The Chicago Massacre of 1812: With Illustrations and Historical DocumentsKirkland, Joseph
History
The Chicago Massacre of 1812: With Illustrations and Historical Documents
Kirkland, Joseph
Chicago (Ill.) -- History; Fort Dearborn Massacre, Chicago, Ill., 1812
The family of Mr. Lee had resided in a house on the lake-shore, not
far from the fort. Mr. Lee was the owner of Lee's Place, which he
cultivated as a farm. It was his son who ran down with a discharged
soldier to give the alarm of "Indians" at the fort on the afternoon
of the 7th of April. The father, the son, and all the other members
had fallen victims on the 15th of August, except Mrs. Lee and her
young infant. These were claimed by Black Partridge and carried to
his village on the Au Sable. He had been particularly attached to a
little girl of Mrs. Lee's, about twelve years of age. This child had
been placed on horseback for the march, and as she was unaccustomed
to the exercise, she was tied fast to the saddle, lest by any
accident she should slip off or be thrown.
She was within reach of the balls at the commencement of the
engagement, and was severely wounded. The horse set off on a full
gallop, which partly threw her, but she was held fast by the bands
which confined her, and hung dangling as the animal ran violently
about. In this state she was met by Black Partridge, who caught the
horse and disengaged her from the saddle. Finding her so much wounded
that she could not recover, and that she was suffering great agony,
he put the finishing stroke to her at once with his tomahawk. He
afterwards said that this was the hardest thing he ever tried to do,
but he did it because he could not bear to see her suffer.
He took the mother and her infant to his village, where he became
warmly attached to the former--so much so that he wished to marry
her; but, as she very naturally objected, he treated her with the
greatest respect and consideration. He was in no hurry to release
her, for he was in hopes of prevailing on her to become his wife. In
the course of the winter her child fell ill. Finding that none of the
remedies within their reach were effectual, Black Partridge proposed
to take the little one to Chicago, where there was now a French
trader living in the mansion of Mr. Kinzie, and procure some medical
aid from him. Wrapping up his charge with the greatest care he set
out on his journey.
When he arrived at the residence of M. du Pin, he entered the room
where he was, and carefully placed his burden on the floor.
"What have you there?" asked M. du Pin.
"A young raccoon which I brought you as a present," was the reply,
and opening the pack he showed the little sick infant.
When the trader had prescribed for its complaint, and Black Partridge
was about to return to his home, he told his friend his proposal to
Mrs. Lee to become his wife, and the manner in which it had been
received.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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