THE RED MEN OF IOWA.

On the 12th of August Captain Heald called a council with the Indians, but none of the other officers attended, for they had been advised that it was the intention of the young chiefs to murder them in the council. He advised the Indians of his intention the next day to distribute among them all the goods, provisions and ammunition in the fort, and requested the Pottamattamie chiefs to furnish him an escort to Fort Wayne. The Indians feigned good will, and promised to do as he desired. Mr. Kinzie, the trader, who understood well the Indian character, pointed out to Captain Heald the unwise policy of furnishing the Indians arms and ammunition. The commander, seeing the force of the argument, concluded to destroy the ammunition and liquor, and then made a distribution of the other property.

Captain Wells of Fort Wayne had heard of the order of General Hull for the evacuation of Fort Dearborn, and with thirty friendly Miamis had hastened through the wilderness to prevent, if possible, such a course, for he

At nine o'clock on the morning of the 15th the fatal march commenced. A part of the Miamis, who had arrived as an escort with Captain Wells, were placed in front, and the remainder in the rear as guards, under the direction of that officer. On leaving the fort it was necessary to march along the beach, with the lake on the left, and a high bank on the right, about one hundred yards distant. About five hundred Pottawattamies who had pledged themselves to escort the command in safety to Fort Wayne, after proceeding to the point where the range of sand-hills commenced, defiled to the right into the prairie, thus bringing the hills between them and the whites. When about a half mile from the fort, Captain Wells came riding furiously back along the line, exclaiming: "They are about to attack; form instantly, and charge upon them !" Just then a volley of balls from Indian muskets poured upon the whites. The latter charged up the hill and for a few minutes the fight was general. The Miami Indians fled at the beginning of the fight, and all the efforts of Captain Wells failed to induce them to stand their ground. In a quarter of an hour the Indians had gained possession of all the horses, provisions and baggage belonging to the whites, after which Captain Heald withdrew the remnant of his force to the adjacent prairie. The Indians did not follow, but by a signal to the commandant indicated that they were ready for a parley. Captain Heald advanced toward them, and