A Battle in the War of 1812 By Sam Osawamick of Wikwemikong, Ontario (1) Mii dash gaa-izhinaagadagobanen gichi-agindaasowin, gii-gichimiigaadiwangobanen nitam. (2) Megwaa gii-miskokonayewewaad zhimaaganishag, gii-ikidoomagak dibaajimowin. (3) Mii maanda nango waa-wiindamoonagog, niwiijikiwenyidig, giinawaa minik bezindaageyeg. (4) Mii dash gaaizhinaagok gichi-agindaasowin. (5) Mii wi gii-izhiwebadagobanen midaaswaak-ashinishwaaswaak miinawaa midaaswi-ashiniizh. (6) Mii wi apii giiizhiwebadagobanen maanda giizhigak. (1) This is an interpretation of what it must have been like, the first time we were involved in a great war. (2) [Narrator points to a picture] According to the story, the soldiers then wore red. (3) It is this (story) that I will now tell you about, my friends, those of you who are listening. (4) This is an account of what it was like. (5) It probably occurred in the year 1812. (6) That is the date on which it must have happened. (7) Mii dash wi ji-maajitaayaan jidibaajimag Niibaakhom. (8) Zhimaaganishii-ogimaa gii-izhinkaazo Niibaakhom, miinawaa zhaaganaashiigchi-ogimaa, zhimaaganishii-ogimaa. (9) Gichi-mookomaanan ogii-bi-odisigoon, mii dash gaa-igod: (7) I will now begin to tell the story of Nibakom. (8) The leader of the soldiers was called Nibakom, but there was also an English officer in charge of the soldiers. (9) He (the Englishman) was approached by an American and addressed as follows: (10) Niin giwi gidanishinaabemag niwiiganawenimaag, ogii-igoon. (10) I am going to take charge of those Indians of yours, he said to him. (11) Gaawiin! Niin go niwiiganawenimaag. (11) Oh no! I will look after them myself.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 2 (12) Gaa dash maaba zhaaganaash Genada zhimaagnishii-ogimaa gaawii gwayak ogiiwiindamawaasiin Niibaakhomoon. (13) Bngiishenh wgii-gaadaajmotwaan wiinwaa nishnaabewwaad wii-daapnigaazwaad, mii gchi-mookmaan gaa-kidod. (12) But (afterwards) this white Canadian officer did not tell Nibakom the truth. (13) He concealed a little in telling him that, since they were Indians, they would be seized according to what the American had said. (14) Gdakiimnaa gwii-mkamgoomi, gbogsenmin dash wii-naadmawyang ge giinwi, mii go wii-shkwaa-dakiimyang giishpin. (15) Mii maaba gaa-kidod zhaagnaashii-gchi-gimaa. (14) Our land will be taken away from us, and I am appealing to you to help us all, for we will no longer have a country if you don t help. (15) That s what the white officer said. (16) Mii sa gii-gchi-naanaagdawendang Niibaahkom, wgii-wiindmawaan wdooshkniigman: (16) So Nibakom gave this serious thought and (then) he told his young followers: (17) Aahhaaw! Gga-naadmaagemi. (18) Gwii-mkamgoomi gdakiimnaa, giishpin bwaa-naadmawngwaa gonda gwiijkiwenynaanig. (17) Okay! We are going to help. (18) Our land will be taken from us, unless we help these friends of ours. (19) Mii dash wi gaa-god gchimookmaanii-gimaan nanda zhaagnaashiigimaan: (19) So, the American leader said to that English leader: (20) Nkweshdaadwin go gga-zhitoonaa, giishpin wii-bwaa-miizhyan gonda gdan shinaabemag. (20) We will have a clash, unless you give me those Indians of yours. (21) Gaawiin! Gga-zhitoonaa go nkweshkdaadwin! wgii-naan zhaagnaashii-gchi-gimaa gchimookmaanan. (21) No, I won t! We will have a clash, the English officer said to the American.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 3 (22) Mii sa go gii-waawiindmaadwaad wiimiigaadwaad. (23) Mii sa wi Niibaakhom gii-zhigaabwihaad wdanniiman. (24) Gaagiizhgaabwihaad, aanii-sh mii sa go giigiizhiitaawaad wii-naadmaagewaad. (22) So they declared war (i.e., they promised each other to fight.) (23) Nibakom placed his men in position. (24) When he had positioned them, they were ready to help. (25) Mii go waabang go ji-maajaayang. (25) We will leave at dawn. (26) Gaa dash aapji go gchi-waasa giizhaasiiwag, mii gii-nkweshkwaawaad gchi-mookmaani-zhmaagnishan. (27) Mii sa go gonda gii-nkweshkdaadwaad. (28) Gii-miigaadwag go ggetin, aapji-sh go giimno-maajiishkaawag. (29) Wgiizheshkwaawaan zhmaagnishan maagaanaawaajin. (30) Megwaa-sh go maaba Niibaakhom gchi-miigaazwaad, mii-sh gii-gkendmowaad. (31) Zheshkwaawag go miinwaa, gaa go wgashkhaasiiwaan wii-zhegnaamaawaad zhmaagnishan. (32) Mii sa maanda zhiaabnaabndmaazod. (33) Gaawii wiya wiijkiwenywaan; kina gii-gjibhiwengoba. (34) Wiinwaa go eta nishnaabeg zhiwi miigaazwag. (26) But they had not gone very far, when they encountered the American soldiers. (27) So they engaged in battle (i.e., met each other). (28) They (the Indians) really fought hard and were really doing quite well. (29) They pushed back the soldiers they were fighting against. (30) While Nibakom (and his men) were fighting hard, they realized something. (31) They were now being pushed back, and could not beat back the soldiers any longer. (32) This is how he (Nibakom) came to look back. (33) None of their allies were there; they had all run off, apparently. (34) Only they, the Indians, were left to fight. (35) Mii sa gii-gnoonaad Niibaakhom wdooshkniigiiman: (35) So Nibakom addressed his young followers: (36) Gjibhiweg! (37) Bskaabiidaa ge giinwi! (38) Gaawii geyaabi wiya gwiijkiwenynaanig. (36) Run away! (37) Let us retreat too! (38) None of our friends are here any longer.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 4 (39) Mii sa gii-bskaabbahwewaad, mii dash naa nwanj gchi-baapaashkzondwaa. (40) Mii Niibaakhom gii-mzhikoozod, zhmaagnishii-gimaa, mii ge go naa zhiwi gii-webnind. (41) Aanii-sh naa giimzhikoozo sa, beskaa bmosed-sh wii go. (42) Mii dash gii-ni-nkwehdood miikaans, gii-bngishin-sh shawekna. (43) Gii-nigwetaa maaba; gii-mzhwaagniwi. (44) ( Gii-mzhwaagniwi, gii-zhinkaajgewag wii pii; nango wii go naa gnimaa giimzhikoozo, gdaa-kidom.) (39) So they retreated, and came under even heavier fire. (40) And so it was that Nibakom, the leader of the soldiers, was wounded, and he was left behind there. (41) He was wounded, but still able to walk slowly. (42) So he came to a path and fell down at the side of the roadway. (43) He just lay there; he was a wounded man. (44) ( Gii-mzhwaagniwi, that s the term they used then; nowadays perhaps you should say, gii-mzhikoozo. ) (45) Mii dash wi Niibaakhom zhngishing, mii gii-noondwaad bezhgoogzhiin biidwewebtoonid dog! dog! dog! dog! (45) So it was that Nibakom was lying there; he heard the sound of a horse approaching clip! clop! clip! clop! (46) Woo! Bek!, kido zhmaagnishiigimaa. (47) Gii-ngaabjigaazo bezhgoogzhii, mii ge waabmigod. (46) Whoa! Back! said the officer. (47) The horse was brought to a stop as he (the officer) saw him (Nibakom). (48) Aa, Otaayaa! Niibaakhom, ggiimzhikooz. (48) Oh! Nibakom! So you were wounded! (49) Enh! Ngii-mzhikooz. (49) Yes, I am wounded! (50) Nahii dash giiwenh giwi wgiibmiwdoonaawaa zhmaagnishii-gimaag gchi-gozhewin giiwenh; wgiinakaaznaawaa bem bahgojig. (51) Mii-sh giiwenh maaba zhmaagnishii-gimaa maanda gii-giichgobdood, mii dash Niibaakhomoon gii-gonebahwaad shawekna. (52) Mii go gii-maajiibtood bezhgoogznii; maajaa. (50) Officers used to carry large blankets with them; those who were riding used them. (51) So this officer pulled his off and put it over Nibakom (as he lay there) at the side of the road. (52) Then the horse started out, at a canter; he was gone.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 5 (53) Mii-sh wadi wiijkiwenywaan kogewaad. (54) Mii wadi gii-wa-dgoshing zhmaagnishii-gimaa, mii-sh gii-dbaajmod. (53) Their friends were encamped over there. (54) When the officer reached them, he made a report. (55) Niibaakhom ngii-mkawaa. (56) Giimzhikoozo. (55) I found Nibakom. (56) He is wounded. (57) Mii dash giiwenh miinwaa bezhig zhmaagnishii-gimaa gii-giigdod: (57) Then another officer spoke up: (58) Aapji na go gii-gchi-nikoozwidig? (58) Was he very badly hurt? (59) Gaawii ngikenmaasii. (60) Aapji go jina ngii-ngoonaa wa, gii-kido-sh giiwenh miinwaa bezhig zhmaagnishii-gimaa wa gaa-bi-waabmaad niwi. (59) I don t really know. (60) I only spoke to him for a short while, said the other officer, who had seen him (Nipakom). (61) Mii sa Niibaakhom zhiwi zhngishing. (61) (Meanwhile) Nibakom was lying there. (62) Nga-wiikjitoo ji-maajaayaan, giinendam Niibaakhom. (63) Aahhaaw, giibomose. (64) Nga-ni-moon haan mshkiki, gdizgewanzh (shagwezgan), nendam-sh giiwenh Niibaakhom. (62) I will try to move on, thought Nibakom. (63) Okay, he was walking. (64) I will dig up the medicinal herb gdizgewanzh (a purgative narrator comments), thought Nibakom. (65) Mii sa gii-ni-moon hishkwed, mii sa Niibaakhom gii-shagwezdizod. (66) Mii sa gii-biidsadood nwiins (shkikmaanens). (67) Aahhaaw! Mii go miinwaa gii-maajaad. (65) So he dug out some medicinal herbs as he went along, and so Nibakom induced himself to vomit. (66) He forced up the bullet, the little piece of lead. (67) Okay! He started off again. (68) Nahii-sh miinwaa gbaskzigan mii miinwaa ge-ni-moon hamaan. (68) Next I will dig up some gbaskzigan (i.e., a medicine to induce clotting).
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 6 (69) Mii go miinwaa Niibaakhom wmashkkiim gii-ni-miijid, mii sa giiboon skogzid; gaawii geyaabi mskwiiwsii. (70) Miinwaa ge mii go zhaazhi gzhizhiwigaadewsed. (71) Ggetin go bmose. (72) Mii sa go wadi gii-ni-dgoshing wiijkiwenyan kogednid zhmaagnishan. (69) So Nibakom took his medicine again, and then the bleeding stopped; he was no longer bleeding. (70) Now his legs were already getting stronger as he walked. (71) He was walking quite steadily. (72) So he reached the place where his friends, the soldiers, were assembled. (73) Mii go bezhig gii-gaanzkamiid, noodaagan, zhmaagnishii-gimaan wgii-wawiindmawaan: (73) Then one of them, a messenger, hurried off, and reported to the officer in charge: (74) Niibaakhom gii-bi-dgoshin. (74) Nibakom has arrived. (75) Oonh! Aanii-sh mii sa gii-dgoshing. (75) Oh! So he has reached here. (76) Mii go gii-bi-maajaad zhmaagnishiigimaa, wgii-zhaamaan Niibaakhomoon. (76) So the officer in charge set out, and came to Nibakom. (77) Aa! Otaayaa! Niibaakhom, ggiimzhikooz. (77) Oh! Nibakom! So you got wounded. (78) Enh! Ngii-mzhikooz. (79) Giin sa ggiimmaazhiiwii, gaa-nji-mzhkoozyaan. (80) Wegnesh gaa-nji-wiindmawsiwan giibskaabbahweyeg. (81) Niinwi-sh eta wadi nshike ngii-miigaazmi. (82) Baamaa-sh ggii-gkenminim zhaazhi kina gaa-bimaajaayeg. (83) Mii-sh ge nii pii giiggaanzomgwaa ndooshkniigiimag. (84) Gjibhiweg! (85) Bskaabiidaa! (86) Ngiinaag. (87) Mii sa gaa-kidod wa Niibaakhom. (78) Yes! I got wounded. (79) You played your part very badly, and that s why I got wounded. (80) Why didn t you tell me that you all were retreating? (81) We were fighting there all alone. (82) It was somewhat later that I realized that you all had already left. (83) That s when I exhorted my men. (84) Run away! (85) Let s turn back! (86) I told them. (87) That s what Nibakom said.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 7 (88) Aanii dash wii go enendman? (89) Geyaabi na go gdaa-mookiitam wii go? (90) Gii-naa-sh giiwenh Niibaakhom. (88) But what do you think now? (89) Are you still going to attack again? (90) Nibakom was asked. (91) Gaawii ngikendziin, gii-kido Niibaakhom gii-nkwetang. (91) I don t know, Nibakom said in reply. (92) Mii sa miinwaa mii go gonda waawiindmaadwaad gchi-mookmaan miinwaa zhaagnaashii-gchi-gimaa. (93) Mii go was-waabang wii-giizhiitaawaad. (94) Mii sa go maanda Genada wii-mkanding, giishpin bkinwind zhaagnaashii-gchigimaa. (95) Mii sa gii-bskaabiid zhmaagnishii-gimaa, neyaab Niibaakhomoon wgii-zhaamaan. (92) Once again the American and the English officer challenged each other. (93) They were prepared (to do battle) on the day after the next. (94) Canada would (certainly) be seized, if the English general was beaten. (95) So the officer returned, and came over to Nibakom. (96) Otaayaa! Niibaakhom, gboksenmin wii-naadmawyaang. (97) Gdooshkniigiimag miinwaa maajiiwiizh, mii ko-sh nii go maanda wii-mkamgooyang was-waabang, maanda Genada, gii-kido zhmaagnishiigimaa. (96) Okay, Nibakom, I am asking you to help us. (97) Take your men out (to fight) again, or this land, this Canada, will be taken from us on the day after tomorrow, the English officer said. (98) Mii sa Niibaakhom gii-nkwetang: (98) So Nibakom replied: (99) Aahhaaw! Gga-naadmoon. (100) Nen shike-sh go wadi ge gii gdooshkniigiimag bkaan, ge nii-sh wadi ndooshkniigiimag bkaan. (101) Gganiizhwewaan gizmi ji-mookiitmang. (102) Aa! Mii sa giizhiitaayang, mii go waswaabang wii-maajaayang. (103) Ggankweshkaagemi. (99) Okay, I will help you. (100) Each group will be on its own, you and your men over there by yourselves, and me with my men over there by ourselves. (101) We will be in two groups as we attack. (102) Okay! We are all prepared, and we ll leave on the day after tomorrow. (103) We ll meet with the others.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 8 (104) Mii sa Niibaakhom wdooshkniigiiman gii-gnoonaad. (105) Mii sa maanda gchiniibna gii-zhigaabwiwaad zhmaagnishag; ninwag sa go naa. (106) Gaawii go gonda zhmaagnishiing zhiwsiiwag. (107) Gonda eta mii zhmaagnishag. (108) Mii sa Niibaakhom wdoopwaagnan giizkahwaad. (104) So Nibakom had a conference with his men. (105) That large group of soldiers was standing in position like this [narrator points to the picture]. These are just men; (106) they are not dressed up like soldiers. (107) These are the only soldiers. (108) Then Nibakom lit his pipe. (109) Aahhaaw! Wegwendig wedaase enendmogwenh, mii nanda ge-daapnaad pwaagan. (110) Wegwenh wedaase enendmogwe, mii nanda eta ge-gshkitood pwaagnan zhanda ji-daapnaad. (111) Wadi maaba pwaagan wii-zhi-biimskokaa, biinish maampii ji-bi-dgoshing. (109) Okay! Whoever thinks himself a brave, he is the one who will take this pipe. (110) One he who regards himself a brave will be able to pick up this pipe. (111) This pipe will go around that way, until it gets back here. (112) Aanii-sh mii sa go gii-ninmaading wa pwaagan. (113) Mii go pane go gii-niaanke-ninmaading. (114) Mii dash eta niiwin gii-daapnaawaad pwaagnan. (115) Mii gonda gaa-zgaswaajig, biinish wadi pwaagan gii-ni-dgoshing. (116) Booch go niizh go eta wedaaseg. (117) Gonda niizh gii-ggiinwishkkwag; gaawii gonda wedaaseg aawsiiwag. (118) Mii sa Mshigekek miinwaa Mshiiknaakoons miinwaa bezhig Miishgondaagan miinwaa bezhig Miigwaans. (112) So the pipe was passed along from one to the other. (113) Quite often someone passed up his turn. (114) Only four of them took the pipe. (115) These were the (only) ones that had smoked, by the time the pipe reached there (the point of starting). (116) Nevertheless only two were braves. (117) These other two were lying; they were not really braves. (118) One of them was called, Mshi-gekek (Hawk), another Mshiiknaakoons (Turtle), another Miishgondaagan (Bearded Throat) and another Miigwaans (Little Feather). (119) Aahhaaw! Mii go nango jimaajaayeg naagshig, gga-wagindaanaawaan zhmaagnishiiwgamgoon, gii-kido sa maaba Niibaakhom. (119) Okay! You will leave this evening, and go over there to count the soldiers tents, said Nibakom.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 9 (120) Nahaag-sh gonda gii-aawwag, wadi gii-bbaam bizwaad bbashkwaanaajiinyag. (121) Gaawii go wadi nini gii-naagzisii; giimnidookaazwag. (122) Kina-sh go gonda gii-ni-negoodewag, biindig go zhiwi giibbaa-yaawag. (123) Zhmaagnishag giiyaawaad bbaam bizwidig-sh go zhiwi bbashkwaanaajiinh. (124) Mii gonda gaabbaa-zhi-naagziwaad. (125) Niizh dash eta wadi gonda gii-zhaawag. (126) Gonda-sh niizh gii-ggiinwishkwag, gaawii wedaaseg aawsiiwag. (127) Besho go naa zhiwi ngoji gii-wwenbiwag gonda, gaawii gonda giigshkitoosiiwag wii-zhaawaad, gchimookmaani-zhmaagnishag zhi-yaawaad. (128) Mii gonda gaa-zhaawaad. (120) These (i.e., the two braves) became bats, so that they could fly around over there. (121) They did not appear over there as men; they worked some magic. (122) They both crept under (the fortification), and went around inside there. (123) Wherever there were soldiers, there was probably a bat flying around. (124) That s what these (men) looked like as they flew around. (125) Only two of them went over there. (126) These other two had lied, for they were not really braves. (127) They sat down somewhere close by, and they did not manage to go over there where the American soldiers were. (128) That s where these (who had lied) had gone. (129) Mdaaswi-shi-niizh dash giiwenh nanda wiigwaaman maanda gii-zhizzheksinoon. (130) Mii giiwenh go kina baashkzignan zhiwi-sh teg. (131) Nengodwaasooshknewag dash. (132) Miinwaa mdaaswi-shi-niizh maanda giinaksinoon, gii-nakdesnoon mdaaswi-shiniizh. (133) Mii sa gii-bskaabiiwaad bbashkwaanaajiinyag, mii go wi niibaadbik go gonda gii-bi-dgoshnoog. (134) Gaawii go gonda debaajmagig giinbaasiiwag. (129) There were twelve tents standing in a row like this [narrator demonstrates]. (130) All the guns were there. (131) There were six (soldiers) to each (tent) (i.e., each contained its full complement of six). (132) There were twelve (tents) in a row and there were twelve rows of these. (133) So the bats started back, and arrived during the night. (134) These ones I am telling you about did not sleep. (135) Aanii-sh mii sa Niibaakhom gii-biwiindmawind. (135) Somebody came and told Nibakom: (136) Zhaazhi gdooshkniigiimag gii-bidgoshnoog. (136) Your men have already returned.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 10 (137) Mii sa gii-ndomaad bezhig. (138) Bebezhig-sh gonda wedaaseg gii-zhiggwejmaawag. (139) Mii dash eta gonda niizh gyak gii-dbaajmowaad, naasaab giinaajmowag, gaawii gii-noondaadsiiwag. (140) Bebkaan gonda gii-zhi-ggwejmaawag. (137) So he summoned one of them. (138) One by one those braves were questioned. (139) Only two of them told the truth, for they related the same story, although they had not heard each other. (140) They were questioned separately, you see. (141) Mii go wi mdaaswi-shi-niizh nanda wiigwaaman nakdesnoon miinwaa-sh mdaaswi-shi-niizh kooksinoon, mii ge go kina baashkzignan nengodwaaswi naksinoon, gii-kidwag gonda. (141) Those tents are twelve rows wide and twelve rows deep, and are six guns placed upright in a row in each tent, these (two) said. (142) The other two were also summoned one by one. (143) They lied in different ways. (144) They really didn t know what to say, so they just made up some kind of story to tell Nibakom. (145) They were therefore chased away. (142) Mii-sh miinwaa gonda niizh giindomndwaa bebezhig. (143) Aapji-sh go naa gonda gii-same-ggiinwishkwag. (144) Gaa go gnagen wgii-gkendziinaawaa waakidwaad, bjiinag go naa wgii-nandanaajmotwaawaan Niibaakhomoon. (145) Mii ge go gii-bskaabnaashkwindwaa. (146) Ni-giiweg! (147) Ggagiibaadzim, giinaawag. (146) Go on home! (147) You are no good, they were told. (148) Aahhaaw! Mii sa waabang jimaajaayaang. (148) Okay, we will set off tomorrow. (149) Mii go zhiwi gaa-ndinang Niibaakhom gii-gkenmaad wdooshkniigiiman waa-zhi-debsenid. (150) Mii dash gaa-naad niwi wiiji-gimaan, zhmaagnishii-gimaan: (149) From what news he had obtained, Nibakom knew that his men would not be adequate to the task. (150) So he said to his fellow chiefs, the (other) officers:
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 11 (151) Nango naawkwe nga-dzhitaa waabang, mii go naawkweg gchiwaakaahgan ji-biingeshkmaan. (151) It will take me half a day tomorrow, and at noon I will enter the fort. (152) Aanii-sh mii sa wi giimaajiiyawnidwaad gonda enaagshig, giizhaawag wadi zhmaagnishag zhi-yaawaad gchi-mookmaani-zhmaagnishag. (153) Giimoodziwag gonda, gaawiin gonda gkenmaasiiwag. (154) Mii sa wadi gaadgoshnawaad, mii Niibaakhom giigganoonaad wdooshkniigiiman: (152) So that evening they set out on a march, and these soldiers went over there where the Americans were. (153) They sneaked up, and nobody was aware of them. (154) When they reached there, Nibakom addressed his men: (155) Bjiinag go bi-bepeshaabang, bimskwaabang, mii ji-baabiibaagndamaan, wgii-naan sa giiwenh. (156) Aahhaw! Nibaag! (157) Gii-nbaawag-sh giiwenh gonda Niibaakhom wdooshkniigiman, Niibaakhom gaawiin nibaasii. (158) Mii go eta dbaabndakwed. (159) Waabndaan bimskwaabang, bi-gwiidaabang, mii sa giibaabiibaagndang. (160) Mii go giigshkosewaad zhmaagnishag, aanii-sh mii sa go gaa-zhi-wiindmawndwaa, mii go giiwebiiwaad. (161) Naagaanbizjig wgii-nigwibdoonaawaan wiigwaaman, shkweyaang eyaajig mii go eta gii-nibgaskiigndibehgewaad, biinish wadi gyekwaabzowaad. (162) Mii go wadi gaazhiitaawaad, mii go kina giizhiitaawaad wadi nanda wiijkiwenywaan. (163) Mii go kina gii-nsaawaad. (155) As soon as the streaks of light appear, as soon as the red glow of dawn shows, I will shout, he said to them. (156) Go ahead and sleep! (157) So Nibakom s men went to sleep, but Nibakom himself didn t sleep. (158) He alone stayed on the watch. (159) He saw the glow of dawn, the rising of the sun, and he gave the shout. (160) The soldiers awoke with a start, and in accordance with what they had been told, they started running quickly. (161) The ones that ran ahead knocked down the tents, and the ones that came after just knocked those people on the head as they passed, until they had moved quickly to the very end of the row. (162) When they (one group) were finished over there, all their companions were finished also. (163) They had killed them all. (164) Mii-sh go miinwaa gii-giigdod Niibaakhom (164) Then Nibakom spoke again:
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 12 (165) Waakaahganing wewiib pagzog! (166) Gego gnagen waasa wiya da-njigaabwisii! (167) Jiigsabak! (165) Quick! Throw yourself against the fort! (166) Let no one dare stand too far away. (167) (Stand) close to the wall! (168) Aapji dash gonda gii-mnwiiwag. (169) Aabding gonda gchi-mookmaanizhmaagnishag wadi wii-bi-bkidaaktaawag, wadi sa nishnaaben wiibaapaashkzwaawaad. (170) Gonda dash nishnaabeg nyaaniibwijig aapji giimnwiiwag zhiwi gii-baapaashkzwaawaad. (171) Mii sa go eta kina gii-jaagnanaawaad wadi biindig eyaan jin. (172) Gegpii giiwenh go gaa go wiya gii-bibkidaaktaasii. (173) Mii dash gekendang Niibaakhom gaawii wadi wiya bi-bkidaaktaasii waansigwaajin, mii dash gii-bgonesgahang gchi-waakaahgan. (174) Pii dash gekendmowaad gonda gchi-mookmaanizhmaagnishag zhiwi biindig geyaabi bngii go naa gii-yaadgenag. (175) Gaawii go gchi-niibna gnimaa. (176) Niishtana-shinaanan megwaaj go naa ndaa-kid. (177) Mii gii-gjibhiwewaad; zaagjibhiwewag wiigwaamwaang waakaahganing. (168) Thus they held the very best position. (169) The American soldiers would have to lean over the wall in order to shoot at the Indians. (170) Those Indians that were standing there the very best position from which to shoot at them. (171) So they, alone, killed all those that were inside. (172) After a while, no-one else leaned over the wall. (173) As soon as Nibakom realized that noone else would lean over the wall to kill them, he made a breach in the fortification. (174) That was when they realized that there were only a few American soldiers inside. (175) There were not many. (176) I will say (there were) about twenty-five of them. (177) These ran away; they ran from their homes in the fort.
A Battle in the War of 1812 Page 13 (178) Mii sa pii Niibaakhom gekendmaad gjibhiwenid zhmaagnishan, mii sa gii-wabiindged waakaahganing. (179) Giibiindged kina go. (180) Mii giimaajtaawaad gii-waabndankaajganewaad, nwanj go gego, waabwaanan miijim giiwenh niibna zhiwi gii-te, mbijiizganan miinwaa wiiyaas giizhaa men deg. (181) Mii dash gaa-shkwaawaabndankaajganewaad, mii dash gchimookmaanii-kiwewin Niibaakhom giiniisaabiignang. (182) Mii go naawkweg. (183) Mii-sh zhaagnaashii-kiwewin neyaab gii-mbaabiignigaadeg. (184) Mii sa zhaagnaashii-kiwewin gii-wewebaasing gchi-waakaahganing. (185) Mii dash go gaa-bmi-giizhiitaawaad, mii dash go ge wadi gaaming zhaagnaashi-kiwewin giimdwe-mbaabiignamwaad. (186) Mii go ge wiinwaa giizhiitaawaad giwi. (187) Mii sa gii-bkinaagewaad. (188) Mii sa giigizhiitaamgak gchi-miigaadwin wi pii gaadgogbanen. (178) When Nibakom realized that the soldiers were running away, he went into the fort. (179) In fact, they all went in. (180) Then they started to examine everything; all kinds of things, blankets and all kinds of food, were right there; loaves of bread and meat already cooked. (181) And so, after they had examined everything, Nibakom then lowered the American flag. (182) It was noon. (183) So the English flag was raised again. (184) So it was that the English flag was flapping in the wind on top of the big fort. (185) When they were finished, across the water they (the allies) had also raised the British flag in the distance. (186) Those over there were finished also. (187) They had won their battle (too). (188) So that great battle which took place at that time was over. (189) Boozhoo nwiijkiwenydig giinwaa mnik bezndaageyeg. (189) Good-day, my friends, those of you who are listening.