Mirabeau Lamar to Lewis Cass, February 26, 1858

hten the boat that she might be able to
pass over the Rapids. She passed without
difficulty and immediately made the
shore for the purpose of taking on the
passengers and also for putting out some
freight. This was exicuted [sic] with rapidity
and dispatch, and the boat was just
getting underway again when I heard
the screams of a woman and a boy abou-
t 13 or 14 years olde [sic] perhaps mother and
son and at the same time the cry of the
Soldiers: “Stop the boat. “Stop the boat.” On
looking out I found the Soldiers un-
der arms martialed by the Side of the boat
and ready to fire upon us. Not know-
ing the cause of this uproar and violen-
ce I landed immediately and went to
the commandant to enquire into the af-
fare [sic]. I was told that an american [sic] had
attempted the life of a boy and had
Injured him verry [sic] seriously. I called
for the boy who was brought forward bell-
owing vociferously that he was almost
killed. I was astonished and Indignant
to find that the lad was scarsely [sic] hurt in
the slightest degree. It appeared thart [that]