Table of Contents
Chapter I Early History-Canada to Kansas-Death of my Father-My Marriage-"Ho! for Idaho!" - Crossing the Platte River-A Storm 11
Chapter II The Attack and the Capture 19
Chapter III My Husband's Escape-Burial of the Dead-Arrival of the Survivors at Deer Creek-An ill-timed Ball 28
Chapter IV Beginning of my Captivity 37
Chapter V Plan for Little Mary's Escape-Tortures of Uncertainty-Unsuccessful Attempt to Escape 45
Chapter VI Continuation of our March into the Wilderness-Suffering from Thirst and Weariness-Disappearance of my Fellow-prisoner-Loss of the old Chief's Pipe, and its Consequences to me-A Scene of Terror 49
Chapter VII Powder River-Another Attempt to Escape-Detection and Despair-A Quarrel-My Life saved by "Jumping Bear," 62
Chapter VIII The Storm-Arrival at the Indian Village-The old Chief's Wife-Some Kindness shown me-Attend a Feast 72
Chapter IX Preparations for Battle-An Indian Village on the Move-Scalp Dance-A Horrible Scene of Savage Exultation-Compelled to join the Orgies-A Cause of Indian Hostility-Another Battle with the White Troops-Burial of an Indian Boy-A Hasty Retreat-Made to act as Surgeon of the Wounded-Mauve Terre, or Bad Lands 92
Chapter X Mourning for the Slain-Threatened with Death at the Fiery Stake-Saved by a Speech from Ottawa-Starving Condition of the Indians 106
Chapter XI Meet another White Female Captive-Sad Story of Mary Boyeau-A Child Roasted, and its Brains Dashed out-Murder of Mrs. Fletcher-Five Children Slaughtered-Fate of their Mother 112
Chapter XII First Intimation of my Little Mary's Fate-Despair and Delirium-A Shower of Grasshoppers-A Feast and a Fight-An Enraged Squaw-The Chief Wounded 120
Chapter XIII Arrival of "Porcupine"-A Letter from Captain Marshall-Hopes of Rescue-Treachery of the Messenger-Egosega-Ionicha-The Tables Turned-Another Gleam of Hope-The Indian "White Tipi"-Disappointed-A White Man Bound and left to Starve-A Burial Incident 129
Chapter XIV Lost in the Indian Village-Black Bear's White Wife-A small Tea Party-The White Boy-captive, Charles Sylvester-The Sun Dance-A Conciliating Letter from General Sibley-A Puzzle of Human Bones-The Indian as an Artist-I Destroy a Picture and am Punished with Fire-brands-A Sick Indian 136
Chapter XV Preparing the Chi-cha-cha, or Killikinnick-Attack on Captain Fisk's Emigrant Train-Fourteen Whites Killed-A big Haul of Whisky-A Drunken Debauch-I write a Letter to Captain Fisk under dictation-Poisoned Indians-The Train saved by my Clerical Strategy 147
Chapter XVI Scenes on Cannon Ball Prairie-Reflections 154
Chapter XVII A Prairie on Fire-Scenes of Terror 159
Chapter XVIII Last days with the Ogalalla Sioux-Massacre of a Party returning from Idaho-A Woman's Scalp-A Scalp Dance-Suspicious Circumstance-Arrival of Blackfeet Indians-Negotiations for my Ransom-Treachery 164
Chapter XIX Indian Customs 175
Chapter XX An Indian tradition-Arrival at the Blackfeet Village-An offer to purchase me indignantly rejected-A Yankton attempts my Capture 191
Chapter XXI Appearance of Jumping Bear-I prevail on him to carry a Letter to the Fort-A War Speech-Intended Treachery-Resume our Journey to the Fort-Singular Meeting with a White Man-"Has Richmond Fallen?"-Arrival at the Fort-I am Free! 199
Chapter XXII Retrospection-A Border Trading post-Garrison Hospitality-A Visit from the Commandant of Fort Rice-Arrival of my Husband-Affecting Scene 212
Chapter XXIII Sad Fate of Little Mary 218
Chapter XXIV What occurred at Fort Laramie after my Capture-Efforts to Rescue-Lieutenant Brown killed-Reward offered-It is the Means of restoring another White Woman and Child-Her Rescuers hung for Former Murders-A Letter announcing my Safe Arrival at Fort Sully 223
Chapter XXV Supper in Honor of our Re-union-Departure from Fort Sully-Incidents by the way-Arrival at Geneva-Mother and Child-A Happy Meeting 228
Chapter XXVI Elizabeth Blackwell-Mormon Home-A brutal Father-The Mother and Daughters flee to the Mountains-Death of the Mother and Sisters from exposure-Elizabeth saved by an Indian-A White Woman tortured-Rescued Children-The Boxx Family-Capture of Mrs. Blynn 238
Chapter XXVII Move to Wyoming-False Friends-The Manuscript of my Narrative taken by another party and published-I go to Washington 250
Chapter XXVIII General Sully's Expedition 255
Poem to Mrs. Fanny Kelly 268
Certificate of Indian Chiefs 270
Certified Copies of My Correspondence with Captain Fisk 274
Statement of Lieutenant G. A. Hesselberger 279
Statement of Officers and Members of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry 282
