Post by richw on Sept 29, 2005 8:15:47 GMT -5
Regarding the "voice,"
this is what Wakefield says:
[p. 115]
"About one hour and a half before day, on the same mountain from which the Indian Chief had given his orders on the evening of the battle, we heard an Indian voice, in loud shrill tones, as though he was talking to his men, and giving them orders.
"General Henry had his men all paraded in order of battle, in front of the tents, and the fires roused up. After all were paraded. General Henry addressed his men in the most beautiful manner I ever heard man speak on such an occasion. I am sorry I cannot give the precise words, but I will attempt an outline of them. The Indian was still yelling in the most loud and terrific manner. General Henry commenced: "My brave soldiers, now is the critical and trying moment; hear your enemy on the same mountain from which you drove them only on the evening before last, giving orders for a charge upon you: there is no doubt but that they have mustered all their strength at this time: now let every mother's son be at his post: -- Yes, my brave soldiers, you have stemmed the torrent of every opposition -- you have stopped not for rivers, swamps, and, one might say almost impenetrable forests; suffered through the beating storm of night, amidst the sharpest peals of thunder, and when
[p. 116]
" the heavens appeared a plane of lightning. My brave boys, hear their yells; let them not daunt you; remember the glory you won on the evening before last; be not now the tarnishers of this reputation, that you are so justly entitled to: remember that you are fighting a set of demons, who have lately been taking the lives of your helpless and unoffending neighbors. Stand firm my brave Suckers (Suckers, a familiar name the Illinoisans are known by) until you can see the whites of their eyes, before you discharge your muskets, and then meet them with a charge as you have before done, and that too with great success."
"The Indian all this time was talking as though he was addressing his men, and appeared to approach nearer. Every officer then on the ground, was at his post, and had his particular station assigned to him, and the ground he was to occupy during the action. In this order we stood until daylight. Just before day the Indian quit talking. When it was just light enough to discover a man a short distance, the brave and fearless Ewing took his battalion of spies, and mounted on horseback, we were soon at the top of the mountain to see who it was that had serenaded us so long, at that late hour of the night. We found only the sign of a few horse tracks, that appeared as though they had been made that night. We marched in quick time around every part of the mountain, and found no one. We took a circuitous route back to camp, but found no one on the way. What it was that made this Indian act so, was now a mystery that no one could solve. But before the reader gets through the history of this war, he will find out the cause. I cannot inform him now, as it does not come in its proper place.
*******
p. 134]
"As soon as the battle was over... [Bad Axe]...
"After the Indians were all collected together that we had taken prisoners, they were examined respecting many things ; and among others what it was that the Indian Chief was saying when he talked so long on the mountain at the Wisconsin. They stated, that he was telling us in the Winnebago language, that they had their squaws and children with them, and that they were starving for something to eat, and were not able to fight us ; and that if we would let them pass over the Mississippi, they would do no more mischief. They stated that he spoke this in the Winnebago language, believing that the same Winnebagoes that were with us in the battle, were still there. But here he was mistaken: as soon as the battle was over, the Indians, with our pilot Poquet, all left us ; so there was no one among us, that understood the Winnebago language."
this is what Wakefield says:
[p. 115]
"About one hour and a half before day, on the same mountain from which the Indian Chief had given his orders on the evening of the battle, we heard an Indian voice, in loud shrill tones, as though he was talking to his men, and giving them orders.
"General Henry had his men all paraded in order of battle, in front of the tents, and the fires roused up. After all were paraded. General Henry addressed his men in the most beautiful manner I ever heard man speak on such an occasion. I am sorry I cannot give the precise words, but I will attempt an outline of them. The Indian was still yelling in the most loud and terrific manner. General Henry commenced: "My brave soldiers, now is the critical and trying moment; hear your enemy on the same mountain from which you drove them only on the evening before last, giving orders for a charge upon you: there is no doubt but that they have mustered all their strength at this time: now let every mother's son be at his post: -- Yes, my brave soldiers, you have stemmed the torrent of every opposition -- you have stopped not for rivers, swamps, and, one might say almost impenetrable forests; suffered through the beating storm of night, amidst the sharpest peals of thunder, and when
[p. 116]
" the heavens appeared a plane of lightning. My brave boys, hear their yells; let them not daunt you; remember the glory you won on the evening before last; be not now the tarnishers of this reputation, that you are so justly entitled to: remember that you are fighting a set of demons, who have lately been taking the lives of your helpless and unoffending neighbors. Stand firm my brave Suckers (Suckers, a familiar name the Illinoisans are known by) until you can see the whites of their eyes, before you discharge your muskets, and then meet them with a charge as you have before done, and that too with great success."
"The Indian all this time was talking as though he was addressing his men, and appeared to approach nearer. Every officer then on the ground, was at his post, and had his particular station assigned to him, and the ground he was to occupy during the action. In this order we stood until daylight. Just before day the Indian quit talking. When it was just light enough to discover a man a short distance, the brave and fearless Ewing took his battalion of spies, and mounted on horseback, we were soon at the top of the mountain to see who it was that had serenaded us so long, at that late hour of the night. We found only the sign of a few horse tracks, that appeared as though they had been made that night. We marched in quick time around every part of the mountain, and found no one. We took a circuitous route back to camp, but found no one on the way. What it was that made this Indian act so, was now a mystery that no one could solve. But before the reader gets through the history of this war, he will find out the cause. I cannot inform him now, as it does not come in its proper place.
*******
p. 134]
"As soon as the battle was over... [Bad Axe]...
"After the Indians were all collected together that we had taken prisoners, they were examined respecting many things ; and among others what it was that the Indian Chief was saying when he talked so long on the mountain at the Wisconsin. They stated, that he was telling us in the Winnebago language, that they had their squaws and children with them, and that they were starving for something to eat, and were not able to fight us ; and that if we would let them pass over the Mississippi, they would do no more mischief. They stated that he spoke this in the Winnebago language, believing that the same Winnebagoes that were with us in the battle, were still there. But here he was mistaken: as soon as the battle was over, the Indians, with our pilot Poquet, all left us ; so there was no one among us, that understood the Winnebago language."
