, anions, I illage sit- rere jour- Indian I t village, wn tribe, (proached Ires. My companions returning to mc, wo altered our course, and passed over a mountain covered with deep snow, so hard, liowever, that we passed it without los- ing a horse. Tliis was one of the spurs of tlie Eocky ]\Iountains, and covered with perpetual snows. After sixteen days of almost incessant travel day and night, we came in siglit of our village just as the sun was sinking behind the distant mountains. We approached within a mile of the village, and encamped under a small hill, as yet unperceived by our people, for the hill in the shelter of which we lay was between ourselves and the village. It was now the latter end of June (I think), in the year 1834. After resting a while, T thought to get some tobac- co, to indulge in a smoke before making our grand entree, at the same time requesting my companions to keep a sharp look-out, and see that the Crows did not steal our horses again. Finally, three of us en- tered incog., and smoked with several of the old men, not one of whom recognized us or once thought of us. We passed all through the village, looking leisurely about us ; the streets were full of people, yet not one bestowed a thought on us. When it became some- what late, and the inhabitants had principally retired, I dismissed my two companions to the camp, telling them I would get some tobacco, and rejoin them in a short time. I then entered the lodge of one of my wives, who was asleep in bed. I shook her by the arm, and aroused her. Waking, she inquired, " Who is this in the lodge ?" I answered, "It is your husband." "I never had but one husband," she replied, "and he is dead." "No,"saidI, "lamhe." a32 AUTOBIOQRAJMIY OF " You arn not dead, 'lien, ns we liave believed?" "No," I said; "I have been wandering a long ■while, and have only just returned." *' VVe all mourned you," .she continued, *' many moona ago, and wc all mourn you now every day. VVe believed that the enemy had killed you." " No," I said, " [ escaped. I have now brouglit home a large drove of beautiful spotted horses, and it" you will do as 1 wish you, you shall have your choice of the whole drove, and you will become a medicine woman also." " 1 will do what you wish me," she replied. " Well, 1 want you, when you get up in the morn- ing, to re(|uest i\n\ village to refrain from crying for one sun. Tell them that you dreamed that I eanio lionu^. riding a large and spotted horse, having the oth- er four men with me ; that wc had nearly three hund- red of the most beautiful horses you evei saw, and that we rode with large wolf-skins spread oi horses' backs, mine being as white as the drifted snow." She agreed to do all as I had bidden her; I then left her lodge ; but, before quitting the village, I called in at my father's lodge. All was still around, and, en- tering on tip-toe, I reached down the medicine shield, which no one but his wife or eldest son is privileged to handle, and, opening it, 1 took out all his medicine tobacco, carrying it back to the camp with me, and then reidaced the shield upon its peg. I then return- ed to our camp, and enjoyed a good smoke with my companions, our spirits waxing elate at the surprise we had in store. Early the next morning, the woman, true to her word, narrated her dream to the astonished inhabit- ants, with whatever additions her own fancy suggest- .lAMKS I'. IIKCKWOIUTH. 333 a lono; *♦ many ry day. I, ami if ir choic.o. iicdicino le inorn- rying for L 1 canio r the oth- i-cc liuiul- saw, aiul • horses* t)W. I then , I called , and, cn- nc shield, privileged medicine I me, and en return- 5 with my urprise we •ue to her ;d inhabit- y suggest- ed. ]\Iy lather and niotlior lintenc'd attentively to her revelation ; and, hotitre hIic, liad got througli with her narrative, she iuul quite a nunicroiiH auditory, Wc were watching the occurrence from the brow of the Itill ; and, knowing she would have to rehearse her vision several times before it was generally known throughout the village, wc did not hurry to show our- selves. My fiither and motlicr, having heard her through, turned and entered their lodge. Suddenly the medi- cine shield caught my mother's eye — it had evidently been moved. My father to^k it down and opened it — tUe tobacco was gone. This 0})ened the "old gcn- tlcnian's'' eyes. " It is well," he said ; " my son lives I" and he believed the substance of the dream as fervently as the prophetess who uttered it. The by- standers, seeing his medicine so strong, and he be- ginning to sing and dance, they all Joined in, until the noise of their revelry reached us on our distant em- inence. Now was our time. We mounted our caparisoned steeds, and, forming oursdves in procession, we com- menced our grtand entree^ singing and shouting at the top of our voices. Our tones are heard, and the vil- lagers gaze around in surprise. "Hark I" they ex- claimed; "look yonder! there are five men mounted on large spotted steeds. Who are they ?" All was hushed as the grave in the village, each striving to catch the sound of oar distant strains. The five horsemen disappeared as if by magic, and reap- peared driving a large drove of horses before them of all colors. The horsemen again pause on the summit. "Hark! listen! they sing again ! Who can they be?" Not a soul yet stirred from the village. We drove 334 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF our horses down toward them, and left them there, while we took a circuit around, displaying our scalps, but still keeping over gunshot distance. The old men came out to us, carrying drums; each of us took one, and then we bounded away to the rear of our horses. We raised a well-known song, and all listened to the tones of the returning Medicine Calf. At length our wives and relatives broke away from the throng, and darted over the plain to meet us. They fairly flew over the intervening space to welcome us in their arms. A tall sister of mine outstripped the rest, and arrived first, and immediately after my little wife was also by my side. After a warm grouting exchanged with tliese, the warriors came up, and saluted us with a shout that would have aroused Napoleon's Old Guard from their graves. We were lifted from our horses, and almost denuded of our clothing, and carried by the impetuous throng into the village. My father had painted his face into an exact resemblance of Satan, in token of his joy at my happy return. I was kissed and caress- ed by my mother, sisters, and wives until I fairly gasp- ed for breath. Any person who has never beheld a real downright rejoicing among savages can form buv a faint concep- tion of their unrestrained manifestations ; words can convey no adequate idea of it. Being untutored and natural, and not restricted by any considerations of grace or propriety, they abandon themselves to their emotions, and no gesture is too exaggerated, no dem- onstration too violent for them to resort to. My friend, with many others, had given me up for dead, and had adopted another in my place ; so that there were now three of us who all knew one anoth- er's secrets. Pine Leaf was overjoyed at my return. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 335 there, 5calps, .d men k one, lorses. to the jth our ig, and ly flew r arms, arrived also by 1 tljfise, )ut that m their . almost petuous ited his oken of L caress- ly gasp- iwnright concep- )rds can ored and tions of to their no dem- le up for ; so that 18 anoth- y return. She had become confident of my death, and was only waiting to ascertain the nation that had killed me in order to revenge my loss, or be sacrificed to my ma- nes. Couriers were immediately dispatched to the oth- er village to acquaint them with our return, and to in- vite them to participate in the celebrations of the event. Long Hair returned for answer, " Tell my brother I will fly to see him." They lost six warriors on their way to our village, through carelessly straggling in de- tached parties, consequently they came to us in mourn- ing for their loss. The two droves of horses which the Crows had re- leased us of were all religiously returned. Those that tlie captors had given away were promptly delivered up, so that we were now in possession of a very nu- merous drove. I distributed my share among my rel- atives, friends, wives, and wives' relatives, until I had only just enough for my own use. I gr.ve my fatlier an elegant steed, the largest in the whole drove. To the heroine I gave a spotted four-year-old, a perfect beauty, one that I had intended for her as we were driving them home. He proved to be a superior war- horse, and there were but few among the thousands that we possessed that could distance him with her upon his back. She was very proud of him, and would suffer no one but herself to ride hira. It took me a long time to rehearse all our adven- tures while away. I was required to do it very mi- nutely and circumstantially — even to describe all our camping-grounds, and relate every minute occurrence that transpired during our long pilgiimage. We had certainly incurred exceeding risk in the route we had traveled; in recurring to it I marveled at our escape. Any five men might start upon such 336 AUTOBIOGllAl'HY OF an adventure, and not one party in ten would ever re- turn. I reflected, however, that I was a little more sa- gacious than the Indians, and that I had my physical faculties as well developed as theirs. I could see fully as quick as they could, and ride as fast, if they under- took to chase me in the mountains. I now found that I had thousands of friends, wheth- er attracted by my fancy horses or not, and that I was the idol of my proud parents. The mother of Black Panther always lived with my father, and if both sur- vive, I presume she does to this day. I gave him the child when it was quite young, to adopt as his son, in obedience to his reiterated solicitations. CHAPTER XXIV. Excursion to the Fort. — Great Battle with the Cheyenncs on the Way. — Rejoicing on my Arrival at the Fort. — Horses stolen by the Cheyennes. — Pursuit and Battle with the Thieves. — Battle with the Black Feet. — Return to our Village. When the rejoicings were over, a council was call- ed to deliberate on the future operations of the nation, wherein the resolution was taken to keep united until Leaf Fall. About the latter end of August I started for the fort, taking with me thlree hundred and fifty warriors, with as many women and children, among whom was my little wife. While on our way thither, we encamped one night on Fallen Creek, and lost up- ward of fifty horses, stolen by the Cheyennes. We pursued them with our whole force, and, soon overtak- ing them, a fight ensued between numbers about equal. I had charged in advance of the line, and, as I was al- ways dressed in full costume when on these excur- JAMES 1'. BECKWOURTH. 337 er re- re sa- ysical s fully inder- dietli- 1 was Black ;h sur- im the LS son, s on the en by the with the as call- nation, ed until started nd fifty among thither, lost up- s. We f>vertak- it equal. was al- excur- sions, I oftered an excellent mark to any one skilled in shooting. I was proceeding at an easy canter, when my horse was shot through the head, the ball entering near the ear, and he fell, his last spring hurling me head foremost against a huge rock, which I struck with such force that I saw another dense meteoric shower, and the blood gushed from my mouth, nose, and ears. When I recovered my senses I found both parties over me, each struggling to obtain me. The Crows pre- vailed eventually, and my scalp was saved. My war- riors were fully convinced of my death, as I lay so long motionless ; but they were determined to preserve my scalp. The enemy, seeing our women and children approach, mistook them for a re-enforcement of Crow warriors, and they gave up the contest and fled precip- itately, leaving us masters of the field, with all the liorses they had just stolen from us, besides a great number of their own, which they had not time to drive off. We only obtained three scalps from the enemy, losing none ourselves, though we had several warriors wounded. We then resumed our journey to the fort, reaching there without farther trouble. When we arrived with- in sight and hearing, we, as usual, struck up a song. All the women from the fort ran out, exclaiming, " Here comes a war-party of the Crows ; they are singing 1 Look at their scalps : they come from the country of the Cheyennes ; they have conquered our enemies. See, they are all painted !" I had long been supposed dead at the fort. It was conjectured that Big Bowl (my father) had the conduct of the party, and there was no inquiry made for me. We entered amid a thousand How d'ye do's, and my wife and "Little Jim" were comfortably provided with P 338 AUTOBIOUKAl'lIY OP the best qu.arters in the fort. I was standing among the busy throng, who had already fallen to admire the new goods, still feeling the effects of my severe shake, when 1 saw one of the female inmates eye me very in- (^iiiringly. She inquired of my wife who that Indian was. She answered, "lie is my husband." " What ! are you married again V" the woman ex- claimed, in astonishment. " No, not «</«//*," she replied, in her very modest manner ; " did you not know that the Medicine Calf was alive and had returned ?" " Then that surely is the Medicine Calf," the wom- an exclaimed, "now standing in the fort!" and ran to Mr. Tulleck to acquaint him with the news. "Where is he? where is the Medicine Calf?" Mr. Tulleck called aloud, and looking among the tlirong without perceiving me. I addressed him in English, calling him by name. I thought at iirst that he would fall to the ground ; it was some seconds before he could sjjeak, his aston- ishment was so overwhelming. At last he found tongue, and broke out in all kinds of expressions of joy and welcome. The men, too, attached to the fort, on hearing of my arrival, came running in with their utmost speed to welcome one whom they had all long since supposed dead. So heartfelt a welcome I could not have expected. Little Jim had been taken from his mother's hand before it was known that I was present. He was a general pet at the fort, and it usually took one good horse to carry all the presents bestowed upon mother and child. He was then near three years old, running every where, and was already looked upon by the Crows as their future chief. We tarried at the fort a few days, engaged in hunt- JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 339 OTlg the a,ke, r'm- dian L CX- Ddest Calf wom- an to " Mr. lirong ame. ound ; astoii- found 9ns of fort, their I long could om his iresent. y took d upon lars old, pon by le n hunt- ing buffalo for its men and our own family. Our con- sumption -was several carcasses a day. During my long absence the Crows had neglected their traps, and they had not dressed more than half the usual number of robes, which caused a sensible falling off in tlie trade of the fort, and diminished very materially the prolits derived by the company from Fort Cass. No reduc- tion, however, was made in my salary on account of my absence, which 1 considered very liberal conduct on the part of the company. My warriors, becoming uneasy at their inactive life, desired to be led against the Black Feet. To gratify them, I selected one hundred and six warriors, and sent the others back to the village with the women and children, except my wife, whom I requested to stay at the fort to await my return. We marched into the enemy's country, and in the daytime came suddenly upon one of their villages. Tiierc were lodges enough to contain three hundred warriors, but tliey were prob- ably gone upon an expedition, for there were but few present to receive us. We unhesitatingly assaulted it, although we had but little fighting to do. We took upward of twenty scalps, and eighteen women and chil- dren prisoners. We captured two hundred and sixty horses, besides weapons, clothing, and other spoils. Here I succeeded in having a good joke at the he- roine's expense, with which I plagued her for a long time. She was swifter on foot than any warrior, and we were on foot during this excursion. On seeing us advance, a young Indian, about sixteen, took to his lieels, running like a deer. The heroine made after him witli her antelope speed, certain to catch him. The Indian did his best, frequently turning his head, Uke a negro with an alligator at his heels. Seeing that 340 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF his pursuer must overtake him, and not relishing thu idea of liaving her lance transfix his body — for she was preparing to hurl it — he suddenly stopped and faced about, at the same time throwing his bow down and holding up both hands to beg for his life. She did what no other warrior in our party would have done — her woman's heart took pity on the poor fellow's piti- able condition — she spared his life, and marched him back captive. He being her prisoner, no one had authority over hi& life but herself. He was a fine-looking young man, but when he was brought among the Crow warriors he trembled in every joint, expecting nothing less than to be killed. I thought this too good an opportunity for a joke not to make use of it. "I see,'' said I, addressing myself to Pine Leaf, " you liave refused all our braves that you might whi a husband from the enemy." All the warriors shouted at the sally ; but the poor girl was sorely perplexed, and knew not what to do or say. We rallied her so much on her conque&t that she finally became quite spunky, and I did not know whether she would run her prize through with her lance or not. One day I told her I had talked with her prisoner about his capture. " Well," said she, " and what has he to say about it ?" " Why," I answered, *' he says he could have killed you as well as not, but that you promised to marry him if he would spare your life." She was fully practiced upon, and she flushed with anger. "He lies !" she exclaimed. "You know I can not speak to these Black Feet, or I would make him tell a different tale. I have often told you, as well a.< JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 341 other warriors, that I do not wish to marry ; my tongue was straight when I said so. I have told you often, and I have told your sisters and your wives, that, if ever I did marry, I would have you, and none other. So why do you trifle with my feelings ?" What she said was a genuine ebullition of feeling; for, although an Indian girl, her heart was as proud, as sensitive, and as delicate as ever beat in the breast of civilized woman. To soothe her ruffled temper, I told her I would intrust a secret to her. I had undertaken my prolonged journeying, when all supposed me dead, and she along with the rest, solely to search through the Eocky Mountains for a " red-headed Indian." I had been unsuccessful in my search, and had returned with spotted horses. She laughed immoderately at my invention. We now returned to the fort with our trophies, where we had a joyous time. My warriors gave a horse to each man at the fort, about fifty in number, and ev- ery woman staying there also received one. I select- ed the best one I had, and made Little Jim present it to Mr. Tulleck, with which delicate attention he was greatly delighted. My boy could now speak quite plain. The men at the fort had taught him to swear quite fluently both in French and English, much more to their satisfaction than to mine. But I trusted he would soon forget his schooling, as the Crows never drink whisky, nor use profane language. We left the fort, and reached our village without ac- cident. On our arrival we found the people in mourn- ing for the loss of two warriors, killed in the village by an attack of the Cheyennes ; and, notwithstanding my recent success, we had to take part in the crying, in obedience to their forms. 342 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP The Cheyennes, in their late attack, used very good generalship; but the result was not so good as their design would seem to promise. They started with a force of three thousand warriors, and, dividing their army, live hundred marched directly over the Tongue River INIountain, where they were safe from molesta- tion, while their main hody passed round in another direction, placing themselves in ambush in a placo agreed upon, so as to fall upon the Crows should they pursue their flying division. But the Crows were too wary for them, and their bright design failed. The division of five hundred made a descent upon the horses, killing the two Crows that were among them, and unabk to escape in time. It was in open day, and our stock was so immense that they actually did succeed in driving off about twelve hundred, of which our family owned about eighty. IMany of our choice mares, with their foals, and a great number of our war-horses, seemed to have intelligence of the bus- iness in hand, and ran with full speed to the village, where the enemy did not care to follow them. Hund- reds of our warriors were ready for the conflict, and were impatiently awaiting the order to attack; but their chiefs strictly forbade their advance, and even charged my faithful Dog Soldiers with the duty of en- forcing their orders. There were in the village over four thousand warriors, a force sufficient to repel any attack; but the old heads seemed to suspect some- thing at the bottom of their foes' audacity, and thus escaped the trap that was prepared for them. The horses we cared but little about, as it was easy to re- place them at any time, without risking the lives ot so many brave warriors. On my return, all this was related to me by the JAMES P. BECKWOCRTII. 343 council. They inquired my opinion of the policy they had acted upon, and I assented to the wisdom of all they had done. I further recommended that no war- party should leave the village for at least two weeks, but that all should devote themselves to trapping bea- ver, as a means better calculated to please the Great Spirit, and after that it was likely he would reward our excursions with more constant success. My advice was approved of, a.^d my medicine was pronounced powerful. Every uap in the village was accordingly brought to light, and a general preparation made for an active season of trapping : peltry-parties scattered for every stream containing beaver. My old friend and myself, with each a wife, composed one party ; we took twelve traps, and in ten days collect- ed fifty-five beaver-skins. All who went out had ex- cellent success, as the streams had been but little dis- turbed for several months. Our two weeks' combined industry produced quite a number of packs. It was now about the 1st of October. I had prom- ised, after our two weeks' trapping, to lead a party in a foray upon the Cheyennes. 1 selected over four hundred warriors, and started in pursuit of something — whether horses or scalps was a matter of indiffer- ence. After an easy travel of twenty days, our spies keeping a vigilant look-out on the way, a large village was reported some few miles in advance. Knowing whom we had to deal with, I used my utmost caution, for we were beyond the reach of re-enforcement if I should fall into any difficulties. We ascended a hill which overlooked their village. We saw their cheerful- looking fires, and would have liked to warm ourselves by similar ones; but, although firewood was abun- dant, it seemed barely advisable to indulge in such a 344 AUTOBIOORAPHV OF luxury. By the aize of the village, it was evident we had a powerful enemy before us, and that he was bravo we had learned by previous experience. After sur- veying it as well as we could by the gleam of the stars, I determined to go down into their village, and obtain a closer observation. I took three braves with me, and, turning our robes the hair side out, we descended the hill and entered the village. We found they had recently built a new medicine lodge, and the national council was in session that night. We walked up to the lodge, where there were a number of Cheyennes smoking and conversing, but we could not understand a word they said. I passed my hand inside to reach for a pipe. One was handed to me ; and after all four of us had taken a few whiffs, I handed it back to my accommodating lender. We then strolled leisurely through their town, and return- ed to our own camp sc^mewhat late in the evening. About midnight we visited their herd, and started out quite a large drove, which we found at daylight consisted of eight hundred head ; with these we moved with all possible speed toward home, taking the di- rectest route possible. We drove at full speed, wher- ever practicable, until the next day at noon ; we then turned short round the point of a mountain, and await- ed the arrival of our pursuers. Our animals were well rested when the enemy came up, and we had just trans- ferred ourselves to the backs of some that we had bor- rowed from them. As soon as they had roimded the point — about two hundred and fifty in number — we issued out to attack them ; and, although they were somewhat surprised to behold so large a force, they quickly formed and awaited the onset. ' We were soon upon them, killing several, and having a few of our JAMES P. BECKWOLRTII. 345 own wonncled. "VVe witlitlrcw to form anotlicr cliargc ; but, before we were rearly to fall on tbeiii again, tboy divided their line, and one half made a daring attempt to surround our horses, but we defeated their aim. They then retreated toward their village, they finding it necessary to re-enforee their numbers l)efore they could either recover their animals or fight our party with any show of success. I afterward learned, when a trader in the Cheyenne nation for Sublet, that their main bodv, consisting of two thousand warriors, had started with them, but turn- ed back when within four miles of our temporary rest- ing-place. The smaller division traveled back as fast as possible in the endeavor to reach them, and bring them back to the attack. After proceeding two or three hours in their trail, they suddenly came in sight of them as they were resting to dress some buffalo. By means of couriers and signals, they soon had the whole army on the march again ; but by this time we wer»i "over the hills and far away," having resumed our re- treat immediately our pursuers left us. Those who are driving horses in a chase such as this have a great advantage over their pursuers, since the pursuer must necessarily ride one horse all the time, but those that are driving can change as often as they please, taking a fresh horse every half hour even, if occasion requires. In case there is great urgency with a drove, a number of warriors are sent in advance to lead them, while others are whooping and yelling be- hind. Under this pressure, the animals generally get over the ground at a pretty good rate. On our arrival at home with thirteen scalps, over eight hundred horses, and none of our party killed, it may be judged that we made much noise and shouting. P2 :{40 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Tlio trip wn luid just aocomplislicd was a severe one, especially ibr the woumlcd, and none but Indians could have lived through such torment ; but they all finallv rccovered. They begged to be left upon the road, urg- ing that they must inevitably die, and it was a folly to impede our flight and jeopardize our lives ; but 1 was determined, if possible, to get them in alive ; for, had T lost but one, the village would again have gouf into mourning, and that I was desirous to avoid. ciiaptp:r XXV. Visit of the whole Crow Nation to the Fort. — Seven Days' Tradin^r and Rejoicing. — Separation of the Villages. — Exjiedition to the Ca- manches. — Narrow Escape from their Village. — Battle with the Black Feet. — The Whites assist us with their Cannon. — Captured by the Black Feet.— Recaptured by the Crows. — Final Victory. Having now quite a respectable amount of peltry on hand, both of our villages started for the fort to pur- chase winter supplies. We can'ied upward of forty packs of beaver, and two thousand four hundred packs of robes, with which we were enabled to make quite an extensive trading. We loitered seven days in the vi- cinity of the fort ; then the villages separated, for the purpose of driving the buffalo back to the Yellow Stone, where they would keep in good condition all winter. This required a considerable force of men, as those an- imals abounded by the thousand at that time where they are now comparatively scarce, and it is a conclu- sion forced upon my mind that within half a century the race of buffaloes will be extinguished on this con- tinent. Then farewell to the Red Man ! for he must also become extinct, unless he applies himself to the .IAMK8 l». BECKWOIJRTII. :U7 rc one, \ could fiiiallv d, iirg- a folly but 1 e; for, d. i' TradinfT to the Ca- with the -Capturcii ictory. eltry on to pur- of forty ^d packs quite an 1 the vi- l, for the w Stone, I winter. ;hose an- 16 where a conclu- I, century this con- he must 3lf to the cultivation of the soil, which is beyond the bound of probability. The incessant demand for robes has slain thousands of those noble beasts of the prairie, until the Indians themselves begin to grow uneasy at the man- ifest diminution, and, as a means of conservation, each nation has adopted the policy of conlining to itself the right of Imnting on its own ground. They consider that the buftalo belongs to them as their exclusive property; that he was sent to them by the ( Jreat Spirit for their subsistence ; and when he fails them, what shall they resort to ? Doubtless, when that time ar- rives, much of the land which they now roam over will he under the white man's cultivation, which will ex- tend inland from both oceans. Where then shall the Indian betake himself? There are no more Missis- sippis to drive him beyond. Unquestionably he will be taken in a surround, as he now surrounds llie buf- falo ; and as he can not assimilate with civilization, the Red Man's doom is apparent. It is a question of time, and no very long time either ; but the result, as I view it, is a matter of certainty. The territory claimed by the Crows would make a larger state than Illinois. Portions of it form the choic- est land in the world, capable of producing any thing that will grow in the Western and Middle States. In- numerable streams, now the homes of the skillful bea- ver, and clear as the springs of the Rocky j\lountains, irrigate the plains, and would afford power for any amount of machinery. Mineral springs of every de- gree of temperature abound in the land. The coun- try also produces an inconceivable amount of wild fruit of every variety, namely, currants, of every kind ; raspberries, black and red ; strawberries, blackberries, cherries ; plums, of delicious flavor and in great abun- :i4H AUTOBIOGRAFHV UF dance ; grapes, and numberless otlier varieties proper to the latitude and fertile nature of the soil. 1 am tuUy convinced that this territory contains vast mineral wealth ; but, as 1 was unactiuaintcd with the ]>roperties of minerals during my residence with the; Crows, i did not pay much attention to the investiga- tion of the subject. One thing, however, 1 am con- vinced of, that no p.'U't of the United States contains richer deposits of anthracite coal than the territory I am speaking of, and my conviction is thus founded. L one night surrounded a small mountain with a large tbrcc of warriors, thinking I had observed the tires of the enemy, and that T should catch them in a trap. But, to my great surprise, it proved to be a mountain of coal on tire, which had, I suppose, spontaneously ig- nited. 1 immediately drew oif my forces, as I was feadul of an exjilosion. 1 could readily point out the })lace again. It would be extremely hazardous to attempt any scientific exj)lorations without first gaining the consent of the Crows. They have been ur.iformiy friendly with the whites; still, they would be jealous of any en- gineering operations, as they would be ignorant of their nature. The Crows arc a very reserved people, and it would be difficult to negotiate a treaty with them for the cession of any portion of their land. They have always refused to send a deputation to Washington, al- though repeatedly invited. Indeed, when I was their chief, I always opposed the proposition, as I foresaw very clearly what effect such a visit would produce upon their minds. The Crows, as a nation, had never rredited any of the repi-esentations of the great wealth, and power, and numbers of their white brethren. In the event of a deputation being sent to Wasliington, i proper contains ted witli with the ivcstiga- am con- contains riitory 1 founded. li a large ; iires ot' 1 a trap, nountain !Ously ig- as I was it out the impt any c consent '■ friendly )f any en- nt of their joplc, and v'liii thcni riiey have ington, al- was their I foresaw d produce had never ;at wealth, ;hren. In ashington. J AM EH p. BECKWOL'RTH. ;i4}» the perceptions of tlic savages would be dazzled with the display and glitter around tjioni. They would re- turn home dejected and humiliated ; they would con- foiind the ears of their peo|)lc with the rehearsal of th(« predominance and magnificence of the whites ; feeling their own comparative insignificance, they would lose that pride in themselves that now sustains them, and, so far from being the terror of their enemies, they would grow despondent and lethargic ; they would ad- dict themselves to the vices of the weaker nations, and in a short time their land would be ingulfed in the in- satiable government vortex, and, like hundreds of oth- (!r once powerful tribes, they would be quickly exterm- inated by the bat^.le-axea of their enemies. These are the considerations that influenced mc while J ad- ministered their affairs. From the fort 1 started on foot with two hundred and sixty trusty warriors for the Camanchc territory. We had reached their ground, and were traveling leis- urely along upon a high, open prairie, when our spies suddenly telegraphed to us to lie flat down — an order which wc promptly obeyed. We soon learned that there was a number of Indians, some distance beyond, engaged in running buffalo and antelope as far as we could sec. There appeared to be an outlet to the prai- rie, through which wc could see them emerging and disappearing like bees passing in and r ut of a hive. Wc found at night that it was a wide caho?i, in which their village was encamped, extending over three miles, and must have contained several thousand warriors. They had just driven a host of horses into it, to liave them ready, most probably, for the next day's chase. There were still thousands of horses scattered in every direction over the prairie, but I preferred to take those im) ALTUBIOOUAPIIY OF already collected. The Camanclies, being seldom troub- led by tiic incursions of" their neighbors (as most of the tribes hold them in dread), take no precaution for the safety of their animals, for which reason they fell an easy prey to us. At the usual time of night we paid a visit to their immense herd, and started an innumerable drove ; wo found it larger than we could successfully drive, and were therefore obliged to leave several hundreds oi' them on the prairie. We then placed a sufficient num- ber of horse-guides ahead, and, whipping up our rear, we soon had an immense drove under full speed for our own country, making the very earth tremble beneath their hoofs. We continued this pace for three days and nights, closely followed by our enemies, who, hav- ing discovered their loss the next morning, started after us in pursuit. They kept in sight of us each day, but we had the advantage of them, as we could change horses and they could not, unless they hap- pened to pick up a few stragglers on the road. On the third day I happened to be leading, and just as I rose to look over the summit of a hill on the Ar- kansas, I discovered a large village of the Cheyennes not far in advance, and lying directly in our course. In an instant we turned to the left, and continued on through a hollow with all our drove, the Camanclies not more than two or three miles in our rear. On our pursuers arriving at the spot where we had diverged to the left, they held their course right on, and, pouncing upon the astonished Cheyennes, con- ceived they were the party they were in pursuit of. We could distinctly hear the report of the guns of the contending parties, but did not slacken our pace, as cur desire to get home in safety outweighed all curios- JAMES P. JJECKWOIIJITII. 35 J troub- of the or the fell an ) their e ; wo ^e, and cds of t num- ir rear, for our )eneath le days 10, hav- started IS each e could ey hap- ind just the Ar- eyennes course, nued on nianches 5 we had ight on, les, con- irsuit of. ns of the pace, as 11 curios- ity to sec tlie issue of the conflict. We afterward learned that the Chcyennes inflicted a severe hcatino; upon their deluded assailants, and chased them back, Avitli the loss of many of their wamors, to their own country. Tliis was tine fun for us, and Fortune aided us more than our own skill, for we were saved any farther trouble of defending our conquest, and event- ually reached home without the loss of a single life. Our pursuers being disposed of, we allowed our- selves a little more ease. On the flfth day of our re- treat we crossed the Arkansas, and, arriving on the bank of the Powder River (a branch of the south fork of the Platte), we afforded ourselves a rest. We drove all our horses into a canon, and fortified the entrance, so that, in case of molestation, we could have rei)ulsed five times our number. There was excellent pasture, aftbrding our wearied and famishing horses the means of satisfying their hunger, and refreshing themselves with rest. We al«50 needed repose, for we had eaten nothing on the way except what we happened to have with us, in the same manner as our horses would crop an occasional mouthful of grass while pursuing their flight. After refreshing ourselves we resumed our journey, and, striking the Laramie lliver, we passed on througli the Park, and then crossed the Sweet W^ater River into our own territory, where we were safe. We fell in with Long Hair's village before we entered our own, with whom we had a good time. Before parting we trave them five hundred horses. From thence we went down to the fort in quest of our own village, but learn- ed they were about twenty miles out, encamped on the Rose Bud. The inmates of the fort thought it must have rained horses, for such a prodigious drove they ■■0HI ^62 ALTUUIOGKAPHY Ml' never saw driven in before. We made them a pres- ent of a Canianclie liorsc all round, and, liaving staiil one night with them, the next morning we journeyed on to our village. We found them all dancing and rejoicing over tin success of the other war-parties, who had reached homo before us, and our arrival increased their joy to such an extreme that there was no limit to their extrava- gant manifestations. We had not parted from the fort more than two or three hours when Big Bowl called there, also in quest of the village, bringing two thousand seven hundred horses, whicii he had taken from the Coutnees. Tulleck informed him that his son had but just left for the villac;e with a larce drove. "Yes," said the old man, "but I can laugh at him this time." " No, no," replied Tulleck, " he has beat you ; he ha!? twice as many as you." " Ugh !" exclaimed the old brave ; "his medicine is idways powerful." We must have started with five thousand horses, for many gave out on the way and were left behind, be- sides a number that must have straggled off, for '\g Cheyennes afterward informed me that they picked up a considerable number which had undoubtedly belong- ed to our drove. JNIy father, after presenting them with a horse all round at the fort, whipped his drove up, saying that he would yet overtake the ^Medicine Calf before he reach- ed the village. He arrived just before sunset, when the joy was at its height. We had horses enough now to eat us out of house and wh em JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 35;^ a pres- g staul irncvcd vcr tin id homo to such sxtrava- . two ov in quest bundred just left 1 at him you ; he idicine is orses, for liind, be- f, for '\g (icked up Y belong- horse all ig that he he reach- )y was at liouse and liome, about eight thousand head having been brought in during tlie last ten days. When the rejoicing was through, I divided my vil- lage, sending two hundred lodges round to start the buffalo toward the mountain, while I took one hund- red and seventy lodges, and made a circuit in the di- rection of the fort, encamping in the bottom close by.. [ had with me eight or nine hundred warriors, besides my division of the women and children. While staying in the vicinity of t\w. fort we were usually very careless, never apprehending any attack ; l)ut on the third day of our encampment here we were suddenly assailed by nearly fifteen hundred Black Foot warriors, who were probably aware that we had divided our village, and had followed us as the smallest party. Myself and several other warriors were in tlie fort when the attack was made, but we soon hastened to join our warriors. The contest became severe. The Black 1' eet fought better than I had ever seen them figlit be- fore. The Crows, being outnumbered by their enemies, were sorely pressed, aud every man had to exert him- self to the utmost to withstand the assault. Tlic men at the fort, seeing our situation, brouglit out to our aid a small cannon on a cart. The enemy, seeing them bring it up, charged on it and carried it, the i^'rcncli- men who had it in charge running back to the fort with all possible speed. The Crows, seeing what had hap- pened, made a furious charge on the cf.ptors of the cannon, and succeeded in retaking it, though not with- out the loss of several killed and woun led in the con- riict. The gun was loaded witii musKet-balls, and, when finally discharged, did no damage to the en- emy. I was in another quarter, encouraging my warriors IHI 354 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP to protect our lodges, and we at length succeeded in beating tliem off, altliough they drove away over twelve Iiuntlred head of* our horses with them, without any pos- sibility of our wrestnig them from them, at least at that time. We lost thirteen warriors killed, twelve of whom were scalped, and about thirty wounded. It is a wonder we did not suffer a loss tliree times more se- vere. But the Black Feet are not steady warriors; they become too much excited in action, and lose many opportunities of inflicting mischief. If bluster would defeat a foe, their battles would be a succession of vic- tories. TIad we in the least mistrusted an attack, by being in readiness we could have repulsed them with- out the least effort. But they cauglit us totally un- l)rcpared ; there was not a man at his post until they were about to fall upon us. The enemy lost forty- eight scalps in the encounter, besides a number of dead and wounded they carried away with tliem without our being able to lay hands upon them. They had also over one hundred horses shot under them. VVc suffered a severe loss in the death of the veteran brave lied Child, the hero of a hundred fights, who was killed and scalped at his lodge door. His wife, who was by, struck the Indian wJio scalped him with a club, but she did not strike him hard enough to dis- able him. The loss of the old brave was severely felt by the whole nation. The crying and mourning which ensued pained me more than the loss of our horses. After spending the night in mourning, we moved on to the other division, to carry the woful tidings of our re- verse. When we rejoined them there was a general time of crying. I took a great share of the blame to myself, as it was upon my proposition that the village had been divided and the disaster sustained. I sug- JAMES P. BECKWOUUTII. 355 eded in : twelve; my pos- least at ^relvc of I. It is more sc- rarriors ; ise many er would »n of vic- ttack, by eni with- tally un- intil they Dst forty- er of dead ithout our had also le veteran gilts, who His wife, him with igh to dis- verely felt ling which >ur horses. lOved on to i of our re- } a general le blame to the village id. I sug- gested it with a view to facilitate business, never dreaming of an attack by such an overwhelming force. When the excitement had subsided, I determined to wash their faces or perish in the attempt. I order- ed every one that could wor!i to engage in the erection of a fort in the timber, sufficiently large to hold all our lodges, laying out the work myself, and seeing it well under way. I directed them, when they had fmished the construction, to move their lodges into it, and re- main there till my return, for, thus protected, they could beat off ten times their number. I then took nearly seven hundred of our best war- riors, and started for the Black Feet, resolved upon revenge, and careless how many I fell in with. A small party had recently come in with two scalps, which they had obtained near the head of Lewis's Fork, Columbia River. They reported a large village of eight hundred lodges, from which numcrousi war- parties had departed, as they had crossed their trails in coming home. They knew the direct road to the village, how it was situated, and all about it, which Avas of great service to me. I therefore took them with me, and employed them as scouts. Every warrior was well provided for hard service ; each man had a riding-horse, and led his war-horse by his side. On the seventh day we came in view of their village, but we deferred our attack till the next day. The en- emy had chosen a very good position ; they were en- camped on a large bend of the river, at that time shal- low and fordable every where. I detached fifty of my warriors for a feint, while I stole round with the main body to the high ground, taking care to keep our of sight of the enemy. Having gained my position, 1 signaled to the light division to feign an attack, while 356 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ray men were so excited I could hardly restrain them from rushing out and defeating my purpose. My plan succeeded admirably. The Black Feet, having suf- fered themselves to be decoyed from their position by the flight of the flfty warriors, I sounded a charge, and ray raen rushed upon the unprotected village like a thunderbolt. We swept every thing before us; the, women took to the bush like partridges ; the warriors il«;d in every direction. They were so paralyzed at our unexpected descent that no defense was attempt- ed. I threw myself among the thickest group I could see, and positively hacked down seventeen who pretend- ed to be warriors without receiving a scratch, although my shield was pretty well cut with arrows. If my warriors had all come to their work according to the example that even the heroine set them, not one of the Black Feet who ventured to show fight would have escaped. The heroine killed three warriors with her lance, and took two line little boys prisoners. Wc found but about a thousand warriors to oj)pose us, while there were lodges enough to contain three times the number. We only took sixty-eight scalps after all our trouble — a thing I could not account for. We took thirty women and children prisoners, and drove home near two thousand head of horses, among which were many of our own. As I had never seen the Black Feet fight so well as at the fort, I expected an equal display of valor on this occasion, but they offered nothing worthy the name of defense. I learned from my prisoners that my old father-in-law was in that village, whose daughter i had nearly killed for dancing over the scalps of the white raen. We had only one warrior wounded, who was shot through the thigh; but it was not broken, and, JAMKS P. BECKWOUHTH. 357 n them ly plan ng sut- tion l)v rge, and i like a us; the, warriors lyzed at attempt- p I could prctcnd- althougli If my icr to the )uc of the )uld have with her jrs. We ppose us, iree times alps after for. We and drove ong which ht so well )f valor on y the name lat my old yhter I had f the white , who was roken, and, like all Indian wounds, it soon got well. We reached home in less than four days ; and, after our arrival, singing and dancing were kept up for a week. In taking prisoners from an enemy we gain much useful information, as there are always more or less of their tribe domiciliated with us, to whom the cap- lives impart confidence ; these relate all that they hear to the chiefs, thus affording much serviceable informa- tion that could not otherwise be obtained. The wom- en seem to care but little for their captivity, more par- ticularly the young women, who have neither husbands nor childrcr to attach them to their own tribe. They like Crow husbands, because they keep them painted most of the time with the emblems of triumph, and do not whip them like their Black Foot husbands. Certain it is that, when once captured by us, none of them ever wished to return to their own nation. In our numerous campaigns that winter we also took an unusual number of boys, all of whom make excellent Crow warriors, so that our numbers considerably in- creased from our prisoners alone. Some of the best wan'iors in the Crow nation had been boys taken from the surrounding tribes. They had been brought up vith us, had played with our children, and fought their mmiature sham-battles together, had grown into men, become warriors, braves, and so on to the council, un- til they were far enough advanced to become expert horse-thieves. That winter was an exceedingly fortunate one for the Crow nation ; success crowned almost every ex- pedition. Long Hair's warriors achieved some great triumphs over the Black Feet, and in one battle took nearly a hundred scalps. Wlien Lcng Hair heard of our misfortune at the 358 AirrODIOORAl'HY OP fort, he sent a messenger to our village to offer some of his warriors to assist us in retrieving our reverse. iJut before the arrival of the messenger we had been and returned, and were all in the height of rejoicing. He Jiastened back to his village to impart the glad tidings, in order that they might rejoice with us. We then engaged in trapping beaver and hunting buffalo for the next three weeks, during which time wo suffered no molestation from any of our enemies. CHAPTER XXVI. DcputatN^n from the As-nc-boincs. — Characteristic Speech of Yellow Bciiy. — Visit to the Fort, — Visit to Fort Union. — iiescue of Five White Men from Starvation. — Arrival at Fort Cass. — Departure for the Village. — Visit of the Snakes to the Crows. Wk received another deputation from the As-ne- boines to sue for a renev/al of peace. We had lost a warrior and two women, who had been massacred when away from the village, and on discovery of the bodies we followed the trail of the perpetrators in the direc tion of the Jilack Foot country. We eventually dis- covered that many petty outrages, which we had charged upon the Black Feet, were in reality commit- ted by the treacherous As-ne-boines. On their return from their thievish inroads they were in the habit of proceeding very near to a Black Foot village, with which they were at peace, and then, turning obliquely, would cross the Missouri into their own country. Be- coming acquainted with this oft-repeated nise^ we de- termined to chastise them. I accordingly crossed the Missouri with a force of eight hundred and fifty men, and invaded their territory with the determination to inflict upon them such a chastisement as should recall JAMES P. BECKWOUKTH. a^y some verse. i been )icing. B glad 3. unting ime we s. of Yellow e of Fivf larture for 1 As-ne- id lost a cd when c bodies le direc ally dis- we had commit- iir return habit of igc, with .bliquely, try. Be- 36, we de- ossed the fifty men, ination to )uld recall them to a sense of decency. We encountered a small village, only numbering forty lodges, on tiieir way to I'ort Union, and within a few hundred yards of the tort. Seeing our ui)proaeh, they intrenelied them- selves in a hollow, rendering our assault a work of danger. 15ut we stormed their position, and killed twenty-six warriors (all of whom we sealped) ; the re- mainder we could not get at, as we found their posi- tion impregnable. Admonished by this chastisement, they sent another deputation to us to treat for the re-establishment of peace, liut their propositions were unfavorably re- ceived, and Y'ellow Belly favored them with his senti- ments in the following rather unpalatable and charac- teristic strain : "No," said he, in answer to their representations, "we make peace with you no more. You arc dogs — you are women-slayers — you are unworthy of the con- iidenee or notice of our people. You lie when you come and say that you want peace. You have crook- ed and forked tongues: they are subtle like the tongue of the serpent. Your hearts are corrupt : they are of- fensive in our nostrils. We made peace with you be- fore because we pitied you ; we looked upon you with contempt, as not even worthy to be killed by the Spar- rowhawks. We did not wish for your scalps : they disgrace our others ; we never mix them even with those of the Black Feet. When we are compelled to take them from you on account of your treachery, we give them to our pack-dogs, and even they howl at tliem. Before, we gave you horses to carry you home, and guns to kill your buffalo ; we gave you meat and drink ; you ate, and drank, and smoked with us. After all this, you considered yourselves great braves in 360 AUTOBIOGHAl'IIY OK scalping two of our women. Our women would rul) out your nation and put out all your Hrcs if we bIiouM let tlicin loose at you. Conic and steal our hor.sns when you think best, and get caught at it if you want to feel the weight of our tomahawks. Go! we will not make peace with you; go'." After this very cordial reception, we liad no more intercourse with tiie As-ne-boines for some time. Shortly after the departure of this delegation, we set out for the fort to trade away our peltry, which amount- ed to a considerable nvinbcr of packs. On arriving there, I found a letter from a Mr. llalsey, who then had charge of Fort Union, the head-quarters of the Amer- ican Fur Company. The letter was couched in rather .strong terms, and was evidently written when he was under the influence of temper. The company had their trading-posts among every tribe with which the Crows were at war, and for many months past there had been a great falling off in trade. The Indians had brought in but little peltry, and the universal complaint among all was that it took all their time to defend themselves against the Crows. The Crows had killed scores of their warriors ; the Crows had stolen all their horses ; the Crows had captured their women and children; the Crows had kept them mourning and crying; their trappers dare not go out to trap for fear of the Crows ; their hunters dare not, and could not, kill buffalo for fear of the Crows ; in short, by this letter it appeared that the poor Crows were the constant terror of all the surrounding tribes. He concluded his epistle, "For 's sake, do keep your d — d Indians at home, so that the other tribes may have a chance to work a little, and the company may drive a more profitable business." .lAMKS V. IJKCKWOrUTIt. :iOi lid nil) hIiouM ' horses ou want will not no more Tie. n, we set amount- arriving then had he Amer- in rather 3n he was had their the Crows ; had been ,d brought lint among hemselves , scores of eir horses; I children; ying; their he Crows; buffalo for it appeared or of all the ike, do keep other tribes le company I know perfectly well that these incessant wars were very prejudicial to the company's interest, but it was impossible tor me to remedy the evil. Other tribos were continually attacking the Crows, killing their braves, and stealing their horses, and, of course, th< y were bound to make reprisals. Injustice to the Crows I must say, that other tribes were generally the n;;- gressors, until the policy was forced upon me of en- deavoring to "concjuer a peace." I thought, if I coul«l make the Crow nation a tciTor to all their neighbors, that their antagonists would be reduced to petition for peace, and then turn their battle-axes into beaver-traps, and their lances into hunting-knives. Our villages, having made their purchases, loft the foit, but staid in the vicinity, engaged in trapping and making robes. The letter I had just received Ironi llalsey requested my attendance on him that spring. I left my people, and went down the river to Fort Union. On arriving, I found a large body of the As- nc-boincs encamped near the fort. Their chiefs imme- diately came to rac, wishing me to conclude peace with tliem as representative of the Crow nation. TJiey at- tempted to palliate their late misdeeds by throwing the blame on a few As-ne-boine desperadoes, who had acted without the authority or the cognizance of the national council, and that they had been severely pun- ished by the tribe for their excesses. In answer, I told them that I had no authority to conclude peace ; that, even if I had, they would not ob- serve a peace longer than one moon ; that I tliought the Crows would throw difficulties in the wciy of enter- taining their propositions, but that they could apply* to the council again, and learn how they were inclined. Mr. Ilalsoy and all the sub-traders jn'cscnt inter- Q 362 AlJTOHIO(}RAl'HY OP ceded with me to exert myself in establishing a peaco between the two nations, which rcfjuest 1 promised to coni])ly with. The chiefs inquired whether wc would take their lives in the event of their visiting us on sucli a mission. I assured them that the Crows would hold their lives sacred ; that they were not dogs, as many nations were, but that they were a great and magnan- imous nation, whose power was predominant, and who killed no enemies but in battle. I remained at the fort about three weeks, and, as most of the Hub-tradcrs, clerks, and interpreters were in, we had a glorious time. It was at least three or lour years since I had last visited there ; for, though 1 fought a battle outside its walls lately, I did not see tit at that lime to make them a call. The boats being ready to return, I started with them, l)ut their progress was so slow and wearisome on their way up to the Yellow Stone that I leaped ashore, in- tending to make my way over dry land. I have al- ways rejoiced that 1 was prompted to take that stej), for I became instrumental thereby in performing a mer- ciful deed among so many that might be termed un- merciful. I had not traveled more than three miles when I came across a white man, named Fuller, in a famisli- ing condition. 1 had a companion with me, whom I started off to the boats to bid them prepare something suitable to recover the poor fellow, and to order them to touch on shore when they came to where he lay. Fuller was quite delirious. [ had discovered him just in the nick of time, as he could not have survived many "liours longer. ]\ly companion was not long in pcr- tbrming his errand, and, when the boat touched for him, wc carried him on board, and gave him tea and JAMKS P. HECKWOIKTII. a()3 k peaco iscd to would m sucli lid hold 4 many lagnau- Liid who and, as »rs were three ov though 1 ot sec tit ith them, on their shore, iu- liave al- hat stc}), ng a mcr- rmed un- s when I a lamish- •, whom I something rder thcni jre lie lay. d him just ved many ng in pcr- ouched tor im tea and warm restoratives. He shortly revived, and tlicn gave nie to understand, in a very incoliercnt manner, that he had four companions in a similar condition near to where I had found him. At this intelligence we went on shore again to suc- cor them also. We had a long hunt before we suc- ceeded in finding them, and when we at last discover- ed them, we found them picking and eating rosebuds, or, rather, the pods containing seed of last year's growth. When they saw us approaching they at- tempted to run, supposing us to be Indians ; but, their strength failir;<ij them, they souglit to conceal them- selves in the bushes. We made known our errand to them, and invited them on board the boat. Our oj)- portunc offer of service seemed so ])rovidcntial, that the fortitude of the poor famishing fellows could not sus- tain them, and they all gave way to a plentiful Hood of tears. We conveyed them on board tlie boat, and furnished them with food adapted to tlieir emaciated condition. When in some measure restored, they informed us that they had been trapping in the mountains, their party originally consisting of eleven men ; that they were on their road to Fort Cass, with their pack-horses and four packs of beaver, when they were set upon by tlie Black Feet, who killed six of tlieir party, and de- spoiled them of every article they had, and it was by a miracle that they escaped from their hands. When they had supposed themselves near the fort, they saw a great number of Indians, whom they took for Hlack Feet ; to avoid them, they took a wide circuit througli the prairie. The Indians wliom they mistook for Black Feet were a party of Crows, and if they had ffone up to them and made their case known, the Crow» :i64 AUTOBlOGKArilY OF would have escorted tlicm to the fort, and probably have pursued the Black Feet, and have retaken their property. On returning froni their circuit, they struck the river a great distance below the fort, and were still traveling down the river in search of it. They had nothing to eat, and nothing to kill game with to re- lieve their wants. They went on with the boats, while 1 and my companion resumed our " over-land route." We reached the fort several days in advance of tlie boats. I only rested one night there, and then pro- ceeded directly on to my Indian home. Shortly after my arrival there, the villages moved on up the ri\w, proceeding leisurely, and killing butfalo and dressing robes on the way. We iinally reached the mountain streams, and, as it was now near Tieptember, the bea- ver were getting to be in line condition for trapping. We had at this time a visit from eight hundred lodg- es of the Snakes, who came for the pui-pose of trading, as they had no trading-post of their own. They re- mained with us several weeks, and we had a very agreeable time together. This furnished me with an opportunity of enlarging to the Crows upon the supe- rior delights of peace. We could visit the lodges of our Snake friends, und they could visit ours without cutting each other's throats. Our women could chat- ter together, our children gambol and have their sham- battles together, while the old veterans could talk over their achievements, and smile at the mimic war-hoops of their children. They could also trade together, and derive mutual benefit from the fair exchange of com- modities. I contrasted this with the incessant butch- eries that distinguished their intercourse with some tribes, and asked them which relation was the more de- sirable. JAMES P. BECKWOrRTrr. 365 jably their itriick e still y had to re- , while L'OUtC." ! of the Dii pi'O- ly alVr c m^^^i Ircssing lountain the bca- ipping. :cd lodg- 'tradius, Ihey rc- 1 a very with an the supc- lodgcs of s without Qulu chat- icir shaiu- 1 talk over war-hoops rcther, and gc of eom- sant hutch- with sonic [ic more dc- The Crows had many things to trade away whicli they had no need tor, or, if they liad needed tliem, they could replace them with a fresh supply from the fort. The nation was desirous that their guests should see the trading-post, where all their goods were stored be- yond the reach of their enemies, and whence they drew their supplies as often as they had need of tiicm ; for the simple Crows supposed that the posts, witli their contents, were the property of the nation, and that the whites who were in charge there were their own agents. To gratify their natural pride, 1 led a party to the fort, among whom were two hundred of our Snake visitors. On entering the fort, and looking over the store-house, they were struck dumb with astonishment; they could not comprehend the vastness of the wealth that was displayed before them. They had never be- fore seen a depot of goods, and this exceeded all they had any previous experience of. The rows of guns highly polisiicd, the battle-axes, lance-blades, scarlet cloth, beads, and many curiosities they had never seen before, filled them with admiration ; they could not gaze sufficiently at these indications of our wealth. They inrpiired of the Crows whether our nation made all those articles there. They told them that they did not ; that they were made at our great fort below, in comparison with which this was but a small lodge ; that all our supplies were manufactured there, and brought up the river in great boats by our white friends. They then inquired by what means they had gained the alliance of the whites; that, instead of killing them and banishing them from their hunting-ground, as they did to many nations, they should give tlicmselves tiic great trouble to serve them with their boats, and bring them such immense supplies. a6(j AUTOBIOGRAPHY OK The Crows informed tlieni that tlicir great chief, th) Medicine Calf, had been instrumental in accomplishing all this, liy his long residence with the whites, after liis sale to them by the Ciieyennes when he had be- come a great brave, he had gained surprising influence with the great white chief, who loved the Medicine Calf, and Jifid taught him to make forts, and had suf- fered him to come back to his people in order to teach them to become great, and overcome all their enemies. The Snakes were wonder-stricken at such marvels. The unassailable fort (which a single bomb-shell would have blown to atoms), filled with an inexiiaustible store of rich goods ; our great fort down the river, in com- parison with which this was but a small lodge, and where all these marvelous products of our ingenuity were manufactured ; our mysterious connection with the whites, which procured us the advantage of their unremunerated services, and sliielded us with the irre- sistible succor of the great white chief — all this over- powered tlicir imagination. The wealth and power of the Crow nation exceeded all conception, and to oj)- posc them in war was to incur unavoidable destruc- tion. After the Snakes liad traded off their stock of ])el- try, obtaining large supplies in exchange, we returned to the village. They iiad wonderful narratives of the big fort and wealth of tlie Crow nation to spin to their fellow-villagers. In fact, they were so impressed with the idea of our superiority that two hundred lodges of the Snakes joined our nation, and never separated from them. They had a chief of their own, but conformed to our laws and regulations, proving themselves faith- ful ^/l'//o?^'-e/?'/^tVi a', and emulating our best warriors in battle. This coalition increased our force to the num- .lAMKS I'. HECKWOrUTH. ;5i)7 :f, tlie shing , after id be- lucncc! dicim' ,d sul- I teacli emicR. arvels. would [c store n coni- gc, and TOiiuity in with of their he irre- is over- ower of I to 0])- dcstruc- c of i)el- returncd es of the to their !sed with odges of itcd from onformed vcs faith- arriors in the mim- ber of five liundred warriors — more than we had lost in battle for four years preceding. They intermarried V ith our women, and in a few years were so complete- ly transformed that they had (juite forgotten their Snake origin. On our return, the remainder of our friends l(!ft us. During our absence the Black Feet had invaded our dominion, and made off with upwar<l of tlu'ce thousand of our horses, very greatly to our detriment. T\\v Snakes were anxious to pursue them, or, at least, to as- sist their hosts in recapturing their stolen ))roperty, but Long ][air declined their proffered service. Jle said, "• No, L am too old to run after them, and the warriors nmst have some one to direct them. Should any ac- cident befall my people, the medicine chief would be ixrievcd. We must wait his return from the fort ; if lie then deems it proper to punisli them, he will not be long without the means." Our villages still remained together, and we moved on to the head-waters of the Yellow Stone. We had several war-parties out, and some endeavoring to re- trieve our equine losses, while those who remained in the villuge applied themselves to tra])ping and hunting. The Snake women were Ncry skillful in dressing robes — far superior to our own, as they had been more en- gaged in it. My wan-iors were again burning with the desire for war and horse-raids, although our ])rairies were alive with animals. Inaction seemed to consume them. In spite of my })rohibition, they would steal away in ])ar- ties during the night. When convicted, I would inflici severe floggings upon them by my Dog Soldiers (who did not spare the lash) ; ])ut it was to little purpose. In fact, they took it as honorable distinetion to reeoiv(^ 'MH AiiTomotiKAriiv OI' Ji lashing, inasnuich aa it indicated tlioir ovomillnp; ar- dor for war; iiud tlio culprit who received a iio.^uiiii;- this inoriiing for disobedience of orders, was sure lo he olf at nit^ht again. An old warrior des|)is(\s lh(^ si,i;li( of a fraj); luiutiug buflalo, even, does not aiVord him cxciteuu'ut enough. Notliiug hut war or a lutrse-raid is a business wortii their atten<hng to, and tiie cliicf who seeks to control this precUlection too far loses i»0|t- nlarity. Accordingly, T gave way to tlie general desire of my warriors. 1 seh*cted one hundred and sixty truslv braves, intendino: " to lay alonti-side" my old friends tlie Jilack Feet, and wipe out one or two old scores I iiad marked against liiem. I invaded their territory with my little force, and marched on, achuonisliing my spies to extreme vic-ilance. We came in sit2:iit of a villaixe, and secretetl ourselves till tiie proper hour of nigiit. On our mnrcli we discovered a single Indian. Sonu' of the i)arty called him to them, and clubbed him down and scalped him. lie had mistaken us for his own people. At midnight we visited their herd, and drove out six hundred and forty head. \ number of their best cat- tle were tied at the doors of their lodges and in their corrals. I an'ived home safe with my booty, and, as 1 had taken one scalp; we had a great dance. All our other part ies were very successful, exce])ting one. Tliat was one that had gone on an expedition against the Arrap-a-hofl. Pine Leaf was in tlie number. They had taken about a thousand horses, and, having reach- ed a distance that they supposed safe, they slackened their ])ace, and were proceeding carelessly along. Sud- denly their pursuers came in sight- -a strong })osse tomitatus — and retook all their animals except thos«' JAIMKS r. nKCKWOlIIlTFr. 369 icr ar- I to 1)0 : sii;-lil (I liim 1 of my trust y nds tl»»' 3 1 had ly witli ly s])iow villap;o, f ni;j;li1. Home in down liis own 3 out six l)est cat- in their , and, as All our le. That ainst the ir. Thoy no; roach- shickenod t\rr. Sud- ■)\vr posse '.pt those that horo the i'li^itives, and killed three of their com- rades, '{'he Iieroiru^ eanic buck in mourning, looking like the last of her race. ( )ne of our victorious parties brought back iifty boys and girls whom thv.y had captured while gathering fruit. Since: the loss of our three thousand horses to the Black Feet wc had captured six thousand, two thou- sand tive hundred of which had been recovered from the I Mack Feet. Wc now moved on to the Yellow Stone, and cross- ed it, the villages still keeping together. W(! then journeyed on slowly in the direction of the fort, trap- piiig and hunting all the way. Wc kept a vigilant eye n[)on onr prisoners, for fear they might attempt an es- cape to their own tribes, and thus bring upon us a foe wlien we had no time to attend to him. This was a very productive fall for jxdtry, and wc sent in great cpiantitics to tlu^ fort in cidvanee of our ar- rival. 1 remained at the trading-post nearly the whole of the winter. In the early spring the Crows sent for me to rejoin them. I went, accordingly, and found tliat their long-continued good fortune had suftered a re- verse. They had grown careless in their exjx'ditions, and ]iad lost some of their wan'iors. They wished my aid to revenge their deaths and wash their faces. I required them to defer their retaliation until iho'ir robes were dressed and sent to the fort. They took hold of the business in good earnest, and every robe was soon ready for market. It was now time to plant our tobacco, and wc all moved in the direction of our planting-ground. The seed was put in, and the attending ceremonial gone through with. Our pacific business thus completed, the warriors began to prepare for war. Onr horses had Q2 ;J7() AUTOniOtSRAIMlY OK been hiU Jittio used during flic, winter, and tJicy were all tilt and in Iiigh -'Oii'li^ion. I look tinre hundred and sixty warriors and went against the Cheycnncs. We diseovered a moving vil- lage of sixty lodges, eliargcd on it, and bore away nine scalps, with considerable booty, without losing one drop of blood. Pine Leaf was in my ])arty, and being so unfortunate as not to count one <vw, she was greatly out of humor, and blamed me for depriving her of the opportunity of killing an enemy, "^riie truth is, we had no time to favor her, as 1 was desirous to secure our booty and get oti' without endangering the loss of a man. Her young lilack Foot prisoner had become quite a warrior ; he went to wr.r constantly, and bid fair to equal his captor in valor, lie was already a match for an ordinary Sioux warrior, and took great pride in his sister Pine Leaf. All our war-parties returned without loss, and the nation resumed its customary good spirits. I then returned to the fort, where I rested all the summer. My thoughts had for a long time past reverted to home. Year after year had rolled away, and now that I had attained middle life, they seemed to pass me with accelerated pace, and the question would intrude upon my mind. What h.ad I done? When I abandoned my- self seriously to reflection, it seemed as if 1 had slum- bered away the last twelve years. Others had accom- plislied the same toils as myself, and were now enjoying the fruits of their labor, and living in luxury and ease. But what had been my career? and what advance had T made toward tJiis desirable consummation ? I had just visited the Lidian territory to gratify a youth- ful thirst for adventure; 1 had narrowly escaped starv- JAMES I». BKCKWOUKTII. 371 were. wont - vil- r nine ^ drop iuur so ;r('atly of tlu' is, we secure loss of quite a fair to match pride in and the I then nmcr. crtcd to low that mc with idc upon )ned niy- ad sUim- d accom- cnjoying and ease. ; advance ition ? I T a youth- ped starv- ation in a sorviee, in which \ liad no interest ; I had traversed tlie fastnesses of the far Jtocky Mountains in summer heats and winter frosts ; I had cncountererl savage beasts and wild men, until my deliverance was a prevailing miracle. Jiy the mere hadutatje of a fel- low-trapper I had been adopted among the savages, and had conformed my superior habits to their ruth- less and untutored ways ; I had accompanied them in their mutual slaughters, and dyed my iiand crimson witli tlie blood of victims who had never injured mc ; f had distinguished niyself in my barbarian seclusion, and had risen to supreme command in the nation 1 had devoted myself to. And what had 1 to show for so nnieli wasted energy, and such a catalogue of ruthless deeds ? 1 had been the means of saving many a fellow-creat- ure's life. Did they still owe me gratitude? J*ossi- bly some few did, while others had forgotten my name. In good trutli, wiien 1 sought tlie results of my pro- longed labors, 1 found 1 had simply wasted my time. 1 had bestowed years upon others, and only moments upon myself. However, I still lived, and there was yet time to take more heed unto my ways. I resolved to go home and sec my friends, and deliver myself from this j)res- ent vagabond life. The attachments 1 had formed dur- ing my savage chieftainship still retained some hold upon my aflections, and it was barely possible 1 might return to them, and end my days among rny trusty braves. There at least was fidelity, and, when my soul should de])art for the spirit land, their rude faith would prompt then) to paint my bones, and treasure them until I should visit them from my ever-flowering hunting-ground, and demand tliem at their liands. ;J72 AirToiuodKAi'iiv or Sucli Hol»(»r tlioM^lils as \\u'si\ ocnipioil jny iiiiiid iluriii^ my Miiimiu'r irsidciuT al Hic linl. I liad brought wifli ino, all I lie peltry \\v had acMMimulatcMl, in order io Ite in Heasoii lor flie boats, wliieli were soon to ntart lor the lowiM- tort. I had direetiMl the village to follow along with whatever peltry they might collect betore, the departnn' ot'the boatM. in obedienei' to this instruction, about two hundred and titty warriors eanu' down, 1>ringing their connnod- ities with them; but tiie: boats had gone, and i still was waitinu: at tlu^ tort. One day a party of my men were out to hunt l)ut- I'alo lor our own use, when they aeeidentally seared up eleven lUaek Teet, who were lurking about on the look-out tor horses. They chased them into our old can) ping-ground, and the t'ngitives had taken relugc in our ohl temporary tort. I was pitting at the lort the, wiiile, busily conversing with ])ersons present; I heard the report of their guns, and supposed, if the atfair provivl serious, 1 should be ])romptly sent for. liad Hand, one of my leaders, linally said, "They arc tight- ing out yonder, and I don't suj)posc they can do any thing without we arc with them. Let us go." AV^c each threw on a chief's coat, and went down to sec how matters stood. 1 found the IJlack Feet forti- lied in their position, and our men inelfcctually tiring upon them. I ordered an immediate assault, })lacing myself at their head. AVe advanced a few paces at a rapid rate, when I fell senseless, with the blood gush- ing from my mouth in a stream. All supj)osed me mortally wounded, and I was carried into the fort to breathe my last. The boats had left, and TuUeck happened to be plarting after them just as I was carried in. Seeing .lAMKH V. nKCKWCH'KTll. ii7'A u\'\\n\ rou^lit Htart follow bot'oH'. »nnno(l- [ I still mt hni- ",x\vd up on tlic our old elugc iu fort tho, 1 I licjird iic ulVjiir r. Wild irc figlit- i do any down to cot tbrti- lly luing placing; aces at u lod gusli- )oscd mc le fort to ed to be Seeing my wounded rondition, and every one pronouncing ni<; in a <lying Hlafe, lie rvporled nu; an lu'ing dead at the lower fort, wiienci; the uv.wh traveled to my IriendH in St. lA)uiH that I had Ixien killed in n tight with the Indians. In an hour or two it was discovenul that there was still life in me, and that I was reviving. I was exam- ined : there was no bulh^t-wound on my b<>dy, and again it was provcsd that my broad-bladed hunting- knife (though not the same one) had avisrted the blow. It had been struck with an ouncur of lead impelled with the full force of gunpow<ler. I speedily reeoveatid, but cotitinued sore for a long time. Kvery Black I'oot was killed by my men, who sealed their defense and leaped upon them in such nundjcrs that they almost smothered them. Only four of my warriors were woundad. Intelligence of my injury was sent to the village, which was three weciks in reaching them. One thousand warriors instantly set out for the fort, all my wives aec^ompanying them ; but 1 had re- covered before their arrival. Our party had scarcely encamped outside the fort, when the J51ack Feet, who were always haunting us, stole about eight hundred he.id of horses. On discov- ering the theft, a large party st.'irted on their trail up the river. The depredators would have to cross the river to get home, and there was no crossing for horses nearer than liftecn miles, after which they had to go on to the INFussel Shell, a distance of twenty miles far- ther, and only ten from the fort. I knew that this would be the route of the fugitives, because it was their regular beat. I had had no thought of going until it suddenly occurred to mc that the party in pursuit would most likely fail to overtake the thieves, while IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) A Z f/. $^/ ^ 1.0 I.I ■-IM |50 ™^ 25 ?9 i« iiijizo 1118 1 11.25 1.4 16 ■a 6" ► .<^. 71 /^ 4 Sciences Corporation •NJ .\ 4, o -"\ *> ^ ^'^^\. "^>^ 6^ <^ 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 <? ^ . mis L<? i a74 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 1 had so admirable an opportunity to catch them on the Mussel Shell. I took a party, therefore, forded the river near the fort, and went on straight to the Mussel Shell, where I posted my men. Our unsus- 2)ecting victims came up, singing in great memment, and driving our horses before them, all of which were jaded. I suffered then; to approach close upon us, and then gave the word to cliaigc. Never was a party taken more by surprise ; they were too dumbfoundered to offer resistance, and all wc had to do was to chop them down. We had tlieir twenty-four scalps in little more than the same number of seconds. When tlie other party came \ip and found the work done, they thought we had been rained down there. They knew ihcy had left us at the fort, and we had not passed them on the way, and where did wc come from? Pine I^eaf was with the party, and she was ready to blow me off my horse. It was unfair to take +he joT) out of their hands, after they had almost run their horses off their legs in the chase. I expressed my icgret at the fortunate turn affairs had taivcn, and promised nev- er to offend in the same manner again ; but it was a long while before I coidd banter her into good humor. I remained at the fort all the summer (as before stated), intending to go down the riv^er on my way to St. Louis with the last boats in the fall. While idling there, 1 found the five men whom I had rescued from starvation in a penniless condition, and unable to go to work again. It seemed the company had issued or- ders to their agents to furnish no more outfits to free trappers on their personal credit, as the risk was too great, from their extreme liability to be killed by the Indians. To engage to work for the ;>ompany at tlie JAMES F. BECKWOURTH. :M5 lem on forded to the unsus- riment, ih were pon us, a party iindered to chop in little ho, work n there. \vc liad ive come ready to e +he job ;ir horses 1 egret at ised nev- it was a d humor, as before y way to lile idhng 3ued from ble to go issued or- its to free V was too ed by the my at the price they were paying liands was only peiiietuating their poverty ; for they were running the same risk of their lives as if trapping for tlieniselves, and their re- muneration was but as one to ten. They were do^vn- hearted, and knew not what to do. Considerinc: their sad condition, I determined to befriend them, and risk the chances. I therefore offered to give them an ex- cellent outfit, and direct them to the best beaver-ground in the Crow nation, where they would l)e ])rotected from all harm by my CroAV waiTiors as my friends, my in- terest to be one lialf of the proceeds. This offer was cheeriully accepted by the five men, and tliey were highly elated at the prospect. I then acquainte'1 the Crows that those men were my friends; that they were the remains of a party ?f eleven, of whom six had been killed by the Black ]"^cct, wdio had despoiled them of every thing they had, and that I had found these in the prairie almost fanr'shed to death. I had engaged them to stay in the nation and trap for me, and I wished my faithful Crow braves to protect them in their pursuit, and suffer none; to offer them mo- lestation. This they all readily promised to do, and were even pleased with the tnist ; for it was a belief with the Crows that the beavers in their streams were too numerous ever to be diminished. My bosom friend offered to remain with them, to show them the best streams, and render them ail the assistance in his pow- er. He was a most valuable auxiliary, as his skill in trapping I never saw excelled. They went to work, and met with extraordinary success ; my share of their labors of less than three months amounted to five thou- haad dollars. 376 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF CHAPTER XXVII. Departure for St. Louis. — Visit Fort Union. — Foit C'arkc. — Descend to the A-rick-a-ra Country. — Am taken Prisoner. — Extraordinary Means of Release. — Reach St. Louis. — Scarcely recognized by my Sisters. — Changes. — Estrangement of Friends. — Sigh for my In- dian Home. The Sparrowliawk nation was all assembled at tlic fort, to take le.ave ot'tlic Medicine Calf for several moons. The boats liad arrived filled with a fresh stock of goods, and tlie nation made purchases to the amount of many thousands of dollars. The boats being now ready to return again, I made a short address to my people be- fore I bade them adieu. " Sparrowhawks !" I said, "I am going to leave you for a few moons, to visit my friends among the white men. I shall return to you by Green Grass, when the boats come back from the country of the whites. While I am away, I desire you to reii ; mer the counsel I have often given you. I wish you to send out no war- parties, because you want for nothing, and your nation is feared by all the neighboring tribes. Keep a good look-out over your liorses, so as to aiford the enemy no opportunity of stealing them. It is through careless- ness in the horse-guards that one half the horses are lost, and it is the loss of horses that leads to half the battles tlxcit you fight. It is better not to ha^•e your horses stolen in the first place, than to steal more in the place of those you have lost. " I also commend Mr. Tulleck to your care, as well as all the inmates of tlie fort. Visit them often, and JAMES P. IJECKWOURTII. 377 -Descend aordinary ed by my »r my In- d at the [ moons, if goods, of many ready to ;ople be- eavc you he white when the . While counsel I t no war- ur nation !p a good enemy no careless- Lorses are half the la^■e your il more in L*e, as well often, and pee that they are not besieged or starved out by their enemies. Do not let the Black Feet or any other bad Indians harm them. Behave yourselves as becomes my faithful Crows. Adieu!" They all promised obedience to my instructions, and I was soon on board. The boats were cast loose, and we were borne rapidly down stream by the swift cur- rc^nt of the Yellow Stone. We called at Fort Union, and I staid tliere three days. Here I had a fine canoe built, and two oarsmen furnished me to carry me to St. Louis. I was bearer of a large package of letters ; and when my little craft was finished, I stepped on board and launched out upon the swift-rolling current of the Missouri. After tlie brilliant opportunities I had had of realizing a princely fortune, my only wealth consisted of an order upon the company for seven thousand eight hundred dollars. Arriving at Fort Clarke, we made another short stay. The A-rick-a-ras, whose country was some hundred and fifty miles farther down, had just stolen nearly all the horses belonging to the fort. Bellemaire, the in- tci-preter of the fort, proposed to me to go after them, and see if we could recover some of the horses. I con- sented, and we went down to their village in my canoe, and on our arrival there found them all dancing. An- toine Garro, with two relatives, w^ere in the number. On seeing our approach, one shouted, " Here come white men!" and Garro and his brother instantly sprang toward us and pushed us into a lodge, where we were apparently prisoners. A council was summoned to de- cide upon our fate, and I had but slight hopes of ever .seeing St. Louis. A young Indian came at that mo- ment, and mentioned in a whisper to Peter that there was a large boat approaching. He made a long ha- n7H AI'TOBIOGRAPIIY Ol' ranguo before tlie others, in wliicli lie earnestly and en- ergetically declaimed against taking tlic lives of white men. lie concluded his oration hy saying, " You have now my opinion, and remember, if you decide upon tak- ing these white men's lives, E stay with you no lon- ger.'' ITe then left the council and went down to the boat, Avhere he advised the occupants to cross to the other side of the river, as the Indians were at that mo- ment deliberating upon the fate of Bellemaire and three others. GaiTo's father happened to be on board, who was a great man among the Indians, and, on learning what business was in hand, he provided himself with a club, and entered the village with his son Peter. He then set about the council, and adminisi^ered to all the members such a hearty thrashing, laying about him as if fighting wild bulls, that I thought he nmst surely slay seme of them. "There!" exclaimed the old man, after having be- labored them till he was out of breath, '*I'll teach you to deliberate on the lives of white men, dogs as ye arc !" The Indians offered no resistance, and said not a word. We remained all night with old Garro's com- pany, and returned to the fort in the morning. Belle- maire recovered his own horses, but could obtain none belonging to the fort. We called at all the forts that lay in our way, to collect what dispatches they had to send, making but brief stay, however, as I was impa- tient to be getting on. At Fort Canaille I obtained a passenger, a son of Mr. Pappen, who was going to St. Louis, and I received reiterated charges to be very care- ful of him. Soon after our departure from the fort there came on a cold rain-storm, which lasted several hours ; the storm raged fiercely, and we had to make fast to a JAMES I'. BECKWOUKTH. iMi) nd en- ' white u heave m tak- 10 loii- to the to the lat mo- ld three :d, who earning ' with a T. He . all the him as ; surely Hng be- ach you ye arc!" d not a o's com- Belle- ain none brts that y had to as impa- btained a ng to St. rery care- ere came )urs ; the fast to a snag in the middle of the river to save ourselves from driving ashore. I had my Indian iire-striker, and, amid all the wind and rain, I repeatedly lit my pipe. My young passenger was astonished at the performance. " If you can strike a fire," he exclaimed, " in such a storm as this, I do not fear perishing." When the storm had somewhat abated, we landed to encamp. I shot two fat wild turkeys, which were (juite a rarity to me, after having lived so many years on buffalo-meat, there being no turkeys in tlie Crow country. On arriving at Jefferson City I felt quite sick, and showed symptoms of fever ; but I was anx- ious to reach home without laying up. A steamboat coming down the river, I went on board, canoe and all, and was soon landed on the dock of St. Louis. It was fourteen years since I had last seen the city, and what a difference was observable in those few years! But I was too sick to take much not) t of things, and hastened to my sister's house, accompanied by the cai*penter of the boat. He rapped j the door was opened by my younger sis- ter; I was supporting myself against the wall. Greet- ings passed between them, for my companion was ac- quainted with my family ; and he then informed her that he was the bearer of sad news — hf brother James was dead. My sister Louise began to cry, and informed him they had learned the news some weeks since. Then turning to me, he said, "Come in, Jim, and see your sister cry for you." I advanced, and addressed her in my old familiar manner, " How do you do, Lou ?" I must have been a curious looking object for an af- fectionate sister to recognize. All my clotliing consist- :i8() AIITOHIOOK'APHV Ol cd of dressed antelope, deer, and the skins of mount- ain slieep, highly ornamented by my Indian wives. My long hair, as black as the raven's wing, descended to my hips, and I presented more the appearance of a Crow than that of a civilized being. She gazed at me for a moment with a searching look, and then exclaiming, "My God, it is my brotlierl" she flew into my arms, and was for some time unable to speak. At length she said, " Wc received a letter informhig us of your death, and that Mr. TuUeck had seen you borne into Fort Cass dead." My elder sister, Matilda, was up stairs, entertaining a few female friends, and Lou bounded up stairs to acquaint her that lier brother James wished to speak to her. Thinking her to be jesting, she said, "Are you not ashamed of yourself to jest on such a subject?" and she shed tears at thus having me recalled to remembrance. Louise asseverated her earnestness, and Matilda re- -»' 'oved her for her wantonness, but would not budge to ^ J nd see for herself. At length a Mrs. Le Fevre said, " Matilda, I believe she is in earnest, and if you do not go and see, I will." She had been a child with me, and we used to re- peat our catechism together; now she was married, and the mother of several children. She came tripping down stairs into my sister's apart- ment, making a ceremonious courtesy as she entered. My sister introduced her to me, asking me if I did not recollect my commere (for we were baptized together). I had forgotten her, but the mention of this circum- stance recalled her to my mind, and there was an- other embracing. JAMES P. m:CKWOi:UTH. ;$81 mount- 3S. 31 y ulcd to ce of a ig look, .r'."shc ial)lc to iformiiig ,ecn you si-ti^ining stairs to to speak you not ' and she mbrancc. atilda re- budge to 3vrc said, if you do sed to re- niarried, er's apart- e entered. [ I did not together), is circum- e was an- il J lor faith being thus confinncd, my sister ^Matihh was caHeil down, and my reccjjtion from her was even more cordial than from the preceding friends. Siie was a woman of great warmth of feeling, and her heart was full to ovei-tiowing with the ^motions my name had called up. She was the eldest of the family, and since our mother's death she had been at once mother and sister to us all. Although I was the vagrant of tlie family, I still lived in her sisterly heart, and the su})- jjosition that my earthly career was closed had only hallowed my memory in her affections. This was my second reception by my relatives after 1 had been supposed dead. One l)y my savage friends, who, in welcoming me as their long-lost child, exhilj- ited all the genuine emotions of untutored nature ; and this second by my civilized friends, who, if less ener- getic in their demonstrations of attachment, sliowcd equal heartfelt joy, equal sincerity, and far superior de- corum. Tlie following morning I visited the company's office and delivered my letters. I became too weak to walk home, and Mr. Chouteau very obligingly drove me back •in his carnage. I was compelled to take to my ])ed, where I was confined for several days, under good med- ical attendance, and most assiduously attended by my relatives. Their answers to my many inquiries confounded me entirely. " Where is my father ?" *' He went back to Virginia, and died there many years ago." " Where are my brothers ?" "They are scattered about the country." " Where is such and such a friend V" :\H'2 AITOIIKMiUArilY OK " III his ji;rjiv(\" " When' IM I'ili/jiV" " Slio wjis iiiirrird i\ inonlli jip;o, niter receiving in- telliireiM'*" ol' your eerl.'iiii de.-illi." I eeaMed my «|ueivini:;, Jiiul nverled my eyes fVom iiis «iMlev'H pi/,e. And lliis, I nuiHed, is my redirn home nt'ler yearH ol' hiiuhl an(i('ipali<)!iM «»l weleome I 'I'liis in my neeure and snnsliiny lia\en, atfev ho lonu; and (langeroiiH a voyaiie I My lather dea«l, my hrollierH disiM'r.sed, inv tVi(M»ds in ihtMr graves, und my loved on(> married I She did well 1 have no right to eomplain— she is lost to me t'orever I it a man's home exists in the heart ol'his friends, with the d(>ath and alienation of those friends his eherislu'd home I'ailes away, uiul he is again u wan- derer upon the earth. I do not know whether it was disappointment at so mueli tleath, mntation, and estrangement, or whether I bore tiie disease immediately in my own heart, hut I was disappointed in my return home ; the antieipations I had t'ormed were not realized — a feeling of eyiiieism passed over u\<\ 1 thought of my Indian home, and o( the unsophisticated hearts 1 liad left behind me. Their lives were savage, and their perpetual animosi- ties repulsive, but with this dark background there was uuich viviil coloring in relict". If the Indian was unre- leuling, and inin-dcred with his lance, his battle-axe, and his knife, his white brother was ecpially unfeeling, and had wavs of torturing his victim, if less violent, not the less cert'iin. The savage is artless, and when you win his admiration there is no envious reservation to pronrpt him to do injustice to your name. Vou live among them honored; and on your death, your bones iuv stored religiously in their great cave along with .lAMI.H I'. liKCKWollMll, :\h:\ nj-; 111- )\\\ inv Tons !i ctl, my ! Slir lost to rt ot'liiH {I wan- ■nt ut St) lu'lluT I d, l»ut 1 •ipatiourt i-yuioisiu )im', and lind mo. auiinosi- [lieiv was kvas iiiiri'- saxc, aiul eliu}^, Jiiui olcnt, not when you rvation to Vou live our bones ilouii" with oHuTH of* pn-ccdin^ }i;riH'..iti<)ii. , lo Im- each year viHil- (mI, an«l |iaintr(l, atnl irllcrtcd on l»y a host of devoted (•oiM|)ani<tnH. 'I'liere, is not the, elei^ance, there, the lii.x- iny, the refined lueedinu;, hut liiere, irt inde plenty, prairie.s Htn<hled vvitli liorHeM, and room to wander willi- oiit any man to e.all yonr Htepw in (pieHtion. My child wan there, and liiH mother, whom I loved; a rcliirn (here waH in no way unnatural. I iiad ac<piire.d their lialtitH, and wan in Hon)e, jnamicr uncM to them. I had no lie, to hold me here, and I already almo.st determ- ined upon retnrninji; to my Indian Iiome. kSuc-Ii tlioup;htM i\H these, an I lay on my nick-hed, puHMed eontinuoMMly thron^di my mind. A few of my early fVi«'ndH, as lla-y heard of my return, came one after the other to visit um; ; Imt they were all chan}i;ed. The ili};lit of time, had wrouglit furrows upon their smooth lirows, a>ul the nhadow of the w'lu^n of Time was resting upon the li'.w fair cheeks I had known in my younger days. ClIAl'^riMI XXVIIT. l)iHa«rccal)lo llcnrountcrs in St. !,ouiH. — MoHKcngrr arrivoH from Fort (^;n,„__[,niiiiiu'nt I'cril of thn VVliitrH from tlic itifurintcd CrowH.— The Cuusr.— Inuncdiatfi Krtnrn — IiicidcntH of my Arrival.— fine Leaf BubstiUUcd for Eliza. — Last iJaUlc with the Black Feet. — Final Adieu to the Crows. It now comes in the order of relation to describe two or three unpleiu^ant rencounters I had with various par- ties in St. Louis, growing out of the misunderstanding (already related) between tlic Crows and Mr. Fitzpat- rick's party. I had already hciird reports in *hc mount- ains detrimental to my character for my supposed ac- ;i.s4 AIITUIJKXJHArMY oT tloii ill tlio rnattor, Imt I had never \nnd iniicli Jitlciitioii <» tliein. FricTjdH had cautioned me tliat tliere were large sunis of money offered for my iife, and that sev- eral men had even undertaken to earn the rewards. I eould not credit Hucli friendly intimatioiiH ; still I thought, on tile ]»rliieiple tiiat tlicrc Is never smoke but tlun-e is lire, tliat it would he as well to keep myself a little on my guard. 1 had recovered from my sickness, and I spent much of my time about town. My friends repeatedly in- (juired of me if I had seen i'itzpatrick. Wondering how so much interest could attach to my meeting with that man, I asked one day what reason there was for making the inquiry. My friend answered, " I don't wish you to adduce me as authority ; but there are strong threats of taking your life for an alleged rob- bery of Fitzpatrick by the Crow nation, in which you were deeply concerned." I saw now what to prepare for, although I still in- clined to doubt that any man, possessed of ordinary perceptions, could charge mc with an offense of which I was so manifestly innocent. True, I had met Fitz- patrick several times, and, instead of his former cordial salutation, it was with difficulty he addressed a civil word to me. Shortly after this conversation with my friend I went to the St. Louis Theatre. Between the pieces I had stepped to the saloon to obtain some refreshments, and I saw Fitzpatrick enter, with four other not very re- spectable citizens. They advanced directly toward me. Fitzpatrick then poinCed me out to them, saying, "There's the Crow." " Then," said the others, " we are Black Feet, and let us have his scalp." J AWLS I'. HECKWOrKTlC. ;J85 out ion ■i wore it HCV- (Irf. I Still I ike but ysclt' u t much (lly iu- luloriug ng with was for I don't lerc are red rob- lich you still in- ordinary of which net Fitz- sr cordial d a civil id I went :es I had lents, and : very re- y toward n, saying, Feet, and i. nie. hey immediately drew their knives and rushed on I then tliought of my friend's salutary counsel to bo on my guard, but I had no wca])on about nie. Witli the agility of a cat 1 sprung over the counter, and com- menced passing tumblers faster than thoy had been in the habit of receiving them. I had feHod one or two of my assailants, and 1 saw I was in for a serious dis- turbance. A friend (and he is still living in St. Louis, woaltiiy and influential) stepped behind the bar, and, slajiping me on the slioulder, said, " Look out, Ikckwourth, you will hur^- some of your friends." I replied that my friends did not appear to be very numerous just then. '* You have friends present," he added ; and, pass- ing an enormous bowie-knife into my hand, stepped out again. Now I was all right, and felt myself a match for the five ruffians. My practice with the battle-axe, in a case where the quickness of thought required a corre- sponding rapidity of action, then came into play. I made a sortie from my position on to the open floor, and challenged the five bullies to come on ; at the same time (which, in my excited state, was natural enough) calling them by the hardest names. My mind was fully made up to kill them if they had only come at me ; my arm was nervous ; and my friends, who knew me at that time, can tell whether ] was quick-motioned or not. I had been in situations where I had to ply my battle-axe with rapidity and precision to redeem my own skull. I was still in tiiU possession of my belligerent powers, and I had the feel- ing of justice to sustain me. R 3.-0 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF I .stood at bay, with my Imgc bowie-knife clra\\Ti, momentarily hesitating whether to give the Crow war- hoop or not, when Sheriff J:Juzby hiid haiuls on me, and requested me to be quiet. Aitiiough boihng with rage, I respeeted tlie offieer's presence, and the assassins marcli- ed oif to the hody of the theatre. I followed them to the door, and defied them to descend to the street with me; but the' sheriff becoming angry, and threatening me Avitli the calaboose, 1 straightway left the theatre. 1 stood upon the steps, and a friend coming up, I borrowed a well-loaded pistol of him, and moved slow- ly away thinking that five men would surely never al- low themselves to be cowed by one man. Shortly aft- er, I perceived the whole party approaching, and, step- ping back on the side-walk in front of a high wall, I waited their coming up. On they came, swaggering along, assuming the appearance of intoxication, and talking with drunken incoherer.cy. When they had approached near enough to suit me, I ordered them to halt, and cross over to the other side of the street. " Who are you?" inquired one of them. " I am he whom you are after, Jim Beckwourth ; and if you advance one step farther, I will blow the tops of your heads off." "You are dnink, ar'n't you?" said one of the party. *'No, I am not dnmk," I replied; '* I never drink any thing to make a dog of me like yourselves." I stood during this short colloquy in the middle of the side-walk, with my pistol ready cocked in one hand and my huge bowie-knife in the other; one step for- ward would have been fatal to any one of them. " Oh, he's drunk," said one ; " let's cross over to the other side." And all five actually did pass over, which. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 387 drawn, )w war- me, and h rage, I 3, march- theni to •eet with :eatening Lhcatvc. ing up, I /ed slow- never al- lortly aft- and, step- gh wall, I •vaggering ation, and to suit me, i other side ourth; and the tops of )f the party, never drink lives." le middle of in one hand ne step for- them. 5S over to the over, which. if any of them ia Ptill living and has any regard for truth, he must admit to this day. I then proceeded liome. My sister had been inform- ed of the rencounter, and on my return home I found her frightened almost to death ; for Forsyth (one of the party) had long been the terror of St. Louis, having badly maimed many men, and tlie information that he was after me led her to the conclusion that I would surely be killed. A ihw days after I met two of the party (Forsvth and Kinney), when Forsyth accosted me, "Your name is Beckwourth, I believe?" I answered, '* That is my name." " I understand that you have been circulating the report that I attempted to assassinate you?" *'I have told that you and your gang have been en- deavoring to murder me," I replied, "and I repeat it here." " I will teach you to repeat such tales about me," he said, hercely, and drew his knife, which he called his Arkansas tooth-pick, from his pocket. The knife I had provided myself with against any emergency was too large to carry about me convenient- ly, so I earned it at my back, having the handle within reach ot^ my finger and thumb. Seeing his motion, I whipped it out in a second. "Now," said I, "you miserable ruffian, draw your knife and come on ! I will not leave a piece of you big enough to choke a dog." "Come," interposed Kinney, "let us not make black- guards of ourselves ; let us be going." And they act- ually did pass on without drawing a weapon. I was much pleased that this happened in a jmblic part of the city, and in open day ; for the bully, whom 388 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF it was believed the law could not humble, was visibly cowed, and in the presence of a large concourse of men. I had no more trouble from the })arty afterward. In connection with tliis aftair, it is but justice to my- self to mention that, when Captain Sublet, Fitzpatrick, and myself happened to meet in the office of Mr. Chou- teau, Captain Sublet inteiTogated Fitzpatrick upon the cause of his hostility toward me, and represented to him at length the open absurdity of his trumping up a charge of robbery of his party in the mountains against me. Being thus pressed, Fitzpatrick used the following words : "I never believed the truth of the charge my- self; but when I am in the company of sundry per- sons, they try to persuade me into the belief of it, in order to raise trouble. I repeat, it is not my belief at this present moment, and I will not be persuaded into believing it again." Then turning to me, he said, "Beckwou.Ji, I have done you a great injustice by ever harboring such a thought. I acknowledge it free- ly, and I ask your forgiveness for the same. Let us be as we formerly were, friends, and think no more about it." Friends we therefore mutually pledged ourselves, and friends we have since remained up to this* day. V/hile in town I called on General Ashley, but he happened to be away from home, I was about leaving the house, when a melodious voice invited me in to await the general's return. " My husband will soon be back," the lady said, "and will be, doubtless, pleased to see you " I turned, and really thought I was looking on an angel's face. She moved toward me with such grace, and uttered such dulcet and haprmonious sounds, that 1 JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 389 , visibly of men. d. e to my- zpatrick, Lr. Chou- upon the sented to nping up lountains following large my- mdry per- li of it, in Y belief at laded into , he said, justice by ige it free- Let us be nore about ourselves, lis* day. ey, but he out leaving me in to lady said, dng on an uch grace, uids, that 1 was riveted to the spot. It was the first time I had seen the lady of General Ashley. 1 accepted her invitation, and was shown into a neat little parlor, the lady taking a seat at the window to act as my entertainer until the return of the general. "If I mistake not," she said, "you are a mount- aineer ?" I put on all the airs possible, and replied, "Yes, madam, I was with General Ashley when he first went to the mountains. " Her grace and affability so charmed me that I could not fix my ideas upon all the remarks she addressed to me. I was conscious I was not showing myself off to advantage, and she kept me saying "Yes, madam" and "No, madam," without any correct understanding of the appropriateness, until she espied the general ap- proaching. "Hero comes the general," the lady said; "I knew he would not be long aw^ay." Shortly the general entered the lodge, and fixed his eye upon me in an instant, at the same time whipping his pantaloons playfully Avith liis riding-wliip. Rising from a better chair than the whole Crow na- tion possessed, I said, without ceremony, " How do you do, general ?" " Gracious heavens ! is this you, Beckwourth ?" and he seized my hand with the grip of a vice, and nearly shook off my scalp, while his lady laughed heartily at tlie rough salutation of two old mountaineers. " My dear," said the general, " let me introduce you to Mr. Beckwourth, of whom you have heard mc so often make mention. This is the man that saved my life on three different occasions in the liocky ^lount- ains ; had it not been for our visitor, you would not ;J90 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF have been Mrs. A-ihley at this moment. But you look sickly, James ; wliat is the matter V" I replied, "I had been confined to my bed since my arrival in St. Louis." We had a long conversation about the mountains and my residence with the Crow nation. 1 was very Iios- pitably entertained by my former commander and liis amiable lady, and when I left, the promise was ex- torted from me to make repeated calls upon them so long as I remained in the city. About tlie latter end of ]\Iarch a courier arrived from Fort Cass, bringing tidings of a most alarming charac- ter. He had come alone through all that vast extent of Indian territory without being molested. Tt seemed as though a special providence had shielded him. lie found me in the theatre, and gave me a hasty re- hearsal of the business. It seems tliat a party of trap- ])ers, who had heard of my departure for St. Louis, hav- ing fallen in with a number of Crows, had practiced upon them in regard to me. " Your great chief is gone to the white nation," said the trapper spokesman. " Yes, he has gone to see his friend, the great M'hite chief." "And you will never see him again." " Yes, he will come back in the season of green grass." " No, the great white chief has killed him." "Killed him!" "Yes." " What had he done that he should kill him ?" " He was angry because he left the whites and came to live with the Indians — because he fought for them." It is the greatest wonder in the world that every one JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 391 you look since my tains and very hos- r and his was cx- L them so ivcd from itx charac- ist extent. It seemed liim. I hasty re- ty of trap- jouis, hav- l practiced tion," said a*eat white n of green a. n him ?" !S and came t for them." it every one of the trapper party did not lose their scalps on the spot. If the Indians Jiad had any prominent leader among them, tliey infallibly would have been all killed, and have paid the penalty of their mischievous lyino-. Unfortunately for the Crows, they believe all the words of a white man, thinking that his tongue is always straight. These trappers, by their idle invention, had jeopardized the lives of all the white men in the mount- ains. The Indians said no more, but dashed off to the vil- lage, and carried the news of my death. " How do you know that lie is dead ?*' they inquired. *' Because tlie whites told us so, and their tongues are not forked. The great white chief was angry be- cause he staid with our people, and he killed him." A council was immediately held to decide upon meas- ures of vengeance. It was determined to proceed to the fort and kill every white man there, and divide all the goods, guns, and ammunition among themselves ; then to send out parties in every direction, and make a gencrj.l massacre of every white man. Innumerable fingers were cut off, and hair without measure, in mourning for me ; a costly sacrifice was then made to the Great Spirit, and the 'lation ne:it set about cany- ing out their plans ct vengeance. The village moved toward the fort. Many were op- posed to being too hasty, but all agreed that their de- cisions should be acted upon. The night before the village reached the fort, four women ran on in advance of the village to acquaint Mr. Tulleck of the sanguin- ary intention of the Crows. Every precaution was taken to withstand them — every gun was loaded. The village arrived, and, contrary to all precedent, the gates of the fort were closed. 892 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF The savages were infuriated. The whites had heard of the death of the Medicine Calf, and had closed the gates to prevent the anticipated vengeance. The in- mates of the fort were in imminent peril ; hoiTor was visible on their countenances. They might hold their position for a while, but an investment by from ten to fifteen thousand savages must reduce it eventually. Tulleck was seated on the fort in great perplexity. Many of the veteran Crow warriors were pacing to and fi'O outside the inclosure. Yellow Belly was pro\'i- sional head chief during my absence. Tulleck called hmi to him. He rode up and inquired, "What is the matter? Why arc your gatt"^ shut against us ?" "I had a dream lasi night," replied Tulleck, "and my medicine told me I had to fight my own people to-day." " Yes, your bird told you truth ; he did not lie. Your chief has killed the JMedicine Calf, and we slyc going to kill you all." " But the Medicine Calf is not dead ; he will cer- tainly come back again." " Yes, he is dead. Tlie whites told us so, and they never lie. You need not try to escape by saying he is not dead, for we will not believe your words. You can not escape us ; you can neither dig into the ground, nor fl^ into the air ; if you attempt to run, I will put five thousand warriors upon your trail, and follow you to the wliite chief: even there you shall not escape us. We have loved the whites, but we now hate them, and we are all angry. You have but little meat in the fort, and I know it ; when that is gone, you die." My son, "little Jim," was standing near the fort, and Mr. Tulleck called him to him. The child's answer "Away! you smell bloody!" was. JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 393 lad heard losed the The in- DiTor was [lold their om ten to i^entually. erplexity. ng to and ^as provi- eck called e matter? , "and my le to-day." id not lie. nd we ar(^ e will cer- ), and they aying he is >rds. You he ground, , I will put follow you ; escape us. e them, and meat in the u die." the fort, and Id's answer Mr. Tulleck, Iiowever, induced liim to approach, and said, "Black Pantlier, I have always loved your father, and you, and all the warriors, ilavc I ever told you a lie ?" "No." "They have told you that your father is dead, but they have lied ; he Hvcs, and will come back to you. The white chief has not killed him. My words are true. Do you believe your friend, and the friend of your father ?" " Yes. I love my father; he is a great chief. When he is here, I feel happy — I feel strong ; but if he is dead, I shall never feel happy any more. My mother has cried four suns for him, and tells me I shall see him no more, which makes me cry." " Your father shall come back, my son, if you will listen to what I now say to you." "I will listen." " Go, then, and ask Yellow Belly to grant me time to send for your father to the country of the white men, and if he be not here by the time tlie cherries shall have turned red, I will then lay down my head, and you may cut it off, and the warriors may kill us all, for w^e will not fight against them. Go and tell the chief that he must grant what I have told you for your sake, and if he does not listen to you, you will never see your father any more. Go ! " The child accordingly went to Yellow Belly, and begged him to grant one request. The chief, suppos- ing that he was about to request permission to kill a particular man at the fort, said, " Certainly, my son ; any request you make shall be granted. Speak ! what is it?" The child then informed Yellow Belly what the R 2 ;)94 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP Crane had said — that he would have liis father back by the time the cherries turned red, or that he would suffer his head to be cut off, and deliver up his whites to the Crov, s, and would not tight. "It shall be so, my son," Yellow Belly assented: " go and tell the Crane to send for your father, for not a wan'ior shall follow the trail of the white runner, or even look upon it. If he does as he says, the whites shall all live ; if he fails, they shall all die. Now go and harangue the people, and tell all the warriors that the Crane is going to send for your father, and the war- rior who follows the runner's trail shall die. Yellow iielly has said it." He moiuited a horse, and did as the chief had di- rected. Joseph Pappen volunteered to deliver the message to me: it was encountering a fearful hazard. His induce- ment was a bonus of one thousand dollars. The morning following the receipt of this intelli- gence I saw jMr. Chouteau, who w^as in receipt of a let- ter from ]\Ir. Tulleck by the same messenger. He was in great uneasiness of minJ. There was over one hund- red thousand dollars' worth of goods in the fort, and he urged me to start without delay. The distance from 8t. Louis was estimated at two thousand seven hund- red and fifty miles, and the safety of the men rendered the greatest expedition necessary. Any sum I might ask would be willingly paid me. "Go!" said he; "engage as many men as you wish; purchase all the horses you require: we will pay the bills." He also furnished me with instructions to all the agents on the way to provide me with whatever I inquired for. The price 1 demanded for my services was five thousand dollars, which was, without scruple, I JAMES P. BECKWOUKTII. 395 back would rvhites niteil : or not tier, or whites lOW go rs that le war- Y'ellow [lad di- isage to induce- intelli- 3f a let- He was e hund- , and he Lce from n hund- rendered I might DU wish; pay the ns to all latever I services scruple, allowed me. I hired two men to accompany me (Pap- pen being one), to whom 1 gave liltcen hundred and one thousand dollars respectively. Our horses being procured, and every necessary supplied us, away we started upon our journey, which occupied us fifty-three days, as the traveling was bud. Our last resting-place was i'ort Clarke. Thence we struck directly across through a hostile Indian coun- try, arriving in safety within hailing distance of the fort before the cherries were ripe, although they were very near it. I rested on a gentle rise of ground to contemplate the mass of people I saw before me. There they lay, in their absorbing devotedness to their absent chief; day and night, for long months, they had staid by that wooden inclosure, watching for my return, or to take fearful vengeance upon their prey. Tlicy had loved the whites, but those whites had now killed their chief because he had returned to his own people to figlit for his kindred and nation — the chief wlio had loved them much, and made them rich and strong. They were now feared by their enemies, and respected by all ; their prairies were covered with thousands of horses, and their lodges were full of the wealth derived from the whites. For this the white chief had killed him, and a war of extermination was denounced against them. The fort and its inmates were withui their grasp; if the Crane would redeem his pledge and pro- duce their missing chief, all w^ere well ; but if the ap- pointed time passed by, and he were not forthcoming, it was fearful to contemplate the vengeance they would inflict. When I thought of those contemptible wretches, who, merely to wanton with the faith that the artless 39(5 AL'TOBIOGKAPPIY OF savages reposed in them, could fabricate a lie, and arouse all this impending danger, I felt that a death at the stake would not transcend their deserts. I put my horse into speed, and rode in among the Indians. J made the usual salutation on arriving be- fore them, and, riding tlirough their ranks sullenly, 1 repeated two or three times, " I am angry !" Every eye was turned on me, but not a warrior stirred ; the, women seized their children and ran into lodges. The Medicine Calf had arrived, but he was angry. I advanced to the strong and well-secured gate of the fort, and struck it a heavy blow with my battle- axe. " Halloo, boys ! " I shouted ; "open your gate, and admit a friend." "Jim Beckwourth! By heavens, Jim Beckwourth!" was repeated from tongue to tongue. The gates flew open upon tlieir massive hinges, and, as I rode through, I said, "Leave the gates open, boys; there is no longer danger." 1 exchanged but a tew words with Mr. Tulleck, as I had a difficult business before me. The people I had to mollify were subject to strange caprices, and I had not resolved what policy to adopt toward them. I went and sat down sullenly, hanging my head so low that my chin rested upon my breast : this was a to- ken of my great displeasure. The braves came round me slowly. My wives all formed then ^elves in a cir- cular line, and marched round me, each one pausing as she passed to place her hand on the back of my neck. The brave old Yellow Belly was the first one to speak, and what he said was to the purpose. " What is the matter wicli our chief?" he inquired ; who has angered the Medicine Calf?" "Did I not tell you," I said, "that I left you in (( iG, and cath at )ng tho ing bc- lUenly, Every jd; tho i. The gate of ■ battle- ;ate, and iTOurth!" ites flew through, 10 longer lUeck, as people I BS, and I 1 them. T head so was a to- me round J in a cir- ausing as my neck, st one to inquired ; sft you in JAMES r. BECKWOURTU. 397 charge of the Crane and these other whites during my absence V And what do 1 behold on my return?" *' Yes, I told you 1 would take care of the Crane and these other whites while you were gone, and I have done so. My warriors have killed buffalo for them to eat, and our women have brought them wood and wa- ter for their use, and they are all alive. Look ! Yon- der is the Crane ; and his white people are all with him — are tliey dead ?" " No ; but you intended to kill them." " Y'es ; but listen : if you had not returned before the cherries turned red, we sliould have killed them all, and every other white man besides that we could have found in the Am-ma-ha-bas (Rocky Mountains). Now hear what I have to say : " Suppose I am now going to war, or I am going to die. 1 come to you and say, ' My friend, I am going to die yonder ; I want you to be a kind friend to my children, and protect them after I depart for the land of* the Great Spirit.' I go out and die. My wives come to you with their fingers cut off, their haii' gone, and the warm blood pouring from their bodies. They are crying mournfully, and your heart pities them. Among the children is a son in whom you behold the image of your friend who is no more. The mother of that child you know to be good and virtuous. Y^ou have seen her triumphant entry into the medicine lodge, where you have beheld so many cut to pieces in at- tempting the same. You say, Here is the virtuous wife of my friend ; she is beloved and respected by the whole nation. She asks you to revenge her loss — the loss that has deprived her of her husband and the child of its father. In such a cise, what would you do ? Speak !" ;WH ALTOUIOOKAI'IIY OK ** 1 hIiouIcI certainly take my warriors," I replied, *'an(l go aiul avengi^ your loss." "Tiiat in just what 1 wan going to do for your rel- atives, t'riondH, and nation. Mow punish nic if 1 have done wrong."' 1 had nothing to .say in answer, and my head again fell — the spell was not yet broken. The Crow JJelt, an old and erafty l)rave, whispered to a young warrior, who rose in siK'nee, and immediately left the fort. JMrs. TuWeck shortly presented herself, and com- nieneed tantalizing the (^rows. " What are your warriors waiting for, who have been thirsting so many suns to kill the whites ? Vou have been brave for a long while ; where is all your bravery now V The gates are set wide oi)en, Jind only three have joined the few whites whom you thirsted to kill; why don't you begin ? What are you afraid of?"' Hhe continued in this aggravating strain, the war- riors hearing it all, altliough they did not a])pear to no- tice her. The woman's voice was agreeably relieved by tones uttered jutside the gate, which at that mo- ment fell upon my ear, and which I readily recognized as the voice of I'ine Leaf. She was haranguing her warriors in an animated manner, and delivering what, in civilized life, would be called her valedictory ad- dress. "Warriors!" she said, "I am now about to make a great sacriticc for my people. For many winters I have been on the war-path with you ; I shall tread that path no more ; you have now to fight the enemy with- out me. When I laid down my needle and my beads, and took up the battle-axe and the lance, my arm was weak ; but few winters had passed over my head. My brother had been killed by the enemy, and was gone 11 if hi .JAMi:S 1'. UECKWOLUTII. 'M\) '])licd, ur \v\- 1 have ap;ain • licit, arrior, 3rt. com- Ivc been 3U have jravery y three to kill ; ic war- ir to no- relieved hat mo- •offiiiiied ung her ig -Nvhat, tory ad- to make vinters 1 read that my with- iy beads, arm was ad. My fvas gone to the hunting-ground ot'tlie Orcat Spirit. I Raw him ill my drj.'ani.s. He would beckon for liis sinter to conie to him. It wa.s my heart's desire to go to him, but I wished lir.st to become a warrior, that 1 might avenge his (h-ath upon his iocs before I went away. " I said I would kill one hundred foes before I mar- ried any living man. 1 lur e more than kept my word, as our great ciiief and medicine m(;n can tell you. As my arm increased in strength, the enemy learned to fear me. 1 have aecomj)lished the task I set before me; henceforward 1 leave the war-paths of my people; r hav(^ fought my last battle, and hurled my last lance ; I am a warrior no more. '* To-day the Medicine Calf has returned. He has returned angry at the follies of his people, and they lear that he will again leave them, 'i'liey believe that he loves m(% and that my devotion to him will attach him to the nation. 1 therelbre bestow myself upon him ; perha])s he will be contented with me, and will leave us no more. AVarriors, farewell I'' She then entered the fori, and said, " Sparrowhawks, one who has followed you for many winters is about to leave your war-path forever. When have you seen Bar-chee-am-pe shrink from the charge ? You have seen her lance red with the blood of the enemy more than ten times ten. You know what her vow was, and you know she has kept her word. ]\Iany of you have tried to make her break her word, whicii you knew she had passed to the Great Spirit when she lost her brother. But you found that, though a w^oman, she had the heart of a warrior. "Do not turn your heads, but listen. You have seen that a woman can keep her word. During the many winters that I have followed you faithfully in 400 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF the war-path, you have refused to let me into the war- path secret, although you tell it to striplings on their second excursion. It was unfair that 1 could not know- it ; that 1 must be sent away with the women and chil- dren, when the secret was made known to those one- battle ])raves. If you had seen fit to tell it to me, it would have been secret until my death. But let it go ; I care no farther for it. ** I am about to sacrifice what I have always chosen to preserve — my liberty. The back of my steed has been my lodge and my home. On his back, armed witli my lance and battle-axe, I knew no fear. The medicine chief, when lighting by my side, has display- ed a noble courage and a lofty spirit, and he won from my heart, what no other warrior has ever won, the promise to marry him when my vow was fulfilled. lie has done much for our people ; he has fought their en- emies, and spilled his blood for them. When I shall become his wife, I shall be fond and faithful to him. My heart feels pure before the Great Spirit and the sun. When I shall be no more on the war-path, obey the voice of the IVIedicine Calf, and you will grow strong- er and stronger • we shall continue a great and a hap- py people, and Le will leave us no more. I have done."' She then approached me, every eye being intently fixed upon her. She placed her hand under my chin, and lifted my head forcibly up. " Look at me," she said ; *' I know that your heart is crying for the fol- lies of the people. But let it cry no more. I know you have ridden day and night to keep us from evil. You have made us strong, and your desire is to pre- serve us strong. Now stay at home with us ; you will not be obliged to go to war more than twice in twelve moons. And now, my friend, I am yours after yon JAMES P. BECKWOl RTH. 401 the war- 1 on their not know [ and chil- hose one- to me, it ; let it go ; lys chosen steed has ick, armed fear. The as display- 3 won from r won, the IfiUed. He ;ht their en- lien I shaU ful to him. md the sun. h, obey the row strong- : and a hap- have done.'' ing intently er my chin, at me," she ; for the fol- re. I know Ls from evil, re is to pre- xs ; you will ce in twelve rs after yon have so long been seeking me. I believe you love me, for you have often told me you did, and I believe you liavc not a forked tongue. Our lotlge sliall be a hap- py one ; and when you depart to the happy hunting- ground, I will be already there to welcome you. This day I become your wife — Bar-chec-am-pc is a warrior no more." Tliis relieved me of my melanelioly. I shook the braves by the hand all round, and narrated much of my recent adventures to them. AVhen I came to my danger in the ^V-rick-a-ra country, tlicy were almost boiling witli wratli, and asked my permission to go antl exterminate tliem. Pine J^eaf left the fort with my sisters to go and dress for the short marriage ceremony. She had so long v> orn the war costume that female apparel seem- ed hardly to become her ; she returned so transformed in appearance that the beholder co'ild scarcely recog- nize her for the same person. When I visited her lodge in the evening I found her dressed like a queen, with a lodge full of her own and my relatives to witness the nuptials. Siie was natural- ly a pensive, deep-thinking girl ; her mind seemed ab- sorbed in some other object than worldly matters. It might be that her continual remembrance of her brc til- er's early fall had tinged her mind with melancholy, or it might be constitutional to her ; but for an Indian girl she had more of that winning grace, more of those feminine blandishments — in short, she approached near- er to our ideal of a woman than her savage birth and breed would seem to render possible. This was my last marriage in the Crow nation. Pine Leaf, the pride and admiration of her people, was no longer the dauntless and victorious warrior, the aveng- 402 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF cr of tho fall of her brother. She retired from the field of lier glorj, mid became the aftcctionate wife of tlic Medicine Calf. The difliciilty being now entirely removed, we quit- ted our encanipnicnt, and went on a hunting excursion. We were away but a few days, and then returned to the fort. One morning ;t was discovered a large drove of horses was missing. A party was dispatched along the trail, which conducted them precisely the same route they took before. I raised a party, and again struck across the ]\Iussel Shell, and, finding I was before the fugitives, 1 secreted my warriors as before. We had waited but a few moments, when I saw the enemy emerge from the pines, not more than a mile distant. Pine Leaf and my little wife were with me. My new bride, as she saw the enemy approacli, lost all recollec- tion of her new character ; licr eye assumed its former martial fire, and, liad she had her former war equip- ments, beyond all doubt she would have joined in the dash upon the foe. The pursued, which was a party of Black Feet, were hard pressed by their pursuers in the rear, but very shortly they were harder pushed in the van. When within proper distance, I gave the word Hoo-ki-hi (charge), and every Black Foot instantly perished. So sudden was our attack, they had not time to fire a gun. I struck down one man, and, looking round for another to ride at, I found they were all dead. The pursuers did not arrive in time to participate in the fight. We took thirty-eight scalps, and recovered one thousand horses, with which we returned to the fort. This was my last battle in the Crow nation; the scalp I relieved the Black Foot of was the last I ever took for them. Before my sudden recall from St. Louis I had enter- JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 40ii the field :e of the we quit- :cursion. limed to ge drove ed along ine route n struck efore the We had e enemy 1 distant. ]My new > . recollec- ts former ar equip- led in the ^^eet, were but very u When Hoo-ki-hi shed. So tire a gun. or another 3 pursuers ght. We thousand This was ► 1 relieved for them, had enter- ed into negotiations which I now felt I would like to complete. I had informed the Crows, after my mar- riage with Pine Leaf, that 1 must return to the coun- try of the vyhites, as they liad called me away htfore I liad had t me to finisli my business. Wlien tlk boats were ready to go down stream 1 stepped on board, and proceeded as far as Fort Union. J*revious to depn.rt- ing, I informed the Crows tiiat I sliould be back in four seasons, as I at that time supposed I should. T told them to credit no reports of my death, for they were all false; the white? vould never kill me. Pine Leaf inquired if I would certainly come back. I assured her that, if life was preserved to me, I would I nad been married but five weeks when 1 left, and I have never seen her since. I was disappointed in my expectation of entering into a satisfactory engagement to the agent of the company, so I kept OP to St. Louis. In good trutli, I was tired of savage life under any aspect. I knew that, if I re- mained with them, it would be war and carnage to the end of the chapter, and my mind sickened at the rep- etition of such scenes. Savage life admits of no re- pose to the man who desires to retain the character of a great brave; there is no retiring upon your laurels. I "OiiJd have become a pipe-man, but I did not like to descend to that ; and, farther, I could not reconcile my- self to a life of inactivity. Pine Leaf and my little wife would have excited their powers of pleasing to procure me happiness ; but I felt I was not doing justice to my- self to relapse irretrievably into barbarism. It certainly grieved me to leave a people who reposed so much trust in me, and with whom I had been asso- ciated so long ; and, indeed, could I have made an en- gagement with the American Fur Company, as I had 404 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP Iioped to do, I Rhould have redeemed my promise to the Crows, and possibly Iiave iinislied my days with them. But, being miatalcen in my calculations, I was led on to scenes wilder and still more various, yet dig- nified with the name of greater utility, because asso- ciated with the interests of civilization. CHAPTER XXIX. Return to St. Louis. — Interview with General Gaines. — The Mule- teers' Company — Departure for Florida. — Vreck of the "Maid of New York.'' — Arrival at Fort Brooke. — Tampa Bay. — Bearer of Dis- patches to General Jessup. — Battle of 0-kc-cho-be. — Anecdotes and Incidents. I HAD speedy passage to St. Louis, and arrived there after an absence of live months. I mentioned that I had left some business unsettled at the time of my sud- den leave. This was none other than an affair matri- monial ; but on my return I had some misunderstand- ing with my fair dulcinea, and the courtship dropped through. At this time the Florida war was unfinished. Gen- eral Gaines was in St. Louis for the purpose of rais- ing a company of mei.i familiar with Indian habits. Mr. Sublet had spoken to him about me, and had rec- ommended me as being particularly well acquainted with Indian life. The general sent a request that I would call upon him at his quarters. I went accord- ingly, and was introduced by Sublet. The general inquired of me how I would like to go to Florida to fight the Indians. I replied that I had seen so much of Indian warfare during the last sixteen years that I was about tired of it, and did not want to engage in it again, at least for the present. He re- JAMEH P. BECKWOURTII. 405 3mise to Livs willi lis, I was , yet dig- iise asso- -The Mule- c " Maid of earcr of Dis- iccdotes and ived there icd that I f my sud- air matri- iderstand- p dropped ed. Gen- ge of rais- an habits, d had rec- acquainted lest that I iut accord- ke to go to I had seen ist sixteen lot want to t. He re- marked that there was a good opportunity there for renown. He wished, he said, to raise a company which would go down as muleteers ; that their duties woukl be light, and so on through the stereotyped benefits pe- culiar to a soldier's life. Sublet recommended me to engage. Florida, he said, was a delightful country, and 1 should find a wide difference between the cold region of the Rocky Mount- ains and the genial and salubrious South. The general then inquired if I could not raise a com- pany of mountain-boys to go with me. I replied that I thought I could, or that, at any rate, I would make the effort. The trapping busmess was unusually dull at that time, and there were plenty of unoccupied men in the city ready to engage in any enterprise. I went among my acquaintance, and soon collected a company of six- ty-four men. 1. went and reported my success to the general. He wished to see the men. I brought them all forward, and had their names enrolled. I was ap- pointed captain of the company, with three lieutenants elected from the men. On the ninth day of my stay in St. Louis, we went on board a steamer going down stream, and were quick- ly on our way to the Seminole country. We had a delightful journey to New Orleans, where we were de- tained five days in waiting for a vessel to transport us to the fields of " renown." While waiting in New Orleans I fell in witli several old acquaintances, who gave me an elegant parting dinner. I then sported the commission of captain in the service of Uncle Sam. Our vessel, the Maid of New York, Captain Can-, being at length ready for sea, my soldiers, with their horses, were taken on board, and we set sail for Tam- 406 ArTUH10(JKAIMIY UF pa l^ay. I now, for tlic first time in my life, saw salt water, and the sickncsH it produced in nic led me to curse General Gaines, and the trappings of war to boot. Our vessel stranded on a reef, and tlierc she remained snug enough, all efforts to dislodge her proving fruit- less. There was one small island in siglit to leeward; in every other direction there was nothing visible but the Iieaving ocean. Wreckers, who seemed to rise from the sea-foam, flocked instantly around us, and were re- ceived by our captain with a ready volley of nautical compliment. The vessel had settled deeply into a bed of sand and rock; the water was rapidly gaining in her hold, and my commission, together witli my gal- lant companions in arms, seemed, at that moment, to have a slim chance of ever serving our respected uncle in the '* fields of renown." I ascended the rigging to take a survey of the country. Many a time an eleva- ted prospect had delivered me from difficulties, if dis- similar, yet not less imminent, than those that now menaced me. Still I felt that, could those ratlines I was now ascending be transformed into the back of my Indian war-steed, this ocean be replaced with a prairie, and that distant speck which they called an island be transmuted mto a buffalo, I would give my chance of a major-generalship in purchase of the change ; for the sensations of hunger I began to feel were un- comfortably acute, and I saw no immediate prospect of alleviating the pain. Suddenly I saw a long line of black smoke, which I thought must be from a prai- rie fire. I reported my discovery to the captain, and he hoisted our colors at half-mast, to signal for assist- ance. A small steamer came in sight, and made to- ward us, and finally ranged up under our stem. She took off all my men except myself and twelve others. JAMES P. Bi:CKWOURTII. 407 ?aw salt I mc to to boot, cmained fig truit- eeward ; able but rise from were rc- nautical ito a bed lining in my gal- )ment, to ted uncle •igging to an eleva- es, if dis- that now ratlines I 5 back of 3d with a called an \ give my le change; L were un- e prospect I long line •om a prai- iptain, and for assist- \ made to- tem. She jlve others. I wrote to the commandant at Tampa Bay to inform him of our situation, and asking liitn for immediate as- sistance. After twelve days' stay on the reef, two small brigs came out to us, and received on board our- selves, with our liorscs and forage, conveying us to Tampa Bay, where tliey cast anchor. Major Bryant sent for me to his quarters, and I forthwith presented myself before him. This officer gave me a very cordial welcome, congrat- ulating the service on having an experienced mount- aineer, and saying several other very complimentary things. At length he said, " Captain Beckwourth, I wish to open a communication between this port and the head-quarters of Colonel Jessup, distant about one Imndred miles. I have received no dispatches from there, although nine couriers have been dispatched by Colonel Taylor." I replied, " Sir, I have no knowledge of the coun- try ; I know nothing of its roads or trails, the situa- tion of its posts, nor do I so much as know the posi- tion of Colonel Jessup's command. To attempt to convey dispatches while so little prepared to keep out of harm's way, I very much fear, would be to again disappoint the service in the delivery of its messages, and to afford the Seminoles an additional scalp to those they have already taken." He pooh-poohed my objections. " A man," said Ma- jor Bryant, " who has fought the Indians in the Rocky Mountains the number of years that you have, will find no difficulty here in Florida." *' Well," I assented, *' furnish me with the bearings of the country, and direct me to the colonel's camp, and I will do my best to reach there." Accordingly, the major furnished me with all the 408 AUTUBIOGKAPHY OF necessary instructions, and I started alone on my er- rand. It was my acquired habit never to travel along any beaten putli or open trail, but rather to give suoti road a wide berth, and take the chances of the open coun- try. I observed my invariable custom on this occa- sion, merely keeping in view the bearings of the posi- tion I was steering for. I started from Major Ijry- ant's post about sunrise, and reached the colonel's head-qu«.ters at nightfall the following day. I pass- ed through the camp without seeing it ; but the sound of a bugle falling on my ear, I tacked about, and final- ly alighted upon it. As I rode up I was hailed by a sentinel, " Who come dere ?" "An express." " Vat you vant in dish camp ?" " I wish to see Colonel Jessup. Call the officer of the guard." "Vat for you come from dat way vere ish de Schimy- noles ?" " Call your officer of the guard," said I, impatiently. The officer of the guard at length appeared. " What are you here again for ?" he inquired of me. "I wish to see the commanding officer," I replied. " Yes, you are always wishing to see the command- ing officer," he said ; " but he will not be troubled with you much longer ; he will soon commence hang- ing you all." " I demand to be shown to the commanding officer, sir," I reiterated. *' Who are you, then ?" " I am a bearer of dispatches." " Give them to me." .i.\.Mj;s 1'. iiKCKwni irni. 4oy my er- Dng any loti road !n coun- lis occa- :he posi- jor Ury- colonel's I pass- lie sound ind final- officer of B Scliimy- ipatiently. d. red of me. I replied. command- B troubled ence hang- [ing officer, " 1 was not instructed to give tlicm to you. I sliall not do it, sir."' " I Lelicvc you came from the Scminolcs ; you came from tliat direction." ^ *' You believe wrong, sir. Will you sliow mc to Colonel Jessup, or will you not ?" This very cautious officer of the guard then went to tlie marquee of the colonel, and addressed him : " Here is another of those Heminoles, sir, who says he has dis- patches for you. What shall I do with him V" The colonel came out, and eyed me scrutinizinn-ly. " Have you brought disi)atches for me ?*' he inquh-ed. "I have, sir.*' " J^'rom where ?" "From Tampa Bay, sir." *'IIe came from the Seniinoles, colonel," intei-posed the officer of the guard. " You are mistaken again, sir," I said, giving him the look of a Crow in the midst of a battle ; for I was not yet hireling enough not to feel aggravated at being called by implication a liar. "Let me see your dispatches," said the colonel. I handed him the documents ; he took them, and passed into his tent. This did not suit me. I resolved to return instant- ly. I had not been treated with common civility ; no inquiries had been made about my appetite ; I was not even invited d alight from my horse. I had nei- tlier eaten nor slept since I left Tampa Bay. I was on the point of turning my horse's head, secretly re- solving that these were the last dispatches I would bear in that direction, when the colonel called, "Captain Beckwourth, alight ! alight, sir, and como into my quarters. Orderly, have Captain Beckwourth's no AITomonRAPIIV OF liorsc taken imnicdiatc care of. You must be hungry, captain." " Wliat I need most now is sleep," I said; " let mo have a little repose, and then I shall feel refreshed, and will not refuse to sit down to a meal." The colonel bowed assent, and, raising a canvas door, pointed out to me a place for repose, at the same time promising me I should not be disturbed. Wlien I awoke, I presented myself, and was regaled with a good substantial supper. This rccniited me, and I was again fit for service. The colonel made many inquiries of my past serv- ice. IMajor Bryant had made very favorable mention of mc in his dispatches, which seemed to have inspired quite an interest in the colonel's mind. lie asked mc if I was a native of Florida, where 1 had spent my ear- ly days, and my reason for entering the army. I an- swered all his questions as briefly as possible, men- tioning that I had been tempted among the Seminoles by the })romise held out by General (Jaines of my gain- ing " renown." The colonel thouglit my company of mountaineers a valuable acquisition to the service, and he made no doubt we should achieve great credit in ferreting out the hiding-places of the Indians. He soon had his papers ready ; they were delivered to me, and I departed. On the way I stopped at a fort, the name of which I forget, and took a fresh horse. J. finally arrived at the Bay without seeing an Indian. I staid v/itli my company for two or three weeks at Fori Brooke, during which time we were engaged in l)reaking-in mules. We were then placed under the command of Colonel Taylor, afterward General, and President of the United States, whose force was com- posed of United States troops and volunteers, some of .JAMKS 1'. niX'KWOUUTH. 411 lungry, ' let mc icd, and canvas he sanu' When I with a nd I was ast serv- nicntion ; inspired asked me t my car- y. I an- ble, men- ■^eminoles f my gain- mpany of jrviee, and t credit ii> IS. 3 delivered opped at a ■resh horse. an Indian, [n-ee weeks engaged in i under the General, and ;e was com- 3rs, some oi the latter being from ]\lissouri. 'I'lic col:nol advance:! southward with sixteen hundred men, erecting, as v/r advanced, a fort at the interval of every twenty-fi^e miles. On the morning of Christmas-day (1 8)^7) our camp was beleaguered by a large force of Indians, and Col- onel Taylor ordered an advance upon them. The spot was thickly grown with trees, and numbers of our as- sailants were concealed among the branches ; as our line advanced, therefore, many were singled out by the enemy, and we lost fearfully in killed and wounded. The yelling was the most deafening J ever heard, for there were many negroes among the enemy, and their yells drowned those of the Red JMen. I soon found we had a diHerent enemy from the Black Feet to fight, and different ground to iight on. The country lost several valuable lives through this slight brush with the Indians. The gallant Colonel (ientry, of the ]\lis- souri volunteers, was shot through the head ; Col- onel Thompson, and several other officers, were also among the slain. The enemy had made an excellent choice of gi'ound, and coidd see our troops while re- maining concealed themselves. I placed myself behind a tree, and Captain Morgan, of the Missouri Spies, was similarly sheltered close by. We were surrounded with Indians, and one was watch- ing, on the opposite side of the tree that protected me, for a chance to get my scalp. A Missourian picked off a fine fat negro wlio had ensconced himself in a live- oak tree. As he fell to the ground it shook beneath him : the fruit was ripe, but unfit for food. Seeing the men dropping around, Major Price ordered a retreat. The order was instantly countermanded by Colonel Davenport, who, by so doing, saved many lives. Ill' Al TOlilOOHAIMIV nl Colonel Foster luul taken a very expoHod pOHition on tiie Lon;:;li of u tree, where he was visible to all. I ic. (•rdered hi.s men to lie low and load their muskets; he waited till ho saw a favorable o})i)ortiinity, and then shouted, " b'irc, boys, and pour it into the red and black rascals I" A charge with bayonets was finally ordered, and th(^ Indians, not relishing the look of the sharp steel, retreat- ed; however, not before they had seized a sergeant-major and a private from our line, and scalped them alive. This was the battle of ( )-ke-cho-be, which lasted four hours. We lost over a hundred in killed and wourul- cd ; the enemy left nine Indians and a negro dead upon the tield. Sam ijones, the half-breed, was only eight miles distant, with a force of a thousand warriors; most providentially he had been dissuaded by the negroes from advancing, who assured him that the whites would not light on Christmas-day. It was reported that Colonel Taylor was uncontrol- lably angry during the battle, and that his aids and other officers had to hold him by main force to prevent him from rushing among the enemy, and meeting cer- tain death. J. do not know what truth there was in this, for I saw nothing of it, nor, indeed, did I see the colonel dm-ing the whole of the four hours' fighting. (^n the conclusion of the action Colonel Taylor wish- ed to send dispatches to Tampa Bay. lie request- ed Captain Lomax to take his company and go with them. The captain refused, for the reason that he and his men would infallibly be massacred. The colonel remarked then, " Smce you are all afraid, I will go myself." He sent for me, and demanded if I could raise a sufficient numl)cr of brave men among my mountaineers to carry dispatches to the Bay. .JAMKS 1*. l»i:( KWUl Kill. 41li )OSltlOU ill. lie- :cts; he lid then reel and and the , rctrcut- nt-major alive, sted four I wouiul- cad upon nly eight ors ; most 3 negroes tes would incontrol- aids and to prevent acting ccr- src was in I see the ighting. dor wish- e request- id go with lat he and he colonel , I will go if I could among my 1 ■}' 1 answered, certainly, it* I could have his favorite liorsc, which was the llcctest one in the wiiole army, and sucii cxceHcnt bottom that he was as fresh after a journey as before. 1 considered tiiat, if 1 had to run the gauntlet through a host of fteminoles and infuri- ated negroes, the best horse was none too good, and was, indeed, my only means of salvation. When ready to start, t a})plied for the dispatches. " Where arc your men V" asked the colonel. **My men arc in their quarters, colonel," I said. ** I am going to carry those dispatches by myself." "They must go through," he remarked, *'and 1 want them to go well guarded." *' 1 am not going to tight, colonel," I replied, " 1 am going to run ; and one man will make less noise than twenty. If I am not killed the dispatches shall arrive safe ; my life is certainly worth as much to mc as tlie charge I am intrusted with, and for personal safety i prefer going alone." In our progress out the troops had cut their way through several huiamoel's^ and had thrown the bush- es up on both sides. 1 had to pass through some of these lanes. It was night when I started, and as 1 was riding through one of these excavations at a good pace, I heard a sudden noise in the brush. I saw my- self in a trap, and my hair bristled up with atlright. 1 was greatly relieved, however, by the speedy discovery ti\at it was only a deer I had scared, and which was scampering away at its utmost speed. I continued on, resting a short time at each fort, until I arrived in sight of Fort Brooke. As soon as I arrived within hailing distance, I shouted "Victory I victory!" whicii brought out officers and men, impatient to hear the news. T could not see that O-ke-cho-be was much of a victory ; 414 AUTUBIOGKAPHY OF indeed, I shrewdly suspected that the enemy l::.d the advantage ; but it was called a victory by the soldiers, and they were the best qualified to decide. On my return, I found Colonel Taylor, soon after rhe battle, had retrograded to Fort Bassinger. We lay at that fort a long while ; spies were vigilantly on tlie look-out, but nothing very encouraging was report- ed. 1 and my company of mountaineers did not en- camp with the other troops, but took up our quarters at a considerable distance from the main guard. We were quite tired of inactivity, and wanted to go some- where or do something. Being quartered by ourselves, we were not subjected to the restrictions and military regulations of the camp ; we had our own jollifications, and indulged in some little comforts which the camp did not enjoy. We always would have a large fire when there was need for it, for it destroyed the mill- Ions of musquitoes and other vermin that annoyed us ; and, as some of our company were always about, the • ndians never molested us. iherc was a large hunnnock about four miles dis- tant from thq fort which the Indians infested in great numbers, but, as they could not be dislodged without gi'eat loss, our colonel was conp-trained to content him- self with closely watching them. One day I proposed to my men to take a stroll, and they fell with great alac- rity into the proposition. We passed down to the in- terdicted hummock, where we shot two deer, and found quite an assortment of stock. We drove them all to the camp before us, to the great admiration of the offi- cers and men present. We had captured quite a drove of hogs, several head of cattle, and a good sprinkling of Seminole ponies. We saw no Indians at the hum- mock, though certainly we did not search very dili- i'OTitlv for tliom. JAMES r. JJEL'KWOLKTII. 41.5 \:\i\ the oldiers, m after f. We intly on 5 report- not en- quarters d. We "•o some- irselves, military ications, he camp arge fire the niill- oyed us ; bout, the niles dis- I in great II without itent him- [ proposed vreat alac- to the in- and found hem all to of the offi- ite a drove sprinkling t the hum- very dili- During our stay at tiie fort, the communication be- tween that post and Charlotte's Harbor was closed, and one messenger had been killed. The quarter- master inquired of me if I would undertake the trip. I told him I would ; and set one hundred dollars as the price of the undertaking, which he thought quite reasonable. I started with the dispatches, and pro- ceeded at an easy gallop, my eye glancing in every di- rection, as had been my wont for many years. In cast- ing a look about two gun-shots ahead, 1 felt sure that [ saw some feathers showing themselves just above the palmettos, and exactly in the direction that 1 was bending my steps. I rode a short distance farther, and my suspicion was confirmed. I immediately stop- ped my horse and dismounted, as though for the pur- pose of adjusting my saddle, but in reality to watch my supposed toes. In a miimte or two several heads appeared, looking in my direction, and withdrew again in an instant. Immediately the heads declined behind tlie grass, I sprang upon my horse, and reined him out of the road, taking a wide circuit round them, which I knew would carry me out of danger. I then looked after them, and tantalized them with my gestures in every manner possible, motioning them to come and see me ; but they seemed to be aware that their legs were not long enough to reach me, so tliey digested their disappointment, and troubled me no farther. I arrived safe at the Harbor that same day, delivered my dispatches, and was back at the fort the followino- night. We now experienced a heavy rain, which deluged the entire country, and prevented any farther opera- tions against the Indians. The colonel ordered a re- treat to Tampa Bay, and, as there was no danger of 41G AUTOmuGKArUY OF molestation on the way, many of the ofticers obtained libcriy to gallop on in advance of the army. Colonel Jkyant rode a very valuable black charger, acknowl- edged to be the best horse in camp. After traveling on a while, the colonel said, " I have a notion to rid(^ on and get in to-day, as my presence is required ; you can get in to-morrow at your leisure." A number said, If you can get in to-day, we can, and finally the whole party proposed starting off together. Wc at length came to a SAvampy place in the road, which spread over live miles, and in many places took our horses off their feet. This place forded, there was then a narrow stream, and after that it was all dry land. Having passed the swamp and the stream, and got fairly on to dry land again, I took the saddle oft* my mule, vv'hich example all followed, and, with the assistance of a brother officer, wrung the saddle-blank- et as dry as possible, and then spread it out fairly in the sun to dry. In the mean while, the horses helped themselves to a good feed of gTass, and we all partook of a hearty lunch likewise. Thus refreshed, we saddled up and proceeded again. After a few miles travel we discovered the rear of Bry- ant's party, who were toiling slowly along, and goring their animals' flanks in the vain endeavor to urge them into speed. We passed them with a hearty cheer. We journeyed on until within three miles of the fort, where there was a short bend in the road, and a foot- trail across, which saved about a hundred yard^. "Now, gentlemen," said I, "let us raise a gallop, and pass every body on the road." The work was at once accomplished, some of my men deriding those left be- hind on account of their miserable progress. We then all struck into a gallop, and soon reached the fort, and JAMES 1*. UnCKWUlKTll. 417 (taincd Colonel knovvl- aveling to rido \ ; von cr said, e whole le road, ces took lere was all dry ;am, and iddle off with the le-blank- fairly in es helped partook ed again, r of Bry- d goring rge them ty cheer, f the fort, d a foot- d yard:-, allop, and as at once se left be- We then fort, and a several of our company found time to get quite intoxi- cated before the quarter-master arrived, lie, however, soon recovered his equanimity of temper, and begged a solution of the mystery how we could come in with our animals fresh, while his and his companions' Jiorses were jaded to death, lie was referred by all to the captain of the mountaineers. 1 said, *' .V horse, colonel, is only flesh and blood, and hi« system requires greater care than that of il- most any other animal. We beat your powerful steed with inferior animals by affording them a short rest, with a mouthful or tivo of grass on the road, and by wringhig our blankets after we had passed the water." Now we had another long interval of inactivity, and I began to grow tired of Florida, with its inaccessible hummocks. It seemed to me to be a country dear even at the price of the powder that would be required to blow the Indians out of it, and certainly a poor field to work in for renown. ]\Iy company and I, its com- mander, had nothing to do except to carry an occasion- al dispatch, and I wanted excitement of some kind — I was indifferent of what nature, even if it was no bet- ter than boiTowing horses of the Black Feet. The Seminoles had no horses worth stealing, or I should certainly have exercised my talents for tlie benefit of the United States. The last dispatches that I carried in Florida I bore from Fort Dade to Fort Brooke. In accomplishing this, I traveled with my customary caution, avoiding the trail as much as possible. In a part wiiere I an- ticipated no danger, I took the trail, and fell asleep on my horse, for I had ridden four days and nights with- out rest, except what I had snatched upon horseback. Suddenly my horse sprang aside, instantly awaking S2 4lb ALTOJIIUGKAPIJV Ol- me. 1 tbund I had bcon sleeping too loiiji", tor L liad ])assed the turning-point, and was now near a hum- mock. To return would eost me several miles travel. My Iiorse's ears informed me there was something in motion near by. 1 pondered my position, and ulti- mately resolved to take the chances and go ahead. The road through the hummock was just wide enough to admit the army wagons to pass. I bid my horse go, and he sprung forward with tremendous bounds. He liad not reached through this dark and dangerous pass when I saw the flash of several guns, and the balls whiz- zed harndessly past me. I discharged my pistols at the lair of my foes, and traveled on in safety to the fort. I grew tired of this, and informed Colonel l^ryant that I wished to resign my task. " Why ?" said he ; "every body who undertakes it gets killed, while you never see any Indians. What are we to do ?" W^Iien in camp, I had frequently seen men come running in half dead with alarm, saying lihat they had seen Indians, or had been iired upon by Indians. 1 remarked that they were alvvays ridiculed by the of- flcers ; even the privates disbelieved them. Seeing this, I determined to say nothing about my adventure; for, if tJiey had received my assertion w^ith increduli- ty, it might liave led to an unpleasant scene in the wigwam. • I was determined to return to the "home of the free and the land of the brave," for I felt that the mount- ains and the prairies of the Great West, although less attended with renown, at least would afford me more of the substantial comforts of life, and suit my peculiar taste better than the service of Uncle Sam in Florida. The commander of the fort, after reading the dis- patch, indorsed on it, "Beckwourth fired on by a party JAMES I*. HEfKWOL'lJTII. 4\i) 1 had hum- travel, ing in i ulti- l. The ugh to rse go, s. H(« lis pass [s whiz- stols at the fort. Bryant 3aid he ; hile you en come they had ians. 1 ■f the of- Sceing venture; ncreduli- le in the f the free e mount- oudi less me more y peculiar Florida, the dis- 3y a party of Indians when near tliis post." He tlien returned it to me, and I rode on to Fort Brooke. ( /oloncl Bryant, having read the dispatch, said, "Ah, Beckwourth, you have been fired on, I see ! why did you not tell us so on your arrival ?" I informed him of my reasons, as before stated. He smiled. "Your word would have been believed by us all," he said; "it is these stupid foreigners that we discredit, who do not know an Indian from a stump; they have deceived us too often for us to put further faith in them." A Seminole came into the fort a few days subse- quent to this, to give himself up, his arm being broken. When questioned about it, he said that a white man had broken it in such a hummock, on such a night. I then knew that my pistols, which I tired at random, had done the mischief. Alligator, the Seminole Chief, shortly after came in. and informed Colonel Taylor that he and his tribe had concluded to remove to their new home, and requested the colonel to send down wagons to transport their women and children. "I have fought you a long time," said the Red Man, " but I can not beat you. If I kill ten of your war- riors, you send a hundred to replace them ; I am now ready to go, and save the rest of my people." " Yes," the colonel answered, " your talk is good. You can now go to your new home, and be happy. There is a man (pointing to me) who is a great chief of a great nation ; you will, for aught I know, be neigh- bor to his people ; he and his people will teach you to hunt the buffalo, and I hope you will be good friends." While I was with the army a tragedy occurred, which I have never seen in any public print, and I deem -120 .AiniHIUGKAIMiY (.»P it of sufficient interest to make mention of it here. A young private, of very respectable connexions^ hnd l)cen tried for sonic oifense, and sentenced to receive .1 i logging, wliicli was carried unmercifully into ert'ect. After he had recovered, the surgeon bade him go and report himself lit for duty. "I will go," said he, "but it will be my last duty.'* Accordingly, he fixed his bayonet and repaired to the officers' quarters, where he found the captain and first lieutenant of his company. He advanced upon them, and saying, "You have disgraced me with an inhuman flogging — die !" he shot the captain dead, and plunged his bayonet through the body of the lieuten- ant, also killing him on the spot. He straightway gave himself up, was tried by court- martial, and sentenced to be shot. The execution of the sentence was withheld by Colonel Taylor, who had forwarded the particulars of the trial to the department at Washington, and was waiting the result of official investigation. The case was found worthy of execu- tive interference; a pardon was signed by the Pres- ident and sent on, and the young man was liberated from confinement. Such inhuman treatment as this poor young soldier received at the hands of his officers has resulted, I have no shadow of doubt, in the death of many an officer on the battle-field. I remember, at the battle of 0-ke-clio-be, a young lieutenant riding up to Colonel Foster, and saying, " Colonel, I have been shot at twice, and not by the enemy either.*' " It was by no friend, I will swear," said the colo- nel ; " you can leave the field, and learn to treat your men well in future." JAMES I'. ni:('K\Vn[:KTH, 421 re. iv -J • - ■ 301 vc ;i go and duty.'' lired to lin and id upon svitli an ;ad, and lieuten- y court- ution of who had Dartment ►f official )f execu- he Pres- liberated ig soldier ed, I have officer on , a young d saying, lot by the I the colo- treat your This I witnessed myself; but whether tlie young " buckskin'' profited by the sharp cut of tlie colonel r Jini unable to say. Tliere was a Tcnnesseean in camp, a gi'cat foot-ra- cer, who was incessantly boasting about his wonderful pedestrian powers, lie had a valuable horse, which he oft'ered to stake against any person in the camp for a race of sixty yards. As lie was considered a "great leg" by all, no one ventured to take up his offer. I offered myself as a competitor, but all sought to dissuade me. "Don't run against him," said they; " that fellow will outrun Lucifer himself. He has beat every man who has run against him in Florida." However, I staked a hundred dollars against his horse, and entered the lists. We started together; but, as I did not see my antagonist either ahead of me or by my side, I looked around, and saw him com- ing up. I went out a good distance ahead of him, and did not exert myself either. The enemy having submitted to the government, there was nothing more for us to do, and I asked for a furlough to return to Ht. Louis. I and my company were enlisted for a year ; ten months of this time had been served, and I. obtained a furlough for the remaining two months. We embarked for New Orleans, Colonel Gates and his regiment taking passage in the same ship. Arriving at my place of destination in safety, I staid but one night in the " Crescent City," and then took the steamer to St. Louis, where we had a good time while steaming up, and I Avas very well satisfied to jump ashore once again at my old home. My com- pany all returned but two, one of whom died in New Orleans, the other was killed by the Heminolas after I left. 422 ai;t<jbiugraph\ ur CHAPTER XXX. Departure for the Mountains. — Severe Sickness on the Waj'. — Arrival at IJont'a Fort. — Arrival at Sublet's Fort. — Interview witli the Choy ennos. — Difiiculty with a Sioux Warrior. — His Death. — Successful Tr.'idc opened with various Tribes. — Incidents. I STAID but five days in St. Louis, wliicli time I de- voted to a hasty visit among my friends. I entered into service witli Messrs. Sublet and Yasques to return to the mountains and trade with any tribes I miglit find on the head-waters of the Platte and Arkansa.=5 rivers. This country embraces the hunting-ground.s of the Cheyennes, the AiTap-a-hos, the Sioux, and the I-a-tans. All preliminaries being arranged, which are of no in- terest to the reader, I bade my friends once more adieu; and, stepping on board a steam-boat bound up the ]\Iis~ souri, we were soon breasting its broad and turbid cur- rent. We spent the Fourth on board, amid much noise, revelry, and drunken patriotism. We were landed in safety at Independence, where we received our wagons, cattle, etc., with which to convey the immense stock of goods I had brought through the Indian country. We were very successful in escaping accident in our progress over the plains, until we reached the ridge which passes between the Arkansas and Platte rivers. While ascending this ridge, accompanied with Mr. Vasques, I was sun-struck. We were at that time twenty miles from water; I was burning with thirst, the heat was intolerable, and hostile Indians were be- fore us. After incredible suffering we reached the riv- lAMES P. UKCKWOLRTII. 42a — Arrival the Clioy Jucoessfui ne I de- entered return 1 might irkansa? ■grounds and the, of no hi- re adieu; the Mis- rbid cur- Lch noise, Landed in • wagons, ise stoclv country, nt in ouv tlie ridge tte rivers, with Mr. that time ith thirst, \ were be- id the riv- er bank, and crossed tlie stream to an ishmd, wliere J lay me down to die. All our medicines were in the wagons, and two days" journey in our rear. My fa- tigue and suftering had thrown me into a fever ; f be- came delirious, and grew rapidly worse. 1 requested my companion to return to the wagons and procure me some medicine ; but he refused to leave me, lest I might (he in his absence. I said to him, " If you stay by me I shall certainly die, for you can not relieve me ; but if you go, and naaire holds out till you return, there is some chance of my gaining relief. Go," 1 added, " and liasten your return." He left me at my entreaties, but filled all our vessels with water before he started. I speedily fell asleep, and 1 know not how long I remained unconscious. When I at length awoke, I drank an inordinate quantity, which caused me to perspire copiously ; this relieved me, and my recovery commenced from that moment, although I still suffered from a severe headache. The third day of my friend's absence I could walk about a httle, and the fourth day, at noon, I kept a good look- out in the direction I expected succor. Suddenly I saw a head appear, and another, and then another, un- til four showed themselves. They are Indians, I said to myself; but if there are only four, I stand a pass- able chance with them, so let them come on. I saw they had discovered me, so I arose and showed myself. With joyous shouts they flew toward me. It was my companion, with three others, who haa come either to bury me or to assist me to the wagons. Their joy on beholding me so miraculously restored was unbound- ed, while my delight at seeing them was almost as great. We remained on the island that niglit, and the 424 ALTUIMUUKAI'IIV <>1 following morning started for the wagons, wiiioii w •, ibuiid in two days. Ill going for assistanro, my friend iiad a narrow os- cajx". He came siukUndy iijxHi a j)arty of I'awnfcs, and one made a rush for Jiis horse. He disciiarged iiis ritlc hastily, and missed his mark. He then had to trust to his horse's heels ; but, as he was jaded, he did not make very goel speed. ^J'he Indians were on foot, and gave close chase, but, when they saw his rifle re- loaded, they fell back to a wider distance, and plied him with arrows until he was out of reach. I was placed in a wagon, and attended on as far as our circumstances would admit, until 1 recovered niv accustomed health. We staid one night at J5urt*s Fort, on the Arkansas, and then moved on to our destination on the South Fork of the Platte. Here we erected suitable buildings within the fort for our })roposcd trad- ing, and, among others, a barn, which wc proceeded to fill with hay for the coming winter. While staying at the fort, a man inquired of Sublet his reason for bringing up such a rascally fellow as I, to prompt the Indians into rising and massacring all the whites. "Murray," said Sublet — for that was tlie man's name — "it is unsafe for you to express such sentiments in relation to Beckwourth ; should they reach his ears, he would surely make you rue it. I have heard these foul aspersions upon his character before, and I am in a position to know that they are all unfounded. Had I the least suspicion of his integrity, I should be the last man to take him in my employ." This conversation was reported to me at some dis- tance from the fort, where Murray was perfectly safe. But these foul reports annoyed me exceedingly. They JAMES r. niuKworuTii. 425 Yl'OW o>- 'awnocs, irgcd his n had to il, he did I on foot. i ritio Yv- pUed hi \m as far as vcvcd my irt's Fort, esthiation -e erected oscd trad- )ceedcd to of Sublet ;llow as I, sacring all the man's sentiments li his ears, leard these nd I am hi led. Had uld be the ; some dis- fectly safe, ^ly. They were like stabs in tlie dark, for no one ever accused mc to my face of sucli misdeeds. After having placed tilings to rights, we were dining togelher within tlie fort, when Mr. Subh't rose and said, " Traders and clerks, you have come liere to tlic mountains to Avork for me, and 1 expect every man to do his best. If I am prospered, I will do well by all of you. 1 desire a regular system established in my business out here, that my interests may be placed upon a secure footing. I am now going to deliver the key of my entire stock of goods to one man among you, in whom 1 have imjdicit conhdencc, and whose long experience and intimate acquaintance with the In- dian character pre-eminently entitle him to the trust. This man will have full command of the fort, and full charge of its affairs. I Avish you to receive him as a representative of myself, and, whatever orders you re- ceive from liim, obey them cheerfully and to the very letter." All present promised ready acquiescence to the wish- es of our chief. He then delivered the key to me, saying, "Beck- wourth, I place this trust in your keeping, believing you to be as morally worthy of the confidence I repose in you, as you are practically qualified to advance my interests. I abandon my affairs to your keeping. Do your best, and I shall be satisfied." I was so entirely unprepared for this distinguished mark of confidence, that for a moment I was unable to reply. After a momentary irresolution, I said, *' Mr. Sublet, you have other men present who are better able to discharge this trust. I thank you for the flattering preference, but I beg to be excused from assuming the responsibility." 426 ALTOHIOC.KAl'ICY OF " I engaged yon," he answered, " to gerve me in tlii.s eapacity, antl 1 wish you to aeecpt the eliarge." *'In that case," 1 said, " 1 will do my best to pro- mote your interest." Sliortly after, lie called mc apart, and said, " J^eck- wourth, 1 am deeply in debt. 1 have ])een losing for a long time. If you can replace mc in one year, you shall be substantially rewarded, and I shall feel sin- cerely grateful for your service." *' Ilow much do you owe ?" I inquired. *» Over seventeen thousand dollars." '*Well," said I, " if the men co-operate witii me, and carry out my instructions, 1 feel contident of working you straight." 1 forthwith set about establishing sub-posts in va- rious places, with the KSiouxs, Arrap-a-hos, 1-a-tans, and Cheyennes, and selected the best men at hand to attend them. I placed one at the mouth of Crow Creek, which I called my post, but left a p^an in charge of it, as I was at present fully occupic ' traveling from one post to another." We had not, as yet, found any customers ; but, as we were in the Cheyenne country, I knew some of that nation could not be very far off. I sent three dif- ferent messengers in search of them to invite them to trade, but they all returned without having discover- ed the whereabouts of the Indians. Tired of these failures, I took a man with me, and started in the di- rection of the Laramie mountain. While ascending the mount, I cast my eyes in the direction of a valley, and discovered buffalo running in small groups, which was sufficient evidence that they had been chased re- cently by Indians. We went no farther, but encamped there, and at nightfall we saw fires. The next morn- JAMKS r. IJKtJKWMCUTFI. 427 (i in thi.s ; to pro- '* l^ocU- of*ing tor ,'wir, you feel s lu- ll inc, and t' working Bts ill va- , 1-a-tans, at hand to I of Crow in charge travehng s ; h\xt, as \r some ot t three dif- Xq them to discover- A of these in the di- ascending of a valley, mps, which chased re- t encamped next morn- ini; a dense smoke luinu: like a cloud over the villairn (.ftlie (Jlieyenncs; we ate a hasty meal, and .started to luxy them a visit. As we approached the village wc saw AVilliam Ik'ut, HU interpreter, entering before us. lie visited the chief 's lodge; we followed him in, and seated ourselves near him. lie looked aghast, and addressed me: "My (lodl iJeckwourth, how dare you come among the (Jlieyennes V Don't you know that they will kill you if they discover you V" 1 replied that 1 thought not. He had come on the same errand as ourselves, name- ly, to induce a portion f the village to remove to tlie I*latte, as buffalo were abundant in that region. After :i conversation was held between Bent and a chief, the Litter inquired of Bent who we were. He informed liim that we were Left Hand's (Sublet's) men, " What do they want here ?" he asked. "They come for the same purpose that I have,'' lient answered, "to have you move on to the Platte." Bent then inquired of me what account 1 wished to give of myself, as he would interpret for me ; but, pre- ferring to interpret for myself, I asked if there was a Crow among them that I could speak to. At the word " Crow" they all started, and every eye was riveted upon me. One stepped forward, and said, " I am a Crow.'* " You a Crow ?" "Yes." " How long have you been away from them ?" " Twenty winters." Bent was in the greatest perplexity. "You are not surely going to tell them who you are, Jim ? If you do, you'll cost your friends nothing for your funeral." L-^- 428 ALTUJJloaiiAJ'IlY OF ; J This np[ rehension on tlic part o^ Bent proved to \\\<^. (hat, although he had lived long among the Indians he had still mucli to learn of their real character. I therefore requested him to quiet his fears and bide tlic result. Turning to the Crow, I then said, " Tdl the Chey- cnnes that 1 have fought them many winters ; that t have killed so many of their people that I am buried with their scalps ; I have taken a host of their women and children prisoners ; I liavo ridden their horses un- til their backs were sore ; I have eaten their fat buf- falo until I was full ; I have e? ten their cherries, and the other fruits of their land, until I could cat no more. I have killed a great Crow chief, and am obliged to run away, or be killed by them. I have come to the Cheyennes, who are the bravest people in the mount- ains, as I do not wish to be killed by any of the infe- rior tribes. I have come here to be killed by the Chey- ennes, cut up, and thrown out for their dogs to eat, so that they may say that they have killed a great Crow chief." He interpreted this unreserved declaration fiiithfully to the chief, and I observed Bent ready to fall from his seat at what he deemed my foolhardy audacity. " You are certainly bereft of your senses," he re- marked ; " the Indians will make sausage-meat of you." Old Bark, the patriarch of the Cheyennes, rose and said : " Warrior, we have seen you before ; we know you ; we knew you when you came in ; now we know you well. We know you are a great brave. You say you have killed many of our warriors; we k.iow you do not lie. We like a great brave, and we will not kill you ; you shall live." JA.MMS |>, IJKCKWoCRTil. 42s; ed to ni'^, Indians actcr. I i bide tliu he Chev- s ; that I im buried ir women lorses uii- r fat bnt- ;rries, and t no more, obliged to >me to the he mount- •f the infe- the Chey- ; to eat, so ;reat Crow 1 ftiithfuUy ) fall from udacity. 5es," he re- je-meat of s, rose and ; we know w we know !. You say J kiiow you we will not I answered, " If you will not kill nic, I will live with you ; if you become poor, lilxc some of tlie other tribes, and you need warriors to help you against your enemies, my arm is strong, and perhaps I will assist Aou to overcome them ; but I will not at this time irivo you my word that I will do so. If you do not kill ine, I am going to trade with you for many moons. 1 will trade with you fairly; I will not cheat you, as some of the traders have cheated you. I have a great many goods over on the Platte, such as you want, more than would fill many of your lodges. They are new, and look well. ]5ut, mind you, you must trade fairly with me. I have heard that you sometimes trer.t your traders badly ; that you take away their goods, and whip them, and make them, run out of your coun- try to save their lives. Your people must never serve me in that manner; they must pay me for all they get ; and if any one strikes me, I shall kill him, and thereby show you that I am brave. If any one should strike me, and I should not kill liim, you would call me a woman, and say I was no brave." They then asked me, through the Crow interpreter, if I was in such and such a battle between their nation and the Crows, all of which questions I answered truth- fidly. " Do you remember that in such a battle we lost such a brave V describing him. "Yes." " Who killed liim ?" " I did." Or, if I did not kill Iiim, I would tell them the name of the Crow who did. " Did he fight well ?" '* Yes, he fought well." "Pie died like a brave man, then I" they would ejaculate. mxa e ii-j k » b * 4; JO AITTOBIOdKAPHY OF '' Were you in such a battle ?" asked anotlier. "Yes." *' Did you sec such a warrior fall ?" "Yes." *' Did he fight strong like a brave ?" " No, he did not fight well." " Ugh ! he was no brave ; he deserved to be killed." In battle every warrior has his personal device paint- ed on his shield, chosen according to his fancy. ]My "armorial bearing" was a crescent, with a green bin! between the horns, and a star on each side the field. I described my novel device, and there was a great movement among them, for most of them distinctly recollected that shield, nnd I saw myself rising in their estimation. Their brave hearts rejoiced to have a true warrior before them, for they esteemed me as brave as tliem selves. One of their great chiefs, named the Bob-tailed Horse, arose, and asked me if I remembered the battle on Pole Creek. I replied that I did. " You killed me there," he said, " but I did not die ;" and he pointed out two scars upon liis chest, just be- low the lower rib, where the balls from my gun en- tered, and which must have killed any body but an In- dian. " Where did I hit you ?" he asked. " Ugh!" said I; "you missed me." Old Bark then said, " Warrior, you killed me onco, too : look here ;" and he withdrew the hair from his right temple, and I saw that his cheek had been badly torn, and his ear was entirely missing. "But," he added, " I did not die. You fought bravely that day." 1 lad I gone among the Pawnees, the Siouxs, or many other tribes, and held this talk, I should have been ler. s killed." ice paiut- cy. ]\Iy i-een bird the field. 5 a great distinctly g in their ave a true 3 brave as Bob-tailed the battle L not die ;" t, just be- y gun en- but an Tn- d me once ir from his been badly " But," hV that day." :s, or many have been >-^ JAMKS P. BECKWOURTH. 438 ■•i/;i M hewn to pieces in a moment ; but the Clieyennes were great braves themselves, and admired the quality in others, the Crows being their only equals. While I sat talking thus, one of my men entered the village bearing two ten -gallon kegs of whisky. He requested me to take onv. and sell it out, while he went to the other er d of the village, where the Siouxs were encamped, to st^ll the other. I had hitherto always opposed the sale of liquor to the Indians, and, during my chieftainship of the Crows, not one drop had ever been brought into the village ; but now I was restrain- ed by no such moral obligation. I was a mere trader, hazarding my life among the savages to make money for my employers. The sale of liquor is one of the most profitable branches of a trader's business, and, since the appetite for the vile potion had already been created, my personal influence in the matter was very slight. I was no lawgiver; I was no longer in a po- sition to prohibit the introduction of the white man's fire-water ; if I had refused to sell it to the Indians, plenty more traders would have furnished it to them ; and my conscientious scruples would benefit the In- dians none, and would deprive my embaiTassed em- ployer of a very considerable source of profit. Running these things hurriedly over in my own mind, I took the proffered keg, and dealt it all out with- in two hours. Certainly the rate of profit was high enough ; if a man wants a good price for the sale of his soul to his satanic majesty, let him engage in the liquor business among the nations of the Rocky Mount- ains. Our liquor was a choice article. One pint of alcohol, costing, I suppose, six cents, was manufac- tured into five times the quantity of whisky, and this was retailed to our insatiate customers at the rate of T ^.r^B i -WB tff w W i 434 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF one pint for each buffalo robe. If the robe was an extra fine one, I might possibly open my heart, and give two pints. But I felt no particular inducement to liberality in my dealings, for I thought the greatest kindness I could show my customers was to withhold the commodity entirely. Before I had got through with my keg I had a row with an Indian, which cost him his hfe on the spot. "While I was busy in attending the tap, a tall Sioux warrior came into my establishment, already the worse for liquor, which he had obtained elsewhere. He made some formidable strides round and near me, and then inquired for the Crow. I was pointed out to him, and, pot valiant, he swaggered up to me. " You are a Crow ?" he exclaimed. " Yes." " You are a great Crow brave V " Yes." " You have killed a host of Siouxs ?" "No; I have killed a host of Cheyennes, but I have only killed fourteen Siouxs with my own hand." " Look at me," said he, with drunken gasconade ; " my arm is strong ; I am the greatest brave in the Sioux nation. Now come out, and I will kill you." "No," I said, "I did not come here to be killed or to kill ; I came here to trade. I could kill you as easily as I could kill a squaw, but you know that you have a host of warriors here, while I am alone. They would kill me after I had killed you. But if I should come in sight of y jur village with twenty of my Crow warriors, you would all run and leave your lodges, women, and children. Go away ; I want nothing to do with you. Your tongue is strong, but you are no brave." JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 435 sras an rt, and cement rreatest ithhold d a row 16 spot. II Sioux tie worse 3e made and then lim, and, 3ut I have and." asconade ; ave in the :iU you." be killed kill you as w that you )ne. They if I should )f my Crow our lodges, )thing to do you are no I had told the Cheyennes but a few moments pre- viously that I had been among all the nations in the country, and that it had ever been my invariable rule, when struck by a Red Man, to kill him. I was de- termined to prove the truth of my declaration in this instance. I had my battle-axe hanging from my wrist, and I was ready at a moment's warning. The Sioux continued his abuse of me in his own tongue, whicli I paid no attention to, for I supposed that, like his white brethren, he might utter a great deal of provo- cation in his cups, and straightway repent it when he became sober. Finally, he became so importunate that I saw it was time to take an active part. I said, "You want to kill me, eh ?" I would fight with you, only I know T should be killed by the Siouxs afterward, and I should have you for my waiter in the spirit land. I would rather kill a good brave, if I kill any." This was a very opprobrious speech, for it is their faith that when an Indian is slain who has previously slain a foe, the first-killed warrior becomes waiter in the spirit land to the one who had laid him low. In- deed, it was more than he could endure. He jerked off the cloth that was fastened round his hips, and struck me in the face with it. I grasped my battle- axe, but the blow I aimed was arrested by a lodge pole, which impended over his head, and saved him from immediate death. The lodge pole was nearly severed with the blow. I raised my arm again, but it was restrained by the Cheyennes, who had been sit- ting round with their heads declined during the Sioux's previous abuse. The Sioux chief. Bull Bear, was standing near, and was acquainted with the whole particulars of the difii- 436 AUTOBIOGRArilV OF culty. He advanced, and chopped his warrior down, and hacked him to pieces after lie fell. "Ugh!" grunted he, as coolly as possible, "you ought to have been killed long ago, you bad Indian!" This demonstration on my part had a good effect. The Indians examined the cut inflicted by the edge of my axe on the lodge pole, and declared mine a strong arm. They saw I was in earnest, and would do what I had threatened, and, except in one single instance, I had no farther trouble. Influenced by my persuasions, two hundred lodges of the Cheyennes started for the Platte, Bent and my- self accompanying them. On our way thither we met one of my wagons, loaded with goods, on its way to the North Fork of the Platte. There was a forty-gal- lon cask of whisky among its contents, and, as the In- dians insisted on having it opened, I brought it out of the wagon, and broached it. Bent begged me not to touch it, but to wait till we reached the fort. I was there for the purpose of making money, and when a chance offered, it was my duty to make the most of it. On that, he left me, and went to the fort. I com- menced dealing it out, and, before it was half gone, I had realized sixteen horses and over two hundred robes. While I was busy in my traffic, the Indians brought in four trappers whom they had chanced to pick up. The poor fellows appeared half frightened to death, not knowing what their fate would be. I addressed them in English. " How are you, boys ? Where are you bound ?" "These Indians must decide that," they replied. " Are they good Indians ?" " Yes," I replied. " They will not harm, you." Tliey informed me that they were returning from the JAMES 1*. BKCKWOUUTII. 4^7 ^r down, le, "you Indian!" od effect, e edge of 5 a strong 1 do what nstance, I red lodges t and my- ler we met its way to , forty-gal- , as the In- it it out of , me not to (rt. I was nd when a most of it. t. I com- balf gone, I idred robes, ans brought to pick up. death, not ressed them lere are you hey replied. rm you." ling from the mountains with twelve packs of beaver, and, while en- camped one niglit, the Crows had stolen their horses. They had cached their peltry, and now wanted to buy more horses to carry it to some fort. I made a bargain with them for their beaver, and, taking some horses, went with them myself to their late encampment, for I could not trust them alone for fear they would take their skins to some other post. We disinterred the peltry, and with it reached the fort without accident. The trappe^-j staid with us two or three weeks, and then, pux^^hasing their outiit and horses, they again started for the mountains. We had a prosperous foil and winter trade, and ac- cumulated more peltry than our wagons could trans- port, and we had to build boats to convey it to St. Louis. At the settlement of accounts, it was found that we had cleared sufficient to pay lilr. Sublet's debts, and enough over to buy a handsome stock of goods for the next season's trade. I spent the summer at the fort, while Sublet and Fitzpatrick went on with the peltry to St. Louis. I had but little to do, as the Lidians had removed to their summer retreats, and I spent my time very agree- ably with the few men remaining behind, in hunting buffalo for our own use. About the last of August our goods arrived, and we set ourselves to work again at business. I put up at the North Fork of the Platte, and had a busy fall and winter trade, making many very profitable bargains for the company. The Cheyennes thought me the best trader that ever visited them, and would not allow any other company to traffic with their villages. This sorely vexed my rival traders, and once or twice I had my life attempted in consequence. When others came to ask permission to open a trad- 4;3H Al TUBIOUKAIMIY OF ing-I)Ost, tlic Clicycnncs would Hay, '*No; wc do all our trading with the Crow. He will not cheat us. Ilia wlii.sky ia strong." When I found I liad obtained the confidence of the nation, 1 told the Cheyenncs that it* they allowed oth- er traders to come in I should leave them, and they would 1)0 cheated by those who sold poor whisky, that would not make them merry half so soon as mini;. This may be considered selfish ; but I knew that our company was keenly competed with by three or four rival companies, and that the same representations that 1 used to keep the trade in my hands were freely urged by others to attract it from me. There was also a farther inducement for the Cheyenncs to do their busi- ness with me, which was founded upon their respect for me as a gi-eat brave, who liad killed a number of their countrymen. Whether there was diplomatic finesse enough in their minds to reflect that, while I was harmlessly engaged with them, I could 7iot be fighting in the bands of their enemies, and adding to my pres- ent number of scalps, I can not pretend to say. CHAPTER XXXI. Invitation to visit the Outlaws. — Interview with " the Elk that Calls." — Profitable Trade with the Outlaws. — Return to the Post. — Great Alarm among the Traders. — Five Horses killed at the F'ort. — Flight from the Siouxs. — Safe arrival at the Fort. — Trade with the Arrap- a-ho8. — Attacked by a Cheyenne Warrior. — Peace restored. While in the midst of my occupations, a messen- ger was dispatched to me by the chief of a Cheyenne village, at that time encamped about twenty miles dis- tant, with an invitation to visit them and trade there. This village was composed of outlaws from all the sur- JAMES P. BECKWOUltTH. 43'J ^e do all us. His icc of the wed oth- aiid they isky, that as mine. r that our 30 or four Ltious th.it 2cly urged 'as also a their busi- rcspect for )er of their ,tic finesse lile I was be fighting my pres- say. :ik that Calls." [> Post. — Great ; Fort.— Flight vith the Arrap- estored. ;, a messen- a Cheyenne ty miles dis- trade there. 1 all the sur- rounding tribes, who were expelled from their various communities for sundry infractions of their rude crim- inal code ; they had acquired a hard name for their cruelties and excesses, and many white traders were known to have been killed among them. Tlic chief's name was Mo-he-nes-to (the Klk that Calls), and he was a terror to all white people in that region. The village numbered three hundred lodges, and could bring from twelve to fifteen hundred warriors into the field — the best fighters of the nation. We called it the City of Refuge. The messenger arrived at my post, and inquired for the Crow. " 1 am the Crow," I answered. " The great chief, Mo-he-nes-to, wants the Crow to come to his lodge." *' What docs he want with me ?" "lie wants to trade much." " What does lie want to trade?" " He wants much whisky, nmch beads, much scar- let, much kettles," and he enumerated a list of ar- ticles. " Have your people any robes by them V " Wugh ! they have so much robes that they can not move with them." " Any horses ?" " Great many — good Crow horses." "Well," said I, "I will go straightway, and you must show me the way." "Who will go to the village of the Elk that Calls ?" I asked ; "I want two men." Peterson and another volunteered to accompany me ; but by this time the matter in hand had reached Su- blet's ears, and he came forward and said, 440 AUTUHMMJUAIMIY OK *( (4 *' Voii arc not going to the village ot* the Outlaws, BcckwourthV" Ves," 1 replied, '* I am." Don't you know that they kill whites there?" '' VeH, I know that they have killed them." " Weil, I ohjeet to your going." *' Caj)tain Sublet," I said, " 1 have promised the In- dian tliat 1 will «;o, and go I nuist. There has been no trader there lor a long time, and they arc a rich prize." i Ic saw that T was resolved, and, having given mo the control of ailairs, he v/ithdrew his objection and said no more. I accordingly prepared ibr the jouniey. Ordering the horses, I packed up my goods, together with twen- ty gallons of whisky, and issued forth on the way to uncei'tKui destruction, and bearing with mc the means of destruction certain. The Indian conducted me to the chiefs lodge. I dismounted, my two men following my example. The chief came to us, and passed the usual compliments. lie desired me to take otf my packs, at which request 1 immediately remounted my horse. *' What is the matter ?" inquired the chief. ** When I send for my friends to come and see me," I said, " I never ask them to unpack their horses or to guard them, but I have it done for them." *' You are right, my friend," said he; "it shall be done. Get off your horse, and come into my lodge." I dismounted again, and was about to follow him. ]\Iy men, v/ho did not understand our conversation, ar- rested my path to inquire what was in the wind. I bade them keep quiet, as all was amicable, and then entered the lodge. We held a long conversation to- .lAAIKS I'. Hi:('KWOUllTlI. 441 Outlaws, 0" icrc { 3cd the Tn- « 1ms bfcu arc a rich r given mo ection and <T Orderin with twcn- the way to J the means lodge. T iple. The (mplimcnts. iich request ief. nd see me," ir horses or n." it shall he my lodge." follow him. ersation, ar- le wind. I He, and then lersation to- gether, during wliicli the chief made many inquiries of a similar nature to tiiose addressed me at the first village. In recounting our achievements, 1 found that 1 had stolen his horses, and that he had made re- prisals upon the Crows, so that wc were about even in the horse trade. At length lie wislicd mc to broach the whisky. "No," said I, "my friend, I will not open the whisky until you send for your women to come witli tlicir robes, and they liavc bougiit what goods they want first. They work hard, and dress all your robes ; ti>oy deserve to trade first. They wish to buy many fine things to wear, so that your warriors may love tliem. When they have traded all they wish, then I will open my wiiisky, and the men can get drunk. ]5ut if the men get drunk lirst,your women will be afraid of tliem, and they will take all Lhe robes, and the women will get nothing." "Your words arc true, my friend," said the chief; " our women siiall trade before the men get drunk ; they dress all our robes: it shall be according to your words." Accordingly, he sent for all the women wlio had robes and wished to sell, to come and trade with the Crow. They were not long in obeying the summons. Forward they came, some with one robe and some with two. Two was the most that any of them had, as the men had reserved the most to purchase whisky. The trading was expeditiously effected ; we did not have to take down and open all our goods, and then sell a skein of thread, and be informed by our customer that she would look elsewhere first, and perhaps call again, which is the practice of many young ladies, especially where there is an attractive shopman. We could hard- ly hand out things fast enough. T 2 442 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF We served all the women to their entire satisfaction, and closed out our stock of dry-goods. We then pro- ceeded to the whisky. Before opening the kegs, I laid down my rules to the chief. I told him that his peo- ple might spree as long as they ciAOse, but that they must not obstruct my business, or interfere with me. As the liquor was served out to them^ they must car- ry it out of tlie lodge, and not stay to be in my way and give me trouble. This was readily assented to, and the sales b?gan. Whisky will have the same effect every where, and if a man will traffic in the "cursed stuff," he must sub- mit to his share of the mischief he creates. My under- standing with the chief was productive of no effect. He came into the lodge, saying, *' I have killed an Indian;" I looked, and saw that his battle-axe was dripping with blood. Yells and tumult increased out- side ; the chief was again making his way toward the lodge, protected by a host of friends, while behind him, and striving to get at him, was an infuriated throng, fighting and yelling like devils. My store in an in- stant was filled to overflowing with opposing parties, composed of outlaws from a dozen tribes. I sprang to secure my gun ; and my companions, mistaking my movement, supposed I had started to run, and tliey broke out at the back of the lodge, and did not stop until they reached our post on the Platte. Battle-axes and knives fairly rung through the lodge during the continuance of the fight ; but it was over in a few minutes, and they withdrew to the place out- side, and renewed it to greater advantage. At the res- toration of peace, some ghastly wounds were shown to me, but, singular to say, none of the belligerents were killed. JAMES P. UEt'KWUUKTll. 445 sfaction, hen pro- 5s, I laid his peo- hat they (vith me. (lust car- my way anted to, here, and nust sub- [y under- no effect, killed an -axe was jased out- )ward the hind him, d throng, in an in- g parties, I sprang aking my and they not stop the lodge was over place out- Lt the res- shown to •ents were Mo-he-nes-to, after a short interval, returned, with- out having received a single scratch, and said all was quiet again, and they wanted more whisky. The wom- en wished to get some also, he informed me. 1 knew that, if the women were going to join in, 1 must have another supply, and I told the chief I had not enough left to get the women drunk. " Send for more, then," said he. " Our women aro buried up and smothered with robes, and will buy very umch." 1 soon found a volunteer to run to the post to carr}- an order to Sublet to send me twenty gallons more of whisky. My assistants, after making their hasty exit from the back of the chief's lodge, reported at the post the state of aftairs at the village of the Outlaws at the time they left. Guns were being tired, they said, and, beyond all doubt, Beckwourth was killed. No one dared to go and asceicain the result. Sublet was in great trouble. •' I did my utmost to prevent his going," he consoled himself by saying, " but he went in opposition to all orders and advice ; so, if he is killed, the responsibility does not rest upon me." By-and-by my messenger arrived with the order for more whisky. Sublet took the letter and read it. "Hoi" said he, "Jim is not dead ^ Jt. He has sent for more tire-water. Who will take it to him V" Four men volunteered for the errand, and aiTived with it next day. The Indians took their horses away from them, and they became alarmed ; but when they short- ly after saw me up to my neck in buftalo robes, their fear subsided. These two kegs went off as actively as the preceding, and the robes fairly poured in. The whole village moved on toward the post, singing, danc- 444 AlJT0B10(}UArilY UK ing, and drinking, and, when I had approached within Hve miles, 1 had to send for two kegs more. In siiort, the sixty gallons oljira-i cater realized to the company over eleven hundred robes and eighteen horses, worth in 8t. Louis six thousand dollars. This trading whisky for Indian property is one of the most infernal practices ever entered into by man. Let the reader sit down and figure up the profits on a forty-gallon cask of alcohol, and he will be thunder- struck, or rather whisky struck. When disposed of, four gallons of water are added to each gallon of alco- hol. In two hundred gallons there are sixteen hund- red pints, for each one of which the trader gets a buf- falo robe worth five dollars ! The Indian women toil many long weeks to dress these sixteen hundred robes. The white trader gets them all for worse than nothing, for the poor Indian mother hides herself and her chil- dren in the forests until the effect of the poison pass- es away from the husbands, fathers, and brothers, who love them when they have no whisky, and abuse and kill tiieni when they have. Six thousand dollars for sixty gallons of alcohol ! Is it a wonder that, with such profits in prospect, men get rich who are engaged in the fur trade ? or is it a miracle that the poor buflfalo are becoming gradually exterminated, being killed with so little remorse that their very hides, among the In- dians themselves, are known by the appellation of a pint of whisky ? The chief made me a gratuity of forty robes. On two subse(|ucnt visits I paid him on his invitation, he made me further presents, until he had presented me with one hundred and eighty-five robes without receiv- ing any equivalent. The extent of his *' royal munif- icence" seriously alarmed Sublet. It was just this JAMES P. BECKWOUUTH. 445 I within ilizccl to eighteen rs. s one of by man. jtits on a thunder- posed of, II of alco- jen hund- ets a buf- romen toil red robes. 11 nothing, i her chil- ison pass- thers, who abuse and dollars for that, with re engaged oor buffalo killed with ng the In- ation of a obes. On /itation, he 3sented me out receiv- )yal munif- s just this same profuse spirit, he said, that had bred disputes with other traders, often resulting in tlicir losing their lives. It is as well a savage eustom as eivilized, to ex- pect a commensurate retuvn for any favors bestowed, and an Indian is so punctilious in the observance of this etiquette, that he will part with his last horse and his last blanket rather than receive a favor without requital. Mo-he-nes-to, without intending it, was rather troub- lesome on this point. When he became sober after these drunken carousals, he would begin to reflect se- riously on things. He would find his robes all gone; his women's labor — for it would take months of toil in dressing and ornamenting these robes — thrown un- profitably away ; his people had nothing to show for their late pile of wealth, and their wants y/ould remain unsupplied. They would have no guns or ammuni- tion to fight the Crows, who were always well sup- plied, and their whole year's earnings were squander- ed. These reflections would naturally make him dis- contended and irritable, and he would betake himself to the post for reparation. "White man," he would say, "I have given you my robes, which my warriors have spent montlis in hunting, and which my women have slaved a whole year in dressing ; and what do you give me in return? I have nothing. You give me fire-water, which makes me and my people mad ; and it is gone, and we have nothing to hunt more buffalo with, and to fight our enemies." The generality of traders will endeavor to make it apparent to him that there was a fair exchange of commodities effected, and that he had the worth of his wares, and they can do no more for him. 446 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF This angered him, and in his disappointment and vexation he would raise the war-hoop, his warriors would rush to him, he would harangue them for a moment, an assault would be made upon the trading- post, the goods would be seized, and, in many in- stances, the trader would be massacred and scalped. I saw the necessary relation between all these events, and knew that simple justice in exchanges would avoid all such catastrophes. I therefore told Sublet to feel no uneasiness, as I could arrange matters so as to af- ford general satisfaction. " Well," said he, " go your own way to destruc- tion." A day or two after this. Sublet came to inform me that Mo-he-nes-to was on his way to the fort. I look- ed out, and saw the chief and his wife both approach- ing on horseback. As he entered, I received him with great ceremony, taking him by the hand, and bidding him welcome to the fort. I had his horses well at- tended to, a sumptuous supper for himself and wife served up, and, while the meal was preparing, enter- tained him with liquors fit to make any toper's mouth water. After supper he got gloriously fuddled, and went to bed, ignorant of what was passing in the world around him. In the morning I inquired of him how he felt. "Wugh! Much bad! head ache strong!" I then gave him another whisky punch, well-flavor- ed with spices ; he and his lady drank deeply, and then partook of a hearty breakfast. He then felt well again. I next led him into the store, where we had a large assortment of every Indian novelty. I knew he had children, as well as how many ; so I selected a five- striped Hudson's Bay blanket for himself, another §i^ JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 447 ment and ; warriors icm for a e trading- many in- scalped. ise events, ould avoid )let to feel as to af- destruc- inform me t. I look- approach- d him with nd bidding 3s well at- f and wife ring, enter- >er's mouth iddled, and n the world e felt. well-flavor- y, and then well again, liad a large new he had icted a five- another §sgc his wife, and one for each of his children, besides an extra scarlet blanket for his eldest son, a young war- rior. To Jiis wife I also gave a two-gallon brass kettle, and beads enough to last her for a yefr or two. In fact, I selected more or less of every description of ar- ticle that I thought would be useful to them, or that I thought an Indian eye could covet. These presents I ceremoniously laid upon the counter, until I had two or three large piles of quite attractive-looking goods. The chief and his wife had watched me laying all these goods before them. I then asked them if tliey saw any thing more any wliere in the store that they thought they would like. Mo-he-nes-to opened his eyes wide with surprise. "What:" he exclaimed, " are all those things for us ?*' "Yes," I said, "they are for you, your wife, and your children— something for you all. When I have a friend, I like to be liberal in my gifts to him. I nev- er rob the Red Men ; I never take all their robes and give them nothing- but whisky. I give them some- thing good for themselves, their wives, and then- chil- dren. My heart is big ; I know what the Red Men want, and what their families want." " My friend, your heart is too big ; you give me much more than I ever had before ; you will be very poor." " No," I said ; " I have many things here, all mine. I am rich, and when I find a good friend, I make him rich like me." I then bade him look the store cai°fuliy tlirough, to see if there was any thing more that he would like. He looked, but saw nothing more that he needed. I t|pi made the same request of his wife, whose satis- 448 AUToniocntAniY of faction hraiiicd all over her face, but ahc too was fully su|>|)lii'(l. 1 then stepped into another room, and returned with a tine new gun, with a hundred rounds of annnunition, and a new, highly-linished, silver-mounted battle-axe. This was the conible de h'lcufaits. I thought he would not recover from the siiock. He took the battle-axe in his hand, and examined it minutely, Iiis face dis- torted with a broad grin all the while. "JFugh!" said he; *' you give me too much. I gave you no robes, but you have proved that you are my friend." When they were ready to start, there was an extra horse for liim, and a tine mare for his wife, ready wait- ing at the door. ** There, my friend," said I, "is a good horse for you; he is swift to run the butfalo. FTere is a tine mare for you, " I said to his wife. ** Indian women love to raise handsome colts. 1 give her to you, and you must not let the Crows steal her from you." She displayed every tooth in her head in token of her satisfaction, and she mounted to return home. The chief said as he left, " I am going on a war-party, and then to kill buffalo. I will come back again in a few moons. I will then come and see you, and I will kill you — I will crush you to death with robes." And away they went, never better satisfied in their lives. Now is it to be supposed that the company lost any thing by this li^jerality ? That chief, whose hands were stained with the blood of so many traders, would have defended my life till the last gasp. While I was in his country, no other trader could have bartered a plug of tobacco with him or his people. The com- pany still derived great profits from his trade. Be- JAMKS r. BliCKWOUKTlI. 44y was fully iriicd with inmnition, jjittlo-axc. t he would battle-axe face dis- miich. I at you are LS an extra cady wait- 'se for you; le marc for JVC to raise u must not ti token of ome. The -party, and lin in a few i I will kill And away ires. mpany lost rhose hands ders, would Vhile I was 5 bartered a The com- trade. Be- sides the immense returns derived from my transac- tions with the village, I cleared over five Imndrcd dol- lars from my exchanges with the chief alone, after the full value of my niuniHccnt presents liad been deducted. One day the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers were to have a dance and count their coos. I called all the Crows who were in the band, and asked thcni if the regula- tions would admit of my joining in the dance. " Cortaiidy," said they ; '* nothing will please them more; they will then believe that you have joined them." Accordingly, I painted myself, ajid i)ut on a uniform, including a chiefs coat, new from the shelves, and painted my white Icggins willi stripes, denoting a great number oicooa ; when ready, I walked toward thom as great a man as any. C)n seeing me apjiroach, there was a general inquiry, '' Wlio is that ? Where did he come from?'' When the ceremonies coniUicnccd, I joined in, and danced as hard as any of them. The drum at length sounded, to announce the time to begin to count. I stepped forward first, and began. " Chcyennes, do you remember that you had a warrior killed at such a place, wearing such and such marks of distinction ?" "Yes, we know it." " I killed him ; he was a great brave." There was a tap on the drum, and one coo was count- ed. I proceeded until I had counted my five coos^ which is the limited number between the dances. Next in turn the Bob-tailed Horse counted his five on the Crows, and to his various allusions I assent- ed with the customary " I remember." This betrayed who I was, and they were delighted to see one of the Dog Soldiers of the Crows join their 4ij{) Al I'OltKMJKAI'in Ol band. Tho HolHtaiKHl 1 lorsc, mmlo inc a valuablo pres- ent, ami I n'ltiriHMl to ilu? ibrt willi nix Hplciulid war- liorsrM and lliirty linr. lobcH, presented to njc at that danco, as my initiation gilts, or bounty-money, I HUp- poMc, for joining; their army. I was tlicn a Dog 8oI- (ber in lh(^ picked trooj> ot tlic Cheyennes, eompcllcd to delend the vilhige against every enemy until 1 died, Ukc Maebelh, with harness on my baek. Tiie (/rows had been inlornu^d by sundry perHona in the emphjy oft lie Anieri«;an Knr (Company that I Iiad joined tlieir inveterate enennes. 'I'lu'y were satisliod with my proceeding. *' 'I'he Me(beine C^alt' is a cun- ning eliiet," tliey said; "he. best knows liow to act. Ib^ ]ias joined tlie ('lieyennes to h«arn all about their numbers, the routes ot* their villages, and so forth. AVhen I>e h.Ms learned all that he wjints, iie will return to us, and then wa can light the (yheycnnes to greater advantage." I was now in my second winter with Sublet in the Cheveime an<l Sioux country, lie had succeeded tar beyond his expectation, and he still (continued to make money bv thousands. We had curtailed the number of sub-posts, and thereby materially reduced his ex- penses ; indeed, they were now less than bait' what they were the preceding winter. Leaving Sublet's, I went down to the South Platte, distant one hundred and tit'ty miles, and indulged in a short rest, until I heard that the Cheyennes of the Ar- kansas — those that I lirst visited — were v. l)out to make tlieir s])ring trade, and I went over to meet them, and bring them to our fort. I tbund them ; all appeared to be glad to see me, and they returned witli me. In erossing the divide^ or ridge between the two rivers, our spies in advance discovered a party of PawneeS| .1 A MI'S I'. IJKUKWOIIUXII. 4r,[ do ])rcB- lid war- at that ', 1 8U1>- )og Sol- pel led to lied, like ^vHons in lat 1 had satirtfied i.s a eun- ,v to aet. lOUt their so forth, rill return to greater )iet in the .xeded tar d to make ic number xX hia cx- half what ith Platte, ulged in a of the Ar- ut to make them, and ippearod to h me. In two rivers, f Pawnees, and a charge wa.^ imnu'diatcly made upon them. We only killed Hirer, of (he, enemy. I eounted a coo by eapturiiig a rill(^ The victim who abandoned it had been already killed. While we engaged the enemy the village went into eamp, and 1 proposed to my fellow-warriors to nrturn to the village after the manner of the (Jrows, which was agreed to. 'riiere were several in the party, so we eould easily raise a good Crow song, and the Cheyenne warriors could join in. We sl/uck up merrily, and ad- vanced toward the village. As soon as the women iieard c.ir voices, they ran out to S(!e wiio were coming. There were several captive (jrovvs among the Chey- ennea, who, I supposed, had lived among them ever since I had been sold to the whites. These recognized our stave, and exclaimed, ** Those are Crows coming ; we know their song." This brought out the whole village, who stood waiting our arrival, in surprise and wonderment. As we drew near, however, they distin- guished me in the party, and the mystery was solved. " The Crow is with the (^heyenncs." We performed all kinds of antics ; made a circuit round the village, going through evolutions and per- formances which the Cheycnncs had never before seen, but with which they were so highly pleased, that they adopted the dance into the celebrations of their nation. That night the scalp-dance was performed, which 1 took part in, as great a man as any. I sung the Crow song, to the especial admiration of the fair sex. The next morning we resumed our journey to the fort, which we reached after three days' travel. The vil- lage had brought a great number of robes, together with some beaver, and a great trade was opened witli them. A." this time T had a difficulty with a Cheyenne, acM 452 ArnnnoanArirv ov tho only Olio 1 over hu<l with any of tlio trilx!. 1 was oatiiig dinner one day, when a great brave came in and detnantkul wliisky. I repaired to tlic Htore willi him to supply his want, wlien 1 found he had no robe to pay for it, and was, besides, intoxiaited. 1 refused to give liim tlie whisky, lelling him lie must tirst go and bring a robe. Tiiis probably aggravated liim, and he made n smUlen eut at me willi liis sword, whieli 1 very for- tunately dodged, and before lie eould raise his weapon again 1 had him between my feet on the ground. I had left my battle-axe on my seat at the table, and I called out for sonic one to bring it to mc, but no one came with it. I at length released him, and he went jjoop^Mg away, to obtain his gun to shoot the Crow. 1 seized my own, and waited ibr him at the door, while all the inmates of the fort begged of me not to shoot him. After some little delay, he appeared, gun in hand ; but three Cheyenne warriors interfered to stop liim, and he returned into his lodge. The day Ibllowing he sent for Sublet and myself to go and dine with him, and we went accordingly. Su- blet was aj)])rehensivc of mischief from my visit, and endeavored to dissmide me from going ; but I foresaw no danger, and knew, farther, that it would be a cause of oUcnse to the Indian to neglect his invitation. When we entered his lodge he was glad to see us, and bade me be seated on a pile of robes. I sat down as de- sired, and our host, after holding a short conversation with Sublet, turned to me and spoke as follows : *' O-tun-nee" (Crow), ** 1 was a fool yesterday. You spared my life. 1 do not want you to he angry with me, because I am not angry with you. I was drunk ; I had drunk too tnuch of your whisky, and it made my heart black. I did not know what I was doing.'* .IAMK8 r. UKCKWOURTH. 4.53 1 was I ill and ith liiin Li to pay I to give \\d bring lie niadc v'cry for- , weapon )und. I Ic, and I it no one he went lie Crow. 3or, while ; to shoot 1, gun in ^d to stop myself to igly. Su- visit, and I foresaw be a cause 3Ti. When ,, and bade )wn as de- )nversation lows: rday. You angry with was drunk ; it made my doing." • "Very well," said I ; " I am not angry with yon. When you attcmptivl to kill nu- I waH »"Jgry, and it' my battle-axe liad Itccii in my liand, I Hiiould have, killed you. Vou arc. alive, and 1 am glad of it.*' " Take those robes," he. rejoined, " and hereafter you shall l)e my l>rotln'r, and I will b(^ your brother. Those robes will make your lu^art right, and we will quarrel no more." 1 t<K)k the robes with me, ten in number, and tbund my heart perfectly mollified. Messrs. Sublet and Vas(jues, having realized immense proiits during their tiiree years of partnership, disposed of all their interest and effects in tlu^ Itocky Mountain fur business, and returned to St. Louis. This threw me entirely out of business, when Messrs. lient and Saverine wished to engage me in their employ. After some little negotiation with them, 1 concluded a bar- gain, and entered into their service in the latter part of the summer of 1840. We immediately proceeded to establish sub-posts in various directions, and I re- paired to Laramie Fork. As soon as it was known among the Indians that the Crow was trading at Bent's post, they came flock- ing in with their robes. Old Smoke, the head chief of another band of Outlaws, known as Smoke's l?and, but claimed by no particular nation or tribe, visited me, with his village, and commenced a great spree. I gave them a grand entertainment, which seemed to tickle their tastes highly. They kept up their carou- sal until they had parted with two thousand robes, and had no more remaining. They then demanded whis- ky, and I refused it. '* No trust," the motto we see inscribed on every low drinking-saloon in St. Louis, is equally our system in dealing with the Indians. 4r»4 Al roillOUKAI'IIY 0|- Tlioy Immmiiip inriiriiittMl at my n<riiMiil, niid clnninrrtl iwul llii-(*u(('ii(<(l it' I |)(>rsiMl(Ml. I knew it wiih iio iisr to ^ivr way, ho I adluM'iMl to my rcMoliitioii. Tlicrr- iipoii tliov i'ommnicrd liriii;j; ii]>oii tli«^ ntorc, and mIiow- vrvi\ the ImllrtM tlirou^li evt-ry aMMaihiltIr ]»oint. Tlic wiiulows yyvYO, nliot nitircly out, and tin' aHHailaiitM Hworo vnigcaiirc agaiiiMt tlu'l 'row. Arrordin^ to tlu'ir talk, I liad my rlioi««' «'i(lirr to die or ^ivc tlicm wImh- ky to drink. i iiad Itnt ono man with nur in tia^ Htorr. Thrrr had hctii m^vcral (^anadiann in tin; tort, Imt on tho tirst alarm ihvy ran to their houseM, wliich wen- Iniilt aronnd tlu'l tort, within the pieketn, to obtain their guns; hut on the Indians informing them that they would not hurt them, that it. was only llu^ (*row that, they were after, the (\ni<i<ii(t?>,s Htaid within doors, and abandoned me to my t'at(*. 1 and my eompanion sat with our rifles ready eock- ed, well prepared to defend the entrance to the fort. We had plenty of guns at hand ready loaded, and then? nnist u few have fallen U't'ore they passtMl tlu^ gate. At dusk I closed the door, but we lay upon our anus all night. The Indians kept up a great tunudt and pother, but attempted nothing. ISlcaars. lieiit and Savcrinc arrived in the morning, and wanted to be informed of the cause of the, disturb- ance. I acquainted them, and they aj)provcd my con- duct. They were astonished at my immense pile of robes, and applauded my fortitude. When the Dutlawa became sobered, they express- ed contrition for what they had done, and charged their excesses upon John Bjirleycorn, which plea I admitted. At the same time, it appeared quite inconsistent that I, who was that celebrated gentleman's high-priest, should be set upon and almost murdered by his devotees. .lAMKS I'. lIKdKWOnnil. 4r>r> iiniorcMl il h1u)W- I. Tl.r *Hailantrt ; to tiM'ir in wliiw- |)i> Htorr.. I, Imt on ioli worr lain tlu'ir hat lluy Irow llial ooiB, aiul luly cock- tiio tort. and then'. tlic patv. o\ir arniH uniilt an«l 1 morning, ic disturl)- id my con- isc pile of y expresa- argcd tlicir I admitted, tent that 1, icst, should evotees. Notliing noteworthy ocMMirrod until thn following .IniMiarv, wlini tlu^ IndianM, being again on tlio Nprro, onc(^ inoro attempted my lite. I lied to a post in the, Arrap-a-ho (country, in ehargii of Mr. Alex. VVharfieM, now a eoloiud in the army; he renigned the poHt to me, and took my plaee at iient^H post. I had hut littlo trouble with the IndiaiiH here, ('ut Noh(% an old brave, who, it H(*emH, Iwul betm in the hai)it of obtaining bin dranjM of VV^Iiarliehl gratis, expi'.eted to \)o. HUp|)lied by me on the Ham<^ terniM. I reHintcMl thin inva.sion, and Heriounly ruUled the feather.s of the old chief thereby. lie left at my refuHal, and did not n^turn again that «lay. During the euHuing night the I'awneeH (;amc, and Htolu both bin horH(;H and mine. 'J'he old man rained a party, went in pursuit, recaptured all th<; liorHCfl, took two HcalpH, and returned in high Kpiritn. lie visited the stons and informed mc what In; liad done. "Well," said I, "that is because I gave you no whisky yesterday. If I had given you whisky, you would have drunk too much, and been sick this morn- ing in consecjuenee. Then you would not have been able to pursue the Pawnees, and you would have lost your horses." However, I gave him some whisky then in honor of his achievement. This, as I had expected, pleased the old fellow, and he restored mc my horses, and charged mc nothing for their recapture. As soon as the spring trade was over, I abandoned that post and returned to the Arkansas. Saverinc de- sired me to go and sec if I could open a trade with a village of Arrap-a-hos which he had heard was en- camped at forty miles distance. I accordingly started in their direction, accompanied by two men. We jour- 456 AUTOBIOORAPUY UF neyed on until \vc had arrived witiiin a short distance of the vilhigc, when we discovered on our road a band of three or four hundred traveling Indians. I saw they were Canianches, and I bade the two men to run for their lives, as I knew the Canianches would kill them. I directed them to the ArrajD-a-ho village, and bade them shout their loudest when they came in sight of it. They left me, and ascended a slight eminence a little distance in advance, and then, shouting to the extent of their lungs, they put their horses down at the best speed. I rode up after them, and telegraphed with my blanket to tlic village to have them come quickly. They obeyed my motions, and fell in with the Camanches on their way to me. The two tribes proved to be friends, and my com.panions were safe. On arriving at the village I found abundance of robes, and opened a very successful trade with the peo- l)le. This finished, I returned to the fort, and assist- ed the other employes in loading the wagons for their trip to St. Louis. CHAPTER XXXII. First Trip to New Mexico. — Return to the Indians with Goods. — Suc- cess in Trade. — Enter into Business in St. Fernandez. — Get Mar- ried. — Return to the Indians. — The fortunate Speculation. — Proceed to California with Goods. I HAD now accumulated a considerable sum of money, and thought I might as well put it to some use for my own profit, as risk my life in the service of others, while they derived the lion's share from my industry. It was now about three years since I had left St. Louis on my present excursion, and I began to weary of the JAME8 r. BECKWOl'RTH. 457 istance a band I saw I to run lid kill ige, and in sight minence cr to the lown at igraphcd im come [ in with vo tribes e safe, dance of I the peo- id assist- j for theu: 3ood8.— Suc- z, — Get Mar- ion. — Proceed n of money, use for my J of others, y industry, ■ft St. Louis veary of the 7nonotony of my life. I was within live days' jour- ney of New Mexico, and I determined upon going to take a look at the northern portion of this unbounded territory. I had but one man with me, named Charles Towne, when I started upon my new exploration. On our road thither we passed near to a Utah village, and two or three of their warriors presented themselves before us to hold a parley, while the chief sat down on a log close by. ^i'hcy said, as we reined in our horses for a moment, *' You make our paths bad by coming into our country ; you will go back and tell the Cheyennes and Arrap-a-hos wliere we are ; they will then come and kill us, and steal our horses. Come here I our chief wants to see you." This was spoken in tolerably good Spanish. " Come on," said I, addressing my companion; "'- let us not be annoyed by these trilling Indians;*' and I urged my horse against the Indian spokesman, knock- ing him into the dirt. lie arose, exclaiming, "• Wughl Shawnee I" We then rode on without further moles- tation, they evidently mistaking me for a Shawnee. They had robbed several white men, and, after beating them savagely, had liberated them. I had no manner of fear of them, for I knew them to be great cowards ; with one hundred and fifty good Crow warriors I would have chased a thousand of them. We passed on into St. Fernandez, and found quite a number of American traders there, established in bus- iness, and supplying both mountaineers and Indians with goods. Here I encountered an old acquaintance, named Lee, with whom I entered into partnership. We purchased one hundred gallons of alcohol, and a stock of fancy articles, to return to the Indian country, and u 458 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF tra(l(^ lor robes and other peltry, Wc visited the Chey- ennes on the South Fork of the Platte. We passed Bent's fort on our way thither. He hailed us, and in- quired where we were going. I informed him that wc were on our way to the Cheyenne village. He begged nie not to go, as I valuec" my safety. It was only the day previous, he said, that he had traded with them, and bought eighteen liorses from their village. They came the next morning and took them forcibly back, and threatened him with their guns if he said a word against their proceedings. I replied to him that I a- ticipated no danger, and left him to pass on to tiieir village. The Indians were delighted at my arrival. I had lieard that the hooping-cough was very prevalent among tlie children, and, as we happened to have several bushels of com, and beans, and a large quantity of dried pumpkins, we could not have come at a more op- portune moment. I told tht; Indians, in answer to their welcome, that I had come back to see them be- cause I had heard their children were all sick. I call- ed attention to my stock of vegetable esculents, as be- ing best adapted for food for their children, and i;he best calculated to restore them to health. " Besides," I added, " I have brought a little whisky along, to put good life into your hearts." They were then in tlieir sobered feelings, which will return to them after their carousals, and which pre- sent so dangerous a time to the trader. Their horses were all away, their robes were gone, and they had nothing to show in return for them. Their children were sick and dying, their wives mourning and half distracted, and they could obtain nothitig at the fort to alleviate their sufferings. I could understand the whole JAMKS 1*. JJECKWOURTII. 459 5 Chey- passcd and in- that -wc begged only the li them, , They ly back, 1 a word hati a- to then- .. I had nt among c several antity of I more op- answer to them be- [c. I call- ;nts, as be- n, and i:he ' Besides," ong, to put , which will which pre- 'heir horses d they had Lcir children ng and halt' it the fort to lid the whole corollary of incidents. Like their intemperate white brethren, who will occasionally rovie^v matters after a prolonged spree, and who will sec the ellects of their dissipation in their desolate homes, their heart-broken wives, and their ragged and starving children, what are their feelings at such a contemplation ? Un([ues- tionably hostility against the cause of this destitution, whether they recognize it in themselves, the willing instruments, or the liquor that infatuated them, or the dealer that supplied it to them. The Indians seem to have one circle of reasoning, ai.d invariably vent their spleen upon the trader. It was this reactionary feel- ing that had led the Indians to recover, by force of arms, the horses they had parted with previously. 1 knew better how to manage them. I deposited my goods at Old Bark's lodge, who felt highly honored with the trust. The villagers collect- ed round, and a disj)ute arose among them whether the whisky should be broached or not. Porcuj)inc Bear objected, and Bob-tailed Horse, his brother-in-law, strongly advocated my opening the kegs. This led to a warm altercation between the two warriors, until the disputed question was to be decided by the arbitrament of battle. They both left the lodge to prepare for the combat, and returned in a few minutes fully armed and equipped. Porcupine Bear argued his cause in the following strain : '* Cheyennes, look at me, and listen well to my Avords. I am now about to fight my brother ; I shall light him, and shall kill him if I can. In doing this, 1 do not fight my brother, but I fight the greatest en- (>my of my people. " Once we were a great and powerful nation : our hearts were proud, and our arms were strong. But a tc.o Ar'ntiiinoKAriiv or Irw uiuNmm nj»;o nil o (lirr Iriln'M Uvirrd iim ; now fli I iMVHrrf< <l.'ilo lo noMM our liiliil iiiir-frioniulM, mihI ki our IhiHmIo. (Mho \\c tonld lirnt (lir (*ro\vH, find, iin jmN'd, doslroyod iImmt villnjM's ; now \\v mil (MImt vil- \:\\ro» lo our MfMiHlMncr, nml we cnn no! c^'l'md our- Mrl\("4 iVoni tlu« jiMMnnllH of ihr «>nrni\. How \h lliin, i 'l«('\ rnnr;^ V 'I'lio ( 'n»wM drink no wliiMkv. Tin' t>iirn- iiijVM o('lli(Mr linnliMM jind IojIm o( llicir wonirn twv Imr- (iMrd lo ili(> wliif<^ innn lor w<<{i|)onM and nnininnition. Tins krr|)M tiinn )i(»W('iriil and drradcil |»v llirir oik*- mu's. NN r kill Itiillalo liv llir tlioiiMand : onr uttniniH liandM avo mo|(> vmIi diTMsiiit; tin* ioIm's ; and wlial do wo \y,\vi Willi lIuMii lo i\w wliilt' (lad-r lor Y Wo puy lIuMii lor I ho wliilo nian's lirr-walci. wliirli InriiM oiir l»rain:< ii|)s'd«» down, winrli niakos oiii lirarln Mack, and rnid«MM onr arms woak. Il lakos awa\ onr warriors' skill, and iiiak»'M iIumii sliool wroiii:; in lialllr. ( )nr cn- oinios, who drink no whisk>, wlion llicv Mlio«tJ, always k ill llioir loo Wo I ia\(' no ainniiiinlion lo oiioonnlor onr loos, .-nu 1 w.» I lavo luH'oiiio as (loos, wiin mo* bnf llioir loiMli. .g.^ •hi iav(< noil I III (>i nr prairios wi w onoo oovon'd wllh horsos as I In livos .'iro oovon'tl wilh loavos. W'lioro aro llioy now? Ask iho (^ows. who drink no whisky. \\ lion wo arc all ihnnk, ihov ooiiio and lako llioiii iVom liolon* onr oyos : t>iir Iou;s aiv holploss, ami wo «'an nol I'ollow llioiii. Wo aro onlv loarlnl lo our woinon, who tako np ihoir ^hihli d Ih ron and oonooal llionis<Mv«\s among llio rooks an« th 'k .1 \\\ fho 1 "orosl. tor wo aro wolvj's in our lodg roH : wo s;rowl at thorn liko hoars wlion thoy aro lamishinp i.)ur ohildroM aro now siok, and our woiikmi aro weak with watoiiinL:. Lot us n*)! soaro tlioni away tVoin our lodiTOs*. >yiih tiioir siok ohildron in thoir arms. 'I'ln- CiiWHt Spirit will l>c olVondcd at it. I had rather go to JAMI.H I*. l»l',«'K\V<Mimi. 4(il nnl Kill ii\<l. III) Wv vil nil <»uv \n tliin, Ih' nun- m<' l»n- lunitioii. lu'ir «MM'- what «lo huuM our lli'.cU, MM<I wnnioiH' ( )ur r\\- ^^\, nlwMVH j'UfOUUttT lijivt' uolli ,vs«*s Mf* <!"' ll\(<y now V lu'u wo avr lu'lovt' o\\y iko u|) tlu'ir c lorks ami lodp'H; \v»' ' t'anuHliinp;. iM\ avo wt'aK ,ay I''**'" ^*''* anus. '1'!"' rather go to flir grcal ami liM|»jty iiimliiijii-j^rouiMl ?io\v tlinii livr nml Hvr tlio ilowiiiall (il my nntioii. nin- lircM tn^^iii (<» imni «lim, and will houii }!;o mil nilinly. My |tr(»|ilr aro iMTomini^ lilu* llio Pjiwihm-.m: liny liny tin- wiiiMky ot'llio (ra<l«<{', ati<l, Ix'raiiMc lio in weak and not. nlilr to lij^";!!! lliom, llioy fn> and ntral iVom Imh lnd}.^o. *' I Hay, Id UH huy of tlio ('row what in nHrl'nl /irnl |>;ood, ImiI liis wiiinky wo will nut (<in<-|i ; Irl liim tako tlial away willi liim. i liavo Hpokcn all I liavr toHay, and ir my IhuIIioi' wiMlioH In kill mo iur il, i am ready lo di«\ I will i^'o and nil willi my lallirrM in llio Hpir- il land, wlioro ] shall noun poinl down lo llir lasl ox- pirini!; liro ol" llir ('iH'yoimoM, and wlion liioy iiMpiir*' llio ranno ol' lliin dorlino of llioir |ioo|)|r, I will 1)11 llicm will) M Hlrai^lil lonj^no llial il wan llio liro,-wul( r of llio Irador llial |miI il onl/* OhI hark llion advan'cd |»rlwo«n llio Iwo l»olli{.'oi- «'nl.^ and ihns spoko: '' ( 'lu'ycnnoM, I am your |.!;r<al (■liiof; you know m<'. My word IITim <lay nliall ho oIh'\«mI. Tho, ('row liaH oomo ainonf^ uh a{i;ain, and lias hron^hl iim }:;<M)d lliin^s that wo nocd ; lir lias also liron<;hl \\h a litllo. wliisky. Mo Ih poor, wliilo, wo aro vol .Htronji;, and wo will huy all lio, lias hroii^lil willi liim. 'riiis day wo. will drink ; it will mako mm m<r- rv, .and i'rcl ^ooi\ to one anothor. Wo will all drink this onoo, hut W(^ will not act liko IooIm ; wo will not <piarrol aiul light, and iVighton our women and ohil- dron. Now, warriorn, give mo your weapons." 'I'liis tint admitted no appeal; it was law and goM- pol to luM p<'oj)lo ; disohodionoe to his command Hiih- jt'otod the oU'eiidor to immodialo death at tho hands ot tlio, l)o<i; Soldiers. Tho. warriors dolivon^d up tlioir hat- tlo-axoB, and tho old ohiorhaiidod tliom to mo. "( !row," said ho, "tako. thcBo. weapoim that I have taken from 402 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP my two children. Keep them until we have drunk up your whisky, and let no one have them till I bid you. Now, Crow, we are ready." Slim Face and Gray Head, two Dog Soldiers, then liarangued the village, and desired all wlio wished to trade to come and bring tlieir robes and horses to Old Bark's lodge, and to remember that they were trading with tlie honest Crow, and not with white men, and lliat what they paid him was his. Tliey answered the summons in flocks, the women first, according to my established rule. My com, beans, and pumpkins *' exhaled like the dew," and I received in exchange their beautiful fancy robes. The women served, the men next came in for whisky. I sold on credit to some. When one wanted thus to deal, he would tell me what kind of a horse or mule lie had : I would appeal to Old Bark for confirmation of the statement ; if he verified it, I served the liquor. They all got drunk. Porcupine Bear, the temperance orator, witli the rest ; but there was not a single fight ; all passed off harmoniously. I received over four hundred splendid robes, besides moccasins and fancy articles. When I was ready to leave, thirty-eight horses and mules, a number corre- sponding to what I had marked, were brought forward. I packed up my peltry, and sent my partner on in ad- vance witli every thing except the horse I rode, telling him I would overtake him shortly. I had reserved a five-gallon keg of whisky unknown to all, and when about to start I produced it and pre- sented it to the crowd. They were charmed, and in- sisted on making me a return. They brought m(> over forty of tlieir finest robes, such as the young squaws finish with immense labor to present to tlioir JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 46a ank up id you. TS, then ished to to Old trading aen, and e women ly com, r," and I ,es. The lisky. I 1 thus to 3 or mule nfirmation he liquor, emperance igle fight ; es, besides IS ready to tiber corre- ct forward. ;r on in ad- ode, telling y unknown it and pre- led, and in- brought mo the young jent to their lovers. Old Bark gave me a good mule to pack them, and another chief gave me a second. I then took my leave, promising to return by Leaf Fall. When I passed Bent at his post he was perfectly confounded. He had seen one train pass belonging to me, and now I was conducting another, when, at the same time, he had supposed that there was not a robe in the village. " " Beckwourth," said he, " how you manage Indians as you do beats my understanding." I told him that it was easily accounted for; that the Indians knew that the whites cheated them, and know that tliey could beHeve what I said. Besides that, they naturally felt superior confidence in me on ac(;ount of my supposed affinity of race. I had lived so much among them that I could enter into their feel- ings, and be in every respect one of themselves : this was an inducement which no acknowledged white trader could ever hope to hold out. I rode on, and overtook my partner in advance. He had had an adventure. A party of Cheyennes, led by a chief named Three Crows, had met him, and rifled him of a three-gallon keg of whisky, which we had re- served for our own use on our way to St. Fernandez. The chief stopped him, and said, " I smell whisky, and we must have some." My partner told him that he had none. " Wugh I my nose don't lie, but your tongue does. I smell it strong, and, if you do not hand it out, we .shall unpack all your horses and find it." " Well," said the man, *' I have a little, but it be- longs to the Crow, and he wants it himself." " Give it me," said the chief, " and tell him tliat Three Crows took it." 4(J4 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF There was no alternative, and lie gave him the keg. They carried it along until they came to a creek, where they sat down and had a joUilicaiion. I passed them while they were in the midst of it, bnt did not sec them, altliough they saw me. When I met the chief some time subsequently, and charged him with the lar- ceny, he gave me ten robes and a good horse to com- pound tlie felony. We shot several buffalo on our way, enough to load all our horses witli meat and tallow. We exchanged our effects in Santa Fe for goods, and carried them to St. Fernandez, a distance of sixty miles. Here we es- tablished a store as ow head-quarters for the Indian trade, where I resided some time, living very fast and happily, according to tnc manner of the inhabitants. Among other doings, I got married to Senorita Louise Sandevillc. In the fall I returned to the Indian country, taking my wife with me. We reached the Arkansas about the Hrst of October, 1842, where I erected a trading- post, and opened a successful business. In a very short time I was joined by from fifteen to twenty free trappers, with their families. We all united our labors, and constructed an adobe fort sixty yards square. By the foUowi »g spring we had grown into quite a little settlement, and we gave it the name of Pueblo. Many of tlie company devoted themselves to agriculture, and raised very good crops the first season, such as wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, and abundance of almost all kinds of vegetables. When the spring trade was over, I sent all my peltry to Independence, and bought with the proceeds tliree thousand dollars worth of articles, suitable for the trade in New Mexico. But, on the arrival of the goods, tho JAMKiS 1'. UECKWOl'RTH. 4G5 le keg. where d them not sec chief the lar- to com- to load changed them to L'e we es- e Indian fast and abitants. a Louise •y, taking jas about \ trading- [n a very venty free )ur labors, uare. By ite a little lo. Many ilture, and . as wheat, it all kinds [ my peltry ieeds three )r the trado goods, the whole country was in a ferment on accoimt of Colonel Cook's expedition from Texas, wliicli resulted so dis- astrously for the parties concerned. This aftectcd tlic minds of the New ^lexicans unfavora]>ly for my in- terest, inasmuch as their former preference for United States novelties was now turned into strong repug- nance for every thing American. I therefore could obtain no sale for my goods, and determined to return to my Indian friends. I bought a load of whisky to trade for horses to pack my goods to California, where I intended removing. I succeeded in my adventure, and obtained forty horses and mules, upon which I packed my merchandise, and quickly found myself on the way to the ** golden state." I started with fifteen men, three of whom were ]\Iex- icans. When I reached the Utah country, 1 found that the Indians were waging exterminating war upon the Mexicans, but I did not learn it in time to save the lives of my three unhappy followers, who, lagging too far in the rear, were set upon by the Indians and slain. In passing through their country I did considerable trading, exchanging my merchandise for elk, deer, and antelope skins, very beautifully dressed. I arrived in Pueblo dc Angeles (California) in Jan- uary, 1844. There I indulged my new passion for trade, and did a very profitable business for several months. At the breaking out of the revolution in 1845, I took an active part against the mother country, of which I will furnish some details in my next chapter. U2 4(JU AUTOHKXntArilV iJV CHAPTER XXXIII. The Californian Revolution. — Rifle Corps. — Position of the two Ar- mies. — Colonel Sutter. — Cannonade. — Flight of Sutter. — His Kr- turn. — Trial ajid subsequent Release. The Upper Californians, on account of their great distance from the Mexican government, had long en- joyed the forms of an independent principality, al- though recognizing themselves as a portion of the Mexican Republic. They had for years past had the election of their own officers, their governor inclusive, and enjoyed comparative immunity from taxes and other political vexations. Under this abandonment, the inhabitants lived prosperous and contented ; their hills and prairies were literally swarming with cattle ; immense numbers of these were slauglitcred annually for their hides and talloAv; and, as they had no "Ar- mies of Liberation" to support, and no costly govern- ment to maintain in extravagance, they passed their lives in a state of contentment, eveiy man sitting un- der his own vine and his own fig-tree. Two years prior to my arrival all this had been changed. President Santa Anna had appointed one of his creatures, Torrejon, governor, with absolute and tyrannical power; he arrived with an army of bandits to subject the defenseless inhabitants to every wrong that a debasing tyranny so readily indulges in. Heavy taxes were imposed for the support of the home gov- ernment, and troops were quartered to the great an- noyance and cost of the honest people. The lives of the inhabitants were continually in danger from the JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 4G7 c two Ar- -HiH Kr- ;ir great ong en- tity, al- of the had the iclusive, xes and lonment, d; their h cattle; annually no "Ar- j govern- ised their tting un- had been sd one of )lute and )f bandits sry wrong 1. Heavy lome gov- great an- e lives of from the cxcossea of tlic worthless vagabonds who had been forced «|)0n thcni; their property was ritled before tlieir eyes, their duugliters were ravisiied in tlieir presence, or carried forcibly to the tilthy barracks. The jxiople s patience became at length cxiiausted, and tliey determ- ined to die ratiicr than submit to such inflictions. But they were ignorant how to sliake off the yoke : they were unaccustomed to war, and knew nothing about political organizations. However, Providence finally raised up a man for the purpose, General Joso Castro, who had tilled the office of comnuinder under the former system, but who had been forced to retire into privacy at the inauguration of the reign of terror. He stepj)ed boldly forth, and declared to the people his readiness to lead them to the warfare that should de- liver their country from the scourge that afflicted thcnij he called upon them to second his exertions, and never desert his banner until California were purified of her present pollution. His patriotic appeal was responded to by ail ranks. Hundreds flocked to his standard; the young and the old left their ranches and their cat- tle-grounds, and rallied round their well-tried chief. There was at that time quite a number of Ameri- cans in the country, and, according to their interests and predilections, they ranged themselves upon oppos- ing sides. Our present worthy and much-respected citizen. General Sutter, was at that time, if I mistake not, a colonel in the forces of the central government, and at the outbreak of the revolution he drew his sword for Santa Anna, and entered into active service against the rebels in Pueblo de Angeles. There was an American, long resident in the coun- try, named J. Roland, who sought my co-operation in the popular cause. He said that every American IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ // /. 'fe 1.0 I.I 1.25 li^ 2.0 1.8 U ill 1.6 7] <^ v: ^a 7 % Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ■V ^ w 468 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF who could use a rifle was a host against the invaders, ind besought me to arm in defense, and to influence my men likewise to espouse the cause. I replied to his solicitations by promising him my active co-opera- tion, and also that 1 woidd represent his arguments to the men living with me. Accordingly, I informed my people that I intended to shoulder my rifle in the de- fense of life and property, and they Vv'crc unanimous in their resolution to accompany me. Hence there were thirteen riflemen instead of one. We shortly after re- ceived an accession of sixty more good frontiersmen, and mustered ourselves for service. The company elected me captain, but I declined the office. Mr. Bell finally assumed the command, with the promise of my unflinching support in extremities. Our compan}- steadily increased in number until we had one hundred and sixty men, including native Californians, who join- ed us with rifles. General Castro's first movement was against Pueblo, lie entered the place at the head of his forces, and took the fort, arsenal, with all the government arms, ammunition, and stores, with the slight loss of one of- ficer wounded. This enabled the rebels to arm them- selves, and he was shortly at the head of a small but well-appointed army. The general highly extolled the rifle battalion, and he looked upon it as a power- ful support. Castro then took a detachment of rebel troops, and proceeded northward to reconnoitre the enemy's po- f;ition, our main body also moving in the direction of the enemy as far as Monterey, where were the gov- ernor's head-quarters. On first hearing the intelli- gence of the outbreak, +he governor had put his forces in motion, and issued orders to shoot the rebels wherev- .JAMKS V. HECKWOIRTII. 4m nvaders, nfliiencc jplied to ;o-opera- rnents to •med my 1 the de- limous in lere werc at'ter re- tiersmen, company Ur. Bell ise of my compan}' e hundred who join- st Pueblo : Drees, and lent arms, of one of- irm them- small but extolled a power- roops, and emy's po- rection of i the gov- he intelU- ; his forces ik wherev- er met, and destroy their property of whatever kind, (leneral Castro, having proceeded as far as 8anta Bar- bara, a distance of ninety-six miles, and having obtain- ed full information concerning the movements of the gorernor, returned and joined the main body. Dur- ing his expedition he captured five Americans in the Mexican service. lie disarmed them, telling them that he had no disposition to injure Americans, and that he would return their arms as soon as he had expelled the enemies of the people. Our forces were concentrated in a large open prairie, the enemy being stationed at no great distance, like- wise on the prairie. I ascended, one morning, the summit of a mountain, which would afford nie a fair view of the enemy's camp, just to discover their num- bers and strength of position. On my road I encoun- tered two Americans, who were serving in the capacity of spies to the enemy. I accosted them, tnd express- ed surprise to see them in the service of such an old rascal as Torrejon, and recommended them to join the popular cause ; but they seemed to have an eye to the promised booty of the lebels, and my arguments could not influence them. I dispatched one of them with a letter to Gant, an American who held the commission of captain in the governor's army, offering him, as we did not wish to fight against our American brethren, to withdraw all the Americans from the rebel ranks, if he would do the same on the side of the governor, and leave the Mexicans and Californians, who were most interested in the issue, to measure their strength. Some Germans who were with us also made the same proposal to Colonel Sutter. Our messenger conveyed the dispatches, and delivered the German's letter to Colonel Sutter, who read both that and our letter to 470 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Captain Gant. He returned for answer that., unless the Americans withdrew from the insurgent army im- mediately, he would shoot us every one by ten o'clock the next morning. This embittered us the more against the barbarity of the opposing power, and we resolved to make their leaders, not excepting Sutter, feel the effects of our rifles as soon as they placed themselves within range. On the following morning a weak and ineffective cannonade commenced on both sides. We lay low, awaiting the enemy's ch;Tge. As their riflemen had not shown themselves, and we were desirous to obtain a sight of them, myself, with seven or eight others, ad- vanced cautiously in search of them. On our way we discovered a small cannon which the enemy had load- ed and was about to discharge upon our ranks. Had there been a gunner among them, it must have done us great injury. We advanced within a few yards of the piece, and had raised ourselves up to shoot the ar- tillerymen, when one of our party arrested our aim by suddenly exclaiming, "Don't shoot! ^1 c't shoot!" He then pointed out the enemy's rifiei. -:ii carefully emerging from a hollow, with the intention of stealing upon our flank and saluting us with a volley of lead. I laid down my rifle, and hailed them to halt. I rec- ognized a number of mountaineers among them, with some of whom I had intimate acquaintance, and I urged them to adopt the cause of the people, for the side they had now espoused was one no American should be seeu to defend. They heard me through, and all, or nearly all the Americans were persuaded by my arguments, and returned with me to join our battalion. This assured us of victory. The cannon- ade was perfectly harmless : some of the balls pass- JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 471 ;, unless rmy im- 1 o'clock le more , and nve r Sutter, y placed leffective lay low, iuien had to obtain thers, ad- r way wc had load- ks. Had lave done yards of >ot the ar- ur aim by t shoot'." carefully of steahng jy of lead. It. I rec- them, with ice, and I 3le, for the American le through, persuaded to join our he cannon- balls pass- ed tln-ee hundred feet over our heads ; others plow- ed up the prairie as near to thoir ranks as ours. All the damage we received was one wagon shivered to pieces, and a horse killed under Colonel Price, which animal had been captured by us at Pueblo, and was now serving in the rebel forces with the same rank he had held under government. The desertion of the riflemen seriously affected the enemy's prospects of victory. Ten o'clock had passed, and Colonel Sutter had not put his threat into execu- tion. The enemy finally retired from the field, and marched in the direction of Pueblo. I took a part 7 and ascended a mountain to watch the progress of the retiring foe ; we staid out some hours, with the view to learn where they encamped. While thus employed, a courier, sent from our commander, brought us orders to return immediately. We instantly obeyed, and found the army gone, with only one man remaining to direct our steps. On coming up with our forces, we found that our colonel had made a movement which cut off all retreat from the enemy, and which must bring him to an engagement, or an unconditional sur- render. In the morning, I again took a party with me, and mounted an eminence to reconnoitre the en- emy's position. We approached to within five hund- red yards of their camp, where we shot a bullock, which we quietly proceeded to dress. While we were thus engaged, I perceived an officer approaching from the enemy's camp to ascertain who we were. I took my rifle, and dodged among the bushes, eager to get a shot at him ; but, before I could do so, one of my men prematurely fired, and missed his mark. The offi- cer had dismounted in order to get a nearer view of us, and this admonitory shot warned him back into 472 A CTOBUX.) liAPH V OF camp. jMyself and another advancod to within fifty rods of it, and boldly seized the otlicer's Iiorsc, and they did not fire a shot at us. We saw their camp was hemmed in on all sides. Our artillery was placed in battery, matches liglitcd, and men in position — all was ready for action. The enemy, perceiving their des- perate condition, sent a flag of truce for a negotiation. Articles of capitulation were eventually drawn up and signed, to the cifect that the governor and his forces should immediately lay down their arms, and leave for Acapulco as soon as their embarkation could be accom- plished. Accordingly, they laid down tlieir arms, and marched under escort to the Embaradara, distant twen- ty miles from Pueblo. The governor was not permit- ted to return to Monterey, but Iiis lady was sent for to the Embaradara, where she rejoined her husband, and they quit the country together. Colonel Sutter, on the day of embarkation, left his detachment of naked Indians with the army, and pro- ceeded, as we supposed, to his fort on the Sacramen- to ; but he returned the next day, and gave himself up to us. His force of Indians were very well drilled, but would have been far better employed in raising- cabbages on his farm than in facing rebel riflemen on the battle-field. A trial was held upon the colonel, which resulted in his full acquittal, with the restora- tion of all his property fallen into our hands, such as cannon and other military effects, by the suiTcnder of the government forces. The Americans, in jest prob- ably, seemed very desirous to have the prisoner shot, which produced great alarm in his mind, and recalled to his recollection his recent threat to shoot all the Americans in our army. Our countrymen were almost carried on the shoul- JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 473 thin fifty orso, and icir catnp as placed it ion — all their des- igotiation. rn up and his forces 1 leave for be accom- arms, and tant twen- lot permit- is sent for • husband, Dn, left his f, and pro- Sacramen- ve himself ^-ell drilled, in raising dflemen on he colonel, he restora- ds, such as LiiTender of n jest prob- isoner shot, md recalled loot all the 1 the shoul- ders of the Californians, in gratitude for their partici- pation in th revolution ; for, although the victory had been a bloodless one, they attributed their easily-won success to the dread inspired by the name of their American confederates. After seeing the departure of the government troops, the rebel aimy returned to Pueblo, where they elected Colonel Pico governor ; Colonel, now (jJeneral Castro, Qommander of the forces ; and filled other less import- ant offices. Fandangoes, which were continued for a week, celebrated our success ; and these festivities over, the insurgents returned to their various homes and oc- cupations. Some few weeks after, a small proportion of the in- habitants sought to displace our newly-elected chiet magistrate, and appoint some other in his place. I was sent for during the night to guard the governor's palace with my corps of rifles, and we succeeded in capturing the leading conspirators, who were tried and sent to Acapulco in irons. I had a quarrel with the alcalde shortly after this service, and he put me in irons for cursing him. As soon as the governor heard of my misfortune, he had me immediately discharged from confinement. I now resumed my business, and dispatcher' riy part- ner, Mr. Waters, after a fresh supply of goods ; but, before he had time to return, fresh political commotions supervened. There still seemed to exist in the minds of the majority a strong hankering for the domination of Mexico, notwithstanding they had so recently sided with the Bevolutionists in shaking off the yoke of the national government. Among other causes of excite- ment, too, the American adventurers resident there Iiad raised the " Bear Flag," and proclaimed their intention 474 ATTTOniOGUAniY OF ot'cstaMislnng .an indopcndcnt government of their own. 'I'liis cHUHed us to be clos(dy watehed by the authori- ti(\s, and matters seemed to be growing too warm to be pleasant. In the midst of this gathering ferment, news reached us from MazatL'm of the dechiration of war between the United States and Mexico, and 1 deemed it was fully time to leave. Colonel Fremont was at that juncture approacliing from Oregon with a force, if combined with the .Vmericans resident there, sufficient to conquer the wliole coiuitry, and 1 would have liked exceedingly to join his forces, but to have proceeded toward him would have Hubjc 'ted me to mistnist, and consequent capture anci imprisoimicnt. If I looked south the same difficul- ties menaced me, and tll^. west conducted me to the Pa- citic Ocean. I had but little time to deliberate. My people was at war with the country I was living in ; I had become security to the authorities for the good behavior of sev- eral of my fellow-countrymen, .*nd 1 was under recog- nizances for my own conduct. The least misadvent- ure would compromise me, and I was impatient to get away. ]\Iy only retreat was eastward ; so, considering all things fair in time of war, I, together with tive trusty Americans, collected eighteen hundred stray horses we found roaming on the Californian ranches, and started with our utmost speed from Pueblo de Angeles. This was a fair capture, and our morals justified it, for it was war-time. We knew we should be pursued, and we lost no time in making our way toward home. We kept our herd jogging for five days and nights, only resting once a day to eat, and afford the animals time to crop a mouthfid of grass. We killed a fat colt oc- casionally, which supplied us with meat, and very de- JAMES P. nECXWOUIlTH. 47.0 K'lr own. authori- rin to be reached ween the vas fully juncture ined with iquer the lingly to im would it capture e difficul- to the Pa- eople was id become ior of sev- [ler recog- lisadvent- jnt to get jnsidering ftve trusty horses we nd started les. This , for it was d, and we ►me. We ghts, only imals time 'at colt oc- d very de- licious meat too — rather costly, Init the cheapest and handiest we could obtahi. After five days' chase our pursuers relaxed tlieir speed, and we ourselves drove more leisurely. We again found the advantage that 1 have often spoken of before of having a drove of horses jjefore us, for, as the animals we bestrode gave out, we could shift to a fresh one, while our pursuers were con- fined to one steed. When we arrived at my fort on the Arkansas, we liad over one thousand head of horses, all in good con- dition. There was a general rejoicing among the little community at my safe arrival, the Indians also coming in to bid me welcome. 1 found my wife married again, having been deceived by a false communication. Her present husband had brought her a missive, purporting to be of my inditing, wherein I expressed indifterence toward her person, disinclination to return home, and tendering her a discharge from all connubial obligation. She accepted the document as authentic, and solaced her abandonment by espousing her husband's messen- ger. My return acquainted her with tiie truth of the m fitter. She manifested extreme regret at having suf- fered herself to be imposed upon so readily, and, as a remedy for the evil, offered herself back again ; but I declined, preferring to enjoy once more the sweets of single blessedness. I left the fort on a visit to San Fernandez. I found business very dull there on account of the war, and great apprehensions were felt by my friends in regard to the result. Perceiving that was no very desirable place to remove to, I returned to my community. General Kearney was just then on his march to Santa Fe. I took a drove of my horses, and proceed- ed down the Arkansas to meet him on his route ; for 47(i AUTOBIOGRAPIiy OP it was probable there mij:^ht be an op])ortunity of effect- ing sonic advantageous exeliange.s. The general came lip, and found nie i>i waiting with ni v stock ; we liad been acquainted for several years, and lie gave me a very cordial reception. "Beckwourth," said tlie general, "you have a splen- did lot of horses, really ; tliey must have cost you a great sum of money." "No, general," I replied, "but they cost me a great many miles of hard riding," " How so ?" he inquired. "Why, I was in California at the time tlie war broke out, and, not having men enough at my command to take part in the fighting, I thought I could assist my country a little by starting off a small drove of the enemy's horses, in order to prevent their being used against us." "Ah, ]3cckwourth, you ire ti-uly a wonderful man to possess so much forethought," and he laughed heartily. " However," added he, "trade them off as quickly as possible, for I want you to accompany me. You like war, and I have good use for you now." I informed him that I was ready for service ; and, accordingly, I sent all my remaining horses back to my plantation, and went on with the general to Santa Fe, which place submitted without firing a shot. The gen- eral sent me immediately back to Fort Leavenworth with dispatches. This was my service during the war. The occupation was a tolerably good one, and I never failed in getting my dispatches tlirough. I enjoyed iacilities superior to almost any other man, as I was known to almost all the Indians through whose coun- try I passed. My partner and I had purchased a hotel in Santa JAMKS V. BECKWOUKTH. 477 f effoct- jil came wo had re me a a splen- it you a } a great -ar broke imand to ssist my 'c of the mo; used ul man to heartily. uickly as You like ice; and, Eick to my Santa Fe, The gen- avenworth g the war. id I never I enjoyed , as I was hose coun- l in Santa F6, and wo transacted a very ])ro*itah]'' business there. My associate attended to tho business ot'tlie liotel, while I carried dispatches, and Santa Fe was generally my starting-place. Many messengers lost tlieir lives on the route, as at times tliere wore dispatches to be sent, and I would not bo- at liead-quartors to carry them. The distance from Santa Fe to Fort Leavenworth is nine lumdred and tliirtoen niik\s. 1 have frequently made tlic trip in from twenty to twenty-five days ; my shortest trij^ J. accomplished in eighteen. I well knew that my life was at stake every trip that I made, but I liked the employment ; there was continual excite- ment in it, indeed sometimes more than I actually cared about, more particularly when I fell in with the Paw- nees. The service furnished an escort of fifteen or twenty-iive men, but I always declined the company of troops, as I considered myself safer without them. If I had taken troops with me, it would liave led to incessant fights with the Indians ; and if they had seen me with white soldiers, tliey would have been very apt to kill me the first opportunity. Another thing : I did not think the United States regular troops good for any thing against the Indians, for I knew that the Ca- manches would stand and fight them almost man for man. I chanced to fall in with Kit Carson one day, as I was about to start from New Mexico to Fort Leavenworth, and he proposed going with me, as he wished to learn ray route. I was very much pleased with his proposal, as I thought that with Kit and his men I should go through strong handed. I told him that I should rest at Taos one day to get my horses shod, and that he could easily come up with me there, or on the road thither. I left with two men, and staid at Taos as 478 AUTOBIOORAPHY OF appointed, but lie failed to rejoin us. I rode on as far as my ranch ; still he did not appear. I built a large tire before proceeding into the Indian country, thinking to attract him by the smoke, and thus bring him on to our trail, but I saw no more of him, and it was sup- posed he was lost until he eventually turned up in the City of Washington. We both had a narrow escape from Indians on that trip. I had, contrary to my usual practice, encamped one night in the prairie, and was to start in the morning, when we heard buffalo running close to our camp. On looking out, I saw a great number chased by the Pawnees, although the Indians were not yet in sight. We made all possible haste to the timber, threw our horses on their sides, gagged them and fastened them to the ground, and then se- creted ourselves in the willows. The Indians flocked round, busied in their pursuit, and some of the buffa- loes they dressed within gunshot of our secret camp. I thought that day the longest I had lived through, and I expect the poor animals thought so too, for they lay in one position the whole time, without food or water, and without being permitted to whisper a com- plaint. At night we made good our escape, and ar- rived at the fort without further difficulty. When I was ready to return to Santa Fe, I could find no one willing to accompany me. The weather was intensely cold, and no inducement that I could of- fer was sufficient to tempt men to leave their comfort- able fires, and encounter the perils of the Indians and Jack Frost in the prairies. Many men had been frozen to death on the route, and a generpi shudder ran through the company when I proposed the journey to them. I could have been furnished with soldiers in plenty, but I was unwilling to take them, as it imposed so much JAMES P. BECKWOUUTH. 479 on as iar It a large thinking lim on to was sup- up in tlin )\v escape my usual md was to running w a great tie Indians le haste to es, gagged d then se- ans flocked ' the buffa- fecret camp, id through, )o, for they )ut food or iper a com- pe, and ar- Fe, I could he weather I could of- eir comfort- Indians and been frozen ran through to them. I plenty, but led so much trouble on the road to stay to bury every man that pc!r- ishcd with the hardnliips of tlie journey. Important dispatches had arrived from Washington which must go through, and 1 looked fruitlessly round for a man hardy enough to go witli me. At Icngtli a boy — a Kentuckian — volunteered. lie had followed the army to the fort, and had lived about the barracks until he had become well accustomed to tlie privations of u camp life. lie was an intelligent lad, but, unfortu- nately, had a malformation of one of his feet, which se- riously impeded his walking. However, I liked his *' pluck" in proposing, and eventually consented to take him. I went with him to the sutler's store, and procured him the warmest clothing I could, and then bade him repair to my boarding-house, and stay there until I was ready to start. When I was prepared for departure, I furnished him with a good horse, and, taking an extra one between us, we started on the long journey. I gave him par- ticular directions that if he should become very cold he was to acquaint me, and I would stay and build a Are to warm him by wherever there was any wood; but the proposition he declined. Three days after we reached the Arkansas, and en- camped. Isaac was busied in preparing supper, while I walked to an eminence close by in order to survey the country. I perceived an immense number of In- dians approaching directly toward us, and at not more than three or four hundred yards distance. I shouted to Isaac to catch the horses quickly and tether them, and I hastened back to the camp. He inquired what the matter was, and I told him there were a thousand Indians coming after us. The approaching individuals belonged to the Ca- 480 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF inanche tribe, and numbered over a thousand warriors. They were in full sjTccd. They dashed through the .Vrkansas with such precipitation that I thought they would throw all the water out of the channel and hurl it on to the bank. I ran in front of the advance, and challenged them to stop. They halted for a moment, and asked me who I was. 1 told them the Crow. Thereupon they grabbed me up like a chicken, and car- ried me into our little camp. They had nine white men's scalps, which, to appearance, were hardly yet cold, and they said they must kill my white boy, and his scalp would just make ten. I told them the boy was my nephew, and that they must not kill him — that great braves never killed boys. They then con- versed : iiong thembelves a minute or two, and finally said, *'rie, being your nephew, may live. Tell him to make us some good black soup." I foresaw that my coffee and sugar must suffer, for by black soup they meant coffee. I directed Isaac to set about making it, but to secrete a little for our- selves, if he could do so unperceived. The Camanches have a great fondness for coffee, and I never fell in with them without having to part with all I had, and I sometimes imagined they preferred my coffee and sug- ar to my scalp. The same day, just before dusk, while jogging stead- ily along, the boy discovered a small party of Paw- nees. I hastily dismounted, and tied the heads of our three horses together, to prevent them running, and directed the boy to see that they did not move. I then took his gun and my own, and went away from the horses. As I was leaving, the boy inquired if he should fire too. I told him no, not unless I was kill- ed, and then to defend himself as he best could. I JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 481 1 warriors, irough the )Ught they }1 and hurl vance, and a moment, the Crow, m, and car- nine white Iiardly yet :e boy, and sni the boy kill him — T then con- and finally Tell him t suffer, for ected Isaac ;tle for our- Camanches ever fell in I had, and Fee and sug- ^ging stead- ty of Paw- leads of our inning, and t move. I ; away from quired if he J I was kill- t could. I took a secure position and fired. An Indian fell. I fired ^gain, and killed a second. They cracked away at me, but did no harm. I reloaded, and fired again, until I had leveled five of them, they retreating at ev- ery discharge. When the fifth warrior fell, the whole party fell back to cry. I knew that, after they had cried for a few minutes, they would make a rush for revenge. Therefore I shouted to the boy to cut the animals loose, and mount in haste. He did so; I sprung on my horse instantly, and we flew away, leav- ing the mourners to their lamentations. At every foe I shot the boy would ejaculate, "Whoop! you fetched him ; he's got his gruel," and other sayings, thereby displayir.g more bravery than many men would have shown under similar circumstances. Ever afterward he considered that we were a match for any number of Pawnees ; and as for the Camanches, I could beat them off with "black soup." We traveled on for several miles, and then encamp- ed. In the morning I started along a ravine for our horses, which had strayed away. I returned toward the camp, where I found that they had taken them- selves up another small ravine, and that I had passed them. While thus pursuing the stray animals, the boy came to acquaint me that he had seen a great num- ber of Indians. I led the horses to the camp, and then mounted a little rise of ground, from whence I descried a large village. I did not know what tribe they be- longed to, though I knew they were not Pawnees, for that tribe never visited this country except on war ex- cursions. I took the boy, and walked with him up to the village, but their faces were all strange to me ; nor did I like their appearance and movements. On per- ceiving one at a little distance wrapped in his robe, I 482 ALTUlilOaKAPHY OF thought he might possibly be a chief, and I approach- ed liini. He addressed mc in Cvow, "Ah I my friend, what brought you here V" I rcpHed that, as I was passing through, I had thought it well to call on him. ii I am glad to see you," said he ; "enter my lodge ; my warriors are bad to-day." The Indians were Apaches, and the chief was named Black Shield, an old and intimate a^ .^uaintance. He insisted on my spending the night in the vil- lage, which I consented to. He was perfectly rabid toward the whites, and stated his intention to manure • the prairie with their bodies the forthcoming season — he would not leave one in the country. I applauded his intention, telling him the whites were unable to fight. Seeing that I was on hio side — that is, if my words made me so — lie continued, "I have plenty of warriors, and plenty of guns and balls, but I am a little short of powde*. When will you return?" I informed him as nearly as I could calculate, but I added that my return w^as uncertain. "Will you bring me some powder?" he inquired. " I will," I said ; " but I shall return by way of the Eagle's Nest Hill." " That is the very place I am going to from here," he rejoined ; " and, if I am not there myself, some of my warriors will be, and they can take it of you." This afforded me no put-off, and I accordingly prom- ised to furnish him with the powder. If the reader will indulge me in a witticism, I beg to assure him that I carried the powder to the old chief in a horn ! In the morning he furnished me with meat enough to subsist us for a week, together with new moccasins, and sundry other articles. We then bade him adieu, JAMES P. BECKWOUETH. 483 proach- T friend, , I had f lodge ; s narked ;e. the vil- ly rabid manure • season — pplauded nable to is, if my )lenty of t I am a n?" ate, but I iquired. r way of om here," •, some of you." gly prom- he reader ssure him 1 a horv. ! enough to noccasins, lim adieu. and proceeded on our journey, arriving at Santa Fe without any farther noteworthy adventure. On reaching my destination, I informed some of my friends of my promise to the Black Shield, and where they could find him to deliver the powder, to enable him to carry out his commendable resolution. A par- ty started to meet him at the appointed spot ; but in delivering the powder they managed to explode it, and he and his warriors only received the bullets, of which they already had plenty. CHAPTER XXXIV. Affairs at Santa Fe. — Insurrection at Taos.— Discovery of the Plot.— Battle at the Canon.— Battles at Lambida, at Pueblo, and at Taos. —A Mexican Woman redeemed from the Indians.— Return to Santa Fe. On my arrival at Santa Fe I found affairs in a very disturbed state. Colonel Doniphan had just gained the battle of Brasito, and was carrying all before him in that section of the country. He had forwarded or- ders to Santa Fe for a field battery, in order to make a demonstration against Chihuahua. Major Clarke was intrusted with the duty of conveying the artillery to the colonel. Scarcely had he departed when we received intelligence of an insurrection in Taos. The information was first communicated by an Indian from a village between Santa Fe and Taos, who reported to General Price that the Mexicans had massacred all the white inhabitants of that place, and that a sim- ilar massacre was contemplated in Santa Fe, of which report full information could be obtained by the arrest of a Mexican who was then conveying a letter from 484 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP the priest in Taos to the p'.icst in Sant.a Fe. A watch was immediately set upon the priest's house, and a Mexican was seen to enter. The guard approached the door to arrest the man as lie issued, but he, be- ing apprised of the action of the authorities, left the house by another door, and escaped. At night there came a violent rapping at ray gate, and on going to open it I perceived my friend, Charles Towne, who, on being admitted, clasped me round the neck, and gave vent to uncontrolled emotion. Per- ceiving that something alarming had occurred, I in- vited him into the house, spread refreshments before him, and allowed him time to recover himself. He then informed me that he had escaped almost by a miracle from Taos, where all the American residents had been killed. He was a resident there, having married a girl of New Mexico, and his wife's father had apprised him that he had better effect his escape, if possible, for if he was caught he would be inevitably massacred. His father-in-law provided him with a good horse, and he retreated into the woods, where, after considerable risk and anxiety, he providentially eluded the assassins. On receiving this alarming information, I lost no time in repairing to the head-quarters of General Price, accompanied by my informant, who related the above particulars. General Price immediately adopted the most effective measures. He assembled his officers, and instructed them to set a close watch upon the house of every Mexican in the city, and to suffer no person to pass in or out ; he also ordered that every American should hold himself in readiness for service during the night. Before morning several of the most influential Mexican citizens were placed under arrest. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 485 A watch e, and a proached t he, be- , left the my gate, , Cliarles •ound the n. Per- red, I in- its before self. He lost by a residents e, having e's father is escape, inevitably n with a Is, where, ridentially I lost no eral Price, the above lopted the is officers, upon the ) suffer no that every for service )f the most ider arrest. In searching them, important conspiracies were brought to light. Correspondence, implicating tlic most con- siderable residents, was read, and a plot was detected of subjecting Santa Fe to the same 8t. Bartholomew massacre as had just been visited upon Taos. The city was placed under martial law, and every American that could shoulder a musket was called into imme- diate service. All the ox-drivers, mule-drivers, mer- chants, clerks, and commissariat-men were formed into rank and file, and placed in a condition for holding the city. Then, placing himself at the head of his army, four hundred strong, General Price marched tovard Taos. On arriving at Canjarra, a small town about twenty miles from Santa Fe, we found the enemy, numbering two thousand Mexicans and Indians, were prepared to give us battle. The enemy's lines were first perceived by our advanced guard, which instantly fell back upon the main body. Our line was formed, and an advance made upon the enemy, the mountain- eer company, under Captain Saverine, being placed in charge of the baggage. As soon as battle was begun, however, we left the baggage and ammunition wagons to take care of themselves, and made a descent upon the foe. He fled precipitately before the charge of our lines, and we encamped upon the field of battle. The next day we advanced to Lamboda, where the enemy made another stand, and again fled on our ap- proach. We marched on until we arrived at Taos, and the barbarities we witnessed there exceeded in brutality all my previous experience with the Indians. Bodies of our murdered fellow-countrymen were lying about the streets, mutilated and disfigjired in every possible way, and the hogs and dogs were making a repast upon the remains. Among the dead we rec- 480 AUTOIUO(iKAI'Hl' OF oi^iiizcd lli.'it of (Jovon\or lU'iil, wlio had been rceently ;i[tj)oinl(Ml \)y (icncrjil Kearney. One pojr victim wo Haw, wiio luid been slripiM'd naked, .scal})(Ml aUve, and Ids eyes pinielied out: lie wa« i!;i'o})ing his way tliiough llie shvelM, besiM'chini:; sonic, one to shoot liini onl oi' his misery, whih', his inhuman Mexican tormentors were deriving liic gr(>atcsl anmsement iVoin the exhil)i- lion. Such scenes of nnexampU'd barbarity (iUed our s«)Idi«MS* br(>asls with abliorrenee : they became tig(U- like in their cravinLi; tor rcviMiire. Our pcneral (brect- ed the di\'<(Hra<ed rcMuains to b(» ;ratliered loi^i^ther, and .1 guard to be |)hiccd over tlu'iu, whih' he marched on with his army in pursuit ol'lhir barbarians. Late in the al'lernoon we arri\e<l at I'uebh), where wc t'ound ihc enemy well j)ostcd, !'M\ing an adobe tort in ihiMr front. No altat'k was a(icni|»lcd lliat evening, and strict orders were issuccl for no man to venture out ol' camp. In th(^ cvcnln<>' I was visited bv a man, wlio inform- ed u\c tliat ho had a brother at \i\o ^b)ndo, twelve mih\s (bstant. wiiom, if he was not already killed, he wished lo savt^ iVom massacr(\ I (K'terminiMl to rescue him, if pt)ssiblc. and, hM\ing indiicetl seven other good and trusty mountaineers to aid nu^, in the attempt, wc left the camp unj)erceived, and proceeded to the place indi- cated. C)n our arrival we found two or three hundred Mcxu*aus, all wdl armed; Ave rode boldly past them, and they dispers(Hl, many of them going to their homes. AVe reached the door of the 31exiean general Mon- taia, who stvled himself the "Santa Anna of the North," and captured him. AVe then liberated the pris- oner we were in quest of, and returned to Taos with our captive general. At Taos we found our forces, which had retired npon that place from Pueblo, after jami:h v. RKCKWoumff. 487 recently dim wo JVC, and through I out ol' 'inontorrt ', oxhibi- IUUmI our uc ligor- il (lirect- thcr, ami veiled oil wliorc we >c fort in cwMiing, nUu'c out () inforni- >lvc miles iie wishoil scuo him, irood and )t, we left dace inili" e hundred )ast them, cir homes, cral Vien- na of the d the pris- Taos with )m' forces, Lcblo, after having made an tmsuecesHful .Mttemj)i to dislodge the enemy. VVe informe<l our general of our important capture, and he afTceted great displeasure at our diso- bedience of orders, although it was easy to see that, in his eyes, the end had justified the means 1'he follow- *ing njorning a gallows was erected, and Mitnfnja was swung in the wind. The correspondence that had been seized in Santa Fc had implicated him in some of the blackest plots, and we thought that this summary dis- posal of his generalship would relieve us from all fur- ther danger from his machinations. Having procured artillery to bom})ard the enemy's position, our connnander ret'-rned to Pueldo. We can- nonaded in good earnest, but the pieces were too sn»all to be of nnich service; but we cut a Ineach with our axes halfway through the six-foot wall, and then iin- ished the work with our cannon. While engaged in this nov«3l way of getting at the (Miemy, a shell was thrown from a morlar at the fort ; but our artillerymen, not being very skillful in their jjraclice, tlnTAV the shell out- side the fort, and it fell among us. A young licmtenant seized it in his hands, and cast it through the breach ; it had not more than stru(;k before it ex[)loded, doing considerable damage in the fort. We then stormed the breach, which was only big enough to admit one man at a time, and can'ied the place without diflicul ty. The company oi' mountaineers had fallen back mid- way between the fort and mountain, in order to pick off any iMexican who should (hue to show himself. We killed iifty-four of the detenders as they were endeav- oring to escape, u])on the person of one of whom, an ofticer, we found one hundred and sixty douljloons. Some of the enemy iired upon us from a j)osition at one corner of the fort, through loop-holes ; and while look- 488 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ing about for a covert to get a secure shot at them, we discovered a few of the enemy hidden away in the bnisli. One of them, an Indian, ran toward us, cx- clti an nmg, *'J^ueno! Imenol me like Americanos." One of our party said, " If you like the Americans, take this sword, and rctur.i to the brush, and kill all the men you find tlierc." lie took the proffered sword, and was busy in the hrusli for a few minutes, and then returned with his sword-blade dripping with gore, saying, " I have killed them."' *' Then you ought to die for killing your own peo- ple," said the American, and he shot the Indian dead. The battle lasted through the whole day, and a close watcli was set at night to ])revent tlie escape of those yet occupying the fort. The assault was renewed the following morning, and continued during that day also. Toward niglit several white flags were raised by the enemy, but were inmiediately shot down by the Amer- icans, who had determined to show no quarter. On the third morning all the women issued from the fort, each bearing a white flag, and kneeled before the gen- eral to supplicate for the lives of their surviving friends. The general was j prevailed upon, and gave orders to cease firing. The enemy lost severely through their disgraceful cowardice. Our company lost but one man through the whole engagement. Nine of tlie most prominent conspirators were hanged at I'aos, and seven or eight more at Santa Fe. It was about this time that the report reached us of the butchery of Mr. Wal- do, with eight or ten other Americans, at the Moro. After the insurrection was suppressed I started again for Fort Leavenworth. On my way back from the fort I again fell in with Black Shield and his Apaches. I JAMES P. BKCKWOl'R'! II. 48y hem, we f in the . ufl, ex- )." One take this the men ?y in the with his ive killed own peo- ian dead, id a close 5 of those lewed the day also, cd by the :hc Amer- rter. On [1 the fort, e the gen- ig friends, orders to 3ugh their it one man the most and seven tliis time f Mr. Wal- B Moro. arted again 3m the fort paches. I said to him, *' You told mc falso. Vou said tliat yon would meet me at tiie Kaglo's Xest, hut when 1 went there you were not to Ix; found. I had to tlirow the powder away tliat 1 brought for you, and run for my life; for tlio wliitcs discovered my cmmd, and were close at my IiccIh." "1 know it, my friend," said tlie Rhick Shield. "We saw your kegs tlicre, hut the wliites had taken all the powder out. I am sorry tliey came upon you so sud- denly, for we had to run as well as you." Tlie second day after we left the Apar-iics we discov- ered an object in the distance which 1 at first took for a stump, but still thought it singular that there should be a stump where there were no trees near. iVs we ap- proached the object mo'.ed, and we at length discover- ed it to be a man of the name of Elliott Lee, who had been wounded by the Apaclics three or four days pre- viously, and had not tasted food since. He had be- longed to a party of seventeen or eighteen mountain- eers, on their way to Santa Fe. They had stopi)ed to rest on the bank of a creek, and were suddenly set upon by the Indians. Several of the party were killed, among whom was my friend Charles Towne, and all the rest were more or less severely wounded. Some few had succeeded in getting away, notwithstanding their wounds ; but Mr. Lee had been shot in the thigh, and was unable to crawl along. When we picked him up he was dehrious, and his wound was gTcatly swollen and inflamed. We gave him food, and carried him along with us, until we fortunately came up with his wagons. We then gave him into the keeping of his friends, and proceeded on our way. On my arrival home I disposed of all my property in Santa Fe, and started to buy liorses of the Indians X 2 I<M» Ai romnniMi'MV or lo ili'jpo'K' nl" <o flic tliM('li!nf>,r<l (rt»oj»M. I liiul nniM'il willim i\ mIiovI iliMdinrr ol" my imiu li, wlirii I iml n mimii w Ito (nl\iMt'i| nir lo roMtp.-il iiiVMrll", Two r<"\VfinlH liiwl Ixri) ol)rr(<i| |i>|- no .'i|i|Mi'li(>tiMion : niir ol .'i t linlifuiiiil (loll.'iVM li\ ( 'olnnrl rrn(>, iiixl miiuHu'v ol li\r IiiiihIiiiI <li>ll.n ' li\ Mr. KiMM.irk, (,hi.nl<M niMnlrv. I wmh ni'- iMtm'd oT conrnlnMlin/!, uilli icIk'Im iuhI ImliMiin, oikI mh- ;iisliii!\ (luMn in M(r;ilinj'; liovMrM (Voni i\w uliilcM, nml lrM<lin(\ \\\o IioM(il«> IiihuIm in jlicir wjnliirr ii|>nn llir Anit'vicr.n lvoo|)M. I lislonrd lo InM inrovnidlion, nn»l \\t\H MMloniMlicMJ al ihc in\rnlion. "Th.-H im ih>\\ m indrcd." I Mdid. "Ilul (lu^\ sh;»ll nol li.'i\c lli(> |>roli( ail lo llioniMclx cm : I will nnnK'dialcIv I'o and deliver ni> mcII np, and olifain llu^ vcwardM." " I ad\iMC yon. as a I'vicml, nol lo go, " rejoined my intiMloeiifor, "lor llie\ will auMnredh iianc' \«mi dire<'l- Iv (hev \;\\ hands npon yt»n." " \\ ell. hang or nol hang," I answered, " I am re- solvinl lo !\o. Tor I have nol Ikmmj a nionlh alinenl iVonj Sanla IV. and I can giv<' Jieeoinil oT every day and nighl \ ha\e since spenl." Al lh(^ linu^ i n\(M wilh my inlormaul, I had an order tVom Caplain Morris, o{' the Ihnled Slajes Army, in mv |H>ck(M. anlhori^.itig me \o pick np all ihc govcrn- menl 1ums«^s liial 1 n\ighl lind in my ramhies, and Ining them in: bnl up to ihe lime ihal 1 was informed ol' tho charges againsl me, 1 luid t'onntl iuil onc^ liorsc, Ihe properly ol' C\»]>lain Saverino, and il 1 had reslored io the owner. Aceordingly, 1 relnrnod wilho"l delay to Taos, where 1 saw (\>lonel Willock, who was lien- tenanl muler Cvdonel Priee. llini I ao(|nainl(Ml wilh my dotovn\ination io pn>ceod to Santu l'V\ to deliver mysclt' up iov tlio rewards that were olforcd for my ap- .MMIH f. MI,('K\V(M IMM, l!M (ivrivrd >( II niiiti linii ;mii<I Innnlird WilM nr , ihhI hm- ilcM, iiihI ||H)M ili<< iiiMlird nl 1. -Unl 'H ; I will lilniii <Ih>. oinod my ovi dinrl- ^ I jmv ro- iM(>nl iVoin i\i\y jmd il iin ()V<l<'r Annv, ill aud l)rit>p; d ivslovrd li(>"t delay ) was liiMi- \inlrd with , to deliver for my ap- liiehenMinii, |»ii( Im- uryv\\\\\ rr(|iM-.«(d nir uu\ fo in,. Mr WilH nliuiit lo MfMil Willi nil r \|mm||||iiii »iir„i,, ;( f||p /\|iarlirM, find uiMJH'd to ciij-nMr u\r /i i m|iv. idlniii •I't, and iriitdr. ||<< |iroiiiiM(>d In Imwaid mm cm iil|,/il(.rv irllri- (u SmiiIm \''r thai Hlioiild ml nic mII ii-'IiI uiIIi flic aiifliori(irM. 'I'Im- jrllrr wan kcmI, lail not drliv.ird, ;i,', (lie iiicHMnijM'i- w/iH hIimI on (he way. I coiicliidc-d jo a<roni)iaMV lla- rfdoiMJ, and aid liini <i» (la-rxlrnl olniv alalily in flic oLjerf (,!' lii.-4 xjicdi- (i(tn. W'r Mlarlcd vvilli a Minall liatlfilion of » ,,liin(r'crH Inr (he A|tae.ln'H. 'I'lic liiK.( d/iy in caniii, llic cornnion HoIdier'H Ian' wan Mprrad lor «linnrr, v lii( li ,i( iIimI tirnc I r<"l( lint litllr a|i|ii<lilc for. | inlornird (he colonel dial I WHiild j^., oiil and lull an anl(lo|ic. " Why," Maid Im«, " IImmt in nol an anl»|o|ic williin Icn niileM around ; llir HoldiriH liavc Hconrcd thr wliole eiainlry willaail, nrrin/j; one" I l(dd liiin I Ull snif I eonid lind one, and took lit) my lillr and wan alxml lo nlarl. ''ll..l<lon!"riird IIm'coIoimI;"! vvillfro williy()ii,and will lurllKM- iMiga^^r lo park oi< rny liack all you !<ill." We Hiarird, and kepi on llir road lor a,l)oul, half a nnle, when I diMi-overed llir IraekM of llirev anlfdopew wliieli had juMi eroHHed our palh, and ^ro,„. j,, ||„. din-c- lioii of a, hill cIomc Uy. 'V\w, colonel did „o| sec, IJm! IraekM, and I did nol point, I hem out to him. VV(; paMH- ed on a lew rodH I'arMier, when I MU»ldenly Klo])ped, threw njy head haek, and began to Hriiil" like a dog Heenling Ium j)rey. '* \\'hal, the dicken.M are, you Hnifling ho for?" aHkod the colonel . *' I am m\v that I mmk^II an anhdopo," .said I. '' Vou .sniell anielope!" and the colonel's noHtrllfl began to dilate ; " I can wmeil nothing." 492 AUTOmOGKAPIIY OF ♦' Well, colonel," I said, " tlicrc arc antclopos close by, I know, lor my Hmoliers never yet deceived mc ; and nou'," added 1, "if you will start carefully up that liollow, 1 will go up on the otiicr .side, and I am con- lidcnt tiiat one of us will kill one." I knew that if the animals were in the hollow they would start at the a])proaeh of the colonel, and most probably in my direction, and thus afllbrd mc an op- portunity of getting a shot at one. 1 proceeded cau- tiously along, until, raising my head over a knoll, I saAv th.c three antelopes which had crossed us. Two had already lain down, and the third was preparing to do so, when I sent a leaden messenger which brought him down involuntarily. The colonel shouted to inquire what I had shot at. "Antelope," I answered; and he came running at his best s})ced. There was the very beast, beyond all dispute, to the utter astonishment of the colonel, who regarded for some moments first the game and then the hunter " And you smelled them !" lie pondered ; " well, I must confess, your olfactor^ nerves beat those of any man I ever yet fell in with. Smell antelope 1 Humph! I will send my boy to carry him in." "But that was not the bargain, colonel," I said; " you engaged to pack in on your back all I should kill. There is your burden ; the distance is but short." But the colonel declined his engagement. We finally hung the antelope on a tree, and the colonel, on our return to camp, dispatched his servant to fetch it in. lie never could get over my smelling antelope, and we have had many a hearty laugh at it since. The following morning, at daylight, I took five or six men with me, and proceeded on my duty as spy, lopos close X'ivcd mc; lly up that , I am con- loUow they , and most mc an op- cccded cau- ' a knoll, I [ us. Two »rcparing to ich brought ad shot at. running at , beyond all olonel, who c and then " well, I lose of any Humph! |l," I said ; 11 I should Ibut short." lent. We colonel, on to fetch it antelope, since. )ok five or ity as spy, JAMES p. BECKWOURTII. 49.T while the colonel moved on with the troops, we return- ing to camp every evening at dusk. Wc frequently saw signs of Indians, but we could make no discovery of the Indians tiiomsclves. We continued our chase for nearly a montli ; our coffee and sugar had given out, and our provisions were getting low ; tlic soldiers could kill no game, and there ,vas a general disposi- tion, especially among the ofHcers, to return. In leaving the camp, as usual, one morning, 1 direct- ed the colonel to a camping-ground, and started on my search. Late in the afternoon, 1 discovered wliat I supposed to be a large party of Indians moving in our direction. I ran with all possible speed to conmiuni- cate the information ; but, in ascending a small point of land which was in my way, I found a strange en- campment of United States troo})s lying before me. I knew it was not Colonel Willock's command, for these had tents, wagons, and other appointments, which we were unprovided with. When I was first perceived, some of the men pointed me out to their companions ; "There's BeckwourthI there's Jim Beckwourth I" I heard whispered around. I found it was a detachment commanded by Colonel Edmondson, who had just re- turned from Santa Fe with a re-enforcement, having been defeated in an engagement with the Apaches some time previously. When the colonel saw me, he in- quired of me my errand. " I have come after horses," I replied, en jjlci'isant- ant ; " but I see you have none." " Beckwourth," said a Captain Donolme, " I have been defending your character for a long time, and I now want you to clear up matters for yourself." I found I was not in very good savor among the parties present, owing to a mistake in my identity 494 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF arms !" behind made by one of the soldieis during their late engage- ment with the Indians. It was supposed I had enter- ed their camp, hurled my iance through a soldier, and challenged another out to fight, telling him he was paid lor fighting, and it was his duty to engage me. This suspicion, added to flying reports of evil doings, which derived their origin in the Crow village from my ad- venture with Fitzpatriek, had associated me in the sol- diers' minds with all the horse-raids and white mas- sacres they heard rumors of, and I was regarded by them all as a desperate, lawless character, who deserved hanging to the first tree wherever met. At this moment two men came running toward the camp at full speed, shouting, " To arms ! to us though the whole Apache nation were them. " Where is your party ?" asked Colonel Edmondson of me. " Coming yonder, sir," I replied, pointing in the di- rection of the two approaching heralds; for I supposed it was Colonel Willock's command they had seen, and whom, in their fright, they had mistaken for In- dians. Immediately there wa^^ a bustle of preparation to receive the coming foe : muskets were snatched up, and the men fell into line ; but in a few moments the real character of the approaching company was ascer- tained, and the colonel advanced to greet them. At the junction of the two parties, both engaged on the same errand, matters were discussed by the two col- onels, and it was resolved to abandon the expedition, for it was manifest that the Indians were too much on the alert to be taken. I was dispatched to Santa Fe with a letter to Colonel Price from Colonels Edmond- JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 495 son and Willock, while they resolved to march back with their detachments, Colonel Edniondson to Santa Fe, and Colonel AVillock to Taos. The morning following I again set out for Fort Leavenworth, having for companion M'lntosh, who, by the way, was a Cherokee, and known as such to the Indians whom we fell in with on the road. We reached the fort without any accident, and delivered our dispatelies safe. On our return we overtook BuUard and Company's trains of wagons, which v/ere on their way to Santa Fe with supplies for the army. Bullard and his partner proposed to leave their charge and go in with us, if I thought we would be able to keep up with them. I answered that we would try and keep their company as far as possible, but that they would be at liberty to piuceed at any time that they considered we retarded them. They went with us as f:tr as the Moro, two days' ride from Santa Fe, whc^re we were compelled to leave them, as they were tired out, and had already detained us two full days. My next engagement in the service of Uncle Sam was a trip to Chihualiua to convey dispatciies ; but, previous to starting. Captain MoiTif? wished to engage me as guide in an expedition against the Utah Indians ; so, preferring the latter service, I transferred my trust to my brave and faithful friend, M'Intosh, and accom- panied Captain Morris. The expedition consisted of ninety men: the object was a treaty of peace with the Utahs. We succeeded in finding the Indians; but, as they supposed our only object was to fight, it was some time before we could get up to them. We at length surprised them in a gap in the mountain, when we succeeded in taking a number of prisoners, among whom were some chiefs. We explained our 496 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF object ; they then frankly informed us where their vil- lage was ; we all repaired to it, and concluded terms of peace. Our a})proach greatly alarmed tiie village at first, for they knew that, in conjunction with tlie Apa- ches, they had been guilty of many depredations, al- though it had been their policy to throw all tlie blame of the mischief upon their allies. Our mission per- formed, we returned to Taos. I remained some weeks inactive. Taos was con- vulsed with continual alarms from reports that Cortez was approaching against us with a great force. The troops were all away at Santa Ye ; though, had he vis- ited us, we could have imp-oviscd a warm reception. We had a small piece of cannon, with plenty of grape and canister, with which we could have swept the streets. We tried its effect one day, just to satisfy tlie curiosity of the Mexicans : we put in a heavy charge of grape-shot, and discharged it down the street. The tawny ]\Icxicans were wonder-stricken : they thought an army would stand but a poor chance be- fore such a volcanic belching of iron missiles. Poultry in the vicinity of Taos became exceeding scarce: it was a rare matter to hear a cock crow. When we did by chance hear the pleasing sound, we would listen for the repetition of it, in order to learn from which direction it proceeded. We would then visit the tell-tale's quarters after dark, as we could obtain our poultry cheaper at night than in the day-time. Orders had been issued to take nothing from the enemy without paying for it, which orders were evidently based upon the assumption that we had money to pay with. Those without money did not feel themselves bound by the injunction. The authorities that issue similar commands in future would do well JAMES P. BECKWOURTII. 497 ; their vil- ided terms ! village at 1 the Apa- lations, al- tlic blame ission per- i was con- hat Cortez )rce. The had he vis- reception, ty of grape swept the i to satisfy n a heavy the street, ken : they chance be- s. exceeding [iock crow, ng sound, n order to We would ark, as we ban in the ce nothing ch orders lat we had id not feel Authorities Id do well to insert some clause binding on the moneyless, other- wise these orders arc all niooiishino. From Taos I ))rocoed(Hl to Santa ]*^e. I again starr- ed, for the last dme, to Fort Leavenworth ; JM'Intosh, having safely •■eturned from Chihuahua, again accom- panying me. When we arri cd at tlie Wagon Mound we heard shots tired, and inmiediately after met a train of mule-teams approaching at their quickest pace. The drivers advised us to return, as they had been attacked by the Apaches, and if we proceeded we could not es- cape being killed. I thought that my companion and I knew the Indians better than the mule-drivers did, and we bade them good-by and started on. vVe in- tended to avoid tlie Indians by making a circuit away from where we expected they would be, but in so do- ing we came directly upon the village. We staid all night with them, were well treated, and resumed our journey in the morning. We met a party of Ameri- cans who had been attacked by the Camanches, and lost one horse, but we saw no more Indians until we reached the fort. Many times wonder has been expressed how I could always travel the road in safety while other men were attacked and killed. The only way in which I could account for the marvel was that I knew how to act the *' wolf," while the others did not. Of all the dispatch- es I ever carried, I never lost one ; while numbers who have undertaken to bear them lost, not alone the dis- patches, but th( ir lives ; for, whenever they fell in with the Indians, they were sure to be killed. The Indians knew perfectly well what my business was. They knew that I was conveying orders backward and for- ward from the great white chief to his war chiefs in New Mexico. They would frequently ask me what 498 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF the ordc^.^ were wliicli I had with me. Sometimes I woukl tell them that the great chief at Washington was going to sent! on a great host of warriors to rub them all out. They would laugh heartily at the sup- position, for they conceived that all the American forces combined Avould hardly be a circumstance before them. 1 promised to apprise them when the white wamors were to advanee against them, which promise they con- tidently relied upon. I had to say something to keep on good terms with them, and answer their inquiries to satisfy them, and then proceed with my business. The war between the great white chief and the great Mexican chief interested the Indians but little, though their conviction was that the Mexican chief would be victorious. Their sympathy was with the latter, from motives of self-interest. They were now able to go at any time and drive home all the horses, cattle, and sheep that they wanted, together w tli Mexican chil- dren enough to take care of them. If the white chief conquered, they supposed he would carry all the horses, cattle, and sheep home with him, and thus leave none for them. The Camanehes and Apaches have a great number of Mexicans, of both sexes, among them, who seldom manifest much desire to return home. The women say that the Indians treat them better than they are treat- ed at home. I never met but one exception to this rule, and that was a young Mexican woman captive among the Camanehes. She told me that her father was wealthy, and would give me five thousand dollars if I could procure her restoration. I bought her of the chief, and conveyed her to my fort, whence I sent in- formation to her father to acquaint him where he could find his daughter. In a few days her father and her ■T»f • ometimes I Nashington •iors to rub at the sup- rican forces etbre them, itc wan'iors ;e they con- ing to keep dr inquu'ies y busmess. (\ the great ttle, though cf would be latter, from ble to go at cattle, and ixican chil- white chief [ the horses, i leave none ■eat number who seldom ! women say )y are treat- tion to this nan captive ,t her father sand dollars it her of the ;e I sent in- ere he could her and her JAMES p. BECKWOURTir. 499 luisband came to licr. She refused to Iiave any thine, to say to lier husband, for slic said he was a coward! When the LuUans ...ttacked the viHagc, lie mounted ' his liorse and Hcd, leaving her to their mercy. Her lather proffered me tlie promised sum, Imt I only ac- cepted one tliousand dollars, which returned me a very good profit on tlie cost of tlie goods 1 had given to the Indians for hor ransom. The woman returned home with her father, her valorous liusband following them, feiiortly after tliis I returned to Santa Fe. CIIAPTEii XXXV. ^Thr?J! ^T ^fl'^^'-"r-^y-t'"g -ith the Apaches. -Hostile IZrT^ r;' '^'" L^^'^^-Most terrible Tragedy.-Socie- ty m California.— Advenlures with Grizzly Bears. The last dispatdies T bore from Fort Leavenworth were addressed to California, and I Iiad undertaken to carry them through. At Santa Fe I rested a week, and then, takmg an escort of fifteen men, I started on my en-and. On our arrival at the village of Abbeger we found a large party of Apaches, who were in the midst of a drunken carousal. We encamped inside the corral, that being as safe a place as we could select. Little Joe, an Apache Chief, inquired of me what I was going to do with these whites. "1 am going to take them to California," I told him. "No," said he, "you shall never take them nearer to California than they are now." "Well, I shall try," said L He held some farther conversation with me of a de- nunciatory character, and then left me to return to the liquor-shop. 500 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP Forcsooiiig wliat waa llkdy to result if more liquor was obtained, I visited every place in town vvjiere il was kept, and informed every seller that, if another droj) was sold to the Indians, I would hang the man that did it without a minute's delay; and I wouhl have been as good as my v/ord, for they were all Mexieans, and 1 had felt no great liking for them since the awful tragedy at Taos. '*]?ut the priest — " began one or two, in expostula- tion. .I?ut I eut them short. '' I'll hang your priest just as soon as any of you," I said, "if he dares to intertere in the matter." I sn])pose they intended to urge that their priest had uuthori/ed them to sell lirpuu'S to the Indians. My in- terdict stopped them, for there was no more sold while I was there. The next day I saw Little Joe in one of the low- saloons ; the stimulus of the liquor had left him, and he had what topers call the horrors. Tie begged me to let him have one dram more, but I refused. "Whisky," I said, "puts all kinds of nonsense into your head ; you get drunk, and then you arc ripe for any mischief." When he had become perfectly sober, he came to me, and again asked if it were true that I intended taking those whites to California with me. I told him that it was perfectly true. " Well," said Joe, " if you attempt it we will kill your whole party, and you with them. You will never listen to us : your ears are stopped. We all love you, but we have told you many times that we hate the whites, and do not want you to lead them through our hunting-grounds, and show them our paths ; but you VMH JAMES P. BECKWOUUTII. 501 ore liquor [ wlicre it Dtlicr (Iroj) man thai ould have ]\loxicanH, the awful cxpostula- priest just to iutortoro • priest had IS. My in- ! sold while of the low f\ him, and o'lrcd me to n sense into [ire ripe for ?ame to me, ded taking ve will kill w^ill never 11 love yon, ve hate the through our s ; but you will not listen to us. And now, if you undertake to pass tlirough that cahon^ we will, without fail, kill you all." "Well," I replied, "I shall certainly go, so you had better g(^t your warriors ready." We packed our animals, and I directed my men to travel slowly wliile 1 went tlirougli the canon. If I wislied them to advance, 1 would climb up and show myself to them as a signal for tlicm to rusli through, and reach me as soon as possible. 1 then went on all alone, as 1 knew tliat, if 1 encountered Indians in the cahon^ they would not kill me by myself. 1 passed through without meetijjg any, and 1 signaled to the men to come on ; they soon joined me, and we issued upon the open prairie. Here we discovered three hund- red Apach'js, each man leading his war-horse. We numbered eighteen, two of whom were Mexicans. They did not oifer to attack us, however, and we continued our route unmolested, although they kept on our trail for twenty miles. A little before dark we rested to take supper, starting again immediately after the meal was finished. We saw no more of the Apaches. The following afteiDOon a Utah came to us. I ask- ed him where his village was. He did not know, he said, as he had been away some time. I was going out to shoot game at the time, and I took the Indian with me, lendhig him a gun belonging to one of my men. I had killed two or three wild turkeys, when my Indian, discovering deer some distance oft", went in pur- suit. I returned to the camp, but the fellow had not arrived. When we started in the morning he had not shown himself. The second day after the disappear- ance of the Indian with my gun, I was some distance in advance of the party, when, on ascending a hill, I 602 AUTOmoaRAPHV OF saw a large party of Utahs ahead. They were lookinp; clown, and examining the trail very closely, to see il' we had passed. Tliis convinced me that the Indian fugitive had lied to me ; that he knew well where his village was, and had, no doubt, been sent out from it as a spy. We held on our way till we came up with them, and, it being then about noon, we halted to take a long rest. Tlie Indians soon came flocking round us, but I gave strict orders to the men to keep a good look-out, and upon no account to let them touch the fire-arms. They swarmed round the camp, entering it one at a time, and I determined to make the first troub- lesome advance an excuse for getting rid of them. We packed up, and moved on through the whole mass of Indians, but they did not venture an attack, although it had been their intention to do so if they could have got any advantage over us through our neg- ligence. They were embittered against the whites at that time, on account of a severe whipping that had been recently inflicted upon two of their warriors by Chouteau, who had just passed through them, for a theft from his camp. To receive a whipping, especially at the hands of a white man, is looked upon by them as a lasting infamy, and they would prefer death to the disgrace. The next morning they overtook us again, and the Indian returned me my gun. I mollified them with a few trifling presents, and they finally left us on apparently good terms. The next hostile country that lay upon our road was that of the Navajo tribe. They followed us through their whole strip of territory, shouting after us, and making insulting gestures ; but they took the precau- tion to keep out of gun-shot range, and I did not think it worth my while to chastise them. JAMES I». BECKWULKTII. :e lookinp; to see il" he Indian where his ut from it le up with ed to take Ling round 2ep a good touch the entering it first troub- them. the whole an attack, so if they gh our neg- e whites at that had ►varriors by 1, for a theft specially at by them as oath to the us again, lified them Y left us on ur road was us through 'ter us, and the precau- id not think The next tribe on our route was the Pi-u-chos, which is also the last before you reach Pueblo in CaHfornin. The first Pi-u-c''es that we came across were an Indian and his squaw engaged in digging roots. On seeing us approach, the Indian took to his heels, leaving the squaw to take care of herself. I rode up to her and asked where her village was. Slie pointed in the di- rection of it, but I could not see it. The next one tliat I saw stooped and concealed himself in tlie grass im- mediately he found himseH' observed ; but I rode up to him, and made him show himself, not wishing to have him think that he could escape our notice so easi- ly. He accompanied me for a short distance, until an- other of the tribe shouted to him from a hill, and lie then left me. We encamped that night upon the prairie. At dusk we observed the smoke of camp-fires in every direc- tion, and shortly we were visited by hundreds of In- dians, who entirely hemmed us in ; but, on their find- ing that we were not ^Mexicans, they did not ofl'er to molest us. They were hostile on account of the con- tinual abductions of their squaws and children, whom the Mexicans employ as domestic slaves, and treat with the utmost cruelty. We reached our destination in safety, and I deliv- ered my dispatches. I was now inactive for some time again, and occupied my leisure in rambling about the environs of Monterey. I then engaged in the serv- ice of the commissariat at Monterey, to carry dispatch- es from thence to Captain Denny's ranch, where I was met by another carrier. On my road lay the mission of St. Miguel, owned by a Mr. Reed, an Englishman ; and, as his family was a very interesting one, I generally made his home my resting-place. On one of my vis- 604 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP its, arriving about dusk, I entered the house as usual, but was surprised to sec no one stirring. I walked about a little to attract attention, and no one coming to mc, I stepped into the kitchen to look for some of the inmates. On the floor I saw some one lying down, asleep, as I supposed. 1 attempted to arouse him with my foot, but he did not stir. This seemed strange, and ray apprehensions became excited ; for the Indians were very numerous about, and I was afraid some mis- chief had been done. I returned to my horse for my pistols, then, ligliting a candle, I commenced a search. In going along a passage, I stumbled over the body of a woman ; I entered a room, and found another, a murdered Indian woman, who had been a domestic. I was about to enter another room, but I was arrested by some sudden thought which urged me to search no farther. It was an opportune admonition, for that very room contained the murderers of the family, who had heard my steps, and were sitting at that moment with their pistols pointed to the door, ready to shoot the first person that entered. This they confessed subse- quently. Thinking to obtain farther assistance, I mounted my horse and rode to the nearest ranch, a distance of twenty-four miles, where I procured fifteen Mexicans and Indians, and returned with them the same night to the scene of the tragedy. On again entering the house, we found eleven bodies all thrown together in one pile for the purpose of consuming them ; for, on searching further, we found the murderers had set fire to the dwelling, but, ace rding to that Providence which ex- poses such wicked deeds, the fire had died out. Fastening up the house, we returned immediately back to the ranch from which I had started with my JAML.S 1*. BECKVVUL'liTlI. 505 as usual, I walked nc coming r some of ing down, e him with d strange, he Indians some mis- rse for my d a search, r the body another, a )mestic. I as arrested search no )r that very y, who had oment with shoot the 3sed subse- mounted distance of Mexicans me night to the house, in one pile n searching fire to the which ex- out. mmediately id with my party, making seventy-two miles I rode that night. As soon as I could obtain some rest, I started, in com- pany with the alcalde, for St. Louis Obispo, where, it was believed, we could get assistance in capturing the murderers. Forty men in detached parties, moving in different directions, went in pursuit. It was my for- tune to find the trail, and witli my party of six men 1 managed to head off the suspected murderers so as to come up with them in the road from directly the op- posite direction from Heed's house. When I came op- \ .site, one of the men sang out, " Good-day, scnors." 1 replied, but kept on riding in a lope. The bandits, thrown entirely off their guard, insist- ed upon entering into conversation ; so 1 had a fair op- portunity of marking them all, and discovering among them a horse belonging to the unfortunate Heed. I then rode to Santa Barbara, a distance of forty miles, and, with a party of twenty men, started boldly in pur- suit. After much hard travel, we finally came upon the gang, encamped for the night. Without a mo- ment's hesitation, we charged on them, and gave a vol- ley of rifles, which killed one, and wounded all the others, save an American named Dempsey. The vil- lains fought like tigers, but were finally mastered and made prisoners. Dempsey turned state's evidence. He stated that, on the night of the murder, his party stopped at Reed's; that Reed told them that he had just retmned from the mines, whereupon it was determined to kill the whole family and take his gold, which turned out to be the pitiful sum of one thousand dollars. After the confession of Dempsey, we shot the murderers, along with the " state's evidence," and thus ended the lives of two Americans, two Englishmen, and ten Irishmen, Y 506 AUTOUIOGUAl'HY OF they having committed the mo.st diabolical deed that ever disgraced the annals of frontier life. I continued in this service of carrying dispatches some four months, varying my route with an occasion- al trip to San Francisco. At this time society in Cal- ifornia was in the worst condition to be found, prob- ably, in any part of the world, to call it civilized. The report of the discovery of gold had attracted thither lawless and desperate characters from all parts of the earth, and the government constituted for their con- trol was a weaker element than the offenders it had to deal with. The rankest excesses were familiar occur- rences, and men were butclcred under the very eyes of the officers of justice, and no action was taken in the matter. What honest men there were became alarmed, and frequently would abandon the richest placers for the mere security of their lives, and leave a whole community of rowdies to prey upon each other. Disorder attained its limit, and some reactionary means would naturally be engendered as a corrective to the existing evils. The establishment of "Vigilance Com- mittees" among the better order of citizens operated as a thunderbolt upon the conniving civil officers and the rank perpetrators of crime. Scores of villains were snatched from the hands of these mock officers, and summarily strung up to the limb of the nearest tree. Horse and cattle thieves had their necks disjointed so frequently that it soon became safe for a man to leave his horse standing in the street for a few mo- ments, while he stepped into a house to call upop his friend, and that widely-practiced business was quickly done away with. Such sudden justice overtook murderers, robbers, and other criminals, that honest people began to breathe JAMi:s p. nixKwoLiaii. 507 jccl that (patches ccasion- ' in Cal- 1(1, prob- hI. The I thither ts of the lieir con- it had to ar occur- 'ery eyes taken in 3 became ^c richest id leave a ich other, iry means ve to the ince Com- Dcrated as :s and the ains were iccrs, and irest tree, disjointed a man to I few mo- upou his IS quickly }, robbers, to breathe more freely, and acquired a sense of security wliilc en- gaged in tlicir ordinary pursuits. The iiKiterid for crime still existed, and is yet present in CaHfornia to an ahirming extent ; but order may be considered as con- iirmed in the supremacy, though inevitaljly many social evils still exist, which time alone will remedy. In the month of April, I84i), the steamship Cali- fornia touched at Monterey, she being the first steam- vessel that had visited there from the States. 1, with a party of fifteen others, stepped on board, and pro- ceeded as far as Stockton, where we separated into va- rious parties. I left with one man to go to Bonora, where we erected the first tent, and connnenced a bus- iness in partnership. I had carried a small lot of cloth- ing along with me, which I disposed of to the miners at what now seems to me fabulous prices. Finding the business thus profitable, I sent my partner back to Stockton for a farther supplv, and he brought several mules laden witli goods. This lot was disposed of as readily as the first, and at prices equally remunerative. This induced us to continue the business, he perform- ing the journeys backward and forward, and I remain- ing behind to dispose of the goods and attend to oth- er affairs. Sonora was rapidly growing into a large village, and our tent was replaced with a roomy house. I had a corps of Indians in my employ to take charge of the horses left in my care by miners and other persons, sometimes to the number of two hundred at once. I also employed Indians to work in the mines, I furnishing them with board and implements to work with, and they paying me with one half of their earn- ings. Their general yield was from five to six ounces a day each man, a moiety of which they faithfully ren- dered to me. Among my earliest visitors was a party oos ALT0B10(JKA1'11Y OF of eighteen United States dragoons, who eamc to me to be fitted out with citizen's clothing, as they had brought to a sudden period their service to then- coun- try. It was an impossible thing at that time to re- tain troops in California, for the produce of the mines Iield out a temptation to desert that none seemed able to resist, as more gold could be dug sometimes in one day than would pay a private for a year's service in the army; even officers of consilerable rank not un- frequently threw aside epaulette and sash, and sh »ul- dcred the pick to repair to the diggings. While at Sonora I learned tliat Colonel Fremont was at ]\Iariposa, and I made a journey over there for the purpose of seeing him. I was disappointed in my expectation,* and started to return home again. While proceeding quietly along, havmg left the main road and taken up a hollow, I perceived two men ap- proaching me from the opposite direction, running at tlie top of their speed, and a crowd of Indians after them in pursuit. When they came up, they shouted to me to turn and fly for my life, or the Indians would certainly massacre me. I bade them stop, and quiet their fears. Seeing my self-possession, notwith- standing the near approach of the Indifis, they at length halted, and ajiproached close to me for pro- tection against their pursuers. I then commanded the Indians to stand, telling them that they were my men. They said they were not aware of that, or they should not have chased them. The Indians I was acquaint- ed with ; they had been frequently to my house to in- vite me to their village. They wished to purchase goods of me, and had promised me a mule-load of gold dust if I would only supply them with what they were in need of. I accompanied them to their village, but JAMKS v. liKCKW(JlHTH. OUJ^) ic to me hey had cu* coun- le to re- ic mines Tied able js in one ervicc in : not un- id sli )ul- Fremont there for ed in my . While lain road men ap- mning at ans after r shouted ; Indians stop, and notwith- , they at J for pro- anded the my men. ey should acquaint- use to in- purchase ad of gold they were Uage, but my two rescued companions were not admitted into their lodges. They then renewed their promise of the mule-load of gold dust if I would bring out the goods they wanted. I never went to them, although it was remiss in me, for they had a great quantity of gold dust. I left after a brief visit, and rejoined the two men. They could not sufficiently express their gratitude to me for their deliverance, as they consider- ed my opportune appearance p.lonc saved their lives. Becoming tired of my business in Sonora, for inac- tivity fatigued me to death, I disposed of my interest in it for six thousand dollars, and went on to Sacra- mento City with the money in my pocket. From this place I traveled on to Murderer's Bar, which lies on the middle fork of the American River ; here I found my old friend Chapineau house-keeping, and staid with him until the rainy season set in. Tlience I proceed- ed to Greenwood Valley to establish my winter quar- ters, but I was seized with an attack of inflammatory rlieumatism, and I had a nice time of it that winter. Before I was able to get about, I was called on by the inhabitants to go several miles to shoot a grizzly bear, and as I was unable to walk the distance, several of them volunteered to carry me. The bear was in the habit of walking past a row of cabins every moniing on his return to his den, he having issued forth the preceding night to procure his evening meal. They had fired several shots at Bruin as he passed, but he had never deigned to pay any attention to the molesta- tion. I mounted a horse, and rode some distance along his customary path, until I came to a tree which offer- ed a fair shelter to await his approach. I placed my back against it as a support wliile I awaited liis com- ing, the neighbors drawing off to a safe distance to ""*■■•««•■ lajAwum i (RMH 510 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF witness the sport. By~and-by Grizzly came in sight, walking along as independently as an alderman elect. I allowed him to approach till he was within twenty paces, when I called out to him ; he stopped sudden- ly, and looked around to ascertain whence the sound proceeded. As he arrested himself, I fired, and the ball entered his heart. He advanced ten or fifteen paces before he fell; the observers shouted to me to run, they forgetting in their excitement that I had not strength to move. The bear never stirred from where he fell, and he ex2)ired without a groan. When dressed, he weighed over fourteen hundred pounds. The grizzly bear is a formidable animal, and has acted a prominent part among the settlers of Califor- nia. They are seldom known to attack a man unless wounded ; in that case, if a tree is by, the hunter had better commence climbing. They are very plenty from the Sierra Nevada to the coast range of mount- ains. I liave, in the course of my sojourn in the country, killed a great many of them, and met witli some singular adventures. On one occasion, while I was with the Crow Indians, there was a man of the name of Coe who was trapping in one of the neighboring streams, and I became alarm- ed for his safety, as Black Foot parties were skulking about in all directions, and were sure to kill him if they should find his camp. I found Coe, and told him my fears. He instantly gathered up his traps, and, mounting his horse, started toward me. When with- in fair gun-shot, an old bear sprang from a thicket, and landed upon the flanks of his horse, applying his teeth to the roots of the poor animal's tail, and hold- ing him as if in a vice. Coe leaned over his horse's neck, and cried out, sight, I elect, twenty udden- sound nd the fifteen to me t I had 3d from When mds. md has Califor- 1 unless nter had plenty mount- in the let witli Indians, ;rapping 3 alarm- kulking him if old him s, and, n with- thicket, ing his lid hold- horse's H > n o a lil mm4M^' I'iTi''' !' S,;!j;!''^'i';l:fi!l:i|'i, *i4iilti(i|' ,,,, .,,iii,|j|' ^:V-bff!il!l|lf "l!lg''-Nll mm , .iji| I '■ JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 51;^ " Shoot, Jim ! shoot quick !" I could not help laughing to have saved my life, as he turned from side to 'side, though his situation was a critical one. I soon got in a favorable position, and put a ball in the animal's head, just behind the ear, when he liberated the horse and his rider, falling on his back apparently stone dead. There is a story, remembered by the mountaineers, of a person named Keyere. He was a man who never exceeded one hundred pounds in weight, but was clear grit, what little there was of him. He went out one day alone, and his horse came back in the evening without his rider, and we thought that the Indians had made sure of poor Keyere's scalp. The next morning a small party of us started on tlie horse's trail, and found Keyere lying beside a large dead grizzly bear. Keyere was horribly mutilated and insensible, but still alive, and must have soon died if no one had come to his rescue. We took him to camp, and nursed him with all pos- sible care. When he recovered sufficiently to tell his tale, his story was received with shouts of laughter, and was rehearsed as a wonderful joke from camp to camp. Keyere stated that, when he saw the grizzly, he got from his horse to shoot him, but unfortunately only wounded the animal. The bear (so Keyere says) caught hold of him, and commenced a regular rough- and-tumble fight ; finally Keyere got a good lick at the bear's head, knocked him down with his fist, and then attempted to run away. The bear, however, was too quick, when Keyere, becoming desperate, seized the beast by the tongue, drew his knife, and stabbed the creature to the heart ! Improbable as is the tale, it was a singular fact, Y2 I — X wm 514 AUTOBIOGKAPHY OF that, when Kcycre was found, his knife was up to the maker's name in the bear's side, and tlie body showed tlie effects of other severe stabs ; but whether a man weigliing ninety pounds could knock down the best of boxers, weighing twelve hundred, the reader can de- cide ; but Keyerc ever told the same talc, and became known far and near as the man that whipped the grizzly in a stand-up light. Probably no man ever recover- ed who received so many wounds as did Keyere in this unequal combat. CTIArTER XXXVI. Discovery of Bcckwourth's Pass. — No pecuniary Reward for public Services. — Transformation. — A new Character. — Emigrants at Home and at their Journey's End. — Description of the Happy Val- lej'. — Interesting Reminiscence. The next spring I engaged in mining and prospect- ing in various parts of the gold region. I advanced as far as the American Valley, having one man in my company, and proceeded north into the Pitt River coun- try, where we had a slight difficulty with the Indians. We had come ii})on a party who manifested the utmost friendship toward us ; but I, knowing how far friendly appearances could be trusted to, cautioned my partner on no account to relinquish his gun, if the Indiuns should attempt to take it. They crowded round us, pretending to have the greatest interest in the pack that we carried, until thty made a sudden spring, and seized our guns, and attempted to wrest them from our grasp. I jerked from them, and retreated a few steps ; then, cocking my gun, I bade them, if they wished to fight, to come on. This produced a change in their feelings. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 515 ip to the ^ showed IV a man 3 best of can de- l became le grizzly recover- [!eyere in 1 for public nigrants at Happy Val- prospect- 'anced as n in my ver coun- Indians. le utmost L* friendly y partner s Indiuns ound us, pack that nd seized ur grasp. )s ; then, to fight, feelings. and they were very friendly again, begging caps and ammunition of us, wliicli, of course, we refused. We then Avalkcd backward for about one hundred and fifty yards, still keeping our pieces ready should they at- tempt further hostilities ; but they did not deem it pnident to molest us again. While on this excursion I discovered what is now known as " Beckwourth's Pass" in the Sierra Nevada. B^'rom some of the elevations over which we passed I remarked a place far away to the southward that seem- ed lower than any other. I made no mention of it to my companion, but thought that at some future time I would examine into it farther. I continued on to Shas- ta with my fellow-traveler, and returned after a fruit- less journey of eighteen days. After a short stay in the American Valley, I again started out with a prospecting party of twelve men. We killed a bullock before starting and dried the meat, in order to have provisions to last us during the trip. We proceeded in an easterly direction, and all busied themselves in searching for gold ; but my errand was of a different character : I had come to discover what I suspected to be a pass. It was the latter end of April when we entered upon an extensive valley at the northwest extremity of the Sierra range. The valley was ali-eady robed in fresh- est veidure, contrasting most delightfully with the huge snow-clad masses of rock we had just left. Flowers of every variety and hue spread their variegated charms before us ; magpies were chattering, and gorgeously- plumaged birds were caroling in the delights of unmo- lested solitude. Swarms of wild geese and ducks were swimming on the surface of the cool crystal stream, which was the central fork of the Kio de las Plumas, 516 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF or sailed tlie air in clouds over our heads. Deer and antelope filled the plains, and their boldness was con- clusive that the hunter's rifle was to them unknown. Nowhere visible were any traces of the white man's ap- proach, and it is probable that our steps were the first that ever marked the spot. We struck across this beautiful valley to the waters of the Yuba, from thence to the waters of the Trucliy, which latter flowed in an easterly direction, telling us we were on the eastern slope of the mountain range. This, I at once saw, would afford the best wagon-road into the American Valley approaching from the eastward, and I imparted my views to three of my companions in whose judg- ment I placed the most confidence. They thougi i highly of the discovery, and even proposed to associate with me in opening the road. We also found gold, but not in sufficient quantity to warrant our working it ; and, furthermore, the ground was too wet to admit of our prospecting to any advantage. On my return to the American Valley, I made known my discovery to a Mr. Turner, proprietor of the Amer- ican Ranch, who entered enthusiastically into my views ; it w^as a thing, he said, he had never dreamed of before. If I could but carry oit my plan, and di- vert travel into that road, he thought I should be a made man for life. Thereupon he drew up a subscrip- tion-list, setting forth the merits of the project, and showing how the road could be made practicable to Bidwell's Bar, and thence to Marysville, which latter place would derive peculiar advantages from the dis- covery. He headed the subscription with two hund- red dollars. When I reached Bidwell's Bar and unfolded my proj- ect, the town was seized with a perfect mania for the JAMES r. BECKWOUIITII. 517 ;er and as con- known, m's ap- hc first •ss this thence id in an eastern 20 saw, mcrican nparted 56 judg- thougi i ssociate old, but cing it ; idmit of i known e Amer- nto my ireamed and di- dd be a ubscrip- ect, and cable to sh latter the dis- To hund- myproj- 1 for the opening of the route. Tlie subscriptions toward the fund required for its accomplishment amounted to five hundred dollars. 1 then proceeded to j\Iarysville, a place which would unquestionably derive greater ben- efit from the newly-discovered route than any other place on the way, since this must be the entrepot or principal starting-place for emigrants. I communicated with several of the most influential residents on the subject in hand. They also spoke very encouragingly of my undertaking, and referred me, before all others, to the mayor of the city. Accordingly, I waited upon that gentleman (a Mr. Miles), and brought the matter under his notice, representing it as being a legitimate matter for his interference, and offering substantial ad- vantages to the commercial prosperity of the city. The mayor entered warmly into my views, and pronounced it as his opinion that the profits resulting from the speculation could not be less than from six to ten thou- sand dollars ; and as the benefits accruing to the city would be incalculable, he would insure my expenses while engaged upon it. I mentioned that I should prefer some gur.rantee be- fore entering upon my labors, to secure me against loss of what money I might lay out. "Leave that to me," said the mayor; "I will attend to the whole afiair„ I feel confident that a subject of so great importance to our interests will engage the earliest attention." I thereupon left the whole proceeding in his hands, and, immediately setting men to work upon the road, went out to the Truchy to turn emigration into my newly-discovered route. While thus busily engaged I was seized with erysipelas, and abandoned all hopes of recovery ; I was over one hundred miles away from 518 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF medical assistance, and my only shelter was a brush tent. I made my will, and resigned myself to death. Lite still lingered in me, however, and a train of wag- ons came up, and encamped near to where I lay. I was reduced to a very low condition, but I saw the drivers, and acquainted them with the object which had brought me out there. 7'bey oflcred to attempt tliQ new road if I thought myself sufficiently strong to guide them through it. The women, God bless them ! came to my assistance, and through their kind atten- tions and excellent nursing I rapidly recovered from my lingering sickness, until I was soon able to mount my horse, and lead the first train, consisting of sev- enteen wagons, through "Beckwourth's Pass." We reached the American Valley without the least acci- dent, and the emigrants expressed entire satisfaction with the r lute. I returned with the train through to Marysville, and on the intelligence being communi- cated of the practicability of my road, there was quite a public rejoicing. A northern route had been dis- covered, and the city had received an impetus that would advance her beyond all her sisters on the Pacif- ic shore. I felt proud of my achievement, and was foolish enough to promise myself a substantial recog- nition of my labors. I was destined to disappointment, for that same night Marysville was laid in ashes. The mayor of the ruined town congratulated me upon bringing a train through. He expressed great delight at my good for- tune, but regretted that their recent calamity had placed it entirely bej'-ond his power to obtain for me any substantial reward. With the exception of some two hundred dollars subscribed by some liberal-mind- ed citizens of Marysville, I have received no indemni- JAMES P. mX'KWOL'IlTII. 519 a brush o death. , of Avag- lay. I saw the ct which attempt strong to ss them! nd attcn- jred from to mount g of sev- is." We east acci- itisfaction hrough to 3ommuni- was quite been dis- )etus that the Pacif- , and was tial recog- ;hat same ,yor of the :ig a train good for- imity had lin for me ►n of some eral-mind- indemni- fication for tlie money and hibor I have expended upon my discovery. The city liad been greatly benefited by it, as all mi! at acknowlcilge, for the omigrants that now flock to ^larysvillc would otherwise have gone to Sacramento. Sixteen hundred dollars I expended upon the road is forever gone, but those who derive advantage from this outlay and loss of time devote no thought to the discoverer ; nor do I sec clearly liow I am to help myself, for every one knows I can not roll a mountain into the pass and shut it up. I5ut there is one thing certain : although I recognize no superior in love of country, and feel in all its force the obliga- tion imposed upon me to advance her interests, still, when I go out hunting in the mountains a road for every body to pass through, and expending my time and capital upon an object from which I shall derive no benefit, it will be because I have nothing better to do. In the spring of 1852 I established myself in Beck- wourth Valley, and finally found m^^self transformed into a hotel-keeper and chief of a trading-post. ]\Iy house is considered the emigrant's landing-place, as it is '' he first ranch he arrives at in the golden state, and is the only house between this point and Salt Lake. Here is a valley two hundred and forty miles in cir- cumference, containing some of the choicest land in the world. Its yield of hay is incalculable ; the red and white clovers spring up spontaneously, and the grass that covers its smooth surface is of the most nutritious nature. When the weary, toil-worn emigrant reaches this valley, he feels himself secure ; he can lay him- self down and taste refreshing repose, undisturbed by the fear of Indians. His cattle can graze around him in pasture up to their eyes, without running any dan- 520 AL'TOUIUGitAl'IIY UK gor of being driven oft* by the Arabs of the forest, and f^priiigH riow iM'turo tlicni as j)iirc as any that refreshes thia" verdant earth. AVhen 1 stand at my door, and watch tlie weary, way-worn travelers approach, their wagons liolding to- gether by a miracle, their stock in the last stage of enuiciation, and themselves a perfect exaggeration of caricature, I frequently anmse myself with imagin- ing the contrast they must otter to the tout enmiiible and general appearance they presented to their admir- ing friends when they first set out upon their jour- ney. We will take a fancy sketch of tliem as they start from their homes. AVe will fancy their strong and well-stored wagon, bran-new for the occasion, and so firmly put together that, to look at it, one would, sup- pose it fit to eircunirotate the globe as many times as there are spokes in the wheels ; then their tat and frightened steers, so high-spirited and fractious that i*^ takes the father and his two or three sons to get eat under the yoke; next, the ambitious emigrant and his proud family, with their highly-raised expectations of the future that is before them : the father, so confi- dent and important, who deems the Eastern States un- worthy of his abilities, and can alone find a sufficiently ample field in the growing republic on the Pr.cific side; the mother, who is unwilling to leave her pleasant gossiping friends and early associations, is still half tempted to believe that the crop of gold that waits their gathering may indemnify her for lier labors ; so they pull up stakes, and leave town in good style, expect- ing to return with whole cart-loads of gold dust, and dazzle their neighbors' eyes with their excellent good fortune. 1 forest, and at rctVcHhcs the weary, liolding to- st stage of [^cration of itli irnagin- it ensemble heir adrnir- tlieir jour- I they start strong and on, and so would sup- ly times as eir fat and ious that i"^ to get eat ant and his ctations of r, so conti- States un- sufficiently ncific side; 3r pleasant 3 still half waits their s ; so they de, expect- [ dust, and silent good JAMES ,.. i.Errcwoi iMii IN rrrizKN's i.uksm, JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 52;i The girls, dear creatures ! put on their very best, as all their admiring beaux assemble to see them start, and to give them the last kiss they will receive east of the Nevada Mountains ; for their idea is that they will be snatched up and married the moment they step over the threshold into California by some fine young gen- tleman who is a solid pile of gold, and they joyously start away, in anticipation of the event, their lials decked with ribbons, their persons in long-flowing rid- mg-dresses, their delicate fingers glittering with rings, and their charming little ankles incased in their fash- ionable and neatly-laced gaiters. At the close of day, perhaps amid a pelting rain, these same parties lieave wearily into sight: they have achieved the passage of the Plains, and their pleasant Eastern homes, with their agi-eeable, sociable neighbors, are now at a distance it is painful to con- template. The brave show they made at starting, as the whole town hui-raed them off, is sadly faded away. Their wagon appears like a relic of the Revolution aft- er doing hard service for the commissariat : its cover burned into holes, and torn to tatters ; its strong axles replaced with rough pieces of trees hewn by the way- side ; the tires bound on with ropes ; the iron linch- pins gone, and chips of hickory substituted, and rags wound round the hubs to hold them together, which they keep continually wetted to prevent falling to pieces. The oxen are held up by the tail to keep them upon their legs, and the ravens and magpies evidently feel themselves ill treated in being driven off from what they deem their lawful rights. The old folks are peevish and quarrelsome; the young men are so headstrong, and the small children so full of wants, and precisely at a time when every h2\ AlITOnKKJUAIMrV (IK thinji; Ims given out, and tlicy luivo notlilnp^ to pacify tlicni with, lint iho ])oor girls liav(' sufrcred the most. 'Ph<'ir glossy, luxnriant liMiks, that won so much ad- miration, arc now tri/./lcd and discolored l)y the sun; their elegant riding-habit is replaced with an improvised lUooiner, and their neat little feet are ex])osed in sad disarray ; their lingers are white no longer, and in place ot* rings wc see sundry hits of rag wound round, to keep the dirt from entering their sore cuts. The young men of gohl, wiio looked so attractive in the distance, arc now too <»ften found to be worthless and of no in- trinsic value; their time emj)loyed in iiaunting gam- ing-tables or dram-shops, and their habits corru'pted by unthrift and dissi])ation. 1 do not wi-^h to sp(\*dv dis])r.ragingly of my ado])tcd state, and by no means to intimate the slightest disre- spect to the many worthy citizens who have crossed the l*hiins. 1 apjieal to the many who have Vt'itness- ed the ])icture for the accuracy of my j)ortraiturc. So nuich good material constantly inlused into society ought to improve the character of the compound, but the demoralizing ctt'eets of transplantation greatly neu- tralize the benetlts. Take a family from their ])caceful and happy homes in a comnumity where good morals arc observed, and the tone of society exercises a salutary influence over the thoughts of both old and young, and put them in such a place as this, where all is chaotic, and the princi- ples that regulate the social intercourse of men are not yet recognized as law, and their dignity of thought and j)rcst}(jc of ])osition is bereft from them. They have to struggle among a greedy, unscrupulous populace for the means of living ; their homes have yet accjuircd no comfort, and they feel isolated and abandoned ; and it JAMKS P. IJEf'KWOlIUTir. ;>2;> to pacify 'he ITlOSt. iiucli ad- t lu' sun ; ripro vised ed in sad r, and in I round, to 'lie young distance, I of no in- ting gam- corru}>tcd ly adopted itest disre- fG crossed e witness- iturc. So to society )ound, but I'catly neu- ppy homes ?erved, and ucncc over ut them in the princi- icn are not [lought and They have opulacc for ic(iuired no icd ; and it is even worse upon the cliiUh'en ; all corrective influ- ence is removed from them, and the examples that sur- round them are often of the mosi vicious and worst pos- sible description. All wholesome objects of ambition being removed, and money alone substituted as the re- ward of their greed, they grow up unlike their fathers ; and it is only those in whom there is a solid substratum of correct feeling that mature into good citizens and proper men. The girls, too, little darlings, suffer severely. They have left tlunr wortliy sweethearts bc^liiiul, and can not get back to them ; and tliose who now offer them- selves here are not fit to l)estow a thought upon. \'W- cry tiling is strange to them. 'J'hey miss their little social reunions, their quilting-partics, their winter cpia- drilles, the gossip of the village, their delightful sum- mer haunts, and tiieir dear ])aternal fireside. They have no })ursuits except of the grosser kinds, and all their refinements arc roughed over by the prevailing struggle after gold. Much stock is lost in crossing the JUains, through their drinking the alkali water which flows from the Sierra Nevada, becoming impregnated with the poison- ous mineral either in its source or in its passage among the rocks. There are also poisonous herbs springing up in the region of the mineral water, which the poor, famishing animals devour without stint. Those who survive until they reach the Valley are generally too far gone for recovery, and die while resting to recruit their strength. Their infected flesh furnishes food to thousands of wolves, which infest this place in the win- ter, and its effect upon them is singular. It depilates their warm coats of fur, and renders their pelts as bare as the palm of a man's hand. My faithful dogs have 52G AUTOBIOGKAPHY uF killed numbers of them at different times, divested en- tirely of hair except on the extremity of the nose, ears, and tail. They present a truly comical and extraor- dinary appearance. This general loss of cattle deprives many of the poor emigrants of the means of hauling their lightened wag- ons, which, by the time they reach my ranch, seldom contain any thing more than their family clothing and bedding. Frequently I have observed wagons pass my house with one starveling yoke of cattle to drag them, and the family straggling on foot behind. Numbers have put up at my ranch without a morsel of food, and without a dollar in the world to procure any. They never were refused what they asked for at my house ; and, during the short space that I have spent in the Valley, I have furnished provisions and other neces- saries to the numerous sufferers who have applied for them to a very serious amount. Some have since paid me, but the bills of many remain unsettled. Still, al- though a prudent business man would condemn the proceeding, I can not find it in my heart to refuse re- lief to such necessities, and, if my pocket suffers a lit- tle, I have my recompense in a feeling of internal sat- isfaction. My pleasant valley is thirty-five miles at its great- est breadth. It is irrigated by two streams, with their various small tributaries. These form a junction about ten miles from my house up the valley, which, as you remount it, becomes the central fork of the Feather River. All these streams abound with trout, some of them weighing seven or eight pounds. In the main one there are also plenty of otter. Antelopes and deer are to be found the entire year, unless the winter is unusually severe, when they cross the mountains to f estecl eu- lose, ears, L extraor- f the poor jned wag- li, seldom thing and s pass my rag them, Numbers 1 of food, .y. They ly house ; ent in the ler neces- ipplied for since paid Still, al- dernn the refuse re- ffers a lit- emal sat- its great- with their tion about h, as you 5 Feather , some of the main and deer winter is intains to JAMES p. BECKWOUKTH. 527 the eastern slope. Grizzly bears come and disappeai- again, without asking leave of any man. There arc wolves of every species, together with foxes, hares, rab- bits, and other animals. Of the feathered tribe, we have wild geese, ducks, sage-hens, grouse, and a large variety of smaller birds. Service-berries and cherries are the only kinds of fruit that grow from nature's cul- tivation. The growth of timber about the valley is principally pitch-pine, although there is a considerable intermix- ture of cedar. I have never yet sown any grain, but 1 have cultivated a small kitchen-garden, and raised cab- bages, turnips, and radishes of great size. I have never known the snow to fall to a greater depth than three feet, and when the storms are over it dissolves very rapidly, notwithstanding the elevation is many thou- sand feet above the level of the Pacific. The snow clings to the mountain peaks that overlook the valley to the eastward the year round, and as it is continually melting and feeding the streams, it keeps the water icy cold all the summer through. About a mile and a half distant from my house there is a large sulphur spring, and on the eastern slope, in the desert, there are copi- ous hot springs, supplying the traveler with boiling water for his coffee without the cost of fuel. The Truchy rises on the summit of the Sierra Ne- vada, opposite the head-waters of the Yuba, and runs in an easterly direction until it loses itself in Pyramid Lake, about fifty miles east of this valley. This lake is a great natural curiosity, as it receives not alone the waters of the Truchy, but numerous other streams, and has no visible outlet ; its surcharge of water probably filtering into the earth, like St. Mary's River, and some others I have met with. There is no place in the 528 ALTUUIOUJUl'llV OF whole state that offers so many attractions for a few weeks' or months' retirement ; for its charms of scen- ery, with sylvan and piscatorial sports, present unu- sual attractions. During the winter season my near- est neighbors are sixteen miles away ; in the summer they are within four miles of my house, so that social broils do not nmch disturb me. There is a pleasant historical incident associated witli 8t. Mary's River, which, as it can be familiar to but few of my readers, I will relate here. The St. Ma- ry's liiver is known to most persons as the River Hum- boldt, since that is the name that has been since con- fened upon it, in honor of the distinguished European traveler. I prefer the former name, as being more po- etical, though less assuming. An Indian woman, the wifo of a Canadian named Chapineau, who acted as in- terpreter and guide to Lewis and Clarke during their explorations of the Rocky Mountains, was suddenly seized with the pains of labor, and gave birth to a son on the banks of this mysterious river. The Red-head- ed Chief (Clarke) adopted the child thus rudely issued into the world, and on his return to St. Louis took the infant with him, and baptized it John Baptist Clarke Chapineau. After a careful culture of his mind, the boy was sent to Europe to complete his education. But the Indian was inetfaceable in him. The Indian lodge and his native mountain fastnesses possessed greater charms than the luxuries of civilized life. He returned to the desert and passed his days with his tribe. Mary, the mother of the child, was a Crow, very pleasing and intelligent, and may have been, for aught I know, connected with some of my many rela- tives in that tribe. It was in honor of this event, and to perpetuate her memory, that the river received its ''Pf for a few I of scen- ient unu- my ncar- j summer bat social issociated imiliar to ic St. Ma- vcr Hum- since con- European J more po- 'oman, the ctcd as in- iring their suddenly h to a son Rcd-head- lely issued s took the ;ist Clarke mind, the education, 'he Indian possessed Ulife. He s with his a Crow, e been, for many rela- event, and eceived its 1 i JAMES P. BECKWUI'RTII. 52t/ original name, 8t. Mary'»^ and, as such, is still known to the mountaineers. CHAPTER XXXVIl. Mistakes regarding the Character of the Indian — Extent of the West- ern Tribes — Their Character. — How a War against them should be conducted. — Reflections. — Closing Address to the Indian Heroine. As an American citizen, a friend of my race, and a sincere lover of my country, and also as one well ac- quainted with the Indian character, I feel that I can not properly conclude the record of my eventful life without saying something for the lied Man. It should be remembered, when judging of their acts, that they consider the country they inhabit as the gift of the "Great Spirit,"' aid they resent in their hearts the in- vasion of the imnngrant just as much as any civilized people would, if another nation, without permission, should cross tlieir territory. It must also be under- stood, that the Indians believe tlie buffalo to be theirs by inheritance, not as game, but in the light of owner- ship, given to them by Providence for their support and comfort, and that, when an immigrant shoots a buffalo^ the Indian looks upon it exactly as the destruction b}' a stranger of so much private property. With these ideas clearly in the mind of the reader, it can be understood why the Indian, in destroying a cow belonging to white people, or stealing a horse, con- siders himself as merely retaliating for injuries receiv- ed, repaying himself, in fact, for what he has lost. For this act on the part of the Red Man, tlie United States troops are often turned indiscriminately upon ids race ; the iniiocent generally suffer, and those who 7 I ;jao ALTUlJlUaiiAPHV UF have raised tlic storm ean not understand of what crime they can be guilty. But if* the government is determined to make war uj)on tlie Western tribes, let it be done intelligently, and so effectually that inercy Avill temper justice. To attempt to chastise Indians with United States troops is simply ridiculous; the expense of such campaigns is only surpassed by their inefhciency. The Indians live on horseback, and they can steal and drive off the gov- ernment horses fasten than it can bring them togeth- er. The Indians having no stationary villages, they can travel faster, even with the incumbrance of their lodges, women, and children, subsisting themselves on buflalo slain on the way, than any force, however rich- ly appointed, the country could send against them. An army must tire out i i such a chase before summer is gone, while the Indians will constantly harass it with their sharp-shooters, and, should several powerful tribes unite — not an unusual occurrence — many thousand men would make no impression. It should also be recollected by our officers sent to tight in the Rocky Mountains, that the Indians have a mode of telegraphing by the aid of robes and mir- rors, and thus, by having their spies stationed at con- venient distances, they convey intelligence of the move- ments of their enemies at great distances and in a very few minutes, thus informing villages whether it would be best to retreat or not. Some tribes telegraph by fires at night, and by smoke in the daytime. An of- ficer might hear of a band of warriors encamped at a certain place ; he innnediately makes a forced march, and when his troops arrive at their destination, those same warriors may be niany miles in his rear, en- camped on his trail. .lA.MES 1'. 1»K(!KW(H'I{TM. 5:^1 lat crime lake war iligcutly, ice. To 03 troops ipaigns is Llians live * the gov- n togeth- gcs, they e of their iselves on -^ever rich- them. An summer is ,ss it with irful tribes thousand I's sent to ilians have i and mir- led at con- fthemove- d in a very cr it would Icgraph by c. An ot- ^mped at a ced march, ition, those s rear, en- A village of tln-ec Imndrod lodges of Crows or Chcy- ennes could, within thirty niiiuiti\s after receiving an order to move, have all their lodges struck, the ])olcs attached to the horses, and tiieir men, women, and chil- dren going at full speed, and could thus outstrip the best dragoons sent in their pursuit. I have seen enough of Indian treaties find annuities to satisfy me that their effects for good are worse tiian fruitless. The idea formed by the Indians is that the annuities are sent to them by the great white chief because he is afraid of them, and wishes to purchase their friendship. There arc some of the tribes — a very few — who woidd keep a treaty sacred ; but the major- ity would not be bound by one, for they can not un- derstand their nature. AVlien caught at a disadvant- age, and reduced to enter into a compact, they would agree to any proposals tliat were offered; but when th(^ controlling power is withdrawn, and they can repeat their depredations with apparent impunity, no moral obligation would restrain them, and the treaty that was negotiated at so much cost to the country proves a mere delusion. The officer having charge of an expedition against the Indians should rightly understand which Oruid of a tribe he is commissioned to punish. The Sioiixs, for instance, which, a few years ago, could raise thirty thousand waniors, are divided into many bands, which, at times, are hundreds of miles apart. One band of that tribe may commit a depredation on the emigrant road, and the other bands not even have heard of it : they do not hold themselves amenable for the misdeeds of another body totally distinct from them in social re- lations, and to inflict chastisement upon them in such a case would be a manifest injustice. But in a case of extreme dano-er all these bauds coalesce. r>32 AITOIMOCJUArilY OF Oilier frihcrt liavc llio saine divisions into distinct b.'iiuls, iuid niiiny arc Iienco led into the Leliot' that each bund is a tribe. Tiie Siouxs r.uige over a territory upward of a thousand miles in extent from north to Houtli, anil their eountry emLraees some of the most beautiful s])ots in the world, as well for natural scenery as tor extreme j)roduetivenesH of soil. The Crows have but one bajid proper, ulthougli they are generally divided into two villages, as being a more convenient arrangement to afford pasture for their innnensc herds of horses, and also to hunt the buffalo. ]iut these two villages arc seldom more than three hundred miles apart, generally nmeli nearer; they come together at least once a year, and have fre.pient accidental coali- tions in the course of their wanderings. They speak the CJrovan language, from which nation they arc ftn offshoot. The Pawnees arc probably the most degraded, in point of morals, of all iheW^estcrn tribes; they are held in such contempt by the other tribes that none will make treaties with them. They arc a populous na- tion, and arc inveterate against the whites, killing them wherever met. A treaty concluded with that nation at night would be violated the next morning. Those who on^-ao'c in warfare with the Western Indians will rc- member that they take no prisoners except women and children. It has generally been believed that the Hiouxs never kill white men, but this is a mistake ; they have always killed them. I have seen white men's scalps in their hands, and many still fresh hanging in the smoke of their lodges. The Western Indians have no hummocks or ever- glades to fight among, but they have their boundless prairies to weary an army in, and the fastnesses of the .jA.Mi:s I'. nKCKWuLiaii. r>ni) distinct llJlt fiicli territory north to he 111 OH t I scenery c Crows generally mvenient ISC herds Jut these red miles igcther at ital coali- ley speak ey arc an jraded, in y arc held none will ulcus na- iling them nation at .'hose who IS will rc- ronien and he Hiouxs they have ill's scalps no: in the o :s or cver- boundless sscs of the Uocky jMountainH to retreat to. Shoiihl a majority of iliosc powerful nations coalesce in dcteiise against one common enemy, it would be tiie worst Indian war — the most costly in blood and treasure that the nation- al government has ever entered into. The coalition tribes could bring two hundred and tifty thousand war- riors against any hostile force, and 1 know I am greatly within the limits of trutli in assigning that number to them. If it is the policy of government to utterly extermi- nate the Indian race, the most expeditious manner of effecting this ought to be the one adopted. 1'hc in- troduction of whisky among the lied jNleii, under the connivance of government agents, leads to the demor- alization and consequent extermination, by more pow- erful races, of thousands of Indians annually. Still, this infernal agent is not cflcctual ; the Indians dimin- ish in numbers, but with comparative slowness. The most direct and speedy mode of clearing the land of the;... would be by the simple means of starvation — by depriving them of their hereditary sustenance, the buf- falo. To ctfect this, send an army of hunters among them, to root out and destroy, in every possible man- ner, the animal in question. They can shoot them, poison tlicni, dig pit-falls for them, and resort to num- berless other contrivances to efface the devoted animal, which serves, it would seem, by the wealth of his car- cass, to preserve the Indian, and thus impede the ex- panding development of civilization. To light the Indians vi ct annis, the government could employ no such effectual means as to take into its service five hundred mountaineers for the space of one year, and any one tribe of Indians that they should fall foul of could never survive the contest. r,:\4 AITOUKHniAIMIY (►K Suoli men, employed tor tliat purpose, would have no enciimljiJiiice from supcrlluous bauigagc to impede them iu ji pursuit or a retreat over their illimitable plaiuH. The mode of lite of a mountaineer just tits him for an Indian tighter, and if he has to submit to privation, and put up with an empty eommissariat, he has the means of support always at hand. He is so nmeh an In- dian from habit that lie can fight them in their own way: if they steal his horses, he can steal theirs in return ; if they snatch a hasty repose in the open air, it is all he asks for himself, and his health and spirits are fortified with such regimen. It is only by men possessing the (jualities of the white hunter, condnned with Indian habits, tluit the Indians can be effectually and economically conquered. I have now presented a plain, unvarnished state- ment of the most noteworthy occurrences of my life, and, in so doing, I have necessarily led the reader through a A'ariety of savage scenes at which his heart must sicken. The narrative, however, is not without its use. The restless youthful mind, that wearies with the monotony of peaceful every-day existence, and as- pires after a career of wild adventure and thrilling ro- mance, will find, by my experience, that such a life is by no means one of comfort, and that the excitement which it affords is very dearly purchased by the op- portunities lost of gaining far more profitable wisdom. Where one man would be spared, as I have been, to pass through the perils of fasting, the encounters with the savage, and the fury of the wild beasts, and still preserve his life, and attain an age of near threescore, it is not too much to say that five hundred would per- ish, with not a single loved one near to catch his last whispered accent, would die in the wilderness, either in .rAMKH I'. HKCKWOIRTII. tit it I I have no [u'clc thoni )lc plaiiiH. liin for m» 'Jit ion, and tlic means I'll an Tn- tlieir own 1 theirs in J open air, and spirits [y by men , cond)incd eftectually died state- of my life, the reader 1 his heart ot without Icaries with cc, and as- lirilling ro- 2\i a lite is excitement 3y the op- Ic wisdom, been, to iters with I, and still threescore, /^ould per- il! his last L cither in solitude, or with the fiendish suvaiie shrickiiii]; in rovolt- ing triumph in his ear. 1 now close the chapter of my eventful life. I feel that time is pressing; and tlie reminiscences of the past, stripped of all that was uin)leasaiit, come crowd- ing upon me. My heart turns naturally to my adopted people. I think of my son, who is the chief; I think of his mother, who went unharmed through the med- icine lodge; I think of Bar-chee-am-pe, llie brave he- roine. I sec her, tearful, watching my departure from the banks of the Yellow Stone. Her nation expects my return, that I may be buried with my supposed fathers, but none looks so eagerly for the great warrior as PINE LEAF, THE INDIAN HEROINE. I've seen her in her youthful years ; Hor heart was liyht and free, llcr black eyes never diniin'd with tears, So happy then was siie. When warriors from the fijrht rcturn'd. And halted for display, The trophies that tlic victors won She was first to bring away. I've seen her kiss her brother's cheek When he was called to go The lurking enemy to seek, Or chase the buU'alo. She loved him with a sister's love : He was the only son ; And " Pine Leaf prized him far above The v/arriors' hearts she'd won. I've seen her in her mourning hourfj - That brother had been slain : Her head, that oft was decked with flowerH. Now shed its crimson rain ; Her bleeding head and bleeding hand — Her crimson, clotted hair — Her brother's in the spirit lnr,d. And hence her keen despair. ■«»*» o:5G ArTOBIOGRArHY OF I've heard her make a solemn vow — " A warrior I will bo Until a hundred foes shall bow, And yield their scal{)s to me ; I will revenge my brother's death — I swear it on my life, Or never, while I draw a breath. Will I become a wife." I've seen Iier on her foaming steed, With battle-axe in hand. Pursuing at her utmost speed The Black Foot and Shi-an. I've seen her wield her polished lance A hundred times and more, When chp'ging fierce in the advance Amid the battle's roar. I've seen her with her scalping-knife Spring on the fallen foe. And, ere he was yet void of life, Make sure to count her coo. I've seen her, at full speed again, Oft draw her trusty bow. Across her arrow take good aim, And lay a warrior low. I I I've heard her say, " I'll take my shield, My battle-axe, and bow. And follow you, through glen or field. Where'er you dare to go ; ril rush amid the blood and strife Where any warrior leads :"' Pine Leaf would choose to lose her life Amid such darin" deeds. !| I've heard her say, " The spirit land Is where my thoughts "ncline. Where I can grasp my brother's hand. Extended now for mine. There's nothing now in this wide world- No tie.s that bid me stay ; But, a broken-hearted Indian girl, I weep both night and day JAMES P. liKCKWOITRTir. '• He tolls mo in my midnight dreams I must rcvcnfre his fall, Then conio where flowers and cooling streams Surround their spirits, all. lie tells me that the hunting-ground, So far away on high. Is filled with warriors all around Who nobly hero did die. " Ho says that all is joy and mirth Where the Great S[)irit lives, And joy that's never known on earth He constantly receives. No brother to revenge his wrontrg The war-path is my road : A few more days I'll sing his songs, Then hie to his abode." I've hoard hor say, " I'll be your bride ; You"vc waited long, I know ; A hundred foes by me have died, By my own hand laid low. 'lis for my nation's good J wed ; For I would still be free Tntil T slumber with the dead ; i3ut I will marry thee." And when I left the heroine, A tear stood in her eye As hi.st I held hor hand in mine. And whispered a good-by. OIj, will you soon return again?" The heroine did say ; " ^'.•s, vvhen the green grass <lecks the p in," I >*aid, and came away. 537 Tin: KXI).