Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/472



Barnard E. Bee, *  from Springfield, in pursuit of the Indians. Captain Bee had arrived from Fort Ridgely and secured two half-breed guides for Lieutenant Murray. They reached the grove at 3 p.m. in which the Indians had camped the night before. Lieutenant Murray, upon examination of the camp, believed he was close upon the Indians, but the treacherous guides assured him the camp was three days old and that further pursuit was hopeless. Thus deceived, Murray turned back, when actually in sight of the sentinel of the Indians who was watching his movements. The Indians were in ambush in superior force and the result of an attack would have been doubtful, as they were well armed. It was better that no attempt was made since the four captives would have been massacred at once. The Indians were thoroughly alarmed and fled for two days and nights without stopping. The captives suffered greatly in this hurried retreat, wading through deep snow and swollen streams, cold, hungry and worn out, and it is a wonder they survived. Before they reached the Big Sioux River, the horses taken from the massacred settlers had died from starvation, their bodies were cut up for food and the loads they had carried were transferred to the backs of the squaws and the four white women.

Six weeks of terrible suffering and horrors unspeakable had been endured by the four young women when they reached the Big Sioux River. As they were preparing to cross an Indian came up to Mrs. Thatcher, who was carrying a heavy load, took the pack from her shoulders and ordered her to go onto the driftwood bridge. She realized at once that some harm was intended. She turned to her companions and bade them “good-by,” saying, “If any of you escape, tell my dear husband that I wanted to live for his sake.” The savage drove her along before him and when about half across seized Mrs. Thatcher and

* Capt. Bee was an officer of the regular army, a native of South Carolina and when that State seceded in 1861. left the United Stales service and was made a Brigadier-General. He was killed at the first battle of Bull Run.