CHAPTER VIII.
JOURNEYINGS AT HOME AND ABROAD.
1860-1866.
Visits Europe in 1860 - Return, 1861 - Outbreak of the Rebellion - Business journeys to Washington - Voyage to Fort Benton in 1862 - The Sioux outbreak - Minnesota massacre - Campaigns of Sibley and Sully - Voyage to Fort Benton, 1863 - Stopped by low water at Milk River - Rest of journey by land - Danger of return by river - Decides to return via Panama - Incidents of journey - The situation in the Sioux country - Peace mission to Sioux in 1864 - Unsuccessful and why - Visits Europe - Voyage to Fort Benton in 1866.
Father De Smet remained in St. Louis, except for some short side trips, until September, 1860, when he set out for Europe. He confined his travels on the continent to France, Belgium and Holland, and on the 2d of April, 1861, embarked for his return voyage. It was with many forebodings that he neared the shores of his adopted land, for it had become known to him before sailing that the "standard of rebellion had been raised by the South." He arrived in New York on April 15th only to find his worst fears confirmed. "A few hours before our arrival," he writes, " the great American metropolis had been thrown into the wildest excitement and consternation by the tidings that Fort Sumter in South Carolina had been taken by the Rebels, and that the Stars and Stripes, the far-and-wide honored flag of the great Republic, had been battered down by the enemies of the Union - once Union men themselves - reduced to mere shreds, a rag! Unpardonable outrage! - one which I fear, will be avenged in a deluge of blood. On hearing the sad news of the insulting and arrogant deed, tears flowed freely from many an eye among the passengers of the Fulton, and were followed by loud imprecations and threats against