Sarah F. Wakefield - Six Weeks in the Sioux Tepees

Six Weeks in the Sioux Tepees

A T W O D O T B O O K

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

The Library of Congress has catalogued an earlier edition as follows: Wakefield, Sarah F.

Six weeks in the Sioux tepees / Sarah F. Wakefield. 1st ed.

p. cm.

A TwoDot bookT.p. verso

Originally published: Minneapolis : Atlas Print. Co., 1863.

ISBN 0-7627-3080-3

1. Wakefield, Sarah F. 2. Dakota IndiansHistory. 3. Dakota IndiansWars, 18621865. 4. Indian captivitiesMinnesota. 5. MinnesotaBiography. I. Title.

E83.86.W35W35 2004

977.6004'975243dc22

2003062500

ISBN 978-1-4930-2316-5 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-1-4930-2317-2 (e-book)

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

F irst written in 1863, recounting a harrowing six weeks of captivity with the Sioux Indians in Minnesota, Sarah F. Wakefields story is a classic narrative of survival. Kidnapped with her two small children in the midst of a struggle between the Sioux and Chippewa that was compounded by the ineffectiveness of the U.S. government Indian Agents dispatched to the region, the privileged doctors wife suffered from privation and terror. Believing her husband dead and continually in fear for the lives of herself and her children, she used all of her wits to survive, assisted by some of her captors as she hoped for a rescue by the U.S. Army.

Upon her rescue, she penned her tale in response to the difficulties she faced when she was restored to her own home and ostracized for her sympathetic views of her protectors among the Sioux and her respect for their culture. However, she was a product of her upbringing and environment, and her writings about her experience reflect the biases and stereotypes of the time period in spite of her relatively enlightened views. Six Weeks in the Sioux Tepees is a fascinating look at one womans experience of the lifestyle of the Sioux Indians and a testament to her will to survive.

Helena, Mont., 2004

I wish to say a few words in preface to my Narrative:First, that when I wrote it, it was not intended for perusal by the public eye. I wrote it for the especial benefit of my children, as they were so young at the time they were in captivity, that in case of my death, they would, by recourse to this, be enabled to recall to memory the particulars; and I trust all who may read it will bear in mind that I do not pretend to be a book-writer, and will not expect to find much to please the minds fancy. Secondly, I have written a true statement of my captivity: what I suffered, and what I was spared from suffering, by a few Friendly or Christian Indians (whether from policy or other motives, time will determine.) Thirdly, I do not publish a little work like this in the expectation of making money from it, but to vindicate myself, as I have been grievously abused by many, who are ignorant of the particulars of my captivity and release by the Indians. I trust all errors will be overlooked, and that the world will not censure me for speaking kindly of those who saved me from death and dishonor, while my own people were so longOh! so long!to come to my rescue.

In placing this pamphlet before the public, I have been subjected to many embarrassments, among the most unpleasant of which is, through malice and gross carelessness of the printer, a number of omissions and misprints have occurred, some of the latter of which I wish to correct. Where the name of Wara-coto-mong, occurs, it should be spelled Maza coota mony; Mare-Shoe should be Muza Shaw; Pajuta Wacusta-Tanica should be Pajuta Wicaste Tawica; and instead of Hardwood, Hazelwood should occur.

Sarah F. Wakefield
Shakopee, Minn., Nov. 25th , 1863

I n June, 1861, my husband was appointed physician for the upper Sioux Indians, at Pajutazee, or Yellow Medicine.

The first year of our stay it was very quiet, the Indians soon after they were paid leaving for their homes far away, with the exception of those who were farmers, and were living near us as neighbors. And I will state in the beginning that I found them very kind, good people. The women sewed for me, and I have employed them in various ways around my house, and began to love and respect them as well as if they were whites. I became so much accustomed to them and their ways, that when I was thrown into their hands as a prisoner, I felt more easy and contented than any other white person among them, for I knew that not one of the Yellow Medicine Indians would see me and my children suffer as long as they could protect us.

In the spring of 1862, the Agent, accompanied by my husband and others, visited the Indians living near Big Stone Lake, Lac Frara, and that vicinity. They found the Indians quiet, and well contented in what was being done for them, and they seemed much pleased with their visitors.

Before leaving, Maj. Galbraith said to them not to come down until he sent for them, as he had doubts respecting the time of payment. He had not been home many weeks when they began coming in, a few at first frightened by some murders committed among them by Chippewas. Not long was it before the whole tribe arrived and camped about one mile from the Agency buildings.

Here they remained many weeks, suffering hunger: every day expecting their pay so as to return to their homes.

After repeatedly asking for food, and receiving none of consequence, they were told by the interpreter, who belonged to Fort Ridgley, and who accompanied the soldiers to Yellow Medicine a few weeks before the arrival of the Indians, to break into the ware house and help themselves, promising them that he would prevent the soldiers from firing upon them.

I think it was the fourth day of August, that the Indians commenced hostilities at Yellow Medicine. We were much surprised early Monday morning, hearing them singing and shouting so early in the day. Soon they came driving down the hill towards the Agency, dressed very finely, and as we thought, for a dance; but we were soon convinced they meant mischief, as they surrounded the soldiers camp, while part of them rushed up to the ware house and began cutting and beating the door to pieces, all the while shouting, singing and throwing their blankets around them like wild men as they weredriven wild by hunger.

I was with my children up stairs in my own house. My husbands office being in the building connected with the ware house. I was very much frightened, and called my girl to fasten the gate and come in and secure the lower part of the house. Soon they commenced filling our gardens, and all adjoining. In a short time they surrounded our house, and some came to the door and rapped violently. I caught up a pistol and went down the stairs, opened the door, and inquired as calmly as I could what they wanted. They wished axes, and filled the room and followed me around until I gave them all we had. I expected they would kill me, but I knew I could raise an alarm with my pistol before they could get my children. But they offered no violence, and departed quietly; all they cared for was foodit was not our lives; and if all these Indians had been properly fed and otherwise treated like human beings, how many, very many innocent lives might have been spared.