The following concludes the “Message” about the English Coulee

Appendix

Manitoba Daily Free Press

August 17, 1882, Page 5

Mr. Andrew Tully’s Strange History

Is born in Manitoba – survives an Indian massacre – is rescued by White people and brought up as an American citizen – revisits this Province in his old age.

Mr. Andrew Tully, a gentleman from New York, arrived here by train yesterday morning. He called on Mr. Alexander Haggart, of the firm of Ross, Killian and haggard, in this office, presenting letters of introduction from some of that gentleman’s friends in the east, and stated that his coming to this city had been the result of a cherished wish to revisit the country of his birth. He then told the story of his eventful life, whish is briefly as follows:-

In the year 1819, Mr. David Tully, father of the subject of this sketch, entered the employ of the Hudson’s bay Company and came out with Lord Selkirk to the Red River Settlement as a blacksmith. At the conclusion of his service, which expired in 1823, he with his wife and three children, consisting of a boy five years old, Andrew, the present subject age three, and an infant daughter, started for the United States, having all their worldly effects packed into a Red River cart. At a locality in the vicinity of Grand Forks, they were attacked by a roving band of Sioux Indians, who returning from an unsuccessful hunting expedition. The father, the mother and the infant daughter were murdered, but not until Mr. Tully had slain tow of the savages. The older boy has a narrow escape, suffering the loss of a portion of his scalp in the course of the fight. A squaw, whose feelings of sympathy were doubtless a little more tender than those of the other members of the band rescued the two boys and kept them at her own tent for about a year. At the end of that time, some French traders who happened to be passing Fort Snelling (in the vicinity of the site of the present city of St. Paul), informed Col. Snelling, commander of the fort, that two white children were in captivity among a certain band of Indians. Col. Snelling immediately sent out a force of soldiers who succeeded in liberating the boys and brought them to the fort.

Mr. Tully learns a portion of the facts concerning his early history from Mrs. Van Cleaves, wife of general Van Cleaves, Attorney-General of the Sate of Minnesota.

About a year ago this lady, having ascertained Mr. Tully’s address, wrote him a letter in which she mentioned several incidents in connection with his life which he had not previously known. She informed him that at the time of his captivity she and her little brother were residing with their parents at Fort Snelling, they being the only children at the fort. One day, on returning from school, they were surprised to see a little, curly-headed, bright, blue-eyed boy standing in the door of one of the barracks; and she recollects the circumstance as marking the occasion of the rescue of the two brothers. The younger of the boys, Andrew, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Clark, the parents of Mrs. Van Cleaves and the elder by Col. Snelling, commander of the fort. The elder brother, however, never fully recovered from the effects of the wound received during the massacre, but died shortly afterwards and was buried at the fort. Mr. Clark was about this time recalled to Washington, and he returned with his family descending the Mississippi River in a flat boat to New Orleans, and proceeding thence by way of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast. On his arrival in the Eastern States he learned that the news of the massacre of the Tully family had proceeded him; and before long the relatives of the surviving child, Andrew, having ascertained his whereabouts, took charge of him. From this time forth the boy was brought up and educated by his relatives, and he has ever since continued to reside in New York. He now occupies the position of foreman of one of the principal manufacturing establishments in the city.

For the furtherance of his wish to meet some of the former acquaintances of his father in this country, Mr. Tully was introduced to Mr. Alexander Sutherland, M.P.P. and Mr. John McBeth, who very readily undertook to aid him in the accomplishment of his desires. He was accordingly driven by them down to the Parish of Kildonan where he was introduced to Robert McBeth, Esq., the oldest surviving settler in the parish. At the residence of this gentleman there then took place one of the most pleasant and most interesting reunions ever witnessed in this Province. The events of long past were recalled in rapid succession and with wonderful distinctness of recollection by the aged Mr. McBeth. This gentleman remembered well the coming of Mr. Tully to this country, and his subsequent removal to the United States with his family. He also recollected hearing the account of the murder of the parents and their infant daughter and the rescue of the two other children. Though the details of the story as then told here differed in some important particulars, yet the main facts corresponded exactly with the narrative given by Mr. Andrew Tully. Mr. McBeth said he well recollected the spot on which Mr. David Tully’s little cabin had stood, and which was near the place at present the site of the Ogilvie Mill. Mr. Tully being naturally anxious to visit the spot, was driven over to it by Mr. Sutherland.

Mr. Andrew Tully is still a hale, vigorous and well preserved man. He stated that he had never been ill a day of his life. He was delighted with the country of his birth, and greatly pleased with its appearance and prospects, which entirely transcended his expectations. He was surprised alike at its extent and at the rapidity of its development.

Not being able to pay more than a flying visit, Mr. Tully left the city again by last evening’s train. The circumstances of departure formed quite a contrast to his former journey southwards. He was escorted to the station by Mr. Alex. Sutherland, Mr. John McBeth, and Mr. Alex. Haggart. No doubt with his pleasant experience on this occasion, and with remarkable experience of the remote past before his mind, Mr. Tully will always continue to feel a particular interest in the great Northwest.

To: George Simpson, Esq., Governor of Northern Department, Rubert’s Land;

R.P. Pelly, Esq., Governor of Assiniboine.

Headquarters Fifth Regiment of Infantry

Fort St. Anthony, June 19, 1824.

Gentlemen,- I have this day received your letter of march 3, and shall immediately dispatch an officer and party to reclaim the children of David Tully who, I am informed, are under the protection of Mr. Jeffois, a half-breed, at Lake Traverse. I should send them to the Red River settlement by the nearest route; but the state of my command will not allow my furnishing an escort sufficient to ensure their safety. I have therefore directed that they shall be brought to this place, where they will remain under my protection until an opportunity offers of sending them home by the lakes. I shall not encroach upon the scanty portion of these orphans, by making any charge for their expense while with me on their way hither; I shall be amply repaid by their pleasure of having rescued them from Indian captivity, and restoring them to their friends.

I beg leave to assure you that it will always give me pleasure to promote the interests of your respective governments, so long as it may be consistent with my duty to my own country; and hope that the present amicable relations between England and America may long continue.

I have the honor to be gentlemen,

Your obedient servant,

J. Snelling

Col. Fifth U.S. Regiment of Infantry, Commanding the posts on the upper Mississippi.

( Thank you Tim Tully, great, great, great grand nephew, Winnipeg, Manitoba for this letter).

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR