The history of Waterbury, Connecticut - citizen hylbom blog

APPENDIX.
397
join his regiment, then stationed at Council Bluffs. The route lay through
the lakes to Green Bay ; thence up the Fox River, and down the Wis-
consin to the Mississippi River, thence across the country, then a
wilderness, to Council Bluffs. On the Fox River, the Indians were some-
what troublesome. One night, after the party had camped, the Indians
gathered in large numbers about them and commenced the war dance.
The men were terribly frightened, expecting a bloody skirmish, if not a
general massacre; but Holmes, taking a sergeant and file of men, start-
ed for their camp. He left the men a short distance in the rear, out of
sight, with orders to come up if any difficulty ensued, and then pro-
ceeded to the chief and demanded the reason of their dancing the war
dance. The chief answered in a insolent strain, when Holmes caught
the chiefs rifle and tried to discharge it. The savage seized him, but
Holmes discharged the rifle, and after a short scuffle, tied the savage's
hands behind him, and returned to his men with his prisoner. The
cowardly soldiers had not dared to show themselves. The Indians
were then informed that any hostile demonstration would be followed
by the immediate death of their chief. There was no more trouble
from the Indians on this route. When crossing the country from the
Mississippi to the Missouri River, the party lost the trail, wandered
about until out of provisions, and were compelled to eat their dogs.
After enduring all the hardships incident to such a situation, they finally
reached the fort at Council Bluffs.
Lieut. Holmes was stationed at Council Bluffs for four years. Mean-
time the Indians on the Yellow Stone were threatening hostilities, and
Gen. Atkinson with a body of troops was sent up the river to quiet
them. On this trip, Holmes was attached to the corps of topographical
engineers, with the command of the artillery. Having encountered a
large body of hostile Indians, Holmes with three others was detached to
hold a talk with them. At first unarmed Indians met them in council, but
soon armed Indians gathered around, and those unarmed began to drop
oft' and returned with their arms, until they were surrounded by four
or five hundred well armed savages. The General now learning their
situation immediately beat to arms. This made their situation much
more critical ; fs they must either disobey the order of their general
and run the risk of a massacre where they were, or proceed through a
gang of armed hostile savages with no means of defending themselves
if attacked. Holmes decided the dilemma instantly ; and in obedience
to orders, deliberately arose and walked out of the Council ring, not
a savage laying a hand on him. He immediately headed his artillery,
but Gen. Atkinson gave orders for no firing, and after a long parley.