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diff --git a/old/51990-h/51990-h.htm b/old/51990-h/51990-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index c1247a4..0000000 --- a/old/51990-h/51990-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8083 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - A Thrilling Narrative of the Minnesota Massacre and the Sioux War of 1862-63, by Alonzo Putnam Connolly, a Project Gutenberg eBook. - </title> - <link rel="cover" href="images/cover_epub.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} - -p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .75em; text-indent: 1.5em;} - -hr {width: 33%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; - margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em;} -hr.full {width: 95%; margin-top: 2em;} -hr.tb {width: 45%;} -hr.r10 {width: 10%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} -hr.r20 {width: 20%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} - -table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-collapse: collapse;} - -.pagenum {position: absolute; right: 3.5%; - font-size: small; text-align: right; color: #808080;} /* page numbers */ -.bbox {border: solid #000 1px; padding: 1em;} -.row2 {background-color: #f6f6f6;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} -.center {text-align: center; margin:0; text-indent: 0;} -.smaller {font-size: 0.8em;} -.gesspert {letter-spacing: 0.125em;} -.tdl {text-align: left; text-indent: 0;} -.tdr {text-align: right;} -.tdl2 {text-align: left; padding-left:2em;} -.tdr2 {text-align: right; padding-right:2em;} -.p0 {text-indent: 0;} -.ind2em {padding-left: 2em; text-indent: 0;} -.caption1, .caption2, .caption3, .caption4 {font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent:0;} -.caption1 {font-size:2.00em; margin-top: 1.5em;} -.caption2 {font-size:1.50em; margin-top: 1.0em;} -.caption3 {font-size:1.25em; margin-top: 0.5em;} -.caption4 {font-size:1.15em; margin-top: 0.5em;} -.pmt4 {margin-top: 4em;} -.pmb2 {margin-bottom: 2em;} -.pmb4 {margin-bottom: 4em;} - -/* Images */ - -.fig_center {margin: auto; text-align: center;} - -.fig_caption {margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 2em; - text-indent: -2em; text-align: center;} - -.blockquot {margin: 0 2em;} -.vmid {vertical-align: middle;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.trans_notes {background-color: #e6e6fa; color: black; padding:1.5em; - margin-bottom:5em;} - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} -.fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} - -/* Poetry */ -.poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} -.poem br {display: none;} -.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} -.poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -.poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -.poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Thrilling Narrative of the Minnesota -Massacre and the Sioux War of 1862-63, by A. P. (Alonzo Putnam) Connolly - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: A Thrilling Narrative of the Minnesota Massacre and the Sioux War of 1862-63 - Graphic Accounts of the Siege of Fort Ridgely, Battles of - Birch Coolie, Wood Lake, Big Mound, Stony Lake, Dead Buffalo - Lake and Missouri River - -Author: A. P. (Alonzo Putnam) Connolly - -Release Date: May 3, 2016 [EBook #51990] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THRILLING NARRATIVE *** - - - - -Produced by WebRover, Tom Cosmas, Chris Curnow and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 340px;"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="340" height="522" alt="Sioux War and Massacre of 1862 and 1863" /> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - - - -<div class="trans_notes pmb2"> -<p class="caption2">Transcriber Note</p> - -<p class="center">Table of Contents added.</p> -</div> - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 345px; padding-bottom: 2em;"> -<img src="images/page_001.png" width="345" height="449" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Governor Alex Ramsey, of St. Paul</span>,<br /> -<span class="smaller">The Last of the War Governors.</span></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></span></p> - - -<p class="caption1">A THRILLING NARRATIVE</p> - -<p class="center">OF</p> - -<p class="caption1 gesspert">THE MINNESOTA MASSACRE</p> - -<p class="center">AND THE</p> - -<p class="caption2">SIOUX WAR OF 1862-63</p> - -<hr class="r20" /> - -<p class="center">GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS OF THE</p> - -<p class="center"><i>SIEGE OF FORT RIDGELY, BATTLES OF BIRCH COOLIE, WOOD<br /> -LAKE, BIG MOUND, STONY LAKE, DEAD BUFFALO<br /> -LAKE AND MISSOURI RIVER</i>.</p> - -<p class="caption4">ILLUSTRATED.</p> - -<hr class="r20" /> - -<p class="center pmb4">CHICAGO:<br /> -<br /> -A. P. CONNOLLY, Publisher,<br /> -PAST COMMANDER U. S. GRANT POST, NO. 28, G. A. R.<br /> -DEPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></span></p> - - -<p class="center pmt4 pmb4"> -Copyright 1896, by<br /> -A. P. CONNOLLY<br /> -CHICAGO.</p> - -<p class="center pmb4">DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY, PRINTERS AND BINDERS, CHICAGO.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">« 3 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="DEDICATION" id="DEDICATION">DEDICATION.</a></p> - -<hr class="r20" /> - - -<p>Thirty-four years ago and Minnesota was in an unusual -state of excitement. The great War of the Rebellion was -on and many of her sons were in the Union army “at the -front.” In addition, the Sioux Indian outbreak occurred -and troops were hurriedly sent to the frontier. Company -A, Sixth Minnesota Infantry, and detachments from -other companies were sent out to bury the victims of the -Indians. This duty performed, they rested from their labors -and in an unguarded hour, they, too, were surrounded -by the victorious Indians and suffered greatly in killed -and wounded at Birch Coolie, Minnesota, on September 2 -and 3, 1862. The men who gave up their lives at this historic -place, have been remembered by the state in the erection -of a beautiful monument to their memory and the -names inscribed thereon are as follows:</p> - -<p class="ind2em"> -John College, sergeant, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Wm. Irvine, sergeant, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Wm. M. Cobb, corporal, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Cornelius Coyle, private, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -George Coulter, private, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Chauncey L. King, private, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Henry Rolleau, private, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Wm. Russell, private, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Henry Whetsler, private, Company A, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Benj. S. Terry, sergeant, Company G, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -F. C. W. Renneken, corporal, Company G, Sixth Minnesota.<br /> -Robert Baxter, sergeant, Mounted Rangers.<br /> -Richard Gibbons, corporal, Mounted Rangers.<br /> -</p> - -<p>To these, knowing them all personally and well, I fraternally -and reverentially inscribe this book.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">« 4 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">« 5 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION.</a></p> - - -<p>“We are coming, Father Abraham, SIX HUNDRED -THOUSAND MORE!”</p> - -<p>This was in response to the President’s appeal for men -to go to the front, and the vast levies this called for made -men turn pale and maidens tremble.</p> - -<p>The Union army was being defeated, and its ranks depleted -by disease and expiration of terms of service—the -enemy was victorious and defiant, and foreign powers were -wavering. In England aristocracy wanted a confederacy—the -Commoners wanted an undivided Union. The North -responded to the appeal, mothers gave up their sons, wives -their husbands, maidens their lovers, and six hundred -thousand “boys in blue” marched away.</p> - -<p>In August, 1862, I enlisted to serve Uncle Sam for -“three years or during the war.” In January, 1865, I reenlisted -to serve another term; but the happy termination -of the conflict made it unnecessary. I do not write -this boastingly, but proudly. There are periods in our -lives we wish to emphasize and with me this is the period -in my life.</p> - -<p>The years from 1861 to 1865—memorable for all time, -I look back to now as a dream. The echo of the first -gun on Sumter startled the world. Men stood aghast -and buckling on the sword and shouldering the musket -they marched away. Brave men from the North met brave -men from the South, and, as the clash of arms resounded -throughout our once happy land, the Nations of the World -with bated breath watched the destinies of this Republic.</p> - -<p>After four years of arbitration on many sanguinary -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">« 6 »</a></span> -fields, we decided at Appomattox to live in harmony under -one flag. The soldiers are satisfied—“the Blue and -the Gray” have joined hands; but the politicians, or at -least some of them, seem to be unaware that the war is -over, and still drag us into the controversy.</p> - -<p>“The Boys in Blue?” Why, that was in 1866, and this is -1896—thirty years after we had fulfilled our contract and -turned over the goods; and was ever work better done?</p> - -<p>Then we could have anything we wanted; now we are -“Old Soldiers” and it is 16 to 1 against us when there is -work to do. A new generation has arisen, and the men -of 1861 to 1865 are out of “the swim,” unless their vote is -wanted. We generally vote right. We were safe to trust -in “the dark days” and we can be trusted now; but Young -America is in the front rank and we must submit.</p> - -<p>The soldier was a queer “critter” and could adapt himself -to any circumstance. He could cook, wash dishes, -preach, pray, fight, build bridges, build railroads, scale -mountains, dig wells, dig canals, edit papers, eat three -square meals a day or go without and find fault; and so -with this experience of years,—the eventful years of 1861 -and 1865 before me, when the door is shut and I am no -longer effective and cannot very well retire—to the poor-house, -have concluded to write a book. I am not so important -a character as either Grant, Sherman, Sheridan -or Logan; but I did my share toward making them great. -I’ll never have a monument erected to my memory unless -I pay for it myself; but my conscience is clear, for I served -more than three years in Uncle Sam’s army and I have -never regretted it and have no apologies to make. I did -not go for pay, bounty or pension, although I got both -the former when I did enlist and am living in the enjoyment -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">« 7 »</a></span> -of the latter now. I would not like to say how -much my pension is, but it is not one hundred a month -by “a large majority”—and so, I have concluded, upon -the whole, to profit by a portion of my experience in the -great “Sioux War” in Minnesota and Dakota in 1862 (for -I campaigned both North and South) and write a book -and thus “stand off” the wolf in my old age.</p> - -<p>When peace was declared, the great armies were ordered -home and the “Boys in Blue” became citizens again. The -majority of us have passed over the hill-top and are going -down the western slope of life, leaving our comrades by -the wayside. In a few years more there will be but a -corporal’s guard left and “the place that knows us now -will know us no more forever.” The poor-house will -catch some and the Soldiers’ Home others; but the bread -of charity can never be so sweet and palatable as is that -derived from one’s own earnings,—hence this little book -of personal experiences and exciting events of these exciting -years—1862 and 1863. In it I deal in facts and personal -experiences, and the experiences of others who passed -through the trying ordeal, as narrated to me. As one -grows old, memory in some sense is unreliable. It cannot -hold on as it once did. The recollection of the -incidents of youth remains, while the more recent occurrences -have often but a slender hold on our memories; -often creeps in touching dates, but the recollections -of August, 1862, and the months that followed, are indeed -vivid; the impress is so indelibly graven on our memories -that time has not effaced them.</p> - -<p>The characters spoken of I knew personally, some for -years; the locations were familiar to me, the buildings -homely as they appear, are correct in size and in style -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">« 8 »</a></span> -of architecture and some of them I helped to build. The -narrative is as I would relate to you, were we at one of -our “Camp Fires.” It is turning back the pages of memory, -but in the mental review it seems but yesterday that -the sad events occurred.</p> - -<p class="tdr2 pmb4">A. P. CONNOLLY.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">« 9 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 369px;"> -<img src="images/page_009.png" width="369" height="483" alt="" /> -<div class="tdl">Yours truly,</div> -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 330px;"> -<img src="images/signature.png" width="330" height="103" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">« 10 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></p> - - -<table summary="ToC"> -<tr> - <td class="tdl2 smaller" colspan="2">Chapter</td> - <td class="tdr smaller">Page</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">General Remarks—Death of Dr. Weiser.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">11</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1836 and 1896—Father Hennepin.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">14</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">A Pathetic Chapter—Captain Chittenden’s Minnehaha.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">20</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Origin of Indians—Captain Carver—Sitting Bull.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">27</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Fort Snelling.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">33</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">The Alarm.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">38</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Some of the Causes of the War.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">43</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Little Crow at Devil’s Lake.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">50</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Fort Ridgely Besieged.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">63</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Siege of New Ulm.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">67</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Col. Flandreau in Command.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">75</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Mrs. Eastlick and Family.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">78</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">The Missionaries—Their Escape.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">85</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">The Indian Pow-wow.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">87</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Gov. Sibley Appointed Commander.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">97</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">March to Fort Ridgely.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">103</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Burial of Capt. Marsh and Men.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">106</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Birch Coolie.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">112</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Birch Coolie Continued.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">118</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Wood Lake.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">128</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Camp Release.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">139</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">The Indian Prisoners—The Trial.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">146</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">XXIII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Capture of Renegade Bands—Midnight March.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">153</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">XXIV.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Homeward Bound.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">156</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">XXV.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Protests—President Lincoln’s Order For the Execution.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">163</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">XXVI.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">The Execution—The Night Before.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">169</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">XXVII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Squaws Take Leave of Their Husbands.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">176</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">XXVIII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Capture and Release of Joe Brown’s Indian Family.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">178</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">XXIX.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Governor Ramsey and Hole-in-the-Day.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">185</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">XXX.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Chaska—George Spencer—Chaska’s Death—The “Moscow” - Expedition.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">190</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">XXXI.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">The “Moscow” Expedition.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">195</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">XXXII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Campaign of 1863—Camp Pope.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">199</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">XXXIII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">“Forward March.”</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">205</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">XXXIV.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Burning Prairie—Fighting Fire.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">209</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">XXXV.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Death of Little Crow.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">211</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">XXXVI.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Little Crow, Jr.—His Capture.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">218</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">XXXVII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Camp Atchison—George A. Brackett’s Adventure—Lieutenant - Freeman’s Death.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">221</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">XXXVIII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Big Mound.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">232</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">XXXIX.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">237</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">XL.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Stony Lake—Capture of a Teton—Death of - Lieutenant Beaver.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">241</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">XLI.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Homeward Bound.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">252</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">XLII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">The Campaign of 1864.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">257</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">XLIII.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">The Battle of the Bad Lands.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">261</a></td> -</tr> -<tr class="row2"> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">XLIV.</a></td> - <td class="tdl">Conclusion.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">271</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">« 11 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - -<p class="caption3">GENERAL REMARKS—DEATH OF DR. WEISER.</p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - - -<p>Historians have written, orators have spoken and poets -have sung of the heroism and bravery of the great Union -army and navy that from 1861 to 1865 followed the -leadership of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Logan, Thomas, -McPherson, Farragut and Porter from Bull Run to Appomattox, -and from Atlanta to the sea; and after their -work was done and well done, returned to their homes to -receive the plaudits of a grateful country.</p> - -<p>More than thirty years have elapsed since these trying, -melancholy times. The question that then called the -volunteer army into existence has been settled, and the -great commanders have gone to their rewards. We bow -our heads in submission to the mandate of the King of -Kings, as with sorrow and pleasure we read the grateful -tributes paid to the memories of the heroes on land and -on sea,—the names made illustrious by valorous achievements, -and that have become household words, engraven -on our memories; and we think of them as comrades who -await us “on fame’s eternal camping ground.”</p> - -<p>Since the war, other questions have arisen to claim our -attention, and this book treats of another momentous -theme. The Indian question has often, indeed too often, -been uppermost in the minds of the people. We have -had the World’s Fair, the Four Hundredth Anniversary -of the discovery of America, the recollection of which is -still fresh in our memories. Now we have politics and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">« 12 »</a></span> -doubtless have passed through one of the most exciting -political campaigns of our day and generation; but, let us -take a retrospective view, and go back thirty years; look -at some of the causes leading up to the Indian war of -1862; make a campaign with me as we march over twelve -hundred miles into an almost unknown land and defeat -the Indians in several sanguinary battles, liberate four -hundred captive women and children, try, convict and -hang thirty-nine Indians for participating in the murder -of thousands of unsuspecting white settlers, and if, upon -our return, you are not satisfied, I hope you will in the -kindness of your heart forgive me for taking you on this -(at the time) perilous journey.</p> - -<p>I will say to my comrades who campaigned solely in the -South, that my experience, both North and South, leads -me to believe there is no comparison. In the South we -fought foemen worthy of our steel,—soldiers who were -manly enough to acknowledge defeat, and magnanimous -enough to respect the defeat of their opponents. Not so -with the redskins. Their tactics were of the skulking kind; -their object scalps, and not glory. They never acknowledged -defeat, had no respect for a fallen foe, and gratified -their natural propensity for blood. Meeting them in battle -there was but one choice,—fight, and one result only, -if unsuccessful,—certain death. They knew what the -flag of truce meant (cessation of hostilities), but had not -a proper respect for it. They felt safe in coming to us -with this time-honored symbol of protection, because they -knew we would respect it. We did not feel safe in going -to them under like circumstances, because there were those -among them who smothered every honorable impulse to -gratify a spirit of revenge and hatred. As an illustration -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">« 13 »</a></span> -of this I will state, that just after the battle of the -Big Mound in 1863, we met a delegation of Indians with a -flag of truce, and while the interpreter was talking to them -and telling them what the General desired, and some soldiers -were giving them tobacco and crackers, Dr. Weiser, -surgeon of the Second Minnesota Cavalry, having on his -full uniform as major, tempted a villainous fellow, who -thinking, from the uniform, that it was General Sibley, -our commander, jumped up, and before his intention could -be understood, shot him through the back, killing him instantly. -Treachery of this stamp does not of course apply -to all the members of all tribes and benighted people; for -I suppose even in the jungles of Africa, where tribes of -black men live who have never heard of a white man, we -could find some endowed with human instincts, who would -protect those whom the fortunes of war or exploration -might cast among them. We found some Indians who -were exceptions to the alleged general rule—cruel. The -battles we fought were fierce, escapes miraculous, personal -experiences wonderful and the liberation of the captives -a bright chapter in the history of events in this exciting -year.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">« 14 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - -<p class="caption3">ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS IN 1836 AND 1896—FATHER -HENNEPIN.</p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - - -<p>As St. Paul, Minnesota, is our starting point, we will -pause for a little and cultivate the acquaintance of her -people. The picture represents St. Paul and Minneapolis -about as we suppose they were previous to 1838, and before -a white man gazed upon the natural beauties of our great -country. In the picture you see “one of the first families,” -in fact it is the first family, and a healthy, dirty-looking -lot they are. They had evidently heard that a stranger -had “come to town” and the neighbors came in to lend a -hand in “receiving” the distinguished guest. The Indian -kid on the left hand, with his hair a la Paderewski, -was probably playing marbles with young Dirty-Face-Afraid-of-Soap-and-Water -in the back yard, when his -mother whooped for him to come. He looks mad about -it. They all have on their Sunday clothes and are speculating -as to whether it is best to get acquainted with the -forerunner of civilization or not. Their liberties had never -been abridged. The Indians came and went at will, -never dreaming that the day was approaching when civilization -would force them to “move on.” As early as 1819 -white people were in Minnesota, ’tis true, but this was -when Fort St. Anthony was first garrisoned.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">« 15 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 497px;"> -<img src="images/page_015.png" width="497" height="367" alt="" /> -<span class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">One of the “First Families” of St. Paul in 1835.</span></span> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">« 16 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">« 17 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Anterior to this, however, a zealous Franciscan priest, -Father Hennepin, ascended the Mississippi, by oar, impelled -on by its beautiful scenery, and in August, 1680, -he stood upon the brink of the river near where Fort -Snelling now is, and erected the cross of his church and -probably was the first to proclaim to the red man the glad -tidings of “Peace on earth, good will to man.” He pointed -them to the cross as the emblem of liberty from superstition, -but they in their ignorance did not heed his peaceful -coming, but made him their captive, holding him thus -for six months, during which time he so completely gained -their confidence as to cause them to liberate him, and his -name is still remembered reverentially by them.</p> - -<p>Father Hennepin named the Falls of St. Anthony after -his patron saint, and was the first white man to look upon -its beauties and listen to the music of Minnehaha, as her -crystal water rolled over the cliffs and went rippling -through the grasses and flowers on its merry way to the -bosom of the “Father of Waters.”</p> - -<p>Minnehaha, beautiful in sunshine and in shadow; in -rain-shower and in snow-storm—for ages has your laughter -greeted the ear of the ardent Indian lover. Here Hiawatha, -outstripping all competitors in his love-race, wooed his -Minnehaha and in triumph carried her away to his far-off -Ojibway home. The Indians loved this spot and as they -camped upon its banks and smoked the peace pipe “as a -signal to the nations,” dreamed only of peace and plenty. -The Great Spirit was good to them; but the evil day was -approaching, invisible yet, then a speck on the horizon, -but the cloud grew and the “pale face” was among them. -Sorrowfully they bid farewell forever to their beautiful -“Laughing Water.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">« 18 »</a></span></p> - -<p>In these early days it was almost beyond the comprehension -of man that two populous cities should spring up -as have St. Paul and Minneapolis, and Pierre Parrant, the -first settler at St. Paul, little dreamed that the “Twin -Cities,” with a population variously estimated at from -200,000 to 225,000, would greet the eye of the astonished -beholder in 1896. They sprang into existence and grew -apace; they met with reverses, as all cities do, but the indomitable -energy of the men who started out to carve for -themselves a fortune, achieved their end, and their children -are now enjoying the fruits of their labor.</p> - -<p>There is no city in America that can boast an avenue -equal to Summit avenue in St. Paul, with its many beautiful -residences ranging in cost from $25,000 to $350,000. -Notably among these palatial homes is that of James J. -Hill, the railroad king of the Northwest. His is a palace -set on a hill, built in the old English style, situated on an -eminence overlooking the river and the bluffs beyond. -The grounds without and the art treasures within are -equal to those of any home in our country, and such as are -found only in homes of culture where money in plenty is -always at hand to gratify every desire.</p> - -<p>The avenue winds along the bluff, and the outlook up -and down the river calls forth exclamations of delight from -those who can see beauty in our natural American scenery. -In the springtime, when the trees are in their fresh green -garb, and budding forth, and in the autumn when the days -are hazy and short, when the sere of months has painted -the foliage in variegated colors, and it begins to fall, the -picture as unfolded to the beholder standing on the bluffs -is delighting, enchanting.</p> - -<p>The urban and interurban facilities for transport from -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">« 19 »</a></span> -city to city are the best in the world, and is the successful -result of years of observation and laborious effort on the -part of the honorable Thomas Lowry, the street railway -magnate; and the many bridges spanning the “Father -of Waters” at either end of the line give evidence of the -ability of the business men of the two cities to compass -anything within reason.</p> - -<p>Minneapolis, the “flour city,” noted for its broad streets -and palatial homes nestling among the trees; its magnificent -public library building with its well-filled shelves of -book treasures; its expensive and beautiful public buildings -and business blocks; its far-famed exposition building, -and its great cluster of mammoth flouring mills -that astonish the world, are the pride of every Minnesotian. -Even the “Father of Waters” laughs as he leaps over the -rocks and, winding in and out, drives this world of machinery -that grinds up wheat—not by the car-load, but by -the train-load, and—“Pillsbury’s Best”—long since a national -pride, has become a familiar international brand because -it can be found in all the great marts of the world. -What a transformation since 1638! Father Hennepin, no -doubt, looks down from the battlements of Heaven in -amazement at the change; and the poor Indians, who had -been wont to roam about here, unhindered, have long since, -in sorrow, fled away nearer to the setting sun; but alas! -he returned and left the imprint of his aroused savage -nature.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">« 20 »</a></span></p> - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - -<p class="caption3">A PATHETIC CHAPTER—CAPTAIN CHITTENDEN’S MINNEHAHA.</p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - - -<p>In August, 1862, what do we see? Homes, beautiful -prairie homes of yesterday, to-day have sunken out of sight, -buried in their own ashes; the wife of an early love has -been overtaken and compelled to submit to the unholy -passion of her cruel captor; the prattling tongues of the -innocents have been silenced in sudden death, and reason -dethroned. A most pathetic case was that of Charles Nelson, -a Swede. The day previous, his dwelling had been -burned to the ground, his daughter outraged, the head -of his wife, Lela, cleft by the tomahawk, and while seeking -to save himself, he saw, for a moment, his two sons, Hans -and Otto, rushing through the corn-field with the Indians -in swift pursuit. Returning with the troops under Colonel -McPhail, and passing by the ruins of his home, he -gazed about him wildly, and closing the gate of the garden, -asked: “When will it be safe to return?” His reason -was gone!</p> - -<p>This pathetic scene witnessed by so many who yet live -to remember it, was made a chapter entitled, “The Maniac,” -in a work from the pen of Mrs. Harriet E. McConkey, -published soon after it occurred.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">« 21 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 361px;"> -<img src="images/page_021.png" width="361" height="455" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"> -<div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly.</span></div> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Minne-ha-ha Falls Before the White Man Ever Saw It.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">« 22 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">« 23 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Captain Chittenden, of Colonel McPhail’s command, -while sitting a few days after, under the Falls of Minnehaha, -embodied in verse this wonderful tragedy, giving -to the world the following lines:</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Minne-ha-ha, laughing water,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Cease thy laughing now for aye,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Savage hands are red with slaughter<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Of the innocent to-day.<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Ill accords thy sportive humor<br /></span> -<span class="i2">With their last despairing wail;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">While thou’rt dancing in the sunbeam,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Mangled corpses strew the vale.<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Change thy note, gay Minne-ha-ha;<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Let some sadder strain prevail—<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Listen, while a maniac wanderer<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Sighs to thee his woeful tale;<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Give me back my Lela’s tresses,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Let me kiss them once again!<br /></span> -<span class="i0">She, who blest me with caresses<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Lies unburied on the plain!<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“See yon smoke? there was my dwelling;<br /></span> -<span class="i2">That is all I have of home!<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Hark! I hear their fiendish yelling,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">As I, houseless, childless, roam!<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Have they killed my Hans and Otto?<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Did they find them in the corn?<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Go and tell that savage monster<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Not to slay my youngest born.<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Yonder is my new-bought reaper,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Standing mid the ripened grain;<br /></span> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">« 24 »</a></span> -<span class="i0">E’en my cow asks why I leave her<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Wand’ring, unmilked, o’er the plain.<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Soldiers, bury here my Lela;<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Place <i>me</i> also ’neath the sod;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Long we lived and wrought together—<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Let me die with her—O God!<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Faithful Fido, you they’ve left me,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Can you tell me, Fido, why<br /></span> -<span class="i0">God at once has thus bereft me?<br /></span> -<span class="i2">All I ask is here to die.<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“O, my daughter Jennie, darling!<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Worse than death is Jennie’s fate!"<br /></span> -</div> -<br /> - * * * * *<br /> -<br /> -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Nelson, as our troops were leaving<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Turned and shut his garden gate.<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">« 25 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 658px; padding-top: 4em;"> -<img src="images/page_025.png" width="658" height="372" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"> -<div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly.</span></div> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Father Hennepin Raised the Cross of His Church on the Bank of the Mississippi River -near where Fort Snelling now Stands in 1618.</span></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">« 26 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">« 27 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - -<p class="caption3">ORIGIN OF INDIANS—CAPTAIN CARVER—SITTING BULL.</p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - - -<p>There is something wonderfully interesting about the -origin of the Indians. Different writers have different -theories; John McIntosh, who is an interesting and very -exhaustive writer on this subject, says they can date their -origin back to the time of the flood, and that Magog, the -second son of Japhet, is the real fountain head. Our -North American Indians, however, were first heard of -authentically from Father Hennepin, who so early came -among them.</p> - -<p>At a later date, about 1766, Jonathan Carver, a British -subject and a captain in the army, made a visit of adventure -to this almost unknown and interesting country. -The Sioux were then very powerful and occupied the country -about St. Anthony Falls, and west of the Mississippi, -and south, taking in a portion of what now is the State -of Iowa.</p> - -<p>The country to the north and northeast was owned by -the Chippewas. The Sioux then, as later, were a very war-like -nation, and at the time of Captain Carver’s advent -among them were at war with the Chippewas, their hated -foes. Captain Carver came among them as a peace-maker; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">« 28 »</a></span> -his diplomacy and genial spirit prevailed, and the -hatchet was buried. For these good offices, the Indians -ceded to him a large tract of land, extending from the -Falls of St. Anthony to the foot of Lake Pipin; thence -east one hundred miles; thence north and west to the place -of beginning—a most magnificent domain, truly, and -which in Europe would call for nothing less than a king -to supervise its destinies.</p> - -<p>A writer, Hon. W. S. Bryant, of St. Paul, Minnesota, -on this subject, says: “That at a later period, after Captain -Carver’s death, congress was petitioned by others than -his heirs, to confirm the Indian deed, and among the papers -produced in support of the claim, was a copy of an -instrument purporting to have been executed at Lake -Traverse, on the 17th day of February, 1821, by four -Indians who called themselves chiefs and warriors of the -Uandowessies—the Sioux. They declare that their fathers -did grant to Captain Jonathan Carver this vast tract of -land and that there is among their people a traditional -record of the same. This writing is signed by Ouekien -Tangah, Tashachpi Tainche, Kache Noberie and Petite -Corbeau (Little Crow).” This “Petite” is undoubtedly -the father of Little Crow, who figures in this narrative as -the leader in the massacre.</p> - -<p>Captain Carver’s claim has never been recognized, although -the instrument transferring this large tract of -land to him by the Indians was in existence and in St. -Paul less than twenty-five years ago. It has since been -destroyed and the possessors of these valuable acres can -rest themselves in peace.</p> - -<p>In 1862 the red man’s ambition was inflamed, and in -his desire to repossess himself of his lost patrimony, he -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">« 29 »</a></span> -seeks redress of his wrongs in bloody war. Fort Snelling -at the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers -was the rallying point for the soldiers and we produce a -picture of it as it appeared then and give something of its -history from its first establishment up to date.</p> - -<p>The great Sioux or Dakotah nation at one time embraced -the Uncapapas, Assinaboines, Mandans, Crows, -Winnebagoes, Osages, Kansas, Kappaws, Ottoes, Missourias, -Iowas, Omahas, Poncas, Nez Perces, Arrickarees, -Minnetarees, Arkansas, Tetons, Yanktons, Yanktonais, -and the Pawnees. It was a most powerful nation and -under favorable conditions could withstand the encroachments -of our modern civilization. The Ahahaways and -Unktokas are spoken of as two lost tribes. The Unktokas -are said to have lived in “Wiskonsan,” south of the St. -Croix and were supposed to have been destroyed by the -Iowas about the commencement of the present century. -The Ahahaways, a branch of the Crows, lived on the Upper -Missouri, but were lost—annihilated by disease, natural -causes and war. The Uncapapa tribe were from the Missouri, -and Sitting Bull, whose picture appears, although -not an hereditary chief, was a strong man among them. -He was for a time their Medicine Man and counselor. He -was shrewd and a forceful diplomat; he was a pronounced -hater of the whites, and has earned notoriety throughout -the country as the leader of five thousand warriors, who -annihilated General Custer and his command at the Little -Big Horn in 1876. After the massacre, this huge Indian -camp was broken up, and Bull, with more than one thousand -warriors retreated into the British possessions, from -whence he made frequent raids upon American soil. His -band constantly suffered depletion until, in the summer of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">« 30 »</a></span> -1881, he had but one hundred and sixty followers remaining. -These he surrendered to Lieutenant-Colonel Brotherton, -at Fort Buford, and with them was sent as a prisoner -to Fort Randall, Dakota. He was married four times, -and had a large family. He was not engaged in the Sioux -war of 1862, but being a chief of that nation and an important -Indian character, I introduce him. He has gone -to the happy hunting ground, some years since, through -the treachery of the Indian police, who were sent out to -capture him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">« 31 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 315px;"> -<img src="images/page_031.png" width="315" height="440" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Sitting Bull</span>,<br /> -<span class="smaller">The Chief in Command at the Custer Battle of the -Little Big Horn in 1876.</span></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">« 32 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">« 33 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - -<p class="caption3">FORT SNELLING.<br /> -<br /> -FROM E. D. NEILL’S RECOLLECTIONS.</p> - -<hr class="r10" /> - -<p>On the 10th of February, 1819, John C. Calhoun, then -secretary of war, issued an order for the Fifth regiment of -infantry to rendezvous at Detroit, preparatory to proceeding -to the Mississippi to garrison or establish military -posts, and the headquarters of the regiment was directed -to be at the fort to be located at the mouth of the Minnesota -river.</p> - -<p>It was not until the 17th of September that Lieutenant-Colonel -Leavenworth, with a detachment of troops, reached -this point. A cantonment was first established at New -Hope, near Mendota, and not far from the ferry. During -the winter of 1819-20, forty soldiers died from scurvy.</p> - -<p>On the 5th of May, 1819, Colonel Leavenworth crossed -the river and established a summer camp, but his relations -with the Indian agent were not as harmonious as they -might have been, and Colonel Josiah Snelling arrived and -relieved him. On the 10th of September, the cornerstone -of Fort St. Anthony was laid; the barracks at first -were of logs.</p> - -<p>During the summer of 1820 a party of Sisseton Sioux -killed on the Missouri Isadore Poupon, a half-breed, and -Joseph Andrews, a Canadian, two men in the employ of -the fur company. As soon as the information reached -the agent, Major Taliaferro, trade with the Sioux was interdicted -until the guilty were surrendered. Finding that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">« 34 »</a></span> -they were deprived of blankets, powder and tobacco, a -council was held at Big Stone Lake, and one of the murderers, -and the aged father of another, agreed to go down -and surrender themselves.</p> - -<p>On the 12th of November, escorted by friends and relatives, -they approached the post. Halting for a brief -period, they formed and marched in solemn procession to -the center of the parade ground. In the advance was a -Sisseton, bearing a British flag; next came the murderer, -and the old man who had offered himself as an atonement -for his son, their arms pinioned, and large wooden splinters -thrust through the flesh above the elbow, indicating -their contempt for pain; and in the rear followed friends -chanting the death-song. After burning the British flag -in front of the sentinels of the fort, they formally delivered -the prisoners. The murderer was sent under guard to St. -Louis, and the old man detained as a hostage.</p> - -<p>The first white women in Minnesota were the wives of -the officers of Fort St. Anthony. The first steamer to arrive -at the new fort was the Virginia, commanded by Captain -Crawford. The event was so notable that she was -greeted by a salute from the fort.</p> - -<p>In 1824, General Scott, on a tour of inspection, visited -Fort St. Anthony, and suggested that the name be changed -to Fort Snelling, in honor of Colonel Snelling, its first -commander. Upon this suggestion of General Scott and -for the reason assigned, the war department made the -change and historic Fort Snelling took its place among -the defenses of the nation; and from this date up to -1861, was garrisoned by regulars, who were quartered here -to keep in check the Indians who were ever on the alert -for an excuse to avenge themselves on the white settlers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">« 35 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 652px;"> -<img src="images/page_035.png" width="652" height="368" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Fort Snelling in 1865.</span></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">« 36 »</a></span></p> - -<p class="caption4"><span class="smcap">Author’s Note.</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot bbox"> - -<p>When visiting Fort Snelling during the occasion of the -holding of the National Encampment of the Grand Army of -the Republic in St. Paul in September, 1896, I found such a -change.</p> - -<p>The old stone quarters for the use of the rank and file during -the war days were there, it is true, but are being used for -purposes other than accommodating the soldiers. I found -my old squad room, but the old associations were gone; the -memories of the war days crowded upon me, and I thought -of the boys whose names and faces I remembered well, but -they are dead and scattered over the land. Some few were -there, and we went over our war history, and in the recital, -recalled the names of our comrades who have been finally -“mustered out” and have gone beyond the river.</p> - -<p>The present commandant of the beautiful new fort is Colonel -John H. Page of the Third United States Infantry. -This officer has been continuously in the service since April, -1861. He was a private in Company A, First Illinois Artillery, -and went through all the campaigning of this command -until the close of the war, when he received an appointment -in the Regular Establishment, and as Captain was placed on -recruiting service in Chicago.</p> - -<p>His advancement in his regiment has been phenomenal, -and to be called to the command of a regiment of so renowned -a record as has the Third Infantry, is an honor to any man, -no matter where he won his spurs.</p> - -<p>Colonel Page is a Comrade of U. S. Grant Post No. 28, -Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Illinois, and is -also a Companion of the Loyal Legion. He has an interesting -family who live with him in the enjoyment of his well-earned -laurels.</p></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">« 37 »</a></span></p> - -<p>In 1861, and from that to 1866, the scene underwent a -wondrous change, and volunteers instead of regulars became -its occupants. All the Minnesota volunteers rendezvoused -here preparatory to taking the field. Some -years after the war the department determined to -make this historic place one of the permanent forts, and -commenced a series of improvements. Now it is one of -the finest within the boundary of our country, and we find -the grounds, 1,500 acres in extent, beautifully laid out, -and extensive buildings with all the modern improvements -erected for the accommodation of Uncle Sam’s soldiers.</p> - -<p>The present post structures consist of an executive building, -93x64 feet, of Milwaukee brick, two stories and a -basement, heated by furnaces and with good water supply. -It contains offices for the commanding general and department -staff. The officers’ quarters: a row of thirteen -brick buildings with all the modern improvements, hot -and cold water, and a frame stable for each building. Minnesota -Row: Six double one-story frame buildings, affording -twelve sets of quarters for clerks and employes. Brick -Row: A two-story brick building, 123x31 feet, with cellars, -having sixteen suites of two rooms each, for unmarried -general service clerks and employes. Quartermaster’s -employes have a one-story brick building, 147x30 feet, -containing eight sets of quarters of two rooms each, also a -mess-house, one story brick, 58x25 feet, containing a kitchen -and dining room, with cellar 30x12 feet. Engineer’s -quarters, school house, quartermaster’s corrals, brick -stables, blacksmith shops, frame carriage house, granary -and hay-house, ice house, etc., good water works, sewer -system, and electric lights.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">« 38 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">THE ALARM.</p> - - -<p>The Indians! The Indians are coming!</p> - -<p>How the cry rang out and struck terror to the hearts -of the bravest. It brought to mind the stories of early -days, of this great Republic, when the east was but sparsely -settled, and the great west an unknown country, with -the Indian monarch of all he surveyed. The vast prairies, -with their great herds of buffalo were like the trackless -seas; the waving forests, dark and limitless; mountain -ranges—the Alleghanies, the Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas, -towering above the clouds; the countless lakes—fresh -and salt, hot and cold; the great inland seas; the -gigantic water falls, and the laughing waters; the immense -rivers, little rivulets at the mountain source, accumulating -as they flowed on in their immensity, as silently and -sullenly they wend their way to the sea; the rocky glens -and great canyons, the wonder of all the world. It was -in the early day of our Republic, when the hardy pioneer -took his little family and out in the wilderness sought a -new home; a time when the Indian, jealous of the white -man’s encroachment, and possessor by right of previous -occupation, of this limitless, rich and wonderful empire, -when great and powerful Indian nations—The Delawares, -the Hurons, the Floridas, and other tribes in their native -splendor and independence, said to the pale face, “Thus -far shalt thou go, and no farther.” The terror-stricken -people were obliged to flee to places of safety, or succumb -to the tomahawk; and on throughout the Seminole, the -Black Hawk and other wars, including the great Minnesota -Massacre of 1862.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">« 39 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 593px;"> -<img src="images/page_039.png" width="593" height="453" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Squad Room at Fort Snelling.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">« 40 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">« 41 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Reader accompany me. The atmosphere is surcharged -with excitement, and the whole country is terror-stricken. -The southland is drenched in blood, and the -earth trembles under the tread of marching thousands.</p> - -<p>The eyes of the nation are turned in that direction, and -the whole civilized world is interested in the greatest civil -war of the world’s history. The levies from the states are -enormous, and the stalwarts, by regiments and brigades, -respond to the call for “Six Hundred Thousand more.”</p> - -<p>The loyal people of the frontier have long since ceased -to look upon the Indians as enemies, and tearfully urge -their husbands and sons to rally to the colors in the South. -What is taking place in the land of the Dakotahs?</p> - -<p>Their empire is fading away, their power is on the -wane, their game is scarce, and they look with disgust -and disfavor upon their unnatural environments. In -poetry and in prose we have read of them in their natural -way of living. They have been wronged; their vast empire -has slipped away from them; they laugh, they scowl and -run from tribe to tribe; they have put on the war-paint -and broken the pipe of peace; with brandishing tomahawk -and glistening scalping knife they are on the trail -of the innocent.</p> - -<p>“Turn out, the regulars are coming!” were the ringing -words of Paul Revere, as he, in mad haste, on April 18, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">« 42 »</a></span> -1775, on foaming steed, rode through the lowlands of -Middlesex; so, too, are the unsuspecting people in Minnesota -aroused by the cry of a courier, who, riding along at -a break-neck speed shouts: “The Indians, the Indians -are coming!” All nature is aglow; the sun rises from his -eastern bed and spreads his warm, benign rays over this -prairie land, and its happy occupants, as this terrific -sound rings out on the morning air, are aroused and the -cry: “Come over and help us” from the affrighted families, -as they forsake their homes and flee for their lives, -speeds on its way to ears that listen and heed their earnest, -heart-piercing not, of despair, for the “Boys in Blue” -respond.</p> - -<p>The people had been warned by friendly Indians that -the fire brands would soon be applied; and that once -started, none could tell where it would end. They were -implored to take heed and prepare for the worst; but unsuspecting, -they had been so long among their Indian -friends, they could not believe that treachery would bury -all feelings of friendship; but alas! thousands were slain.</p> - -<p>Go with me into their country and witness the sad results -of a misguided people, and note how there was a division -in their camp. The hot young bloods, ever ready for adventure -and bloody adventure at that, had dragged their -nation into an unnecessary war and the older men and -conservative men with sorrowful hearts counselled together -how best to extricate themselves and protect the lives -of those who were prisoners among them. The campaign -of 1862 is on.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">« 43 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">SOME OF THE CAUSES OF THE WAR.</p> - - -<p>Lo! the poor Indian, has absorbed much of the people’s -attention and vast sums of Uncle Sam’s money; -and being a participant in the great Sioux war of -1862, what I write deals with facts and not fiction, as we -progress from Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to “Camp Release,” -where we found and released over four hundred -white captives. But I will digress for a time and look into -the causes leading up to this cruel Sioux war that cost so -many lives and so much treasure. There is a great diversity -of opinion on this question, and while not particularly -in love with the Indian, I have not the temerity to criticise -the Almighty because he puts his impress white upon some, -and red upon others; neither shall I sit in judgment and -say there are no good Indians—except dead ones. The Indian -question proper is of too great a magnitude to analyze -and treat with intelligence in this little book; but in the -abstract, and before we enter upon the active campaign -against them, let us look at it and see if the blame does -not to a great extent rest more with the government than -it does with these people. The Indians came from we -know not where—legends have been written and tradition -mentions them as among the earliest known possessors -of this great western world. The biologist speculates, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">« 44 »</a></span> -it is a matter of grave doubt as to their origin. Certain it is, -that as far back as the time of Columbus they were found -here, and we read nothing in the early history of the voyages -of this wonderful navigator to convince us that the -Indians were treacherous;—indeed we would rather incline -to the opposite opinion. The racial war began with the -conquest of the Spaniards. In their primitive condition, -the Indians were possessed of a harmless superstition—they -knew no one but of their kind; knew nothing of another -world; knew nothing of any other continent in this world. -When they discovered the white men and the ships with -their sails spread, they looked upon the former as supernatural -beings and the ships as great monsters with wings. -Civilization and the Indian nature are incompatible and -evidences of this were soon apparent. The ways of the -Europeans were of course unknown to them. They were -innocent of the white man’s avaricious propensities and -the practice of “give and take” (and generally more take -than give) was early inaugurated by the sailors of Columbus -and the nefarious practice has been played by a certain -class of Americans ever since. Soon their suspicions -were aroused and friendly intercourse gave place to wars of -extermination. The Indian began to look upon the -white man as his natural enemy; fighting ensued; tribes -became extinct; territory was ceded, and abandoned. -Soon after American Independence had been declared, the -Indians became the wards of the nation. The government, -instead of treating them as wards and children, has -uniformly allowed them to settle their own disputes in -their own peculiar and savage way, and has looked upon -the bloody feuds among the different tribes much as Plug -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">« 45 »</a></span> -Uglies and Thugs do a disreputable slugging match or -dog-fight. A writer says:</p> - -<p>“If they are wards of the nation, why not take them -under the strong arm of the law and deal with them as -with others who break the law? Make an effort to civilize, -and if civilization exterminates them it will be an honorable -death,—to the nation at least. Send missionaries -among them instead of thieving traders; implements of -peace, rather than weapons of war; Bibles instead of scalping -knives; religious tracts instead of war paint; make an -effort to Christianize instead of encouraging them in their -savagery and laziness; such a course would receive the -commendation and acquiescence of the Christian world.”</p> - -<p>There is not a sensible, unprejudiced man in America -to-day, who gives the matter thought, but knows that the -broken treaties and dishonest dealing with the Indians -are a disgrace to this nation; and the impress of injustice -is deeply and justly engraven upon the savage mind. The -lesson taught by observation was that lying was no disgrace, -adultery no sin, and theft no crime. This they -learned from educated white men who had been sent to -them as the representatives of the government; and these -educated gentlemen (?) looked upon the Indian as common -property, and to filch him of his money by dishonest practices, -a pleasant pastime. The Indian woman did not escape -his lecherous eye and if his base proposals were rejected, -he had other means to resort to to enable him to -accomplish his base desire. These wards were only Indians -and why respect their feelings? “Sow the wind and reap -the whirlwind.” The whirlwind came and oh, the sad results!</p> - -<p>The Indians were circumscribed in their hunting -grounds by the onward march of civilization which -crowded them on every side and their only possible hope -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">« 46 »</a></span> -from starvation, was in the fidelity with which a great nation -kept its pledges. ’Tis true, money was appropriated -by the government for this purpose, but it is equally true -that gamblers and thieving traders set up fictitious claims -and the Indians came out in debt and their poor families -were left to starve. Hungry, exasperated and utterly -powerless to help themselves, they resolved on savage -vengeance when the propitious time arrived.</p> - -<p>“The villainy you teach me I will execute,” became a -living, bloody issue. This did not apply alone to the -Sioux nation, but to the Chippewas as well. These people -have always been friends of the whites, and have uniformly -counselled peace; but broken pledges and impositions -filled the friendly ones with sorrow, and the others -with anger. The commissioners, no doubt, rectified the -wrong as soon as it was brought to their notice, but the -Indians were plucked all the same and had sense enough -to know it. Our country is cursed with politicians—the -statesmen seem to have disappeared; but, the politician -grows like rank weeds and the desire for “boodle” -permeates our municipal, state and national affairs. Our -Indian system has presented a fat field so long as these -wards of the nation submitted to being fleeced by unprincipled -agents and their gambling friends, but at last, the -poor Indian is aroused to the enormity of the imposition -and the innocent whites had to suffer. In some instances -the vengeance of God followed the unscrupulous agent -and the scalping knife in the hand of the injured Indian -was made the instrument whereby this retribution came.</p> - -<p>There has been a great deal said of Indian warriors—we -have read of them in poetry and in prose and of the -beautiful Indian maiden as well. The Sioux warriors are -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">« 47 »</a></span> -tall, athletic, fine looking men, and those who have not -been degraded by the earlier and rougher frontier white -man, or had their intellects destroyed by the white man’s -fire-water, possess minds of a high order and can reason -with a correctness that would astonish our best scholars -and put to blush many of our so-called statesmen, and entirely -put to rout a majority of the men who, by the grace -of men’s votes hold down Congressional chairs. Yet they -are called savages and are associated in our minds with -tomahawks and scalping knives. Few regard them as -reasoning creatures and some even think they are not -endowed by their Creator with souls. Good men are -sending Bibles to all parts of the world, sermons are -preached in behalf of our fellow-creatures who are perishing -in regions known only to us by name; yet here within easy -reach, but a few miles from civilization, surrounded by -churches and schools and all the moral influences abounding -in Christian society; here, in a country endowed with -every advantage that God can bestow, are perishing, body -and soul, our countrymen—perishing from disease, starvation -and intemperance and all the evils incident to their -unhappy condition. I have no apology to make for the -savage atrocities of any people, be they heathen or Christian, -or pretended Christian; and we can point to pages of -history where the outrages perpetrated by the soldiers of -so-called Christian nations, under the sanction of their -governments, would cause the angels to weep. Look at -bleeding Armenia, the victim of the lecherous Turk, who -has satiated his brutal, bestial nature in the blood and innocency -of tens of thousands of men, women and children; -and yet, the Christian nations of the world look on -with indifference at these atrocities and pray: "Oh, Lord, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">« 48 »</a></span> -pour out Thy blessings on us and protect us while we are -unmindful of the appeals of mothers and daughters in -poor Armenia!”</p> - -<p>This royal, lecherous, murderous Turk, instead of being -dethroned and held to a strict accountability for the horrible -butcheries, and worse than butcheries, going on -within his kingdom and for which he, and he alone, is -responsible, is held in place by Christian and civilized -nations for fear that some one shall, in the partition of his -unholy empire, get a bigger slice than is its equitable share.</p> - -<p>The “sick man” has been allowed for the last half century -to commit the most outrageous crimes against an -inoffensive, honest, progressive, and law-abiding people, -and no vigorous protest has gone out against it. Shall -we, then, mercilessly condemn the poor Indians because, -driven from pillar to post, with the government pushing -in front and hostile tribes and starvation in their rear, -they have in vain striven for a bare existence? Whole -families have starved while the fathers were away on their -hunt for game. Through hunger and disease powerful -tribes have become but a mere band of vagabonds.</p> - -<p>America, as she listens to the dying wail of the red man, -driven from the forests of his childhood and the graves -of his fathers, cannot afford to throw stones; but rather -let her redeem her broken pledges to these helpless, benighted, -savage children, and grant them the protection -they have the right to expect, nay, demand.</p> - -<p>“I will wash my hands in innocency” will not suffice. -Let the government make amends, and in the future mete -out to the dishonest agent such a measure of punishment -as will strike terror to him and restore the confidence of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">« 49 »</a></span> -the Indians who think they have been unjustly dealt with. -But to my theme.</p> - -<p>The year of which I write was a time in St. Paul -when the Indian was almost one’s next door neighbor,—a -time when trading between St. Paul and Winnipeg -was carried on principally by half-breeds, and -the mode of transportation the crude Red river cart, -which is made entirely of wood,—not a scrap of iron in its -whole make-up. The team they used was one ox to a cart, -and the creak of this long half-breed train, as it wended -its way over the trackless country, could be heard twice -a year as it came down to the settlements laden with furs -to exchange for supplies for families, and hunting purposes. -It was at a time when the hostile bands of Sioux -met bands of Chippewas, and in the immediate vicinity -engaged in deadly conflict, while little attention was paid -to their feuds by the whites or the government at Washington.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">« 50 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">LITTLE CROW AT DEVIL’S LAKE.</p> - - -<p>It was in August, 1861, on the western border of -Devil’s Lake, Dakota, there sat an old Indian chief in the -shade of his wigwam, preparing a fresh supply of kinnikinnick.</p> - -<p>The mantle of evening was veiling the sky as this old -chief worked and the events of the past were crowding his -memory. He muses alone at the close of the day, while -the wild bird skims away on its homeward course and the -gathering gloom of eventide causes a sigh to escape his -breast, as many sweet pictures of past happy years “come -flitting again with their hopes and their fears.” The -embers of the fire have gone out and he and his dog alone -are resting on the banks of the lake after the day’s hunt; -and, as he muses, he wanders back to the time when in -legend lore the Indian owned the Western world; the hills -and the valleys, the vast plains and their abundance, the -rivers, the lakes and the mountains were his; great herds -of buffalo wended their way undisturbed by the white -hunter; on every hand abundance met his gaze, and the -proud Red Man with untainted blood, and an eye filled -with fire, looked out toward the four points of the compass, -and, with beating heart, thanked the Great Spirit -for this goodly heritage. To disturb his dream the white -man came, and as the years rolled on, step by step, -pressed him back;—civilization brought its cunning and -greed for money-getting. A generous government, perhaps -too confiding, allowed unprincipled men to rob and -crowd, and crowd and rob, until the Mississippi is reached -and the farther West is portioned out to him for his future -residence. The influx of whites from Europe and the -rapidly increasing population demand more room, and -another move is planned by the government for the Indians, -until they are crowding upon the borders of unfriendly -tribes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">« 51 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 568px;"> -<img src="images/page_051.png" width="568" height="387" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly</span>.</div><br /> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Little Crow Sitting Meditating on the Banks of Devil’s -Lake, Dakota, August, 1862.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">« 52 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">« 53 »</a></span></p> - -<p>This old chief of whom we speak awoke from his meditative -dream, and in imagination we see him with shaded -eyes looking afar off toward the mountain. He beholds a -cloud no bigger than a man’s hand; he strains his eye, -and eagerly looks, for he sees within the pent-up environments -of this cloud all the hatred and revenge with which -his savage race is endowed. The cloud that is gathering -is not an imaginative one, but it will burst in time upon -the heads of guilty and innocent alike; and the old chief -chuckles as he thinks of the scalps he will take from the -hated whites, and the great renown, and wonderful power -yet in store for him. His runners go out visiting other -bands and tell what the old chief expects. They give -their assent to it, and as they talk and speculate, they too, -become imbued with a spirit of revenge and a desire to -gain back the rich heritage their fathers once held in possession -for them, but which has passed from their control. -They are not educated, it is true, but nature has endowed -them with intelligence enough to understand that their -fathers had bartered away an empire, and in exchange had -taken a limited country, illy adapted to their wants and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">« 54 »</a></span> -crude, uncivilized habits. This old chief’s mind is made -up, and we will meet him again—aye! on fields of blood -and carnage.</p> - -<p>The government had acted in good faith, and had supplied -the Indians with material for building small brick -houses, furnishing, in addition to money payments and -clothing, farming implements and all things necessary to -enable them to support themselves on their fertile farms; -and missionaries, also, were among them, and competent -teachers, ready to give the young people, as they grew up, -an education, to enable them to better their condition and -take on the habits and language of the white settlers.</p> - -<p>But the devil among the Indians, as among the whites, -finds “some mischief still for idle hands to do;” gamblers -and other unprincipled men followed the agents, hob-nobbed -with them, and laid their plans to “hold-up and -bunko” the Indians, who, filled with fire-water and a passion -for gambling, soon found themselves stripped of -money, ponies and blankets, with nothing in view but a -long, cold, dreary winter and starvation. A gambler -could kill an Indian and all he had to fear was an Indian’s -vengeance (for the civil law never took cognizance of -the crime); but if an Indian, filled with rum, remorse and -revenge, killed a gambler, he was punished to the full extent -of the law. In this one thing the injustice was so -apparent that even an Indian could see it; and he made -up his mind that when the time came he would even up -the account. The savage Indians were intelligent enough -to know that in these transactions it was the old story of -the handle on the jug—all on one side.</p> - -<p>Those of the “friendlies” who were Christianized and -civilized were anxious to bury forever all remains of savagery -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">« 55 »</a></span> -and become citizens of the nation, and if the government -had placed honorable men over them to administer -the law, their influence would have been felt, and in -time the leaven of law and order, would have leavened the -whole Sioux nation. The various treaties that had been -made with them by the government did not seem to -satisfy the majority, and whether there was any just cause -for this dissatisfaction I do not propose to discuss; but, -that a hostile feeling did exist was apparent, as subsequent -events proved.</p> - -<p>The provisions of the treaties for periodical money payments, -although carried out with substantial honesty, -failed to fulfill the exaggerated expectations of the Indians; -and these matters of irritation added fuel to the fire of -hostility, which always has, and always will exist between -a civilized and a barbarous nation, when brought into immediate -contact; and especially has this been the case -where the savages were proud, brave and lordly warriors, -who looked with supreme contempt upon all civilized -methods of obtaining a living, and who felt amply able to -defend themselves and avenge their wrongs. Nothing -special has been discovered to have taken place other than -the general dissatisfaction referred to, to which the outbreak -of 1862 can be immediately attributed. This outbreak -was charged to emissaries from the Confederates of -the South, but there was no foundation for these allegations. -The main reason was that the Indians were hungry -and angry; they had become restless, and busy-bodies -among them had instilled within them the idea that the -great war in the South was drawing off able-bodied men -and leaving the women and children at home helpless. -Some of the ambitious chiefs thought it a good opportunity -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">« 56 »</a></span> -to regain their lost country and exalt themselves in -the eyes of their people. The most ambitious of the lot -was Little Crow, the old chief we saw sitting in the shade -of his wigwam on Devil’s Lake. He was a wily old fox -and knew how to enlist the braves on his side. After the -battles of Birch Coolie and Wood Lake, Minnesota, in -September, 1862, he deserted his warriors, and was discovered -one day down in the settlements picking berries -upon which to subsist. Refusing to surrender, he was -shot, and in his death the whites were relieved of an implacable -foe, and the Indians deprived of an intrepid and -daring leader.</p> - -<p>There was nothing about the agencies up to August 18, -1862, to indicate that the Indians intended, or even -thought, of an attack. Everything had an appearance of -quiet and security. On the 17th of August, however, a -small party of Indians appeared at Acton, Minnesota, and -murdered several settlers, but it was not generally thought -that they left the agency with this in mind; this killing -was an afterthought, a diversion; but, on the news of -these murders reaching the Indians at the Upper Agency -on the 18th, open hostilities were at once commenced and -the whites and traders indiscriminately murdered. George -Spencer was the only white man in the stores who escaped -with his life. He was twice wounded, however, and running -upstairs in the loft hid himself away and remained -concealed until the Indians, thinking no more white people -remained, left the place, when an old squaw took -Spencer to her home and kept him until his fast friend, -Chaska, came and took him under his protection. The -picture of Spencer is taken from an old-time photograph.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">« 57 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 267px;"> -<img src="images/page_057.png" width="267" height="380" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">George Spencer</span>,<br /> -<br /> -<span class="smaller">Who was Saved by Chaska, August, 1862.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>The missionaries residing a short distance above the -Yellow Medicine, and their people, with a few others, were -notified by friendly disposed Indians, and to the number -of about forty made their escape to Hutchinson, Minnesota. -Similar events occurred at the Lower Agency on -the same day, when nearly all the traders were butchered, -and several who got away before the general massacre -commenced were killed before reaching Fort Ridgely, -thirteen miles below, or the other places of safety to which -they were fleeing. All the buildings at both agencies -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">« 58 »</a></span> -were destroyed, but such property as was valuable to the -Indians was carried off.</p> - -<p>The news of the outbreak reached Fort Ridgely about 8 -o’clock a. m. on the 18th of August through the arrival of -a team from the Lower Agency, which brought a citizen -badly wounded, but no details. Captain John F. Marsh, -of the Fifth Minnesota, with eighty-five men, was holding -the fort, and upon the news reaching him he transferred -his command of the fort to Lieutenant Gere and -with forty-five men started for the scene of hostilities. -He had a full supply of ammunition, and with a six-mule -team left the fort at 9 a. m. on the 18th of August, full of -courage and anxious to get to the relief of the panic-stricken -people. On the march up, evidences of the Indians’ -bloody work soon appeared, for bodies were found -by the roadside of those who had recently been murdered, -one of whom was Dr. Humphrey, surgeon at the agency. -On reaching the vicinity of the ferry no Indians were in -sight except one on the opposite side of the river, who endeavored -to induce the soldiers to cross. A dense chaparral -bordered the river on the agency side and tall grass -covered the bottom land on the side where the troops were -stationed. From various signs, suspicions were aroused of -the presence of Indians, and the suspicions proved correct, -for without a moment’s notice, Indians in great numbers -sprang up on all sides of the troops and opened a deadly -fire. About half of the men were instantly killed. Finding -themselves surrounded, desperate hand-to-hand encounters -occurred, with varying results, and the remnant -of the command made a point down the river about two -miles from the ferry, Captain Marsh being among the -number. They evidently attempted to cross, but Captain -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">« 59 »</a></span> -Marsh was drowned in the effort, and only thirteen of his -command escaped and reached the fort alive. Captain -Marsh, in his excitement, may have erred in judgment -and deemed it more his duty to attack than retreat; but -the great odds of five hundred Indians to forty-five soldiers -was too great and the captain and his brave men paid the -penalty. He was young, brave and ambitious and knew -but little of the Indians’ tactics in war; but he no doubt -believed he was doing his duty in advancing rather than -retreating, and his countrymen will hold his memory and -the memory of those who gave up their lives with him in -warmer esteem than they would had he adopted the more -prudent course of retracing his steps.</p> - -<p>At a later date, in 1876, it will be remembered, the brave -Custer was led into a similar trap, and of the five companies -of the Seventh United States cavalry and their intrepid -commanders only one was left to tell the tale.</p> - -<p>After having massacred the people at the agencies, the -Indians at once sent out marauding parties in all directions -and covered the country from the northeast as far -as Glencoe, Hutchinson and St. Peter, Minnesota, and as -far south as Spirit Lake, Iowa. In their trail was to be -found their deadly work of murder and devastation, for at -least one thousand men, women and children were found -brutally butchered, houses burned, and beautiful farms -laid waste. The settlers, being accustomed to the friendly -visits of these Indians, were taken completely unawares -and were given no opportunity for defense.</p> - -<p>Major Thomas Galbraith, the Sioux agent, had raised a -company known as the Renville Rangers, and was expecting -to report at Fort Snelling for muster and orders to -proceed south to join one of the Minnesota commands; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">« 60 »</a></span> -but upon his arrival at St. Peter, on the evening of August -18, he learned the news of the outbreak at the agencies, -and immediately retraced his steps, returning to Fort -Ridgely, where he arrived on the 19th. On the same day -Lieutenant Sheehan, of the Fifth Minnesota Infantry, -with fifty men, arrived also, in obedience to a dispatch received -from Captain Marsh, who commanded the post at -Fort Ridgely. Lieutenant Sheehan, in enthusiasm and -appearance, resembled General Sheridan. He was young -and ambitious, and entered into this important work with -such vim as to inspire his men to deeds of heroic valor. -Upon receipt of Captain Marsh’s dispatch ordering him -to return at once, as “The Indians are raising hell at the -Lower Agency!” he so inspired his men so as to make the -forced march of forty-two miles in nine hours and a half, -and he did not arrive a minute too soon. After Captain -Marsh’s death he became the ranking officer at Fort Ridgely, -and the mantle of authority could not fall on more -deserving shoulders. His command consisted of Companies -B and C of the Fifth Minnesota, 100 men; Renville -Rangers, 50 men; with several men of other organizations, -including Sergeant John Jones (afterwards captain -of artillery), and quite a number of citizen refugees, -and a party that had been sent up by the Indian agent -with the money to pay the Indians at the agency.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">« 61 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 638px;"> -<img src="images/page_061.png" width="638" height="376" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly</span>.</div><br /> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Siege of Fort Ridgely, August 20, 21 and 22.</span><br /> -<br /> -<span class="smaller">Indians fired the Fort with burning arrows, but were finally defeated by General Sibley’s Column.</span></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">« 62 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">« 63 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">FORT RIDGELY BESIEGED.</p> - - -<p>Fort Ridgely was a fort in name only. It was not built -for defense, but was simply a collection of buildings built -around a square facing inwards. The commandant’s -quarters, and those of the officers, also, were two-story -structures of wood, while the men’s barracks of two stories -and the commissary storehouse were stone, and into these -the families of the officers and soldiers and the refugee -families were placed during the siege. On the 20th of -August, 1862, about 3 p. m., an attack was made upon -the fort by a large body of Indians, who stealthily came -down the ravines and surrounded it. The first intimation -the people and the garrison had of their proximity -was a volley from the hostile muskets pouring between the -openings of the buildings. The sudden onslaught caused -great consternation, but order was soon restored.</p> - -<p>Sergeant Jones, of the battery, who had seen service in -the British army, as well as in our own regular army, in -attempting to turn his guns on the Indians found to his -utter astonishment that the pieces had been tampered -with by some of the half-breeds belonging to the Renville -Rangers who had deserted to the enemy. They had spiked -the guns by ramming old rags into them. The sergeant -soon made them serviceable, however, and brought his -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">« 64 »</a></span> -pieces to bear upon the Indians in such an effective way -as to teach them a lesson in artillery practice they did not -forget. The “rotten balls,” as they termed the shells, fell -thick and fast among them, and the havoc was so great -that they withdrew out of range to hold a council of war -and recover from their surprise. The fight lasted, however, -for three hours, with a loss to the garrison of three -killed and eighteen wounded. On the morning of Thursday, -the 21st of August, the attack was renewed by the -Indians, and they made a second attack in the afternoon, -but with less force and earnestness and but little damage -to the garrison. The soldiers were on the alert and the -night was an anxious one, for the signs from the hostiles -indicated that they were making preparations for a further -attempt to capture the fort. During the night barricades -were placed at all open spaces between the buildings, and -the little garrison band instructed, each man’s duty specified, -and directions given to the women and children, who -were placed in the stone barracks, to lie low so as not to be -harmed by bullets coming in at the windows. On Friday, -the 22d, Little Crow, the then Sioux commander in chief, -had the fort surrounded by 650 warriors whom he had -brought down from the agency. He had them concealed -in the ravines which surrounded the fort, and endeavored -by sending a few of the warriors out on the open prairie -to draw the garrison out from the fort, but fortunately -there were men there who had previously had experience -in Indian warfare, and the scheme of this wily old Indian -fox did not work. Little Crow, finding it useless to further -maneuver in this way, ordered an attack. The showers -of bullets continued for seven long hours, or until -about 7 p. m., but the attack was courageously and bitterly -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">« 65 »</a></span> -opposed by the infantry, and this, together with the -skillfully handled artillery by Sergeant Jones, saved the -garrison for another day. The Indians sought shelter behind -and in the outlying wooden buildings, but well directed -shells from the battery fired these buildings and -routed the Indians, who in turn made various attempts by -means of fire arrows to ignite the wooden buildings of the -fort proper. But for the daring and vigilance of the -troops the enemy would have succeeded in their purpose. -The Indians lost heavily in this engagement, while the -loss to the troops was one killed and seven wounded. Lieutenant -Sheehan, the commander of the post, was a man of -true grit, and he was ably assisted by Lieutenant Gorman -of the Renville Rangers, and Sergeants Jones and McGrau -of the battery. Every man was a hero and did his -whole duty. Surrounded as they were by hundreds of -bloodthirsty savages, this little band was all that stood -between the hundreds of women and children refugees -and certain death, or worse than death! Besides, the government -storehouses were filled with army supplies, and -about $75,000 in gold, with which they intended making -an annuity payment to these same Indians.</p> - -<p>The water supply being cut off, the soldiers and all the -people, especially the wounded, suffered severely, but Post -Surgeon Mueller and his noble wife heroically responded -to the urgent calls of the wounded sufferers irrespective of -danger. Mrs. Mueller was a lovely woman of the heroic -type. During the siege, in addition to caring for the -wounded, she made coffee, and in the night frequently -visited all the men who were on guard and plentifully supplied -them with this exhilarating beverage. An incident -in relation to her also is, that during the siege the Indians -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">« 66 »</a></span> -had sheltered themselves behind a haystack and from it -were doing deadly work. Sergeant Jones could not bring -his twenty-four pounder to bear on them without exposing -his men too much, unless he fired directly through a -building that stood in the way. This house was built as -they are on the plantations in the South, with a broad hall -running from the front porch clear through to the rear. In -the rear of this hall were rough double doors, closed principally -in winter time to keep the snow from driving through. -The sergeant had them closed and then brought his piece -around in front, and the Indians away back of the house -could not see what the maneuvering was. He crept up -and attached a rope to the handle of the door, and looking -through the cracks got the range and then sighted his -gun. Mrs. Mueller, sheltered and out of harm’s way, held -the end of the attached rope. The signal for her to pull -open the doors was given by Sergeant Jones, and this -signal was the dropping of a handkerchief. When the -signal came, with good nerve, she pulled the rope and -open flew the doors. Immediately the gunner pulled the -lanyard and the shell with lighted fuse landed in the haystacks, -which were at once set fire to and the Indians dislodged. -This lady died at her post, beloved by all who -knew her, and a grateful government has erected an expensive -monument over her remains, which lie buried in -the soldiers’ cemetery at Fort Ridgely, where, with hundreds -of others whose pathway to the grave was smoothed -by her motherly hands, they will remain until the great -reveille on the resurrection dawn.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">« 67 »</a></span></p> - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 265px;"> -<a id="CHAPTER_X"></a> -<img src="images/page_067.png" width="265" height="354" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">LITTLE CROW.</div> -</div> - -<p class="caption2">CHAPTER X.</p> - -<p class="caption3">SIEGE OF NEW ULM.</p> - - -<p>Little Crow, finding himself baffled in his attempt to -capture the fort, and learning from his scouts that Colonel -Sibley was on his way with two regiments to relieve the -garrison, concentrated all his forces and proceeded to New -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">« 68 »</a></span> -Ulm, about thirteen miles distant, which he intended to -wipe out the next morning. Here, again, he was disappointed. -The hero of New Ulm was Hon. Charles E. -Flandreau, who deserves more than a passing notice. By -profession he is a lawyer, and at this time was a judge on -the bench, and is now enjoying a lucrative practice in St. -Paul. By nature he is an organizer and a leader, and to -his intrepid bravery and wise judgment New Ulm and her -inhabitants owe their salvation from the savagery of Little -Crow and his bloodthirsty followers. He had received -the news of the outbreak at his home near St. Peter in the -early morning of August 19, and at once decided what -should be done to save the people.</p> - -<p>His duty to wife and children was apparent, and to -place them in safety was his first thought, which he did -by taking them to St. Peter. He then issued a call for -volunteers, and in response to this soon found himself -surrounded by men who needed no second bidding, for -the very air was freighted with the terror of the situation. -Armed with guns of any and all descriptions, with bottles -of powder, boxes of caps and pockets filled with bullets, -one hundred and twenty men, determined on revenge, -pressed forward to meet this terrible foe.</p> - -<p>Where should they go? Rumors came from all directions, -and one was that Fort Ridgely was being besieged -and had probably already fallen. Their eyes also turned -toward New Ulm, which was but thirteen miles distant -and in an absolutely unprotected condition. Its affrighted -people were at the mercy of this relentless enemy. The -work Judge Flandreau performed in perfecting an organization -was masterful, for the men who flocked in and -offered their services he could not control in a military -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">« 69 »</a></span> -sense, because they were not enlisted. The emergency -was very great and it was necessary to do the right thing -and at the right time and to strike hard and deadly blows, -and trusted men were sent forward to scout and report. -Hon. Henry A. Swift, afterwards governor of Minnesota, -rendered good service in company with William G. Hayden -as they scouted the country in a buggy. It was a -novel way to scout, but horses were too scarce to allow a -horse to each. An advance guard was sent forward about -noon, and an hour later the balance of the command was -in motion, eagerly pushing forward and anxious to meet -the enemy wherever he might be found. The advance -guard which Flandreau sent out to determine whether -Fort Ridgely or New Ulm should be the objective point -had not yet been heard from, and, that no time might be -lost, he determined that he would push forward to New -Ulm, and if that village was safe he would turn his attention -to Ridgely. He found his guard at New Ulm, and -they had been largely reinforced by other men who came -in to help protect the place. They arrived just in time -to assist in repelling an attack of about two hundred Indians, -who had suddenly surrounded the little village. -Before the arrival of Flandreau and his command they -could see the burning houses in the distance, and by this -they knew that the work of devastation had commenced, -and the forced march was kept up. The rain was pouring -in torrents, and yet they had made thirty-two miles in -seven hours and reached the place about 8 o’clock in the -evening.</p> - -<p>The next day reinforcements continued to come in from -various points until the little army of occupation numbered -three hundred effective and determined men. A -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">« 70 »</a></span> -council of war was called and a line of defense determined -upon by throwing up barricades in nearly all the streets.</p> - -<p>The situation was a very grave one and it was soon apparent -that a one-man power was necessary—that a guiding -mind must control the actions of this hastily gathered -army of raw material; and to this end, Judge Flandreau -was declared generalissimo, and subsequent events proved -that the selection was a most judicious one. In a few -days subsequent to this he received a commission as colonel -from Governor Ramsey and was placed in command of all -irregular troops. There were fifty companies reported to -him all told; some were mounted and others were not. His -district extended from New Ulm, Minnesota, to Sioux City, -Iowa. It was a most important command, and Colonel -Flandreau proved himself a hero as well as a competent -organizer. He is so modest about it even to-day that he -rarely refers to it.</p> - -<p>A provost guard was at once established, order inaugurated, -defenses strengthened and confidence partially restored. -Nothing serious transpired until Saturday morning -at about 9 o’clock, when 650 Indians, who had been -so handsomely repulsed at Fort Ridgely, thirteen miles -above, made a determined assault upon the town, driving -in the pickets. The lines faltered for a time, but soon -rallied and steadily held the enemy at bay. The Indians -had surrounded the town and commenced firing the buildings, -and the conflagration was soon raging on both sides -of the main street in the lower part of the town, and the -total destruction of the place seemed inevitable. It was -necessary to dislodge the enemy in some way, so a squad of -fifty men was ordered out to charge down the burning -street, and the Indians were driven out. The soldiers then -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">« 71 »</a></span> -burned everything and the battle was won. The desperate -character of the fighting may be judged when we find the -casualties to be ten men killed and fifty wounded in about -an hour and a half, and this out of a much depleted force, -for out of the little army of three hundred men, seventy-five -who had been sent under Lieutenant Huey to guard -the ferry were cut off and forced to retreat towards St. -Peter. Before reaching this place, however, they met reinforcements -and returned to the attack. The Indians -now, in turn, seeing quite a reinforcement coming, thought -it wise to retreat, and drew off to the northward, in the -direction of the fort, and disappeared.</p> - -<p>The little town of New Ulm at this time contained -from 1,200 to 1,500 non-combatants, consisting of -women and children, refugees and unarmed citizens, -every individual of whom would have been massacred -if it had not been for this brave band of men -under the command of Colonel Flandreau. Not knowing -what the retreat of the Indians indicated, the uncertainty -and scarcity of provisions, the pestilence to be -feared from stench and exposure, all combined to bring -about the decision to evacuate the town and try to reach -Mankato. In order to do this a train was made up, into -which were loaded the women and children and about -eighty wounded men. It was a sad sight to witness this -enforced breaking up of home ties, homes burned and -farms and gardens laid waste, loved ones dead and wounded, -and this one of the inevitable results of an unnecessary -and unprovoked war. The march to Mankato was without -special incident. Especially fortunate was this little -train of escaping people in not meeting any wandering -party of hostile Indians.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">« 72 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The first day about half the distance from Mankato to -St. Peter was covered; the main column was pushed on to -its final destination, it being the intention of Colonel -Flandreau to return with a portion of his command to -New Ulm, or remain where they were, so as to keep a force -between the Indians and the settlements. But the men -of his command, not having heard a word from their families -for over a week, felt apprehensive and refused to return -or remain, holding that the protection of their families -was paramount to all other considerations. It must -be remembered that these men were not soldiers, but had -demonstrated their willingness to fight when necessary, -and they did fight, and left many of their comrades dead -and wounded on the battlefield. The train that had been -sent forward arrived in Mankato on the 25th of August, -and the balance of the command reached the town on the -day following, when the men sought their homes.</p> - -<p>The stubborn resistance the Indians met with at Fort -Ridgely and New Ulm caused them to withdraw to their -own country, and this temporary lull in hostilities enabled -the whites to more thoroughly organize, and the troops to -prepare for a campaign up into the Yellow Medicine country, -where it was known a large number of captives were -held.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">« 73 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 402px;"> -<img src="images/page_073.png" width="402" height="519" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Colonel Charles E. Flandreau</span>,<br /> -<br /> -<span class="smaller">Who was in command at New Ulm, Minn., during the Siege from -August 20th to 25th, 1862.</span></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">« 74 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">« 75 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">COL. FLANDREAU IN COMMAND.</p> - - -<p>While the exciting events narrated in the previous chapters -were taking place other portions of the state were preparing -for defense. At Forest City, Hutchinson, Glencoe, -and even as far south as St. Paul and Minneapolis, men -were rapidly organizing for home protection. In addition -to the Sioux, the Chippewas and Winnebagoes were becoming -affected and seemed anxious for a pretext to don -the paint and take the warpath. Colonel Flandreau having -received his commission as colonel from Governor -Ramsey, with authority to take command of the Blue Earth -country extending from New Ulm to the Iowa line, embracing -the western and southwestern frontier of the state, -proceeded at once to properly organize troops, commission -officers, and do everything in his power as a military officer -to give protection to the citizens. The Colonel established -his headquarters at South Bend and the home guards -came pouring in, reporting for duty, and squads that had -been raised and mustered into the volunteer service, but -had not yet joined their commands, were organized into -companies, and the Colonel soon found himself surrounded -by quite an army of good men, well officered, and with a -determination to do their whole duty. This was done by -establishing a cordon of military posts so as to inspire confidence -and prevent an exodus of the people. Any one -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">« 76 »</a></span> -who has not been through the ordeal of an Indian insurrection -can form no idea of the terrible apprehension that -takes possession of a defenseless and non-combatant people -under such circumstances.</p> - -<p>The mystery and suspense attending an Indian’s movements, -and the certainty of the cruelty to his captives, -strikes terror to the heart, and upon the first crack of his -rifle a thousand are put to flight. While cruelty is one of -the natural characteristics of the Indians, yet there are -many among them who have humane feelings and are susceptible -of Christian influences. As friends, they are of -the truest; but the thoughtless cry out as did the enemies -of our Savior: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Other Day, -Standing Buffalo, Chaska and Old Betz were as true and -as good people as ever lived, and yet they are held responsible -for the atrocities of their savage brethren. At the -risk of their own lives they warned hundreds of people -and guided them by night, and hid them by day, until -finally they reached a place of safety. At the hostile -camp, where they had over four hundred women and children, -it was only through the influence of these and -other sturdy friendly chiefs that any lives were saved. -They had to even throw barricades around their tepees -and watch day and night until the soldiers came, giving -notice that whoever raised hand to harm these defenseless -people would do it at their peril. When we know of these -kind acts, let us pause a moment before we say there are -no good Indians.</p> - -<p>It was a study to look at some of these old dusky heroes, -who said nothing but thought much, and who had determined -that, come what would, harm should not come to -the captives. There were statesmen, too, among them; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">« 77 »</a></span> -men wise in council, who had respect for their Great Father -at Washington, who were cognizant of the fact that -much dissatisfaction was engendered among their people -by occurrences taking place at the time of the negotiation -for the treaties. They counselled their people, and no -doubt tried hard to induce them to forsake their desire for -vengeance on the whites, and thus retard the progress they -were making for their offspring toward civilization and a -better manner of living.</p> - -<p>You might properly ask here: “What became of the -friendly Indians while the hostiles were on the warpath?” -Some of them forgot their friendly feelings and, like the -whisky victim, when they got a taste of blood, they wanted -more! They were all forced by the hostiles to don their -war paint and breech-cloth, and go with them against the -whites, and they were wise enough to know that it was -folly to resist. Their main object was to prevent the -wholesale murder of the captives, for when hostilities -opened, they knew if they did not go, every woman and -child in the captive camp would be murdered; and the -friendlies would be blamed as much as the hostiles themselves.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">« 78 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 264px;"> -<a id="CHAPTER_XII"></a> -<img src="images/page_078.png" width="264" height="401" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">MRS. EASTLICK AND CHILDREN.</div> -</div> - -<p class="caption2">CHAPTER XII.</p> - -<p class="caption3">MRS. EASTLICK AND FAMILY.</p> - - -<p>The note of alarm sounded throughout the neighborhood -and without a moment’s warning hurried preparations -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">« 79 »</a></span> -were made for the exodus. Women and children -and a few household goods were loaded into wagons and a -start made for a place of safety. Indians suddenly appeared -and commenced an indiscriminate fire upon the terror-stricken -refugees.</p> - -<p>The individual cases of woman’s heroism, daring, bravery, -cunning and strong-willed self-sacrifice, could be recounted -by the score, and in some instances are past belief. -Their achievements would be considered as pure fiction -but for our own personal knowledge. Many of the real -occurrences would seem like legends, when the father had -been murdered and the mother left with two, three and -even five and six children to care for, and if possible save -them from the ferocity of the painted red devils, whose -thirst for blood could seemingly not be satiated. One -noted case was the Eastlick family, and this was only one -of a hundred. Eleven men of the party had already been -killed, and Mr. Eastlick among the number. The women -with their children were scattered in all directions in the -brush, to escape if possible the inevitable fate in store for -them if caught. The Indians shouted to them to come out -from their hiding places and surrender and they should be -spared. The remaining men, thinking perhaps their lives -might be saved if they surrendered, urged their wives to -do so, and the men would, if possible, escape and give the -alarm. Thus, without a word or a look lest they should -betray the remaining husbands, were these women driven -from their natural protectors and obliged to submit to the -tender mercies of their hated red captors. The supposed -dead husbands watched the receding forms of their devoted -wives, whom in all likelihood they never would see again. -Burton Eastlick, the fifteen-year-old boy, could not endure -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">« 80 »</a></span> -the thought of leaving his mother to this uncertain fate, -and he followed her, but she persuaded him, for the sake -of his fifteen-months-old baby brother, to leave her and -try and make his escape, carrying the little one with him. -And how well did he execute his mission.</p> - -<p>The Indians fired upon the little group and Mrs. Eastlick -fell, wounded in three places, and the boy ran away, -supposing his mother dead; but she revived, and crawled -to where her wounded husband and six-year-old boy were, -to find both dead. Can you picture such a scene or imagine -what the feelings of this poor mother must be under -these awful circumstances? Sublime silence reigning over -earth and sky, and she alone with her dead!</p> - -<p>What a parting must that have been from husband and -child—death and desolation complete. Could she look to -her God? A heart of faith so sorely tried, and yet she -said: “I am in His hands; surely I must trust Him, for I -am yet alive, and two precious children, Burton and little -baby, are fleeing to a place of safety.”</p> - -<p>This heroic boy, Burton, seeing his mother shot, and -supposed to be dead, and watching the life flicker and the -spirit of his six-year-old brother pass away, placed the -dear little body beside that of his father, and with a bravery -born of an heroic nature he accepted his charge, and -with the injunction of his precious, dying mother still -ringing in his ears, made preparations to start. It seemed -an herculean effort, but the brave boy said: “We may yet -be saved!” So, pressing his baby brother close to his -heart, he took a last look upon the faces of his dear father, -mother and six-year-old brother and started.</p> - -<p>Ninety miles, thick with dangers, lay before our young -hero; but he faltered not. When tired carrying his little -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">« 81 »</a></span> -brother in his arms he took him on his back. The first -day he made sixteen miles, and in ten consecutive days -covered sixty miles. He lived on corn and such food as -he could find in deserted houses. At night his bed was -the earth, his pillow a stone, and the sky his only covering, -the bright stars acting as nightly sentinels over him, as -weary, he and his little baby charge slept. If angels have -a duty to perform, surely troops of them must have hovered -around. He fed the little brother as best he could to appease -his hunger and covered him as with angel wings to -protect the little trembling body from the chilly night air. -Brave boy! The pages of history furnish nothing more -noble than this deed, and if you yet live, what a consolation, -what a proud reflection, to know that there never -before was witnessed a deed more deserving of immortal -fame.</p> - -<p>“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor -for the arrow that flyeth by day.” The resolute mother, -badly wounded and left for dead, revived. She looked -upon the face of her dead husband and little boy, and -with sublime courage started for a place of safety. At the -risk of being discovered and murdered—hungry, tired, with -wounds undressed and a heavy, aching heart and deathly -sick, she was obliged to lie by for some time, after which -she again started, and for ten days and nights this poor -sorrow-stricken woman traveled on her weary way.</p> - -<p>Providence led her in the path of a mail carrier on a -route from Sioux Falls City, in Dakota, to New Ulm, -Minnesota. He had formerly known her, but in her -emaciated, jaded, pitiful condition the change was so great -he did not recognize her.</p> - -<p>At New Ulm she found her children, where they were -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">« 82 »</a></span> -being kindly cared for, having been found in the tall grass -nearly dead from exposure and starvation. Thus the remaining -portion of the family were reunited on earth, and -it is proper to here draw the curtain and allow them a few -moments for communion, that the fountain of the heart -which had been dried up by the awful occurrences of the -previous few days might unbidden flow. The mother’s -heart was nearly crushed with the thought of husband and -child—victims of the ferocious Indians, killed and yet unburied -on the prairie nearly one hundred miles away; but, -mother-like, she rejoiced in finding the two children who -had wandered so far and through a kind Providence escaped -so many dangers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">« 83 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 530px;"> -<img src="images/page_083.png" width="530" height="383" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">ESCAPE OF THE MISSIONARIES.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">« 84 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">« 85 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">THE MISSIONARIES—THEIR ESCAPE.</p> - - -<p>A few miles above the Yellow Medicine were the -churches and schools of the Rev. S. R. Riggs and Dr. -Williamson. Both of these gentlemen had long been missionaries -among the Indians and had gained their confidence; -and in return had placed the most implicit confidence -in them. But these good men had been warned to -flee for their lives, and they reluctantly gathered together -a few household treasures, and placing themselves and -families under the guidance of Providence, started for a -place of safety. Fort Ridgely was their objective point, -but they learned that the place was being besieged and that -it would be unsafe to proceed further in this direction, so -turned their weary steps toward Henderson, Minnesota.</p> - -<p>With courage braced up, weary in body and anxious in -mind, they went into camp until the morning. “The pillar -of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night,” guided -this anxious band through a most trying and perilous journey, -but they gained the settlement at last and were among -friends. In leaving their little homes, where they had -found so much pleasure in the work of the Master, in -pointing the Indians to a better way of living, they were -sorrowful; but, like Abraham of old, faithful in their allegiance -to God, not daring to question His ways in compelling -them to turn their backs upon their chosen work—His -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">« 86 »</a></span> -work. The missionaries and teachers formed strong -attachments among this dusky race. In their communion -with them they found them ready and eager to converse -about the Great Spirit and to learn of the wonderful things -taught in the Bible. They loved to sing, and the melody -of sacred song found a responsive chord in their souls as -they were gradually emerging from their barbarous condition, -and coming into the full light of a Christian salvation. -In conversation with the writer, Mr. Riggs once -said that as he was passing one of their happy little homes -he could hear the squaw mother, in her peculiar plaintive -tones, singing to her little children:</p> - -<p> -“Jesus Christ, nitowashte kin<br /> -Woptecashni mayaqu”—<br /> -Jesus Christ, Thy Loving Kindness,<br /> -Boundlessly, Thou Givest Me.<br /> -</p> - -<p>She had become a Christian mother through the teachings -of the missionaries. Her maternal affection was as -deep and abiding as in the breast of her more favored -white sister, and her eye of faith looked beyond the stars -to the happy hunting ground, where the Greater Spirit -abides, and with the assurance that some day she and all -her race would stand with the redeemed in the presence -of the Judge of all the worlds. The Christian missionary -felt for these people as no one else could; and, while not -trying nor desiring to excuse them for their unholy war -against the whites, yet they could not persuade themselves -to believe that they had been justly dealt with by civilized -America.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">« 87 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 255px;"> -<a id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a> -<img src="images/page_087.png" width="255" height="295" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">LITTLE PAUL.</div> -</div> - -<p class="caption2">CHAPTER XIV.</p> - -<p class="caption3">THE INDIAN POW-WOW.</p> - - -<p>The Indians of the various tribes of the Upper and -Lower Sioux—the Sissitons, the Tetons, the Yanktons -and the Yanktonnais and other tribes held a pow-wow to -try and force a conclusion of the war, and some of their -ablest men, their statesmen, were present, and their views -you have here verbatim. More decorum prevailed among -them, and they were more deliberate than is observed in the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">« 88 »</a></span> -average white man’s convention. Little Crow had his supporters -present, and a very fluent Yanktonnais Sioux traced -on the ground a map of the country, showing the course -of the Missouri River and the locality of the different -forts. He marked out the mountains, seas and oceans, and -stated that an army, great in numbers, was coming from -across the country to assist them. This gave rise to the -unfounded rumor referred to in another chapter, that emissaries -from the South were among them to incite them -to war.</p> - -<p>John Paul, or Little Paul, was friendly to the whites, -and in a speech to the Indians at this pow-wow said:</p> - -<p>“I am friendly to the whites, and will deliver these -women and children at Fort Ridgely. I am opposed to the -war on the whites. You say you are brave men, and can -whip the whites. That is a lie—persons who cut women -and children’s throats are not brave. You are squaws and -cowards. Fight the whites if you want to, but do it like -brave men. I am ashamed of the way you have acted -towards the captives; and, if any of you have the feelings -of men, you will give them up. You may look fierce at -me, but I am not afraid of you.”</p> - -<p>Red Iron, one of the chiefs of the Upper Indians, was -not friendly. He was one of the principal chiefs of the -Sissitons, and at one time was so outspoken against the -whites that Governor Ramsey, who was then Superintendent -of Indian Affairs, and was at the agency, had -occasion to rebuke him in a substantial way—he reduced -him to the ranks. In other words, he broke him of his -chieftianship. This was in December, 1852.</p> - -<p>Red Iron was a handsome Indian, an athlete, six feet -in his moccasins, with a large, well-developed head, aquiline -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">« 89 »</a></span> -nose, thin lips, but with intelligence and resolution beaming -all over his countenance.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 256px;"> -<img src="images/page_089.png" width="256" height="395" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">RED IRON.</div> -</div> - -<p>When brought into the presence of Governor Ramsey he -walked with a firm, lordly tread, and was clad in half military -and half Indian costume. When he came in he seated -himself in silence, which was not broken until through an -interpreter the Governor asked him what excuse he had -to offer for not coming to the council when sent for.</p> - -<p>Red Iron, when he arose to his feet to reply, did so with -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">« 90 »</a></span> -a Chesterfieldian grace, allowing his blanket to fall from -his shoulders, and, intentionally dropping his pipe of peace. -He stood before the Governor for a moment in silence, -with his arms folded, his bearing betraying perfect self-composure, -a defiant smile playing upon his lips. In a -firm voice he said:</p> - -<p>Red Iron—“I started to come, but your braves drove me -back.”</p> - -<p>Governor—“What excuse have you for not coming the -second time I sent for you?”</p> - -<p>Red Iron—“No other excuse than I have already given -you.”</p> - -<p>When the Governor, as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, -informed this proud chief that, by virtue of his office, he -would break him of his chieftianship it appealed to his -pride, and he said:</p> - -<p>“You break me? I was elected chief by my tribe. You -can’t break me.”</p> - -<p>The chief, while surrendering to the powers that be, -never felt friendly to the whites, and during this war of -which we write he continued stubborn and sullen to the -end.</p> - -<p>Standing Buffalo, hereditary chief of the Sissitons, was -a different type, and counselled living in peace, but desired -fair treatment and honest dealings with his people. He -was a handsome Indian, and a man of rare ability. General -Sibley was anxious to know how he felt on the important -question agitating the Sioux Nation, and desired his co-operation -in liberating the captives and compassing the -capture of Little Crow and his followers. At this Indian -convention this noted chief said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">« 91 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 260px;"> -<img src="images/page_091.png" width="260" height="390" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">STANDING BUFFALO.</div> -</div> - -<p>“I am a young man, but I have always felt friendly -toward the whites, because they were kind to my father. -You have brought me into great danger without my knowledge -of it beforehand. By killing the whites, it is just as -if you had waited for me in ambush and shot me down. -You Lower Indians feel bad because we have all got into -this trouble; but I feel worse, because I know that neither -I nor my people have killed any of the whites, and that yet -we have to suffer with the guilty. I was out buffalo hunting -when I heard of the outbreak, and I felt as if I was -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">« 92 »</a></span> -dead, and I feel so now. You all know that the Indians -cannot live without the aid of the white man, and, therefore, -I have made up my mind that Paul is right, and my -Indians will stand by him. We claim this reservation. -What are you doing here? If you want to fight the whites, -go back and fight them. Leave my village at Big Stone -Lake. You sent word to my young men to come down, -and that you had plenty of oxen, horses, goods, powder -and lead, and now we see nothing. We are going back to -Big Stone Lake and leave you to fight the whites. Those -who make peace can say that Standing Buffalo and his -people will give themselves up in the spring.”</p> - -<p>They kept their word, and would have nothing to do -with Little Crow.</p> - -<p>Standing Buffalo was killed in 1863 by an accident.</p> - -<p>Other Day, a civilized Indian, in addressing the council -at this time, said:</p> - -<p>“You can, of course, easily kill a few unarmed whites, -but it would be a cowardly thing to do, because we have -gained their confidence, and the innocent will suffer with -the guilty, and the great Father at Washington will send -his soldiers to punish you, and we will all suffer. I will -not join you in this, but will help defend these white people -who have always been our friends.”</p> - -<p>Other Day was a true friend of the whites; he looked -it. He was a full-blood Indian, it is true, and the Indians -respected and feared him, but his desire to forsake the -barbarous teachings of his father inclined him towards -the unsuspecting settlers.</p> - -<p>In 1863 he was General Sibley’s most trusted and confidential -scout. In the early outbreak Other Day manifested -his loyalty to his white friends by risking his life -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">« 93 »</a></span> -in their defense, piloting sixty people through the river -bottoms during the nights to a place of safety. He traveled -with his charge in the night, and hid them in underbrush -during the daytime. He was a true-hearted, kind -man, with a red skin, who has gone to his reward in a land -where there are no reds, no blacks, but where all are white.</p> - -<p>Little Crow, who is one of the principal characters in -this narrative, was an Indian of no mean ability. He was -the commander-in-chief of the hostile tribes, and wielded -a powerful influence among all the tribes of this great -Sioux Nation. He was a powerful man, and felt his lordly -position; was confident of final success, and very defiant -at the outset. He had a penchant for notoriety in more -ways than one. In dress he was peculiar, and could nearly -always be found with some parts of a white man’s clothing. -He was particularly conspicuous in the style of collar he -wore; happy in the possession of one of the old-style standing -collars, such as Daniel Webster and other old-time -gentlemen bedecked themselves with. He also possessed -a black silk neckerchief and a black frock coat, and on -grand occasions wore both.</p> - -<p>He had strongly marked features, and in studying the -lineaments of his face one would not adjudge him a particularly -bad Indian. As we had hundreds of these men -in our custody, a good opportunity was offered while guarding -them to try one’s gift as a reader of character as -stamped in the face, but Little Crow proved an enigma. -It was like a novice trying to separate good money from -bad, an unprofitable and unsuccessful task. Little Crow -said:</p> - -<p>“It is impossible to make peace if we so desired. Did we -ever do the most trifling thing, the whites would hang us. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">« 94 »</a></span> -Now, we have been killing them by the hundreds in Dakota, -Minnesota and Iowa, and I know if they get us into their -hands they will hang every one of us. As for me, I will -kill as many of them as I can, and fight them till I die. -Do not think you will escape. There is not a band of Indians -from the Redwood Agency to Big Stone Lake that -has not had some of its members embroiled in this war. -I tell you we must fight and perish together. A man is a -fool and coward who thinks otherwise, and who will desert -his nation at such a time. Disgrace not yourselves by a -surrender to those who will hang you up like dogs; but -die, if die you must, with arms in your hands, like warriors -and braves of the Dakotas.”</p> - -<p>In one of our battles we took some fine-looking bucks -prisoners, and the soldiers were for scalping them at once, -but we had a little “pow-wow” with them, and found them -intelligent and well educated; they were students home -on a vacation from Bishop Whipple’s school at Faribault, -Minnesota, and said they were forced, much against their -will, to go on the warpath; that they had not fired a bullet -at the whites; that they fired blank cartridges because they -felt friendly to the whites, and had no desire to kill them. -There were three of them; we told them they could take -their choice—be shot or enlist; they chose the latter, and -went South with us, staying until the close of the Rebellion, -and they displayed the courage of the born soldier.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">« 95 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 345px;"> -<img src="images/page_095.png" width="345" height="386" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Brevet Major General H. H. Sibley</span>,<br /> -<br /> -<span class="smaller">Commander in the field in 1862 and 1863 against the Sioux Indians.</span></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">« 96 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">« 97 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">GOV. SIBLEY APPOINTED COMMANDER.</p> - - -<p>While these scenes which I have related were being -enacted in the upper country excitement ran high at St. -Paul, and for a time the great struggle then going on in the -South was forgotten. The news of the outbreak soon -reached St. Paul, and couriers, with horses covered with -foam, kept coming in one after another, until the officers -at Fort Snelling were ordered by Governor Ramsey to be -in readiness with their men to move at a moment’s notice, -and we did not have long to wait.</p> - -<p>The Sixth Minnesota, of which I was a member, had just -organized, and was assigned to Hancock corps, Army of -the Potomac, but the events transpiring in the Indian -country made it necessary for all available troops to go -there. When I say that the whole country was seething -with excitement it is no exaggeration. The towns, big and -little, were filled with frightened refugees; the rumors that -came in were of the most frightful nature, and the whole -state was clamorous for protection.</p> - -<p>Governor Ramsey, in his desire to protect the panic-stricken -people and liberate the captives, cast about for a -suitable commander for this important work. Of all the -men in and about St. Paul who seemed eminently qualified -for this position, Governor Henry H. Sibley, who at that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">« 98 »</a></span> -time was living in quietude in his home in Mendota, just -across the river from the fort, was his choice.</p> - -<p>Governor Henry Hastings Sibley, the hero of these -Indian campaigns, was born in the city of Detroit February -20, 1811. His sire was Chief Justice Solomon Sibley, -of Detroit, and his mother was Sarah Whipple Sproat, -whose father, Colonel Ebenezer Sproat, was an accomplished -officer of the Continental army, and the granddaughter -of Commodore Abraham Whipple, an illustrious -commander in the Continental navy. He came from a -long line of illustrious ancestry on both sides, of good -Puritan stock, and dating his lineage back to the Sibleys of -William the Conqueror of England in the fifteenth century.</p> - -<p>He was not a fighter; his heart was too tender for that, -but he felt the weighty responsibility he had assumed when -he consented to lead the soldiers and save the lives of the -captives. For delaying he was denounced on all hands. -The press denounced him for not falling immediately upon -the Indians; but he knew the enemy better than his censors. -If he had heeded the behests of the clamorous people -not a captive would have been spared; but to-day hundreds -live to bless him for his cautious, conservative movements. -Until his death, which occurred but a few months since, -he lived in his beautiful home in St. Paul; and, although -a half century of winters in the far Northwest had whitened -his head, and a great deal more than a half century of time -had made his limbs tremble, neither time nor frost had -sapped the citadel of his mind. He was a member of -Aker Post, No. 21, Department of Minnesota, and the -comrades, in deference to his declining years, went in a -body to his beautiful home where he was mustered in. He -lived in peace and plenty, surrounded by his family and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">« 99 »</a></span> -friends, who esteemed him for his worth. He passed away -respected and regretted by a host of friends throughout the -land, who knew him as a citizen and a soldier. I knew him -personally and intimately since 1857; and in his death, -with others great in our nation’s history, we are reminded -that in war the bullet is no respecter of rank; the commander -and the soldier fall together.</p> - -<p>Governor Sibley was commissioned by Governor Ramsey -as Colonel of Volunteers, and assigned to the command of -the expedition. He was selected because he had spent -many years of his life among the Indians as a trader, he -spoke their language, he knew them personally, and knew -their characteristics. He was a man of large experience, -education and ability, and possessed, withal, a cool head. -He knew the Indians, and they knew him and respected -him. He consented to lead the forces against the Indians -when appealed to by Governor Ramsey, upon conditions -that he should not be interfered with by His Excellency, -or any one else, and that he should have adequate supplies -of men, stores and transportation. Colonel Sibley, afterwards -Brigadier and Brevet Major-General of Volunteers, -with his staff and Companies A, B, and E, of the Sixth -Minnesota Infantry, embarked on a small steamer then at -anchor near the fort, and steamed up the Minnesota river -to Shakopee, distant about forty miles by water. We -started in a furious rain, and after a slow trip up the narrow -and winding Minnesota, arrived at Shakopee, where -we found the frightened citizens ready to receive us with -open arms, although all the firearms we had were worthless -and condemned Austrian rifles, without ammunition to fit -them. All serviceable material of war had been shipped -to the South. Our first guard duty was on picket in the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">« 100 »</a></span> -suburbs of Shakopee, and our instructions were to press -all teams into the service. We felt the gravity of the situation, -and obeyed orders to the letter as nearly as we, raw -recruits, could. While here the news was spread that Indians -were in the vicinity, and the women and children -began to flock to the vicinity of the soldiers; the alarm was -without foundation. As we were stationed on the various -roads leading to and from the town, the citizens who had -been so badly scared seemed to feel comparatively safe. -The news from the upper country, however, was discouraging, -and appeals for protection very urgent. We could -not move at once from lack of transportation, and had no -adequate supplies, either of food, arms or ammunition, for -we had been so hurriedly dispatched from Fort Snelling -that only about half of one company had been supplied -with even the worthless muskets spoken of, and the whole -command with but two days’ rations. It was necessary, -however, to make some quick demonstration to appease -the panic-stricken people. After a delay of one day, by -various routes by land and water, the regiment concentrated -at St. Peter, under command of Colonel William -Crooks, where it was inspected and remained four or five -days, awaiting the receipt of suitable arms and ammunition -and also reinforcements.</p> - -<p>Our guns were so absolutely worthless that it was necessary -to delay a little, as the Indians, in large numbers, were -then besieging Fort Ridgely, and were well armed with -Springfield rifles, while our own arms were condemned -Austrian muskets.</p> - -<p>We embarked on a boat at Shakopee and sailed up to -Carver, forty miles above, and there pressed in teams to -carry us through what was known as the “Big Woods.” -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">« 101 »</a></span> -It had been raining for days, and the town of Carver was -literally packed with refugees. There was not an empty -building in it, even the warehouses were filled, and the -muddy streets were a sight to behold. The mud was ankle -deep, and you may imagine in what condition everything -was. I cannot describe it.</p> - -<p>The frightened people, who had flocked in from all the -country round, told most woeful tales of Indian atrocities. -In some cases they were overdrawn, but later on we saw -evidences enough to warrant them fleeing to a place of -safety. There was no safety, however, in coming to these -small towns, for they were without protection.</p> - -<p>After loading up the teams, we started through the “Big -Woods,” and the roads were in such a horrible condition -that we made but slow progress. However, we had to make -Glencoe, twenty-five miles distant, before night or camp -down in the woods in the mud. It became pitchy dark, but -we kept on the move, and in time got through the woods -and could see the lights of Glencoe afar off. This was only -a small place, but the twinkling lights from the houses -were a pleasant sight, and when we arrived there the people -were glad to see us. We remained over night, and the next -day started for St. Peter. We could see evidences of Indian -devastation in every direction, among which were the burning -buildings and grain stacks on the beautiful neighboring -farms.</p> - -<p>On the route to St. Peter, which we reached early in the -evening, we discovered a few dead settlers, and took some -families along with us. Upon our arrival we went into -camp with the rest of the command, and were soon placed -under strict military discipline, and in a brief time our -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">« 102 »</a></span> -commander, Colonel William Crooks, a West Pointer, -brought order out of chaos.</p> - -<p>Of the preparation and forward march to relieve Fort -Ridgely I will reserve for another chapter.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 137px;"> -<img src="images/page_102.png" width="137" height="286" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">« 103 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">MARCH TO FORT RIDGELY.</p> - - -<p>In the interval the companies were drilled and the command -otherwise prepared to act effectively against the -formidable body of hostile warriors, who were well armed -and plentifully supplied with powder and ball. Colonel -Sibley, having looked the ground over with a critical eye, -uninfluenced by the public clamor and fault-finding of -the press, remained firm in the determination not to take -the field until assured of success in his operations. He -knew the Indians well, and knew it was necessary to fight -or failure, there would be no adequate barrier to the descent -of the savages upon St. Paul and Minneapolis, and -the desolation of the state generally. The Chippewas on -the north were known to be in secret communication with -Little Crow, the head of the Sioux hordes, and ready to -them cautiously if he would succeed, for, in case of defeat -co-operate with him if victorious, while the Winnebagoes -were also in active sympathy with him, for two or three of -their warriors were found among the dead after the battle -of Wood Lake, which occurred later on. Arms, ammunition -and supplies arriving, we took up the line of march -for Fort Ridgely, which was then in a state of siege. Our -advent at the Fort was hailed with delight, for the little -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">« 104 »</a></span> -garrison was pretty well tired out with the fighting and -watching that they had had on their hands for the eight -days previous. Barricades had been erected at all weak -points, but the Indians so far outnumbered the soldiers -that they approached near enough to fire the wooden buildings -of the fort proper in many places.</p> - -<p>Our march to Fort Ridgely was the first we had made -as an entire organization, and under an able commanding -officer we profited by it. On the way we found the dead -body of a colored man from St. Paul by the name of Taylor. -He was a barber by trade, but also quite a noted -gambler, and had been up to the agency to get his share -of the money when the Indians got their pay.</p> - -<p>He played one game too many, and lost—his life.</p> - -<p>Before we reached the Fort the Indians took alarm and -sullenly retreated upon our approach, after having done all -possible damage to men and property. As we entered, the -brave little garrison accompanied by the women and children -turned out to greet us, and a right joyous time we -had. A detachment of thirty men of the Fifth Minnesota, -under Captain Marsh, the commander of the fort, upon -receipt of news of the outbreak, had marched in the direction -of the Lower Sioux Agency, distant a few miles. The -Indians, perceiving the advance of this small detachment, -placed themselves in ambush in the long grass at the crossing -of the Minnesota River and awaited the oncoming of -their unsuspecting victims, and, when in the toils, they -opened a terrific fire upon them, which destroyed almost -the entire party.</p> - -<p>Colonel Sibley hurried forward supplies and ammunition -for an extensive campaign, for, from his knowledge of the -Indians, he knew it was no boy’s play. The moving spirit -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">« 105 »</a></span> -among the hostiles was Little Crow, a wily old chief, without -principle, but active and influential. He had harangued -his people into the belief that the fight going on among the -whites in the South had drawn off all the able-bodied men, -leaving none but old men, women and children. “Now,” -he said, “is the time to strike for Minnesota. These fertile -fields, stolen from us, are ours; the buffalo are gone; we -have no food, and our women and children are starving. -Let the warriors assemble in war paint and drive the pale-faces -from the face of the earth!” He told his people they -could pitch their wigwams the coming winter in St. Paul -and hold high carnival in the legislative halls. So widespread -had the alarm became that it reached St. Paul and -Minneapolis, and “minute men” were on duty on the bluffs -adjacent for several days. In addition to the Sioux, the -Chippewas and Winnebagoes were becoming very restless, -and this caused additional uneasiness in the two cities.</p> - -<p>Colonel Sibley, upon his arrival of the fort, sent out -scouts to ascertain the whereabouts of the Indians. The -news they brought was that a large camp of hostiles was -located above the Yellow Medicine, where they held as -captives about four hundred white women and children, -and one white man. They also reported that the Indians -were preparing to make a raid on the small towns below -the fort.</p> - -<p>It was also known that a large number of citizens who -had been killed near the agency were yet unburied, and -the fate of Captain Marsh and his men was in doubt. -To this end a small command was organized, as narrated in -another chapter, to go out to bury the dead and relieve -Captain Marsh and his men if they were found alive.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">« 106 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">BURIAL OF CAPT. MARSH AND MEN.</p> - - -<p>Company “A,” of the Sixth Minnesota, together with -two men each from the other companies, were detailed to -accompany a burial party, with instructions to properly -bury all bodies found, and, if possible, ascertain the fate of -Captain Marsh and his thirty men, who had gone out to -intercept the Indians at the Redwood Crossing. In addition -to this detail we had a small detachment of citizen -cavalry, under Captain Joe Anderson, to act as scouts.</p> - -<p>Our little command numbered, all told, 153—infantry, -cavalry and teamsters—and ninety-six horses, including -twenty teams taken along to carry camp and garrison equipage, -rations and ammunition, and to transport our -wounded, either soldiers or citizens. The expedition was -under the immediate command of Captain H. P. Grant, of -Company A. Major Joseph R. Brown, better known as -“Old Joe Brown,” was in charge of the scouts. He had a -cool head, but no fighting qualities; had been an Indian -trader for many years, raised an Indian family, and knew -a great deal about Indian signs and customs. In this particular -case, however, the Indians fooled Joe. The first day -out we found and buried about fifty citizens, and at night -went into camp in the river bottom near Redwood Crossing. -The night was dark and dismal, and particularly sad to us -who had been gathering up the dead all day long. The -instructions to the guard by Captain Anderson were of a -very solemn nature, in view of the surroundings and the -probable fighting ahead. This, together with the stillness -of the night and the impression that a lurking foe was -near, made the boys feel rather uncomfortable.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">« 107 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 531px;"> -<img src="images/page_107.png" width="531" height="385" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">DR. WILLIAMSON’S HOUSE.</div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">« 108 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">« 109 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Deep sleep settled upon the camp, but the sentinels -maintained a vigilant watch, however, and the night slowly -passed without incident. After reveille the next morning -we found Captain Marsh and his comrades, but not one of -them answered to “roll-call.” We found the captain’s body -and those of a few of his men in the river, and the rest of -the bodies in the thicket on the river bank, where they had -evidently been hemmed in and fired upon from all sides. -Nearly all had been scalped, and were minus guns and ammunition, -for these had been confiscated by the redskins. -We buried the soldiers side by side, with their captain at -their head, and marked the place by a huge cross, so that -the bodies might be easily found and removed, which was -subsequently done, when they were finally buried in the -Soldiers’ cemetery at Fort Ridgely. After this last service -to our dead comrades, we took up the line of march, leaving -the bottom lands for the prairie above, and it was when -passing over the bluff that a large body of Indians, who -were on their way to capture Saint Peter and Mankato, -espied us. What was our subsequent loss was the gain of -the two towns mentioned. Our scouts had crossed the -river, making a detour to the south, and thus missed making -the acquaintance of our enemies, who had their eyes -on us.</p> - -<p>We went into camp the second night near Birch Coolie, -and sixteen miles distant from Fort Ridgely, about 5 p. m., -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">« 110 »</a></span> -well tired out with our day’s march. Birch Coolie is a deep -gorge running north and south in Redwood county, Minnesota. -What was then a bleak prairie is now a beautiful -farming community, and Birch Coolie a thriving village.</p> - -<p>From information gathered by the scouts we felt comparatively -safe.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 303px;"> -<img src="images/page_110.png" width="303" height="234" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">“<span class="smcap">Chickens for Supper.</span>”</div> -</div> - -<p>Old Joe said: “Boys, go to sleep now and rest; you are -as safe as you would be in your mother’s house; there is -not an Indian within fifty miles of you.” At that very -moment five hundred Indians were in the immediate vicinity -watching us and impatient for the ball to open, as they -intended it should at the proper time, which, with the Indian, -is about four o’clock in the morning.</p> - -<p>After our supper on chicken stew, song-singing and -story-telling, we turned in, well tired out and in a condition -to enjoy a good night’s sleep and dreams of home.</p> - -<p>The night was warm, the sky clear, with the stars shining -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">« 111 »</a></span> -brightly, and a full moon in all her glory. It was a beautiful -night—too beautiful to witness the scene that was so -soon to follow. The guard had been stationed and cautioned -to be on the alert for strange sounds; “tattoo,” -“roll-call,” “taps,” sounded, and the little camp was silent. -The low hum of voices became less and less as slumber -came to the weary soldiers, and all that could be heard was -the occasional challenge of the guard: “Halt! who comes -there!” as he was being approached by the officer of the -guard.</p> - -<p>Soon the soldiers slept, little dreaming that the lurking -enemy and death were so near. The awakening to some -was in eternity.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">« 112 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">BATTLE OF BIRCH COOLIE.</p> - - -<p>The battle of Birch Coolie was fought September 2 and -3, 1862. It has never taken its proper place in history, but -with the exception of the massacre at the Little Big Horn, -in 1876, it was the hottest and the most desperate battle -fought during the war of the Rebellion or any of our Indian -wars. In comparison to the number of men and -horses engaged, I know of no conflict, the one above referred -to excepted, where the casualties were as great as -they were here.</p> - -<p>The Indian custom is to make an attack about four -o’clock in the morning, so this relief had been especially -cautioned, and soon after the guard was placed one of them -thought he saw something moving in the grass. It proved -to be an Indian, and they were slowly moving in upon us, -their intention being to shoot the pickets with arrows, and -as noiselessly as possible rush in and destroy us in our confusion. -The sentinel fired at the moving object, and instantly -our camp was encircled by fire and smoke from the -guns of five hundred Indians, who had hemmed us in. -The guard who fired escaped the bullet intended for him. -He said he thought the moving object in the grass might -be a hog or it might be an Indian, and, hog or Indian, he -intended to kill it if he could. The fire was returned by the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">« 113 »</a></span> -pickets as they retreated to the camp, and although there -necessarily was confusion, there was no panic. Quicker -than I can write we were out, musket in hand, but the captain’s -command to “fall down” was mistaken for “fall in,” -which makes a vast difference under such circumstances. -We soon broke for the wagons, however, which were formed -in a circle about our tents, and this afforded us some little -shelter.</p> - -<p>As this was our baptismal fire, and a most important engagement, -I devote more space to it than I otherwise would. -What an experience it was to inexperienced, peaceable, unsuspecting -men! Think of being awakened out of a blissful -sleep by the fire from five hundred Indian rifles—it is -a wonder that we were not all destroyed amid the confusion -that naturally would follow; but we had cool heads among -us, and none were cooler than Old Joe Brown and Captain -H. P. Grant, of Company A, who was in immediate command. -I will here refer to two others. First, Mr. William -H. Grant, a lawyer of St. Paul, who still lives in Minnesota. -He went out to see the fun. Well, he saw it, and the “trial” -was a severe one. He “objected” and “took exceptions” to -everything the Indians did.</p> - -<p>He wore a black plug hat, and this was a good mark for -the redskins; they shot it off his head twice, and it was -finally lost altogether. “Bill” was cool; he did not lose his -temper, but laid down very flat on the ground and gave -directions to those about him how to shoot to kill. We -afterward voted him in as a brevet private, and were always -ready to divide grub and “shake.” Postmaster Ed. -Patch, of St. Anthony, was another of our citizen escorts. -He was a jolly good fellow and “cool as a cucumber,” with -a bay window on him like an overgrown bass drum. He -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">« 114 »</a></span> -found this excess of stomach very much in the way, in his -great desire to hug mother earth and get out of range of -the Indian bullets, and looked as if he wished he had never -been born, or that he had been a disciple of anti-fat.</p> - -<p>One of our little thin fellows was lying down alongside -of “Ed,” and I’ll never forget the expression of his face -when he said: “God, bub, I wish I was as little as you be.”</p> - -<p>The camp was miserably located, being commanded by -the deep ravine on one side and by a mound on the other, -so that the savages were well sheltered from our fire. Had -the instructions given by Colonel Sibley been followed, -which were always to encamp in open and level prairie, -there would have been no such destruction of valuable -lives, but the spot was chosen for our camp because it was -near wood and water, and the Indians were supposed to be -fifty miles away. It was a mistake, which we discovered -after it was too late. A brisk fire was opened by the boys, -and soon the cartridge boxes were being depleted. Ammunition -was called for, and upon opening a box, to our dismay -we found it to be of too large a calibre. Other boxes -were opened with a like result. In loading up our ammunition -a mistake had been made, and we found ourselves -in this unfortunate dilemma; but no time was to be lost, -as we had not more than an average of twenty rounds to -the man, and a hoard of savages about us who seemed well -supplied with powder and ball.</p> - -<p>We went to work cutting the large bullets down with our -knives, but this was a slow and unsatisfactory process. We -used the powder from these large cartridges to load our -guns with, putting in an extra amount, so that when we -fired these blanks they made a great noise, and thus kept -up a successful “bluff,” though doing no damage. A dead -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">« 115 »</a></span> -silence would ensue, and occasionally some of our best -shots picked off a more daring redskin simply to remind -them that we were awake. We had but one shovel and one -pick; there were others in some of the wagons, or they -had been thrown out in the grass and could not be found. -The captain offered $5 apiece for them, but the bullets -were too thick to admit of a search, so we used jack-knives, -spoons and bayonets to dig our intrenchments with. In -time we had very good pits dug, and with the assistance of -the dead bodies of our horses had ourselves tolerably well -protected.</p> - -<p>With the wounded horses rearing and plunging, the men -groaning and calling for help, the hurried commands, and -the unearthly yells of the five hundred red devils about us, -this baptismal fire was trying to the souls of raw recruits, -as most of us were. We were encircled by fire and smoke, -the bullets were doing their deadly work, and it really -seemed as though no man could escape death. Our orders -were: “Load and fire, but steady, boys, and give them hail -Columbia!”</p> - -<p>Upon the first fire of the Indians two men fled from the -camp, one a citizen, who was with us, and the other a soldier. -The citizen we found afterward on the prairie, dead. -He was the last of his family, for we had buried his wife -and two children just the previous day, before going into -camp. The soldier, a Swede, returned, but he was so paralyzed -with fear that he was like a dead man during all this -memorable thirty-six hours, and the poor fellow afterward -succumbed to sickness. Everything was improvised for a -barricade—camp kettles, knapsacks, wagon-seats, etc., and -it was done in a hurry, for hot work was on our hands. -The word soon went the rounds: "College is dead, Irvine -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">« 116 »</a></span> -is dead, Baxter, Coulter, Benecke, King and a score of -others are dead, and nearly all are wounded." It was only -a few minutes after the first fire when we realized all this, -and it verily looked as though the little command would -be wiped out of existence. If a head was shown fifty Indians -leveled at it. During all this terrible fire Old Joe -Brown walked about seemingly unconcerned, until a bullet -went through the back of his neck. He came to the ground -as quick as if shot through the heart, for it was a bad -wound, but with it all he continued to give instructions. -Nearly all the damage was done before ten o’clock, for up -to that time we found ourselves with sixty killed and -wounded, out of 155, and ninety-five horses dead, out of -ninety-six. The horses saved our little encampment. As -soon as they fell their bodies formed a good barricade for -us, and this and the overturned wagons were our only protection. -The Indians, occupying higher ground than we -did, had us at a disadvantage. The day wore on, and all -we could do was to assist Surgeon J. W. Daniels with the -wounded and keep the Indians at bay. Dr. Daniels proved -himself a cool-headed, brave man, never flinching for a -moment. Where duty called he was found, and he immortalized -himself with the boys. The great fear of the -wounded seemed to be that we would be obliged to abandon -them to their fate, for the sun was extremely hot and the -camp had become very offensive from the smell of decomposing -bodies of horses; besides, we had no means of transporting -the wounded, and their fears were not without -foundation, for it looked as though we would be driven by -necessity from the camp. We assured and reassured them -that if we went they would go, too. If we died it would be -in defending them as well as ourselves.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">« 117 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The one thing, aside from cowardice on the part of the -Indians, that saved us from assault was the fact of our having -several half-breed scouts with us, who talked back and -forth.</p> - -<p>The Indians said: “Come out from the pale-faces; we -do not want to kill you, but we want all their scalps.”</p> - -<p>Private James Auge of our company was the spokesman. -He was a Canadian Frenchman, but had lived among the -Indians, knew them well, and spoke their language, and as -he went so would all the other Indians and half-breeds who -were with us.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">« 118 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">BIRCH COOLIE CONTINUED.</p> - - -<p>On the second day, at about sunrise, we discovered a large -body of Indians closing up nearer to us, when one of their -number, probably Little Crow’s brother, came within -twenty rods of us. He was on a white horse, and carried a -flag of truce. He held a conversation with Auge, our interpreter, -and tried to persuade him to leave us and bring -the other half-breeds with him. When the conversation -was interpreted to Captain Grant, he said: “Well, Auge, -what do you fellows intend to do, go with the Indians or -stay with us?” Auge replied:</p> - -<p>“Captain Grant, we want nothing to do with these Indians; -we will stand by you and fight as long as there is a -man left, and I will now tell them so.” He did call to -them, and said:</p> - -<p>“We won’t come over to you; we will stay with the -soldiers, and if you come we will kill you if we can. You -are cowards to kill poor women and children, and if we -catch you we will treat you as you treated them.”</p> - -<p>We felt relieved to know that our half-breeds were loyal. -Auge, after this, was Corporal Auge, and he went all -through the South with us, making a splendid soldier. I -shall have occasion to refer to him in another place in this -chapter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">« 119 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 697px;"> -<img src="images/page_119.png" width="697" height="391" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly</span>.</div><br /> - -<div class="smcap">Battle of Birch Coolie. Minn.</div> -<br /> -<div class="smaller">Fought September 2nd and 3d, 1862. Ninety-five horses lay dead within the camp; 60 men killed and wounded; 500 Indians -were under cover in the tall grass, and concentrated their fire on the camp.</div></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">« 120 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">« 121 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Captain Grant told Auge to say to them that we had two -hundred fighting men and plenty of ammunition, and that -Little Crow and all his dirty Indians could not take us, -and for him to get out with his flag of truce.</p> - -<p>It was a game of bluff, for at that time we only had -about sixty-five effective men, and were nearly out of ammunition.</p> - -<p>We did not know whether we could trust the half-breeds -or not, and were instructed to fire on them to kill if they -made the slightest move to desert us. Our firing had been -heard at Fort Ridgely, sixteen miles away, and the Colonel -dispatched two hundred and fifty men, with one howitzer, -to our relief.</p> - -<p>Just at sunset the second day we saw two horsemen -come to the edge of the woods across the Coolie, but the -Indians also saw them, and chased them back. They returned -to their command and reported a large body of Indians, -and said they saw a small camp with the stars and -stripes flying, but as they had no field glass, could not make -it out. Colonel McPhail, who was in command of this relief, -ordered the howitzer to be fired to give us courage, -if the little camp proved to be ours. A shout went up at -this welcome sound just as the sun went down. Old Joe -Brown, who had been disabled early in the day, called out -from his tent: “Captain Grant, instruct the men to be -watchful; we are in a bad fix; the Indians will hate to -lose our scalps, now that they are so near their grasp; give -them a few shots occasionally, assure the wounded men that -we will not leave them, and keep the pick and shovel busy.” -We disposed of ourselves for the night as best we could. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">« 122 »</a></span> -Every man was on guard, and nearly all had two rifles fully -charged and bayonets fixed. We clasped our rifles, looked -up into the starry heavens, and, asking God’s protection, -swore not to yield an inch. We made this demonstration -to encourage the wounded men, who seemed fearful that -something more terrible was in store for them. The prayers -and groans of the wounded and the awful silence of the -dead inspired us to do our whole duty. The watch-word, -“wide-awake,” went the rounds every few minutes, and -there was “no sleep to the eye nor slumber to the eye-lids,” -during all that live-long night.</p> - -<p>Out of our ninety-six horses we had but one left. This -was a splendid animal, and had thus far escaped without a -scratch. He was feeding about the camp, unmindful of the -fate of his fellows.</p> - -<p>The picture of Birch Coolie is an exact reproduction of -the situation. The ninety-five dead horses were all within -the enclosure, and the one who escaped for the time is -grazing among them.</p> - -<p>Just before midnight the clouds began to gather, and we -felt cheered to think we would soon have rain. We were -sorely in need of water, for we had not tasted a drop since -the night before, and the wounded men were nearly famished -with thirst and burning with fever. As the sky -darkened Captain Grant called for a volunteer to go to -Fort Ridgely for relief. Corporal James Auge volunteered -to go, and by this act proved himself a truly brave man, -and if it had been successfully carried out would have -gained for him a commission at no very distant day. The -fact of its not being carried out was no fault of his, and, in -the abandonment of the trial, he was declared not the less -brave by all his comrades, who trembled for him while he -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">« 123 »</a></span> -was preparing to make the perilous journey. The night -was cloudy, and he being conversant with Indian methods -and well posted in the topography of the country, could be -successful in getting through the Indian’s lines, if anybody -could; but the chances were ten to one against the success -of the undertaking.</p> - -<p>The horse was saddled and the Corporal had his instructions. -He had his foot in the stirrup when the clouds -rolled back from the full moon like the rolling back of a -scroll, and it was almost as light as noon-day. The Indians, -ever on the alert, saw the preparations and opened fire -anew upon us, and, long before they ceased, our good horse -was pierced by six bullets, and the project was abandoned—we -could only wait anxiously for results. The enemy did -not allow us to wait long, for at four o’clock they opened a -terrific fire, which they kept up for an hour. The only -response they got from us was blank cartridges, but we -made a great noise with them, and it answered the purpose -very well. We had ourselves so well protected that in this -fusillade they killed but one man and wounded another.</p> - -<p>The early morning dawn and heavy, dewy atmosphere -found our eyes heavy from loss of sleep, so we divided up -and some slept while others watched. We heard nothing -of the detachment, and as the day advanced the Indians -became bolder. They had driven the relief back and were -closing in upon us, and we, having so little ammunition, -could do them but little harm. They were puzzled at our -silence. Some of the chiefs said it was a trick, others said -we were all killed. At any rate, with them “discretion was -the better part of valor,” and we didn’t object.</p> - -<p>About one o’clock the same day we descried the glimmer -of the polished rifle in the distance. We had no glass, but -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">« 124 »</a></span> -anxious eyes strained to see what it was, and the dark outline -of a moving mass told us reinforcements were coming. -The chiefs, by waving their blankets and shouts, called off -their warriors. “There’s a mile of whites coming,” they -said. They waved their tomahawks, shouted, fired, and -finally galloped off on the prairie.</p> - -<p>A few warriors more daring than the others remained -behind for a time to get a scalp, and some of them came -so close we could readily discern their war paint. Before -the main body of the Indians left, however, they rode very -close, and gave us several parting volleys. The wounding -of a few of our men was all the damage they did at this -time.</p> - -<p>Right joyful were we when the reinforcements arrived. -Our camp had been formed by driving twenty teams in a -circle, and it can readily be seen that it was not large. It -was about as large as an ordinary circus tent, and inside -of this we had our horses, men and tents. After the battle -the sight was a sickening one, for with sixty dead and -wounded men and ninety-five horses in such a small space, -and all the confusion arising out of such a siege it was -enough to appall the stoutest heart. Strong men, when -they beheld the sight, wept like children. It was our baptismal -fire, and the horror seemed greater to us. Our men, -whose nerves had been on a tension so long and bodies exhausted -for want of food, water and sleep, when the relief -came, fell down and slept. Colonel Sibley was the first to -arrive, and when he rode up to our barricade, and saw the -terrible loss of life he looked as though he had lost his best -friends. His heart bled at the sight, and the tears he shed -spoke volumes. A detail was at once made to bury the -dead side by side in a temporary grave, dinner was cooked -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">« 125 »</a></span> -for the remainder of the command and the wounded were -put in ambulances, tents were “struck,” and we took up -the line of march for Fort Ridgely, which we reached sometime -during the night. Our tents had been so completely -riddled with bullets that they were condemned as useless, -and were finally sent down to Fort Snelling and placed on -exhibition for a long time. One of them had 375 bullet -holes in it, and when the people looked at them they wondered -that any man escaped. The narrow escapes were -almost miraculous, and congratulations were frequently in -order. It was not every man for himself, but a strong -fellow-feeling sprang up among us that forever afterwards -cemented our hearts. We shared our shelter and encouraged -one another, and no man shrank from duty. We had -determined to die together, and if ever soldiers stood shoulder -to shoulder we did on this bloody spot, where our nerves -and courage were taxed to the utmost. Company A, so -nearly wiped out, was ever afterwards considered the “Old -Ironsides” of the regiment.</p> - -<p>Before we left, Colonel Sibley addressed a note to Little -Crow, and placing it on a stick stuck it in the ground so -he might find it when he would visit the battle ground, -as he surely would do as soon as we were out of the way. -The note was as follows:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“If Little Crow has any proposition to make let him -send a half-breed to me and he shall be protected in and -out of my camp.</p> - -<p class="tdr"> -“H. H. Sibley, <br /> -“Colonel Commanding Military Expedition.”</p> -</div> - -<p>To specify the remarkable escapes would unduly lengthen -this chapter, but, as near as my recollection serves me, no -man entirely escaped. I’ll specify two—one an escape and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">« 126 »</a></span> -the other an incident. Lieutenant Swan, of the Third -Minnesota, now a lawyer of Sioux City, Iowa, was with -us on this picnic. He was not ordered to go, neither was -he detailed, but he simply went, and he had a very narrow -escape. During the sharp firing, and after we had some -shallow pits dug, this officer was in one as far as his long -legs would admit. He had a fine gold watch in his fob -pocket, and one of the boys asked him the time of day. He -undoubled as well as he could and got out his watch, but in -returning it put it in his vest pocket instead of the fob. It -was no sooner in his pocket than an Indian bullet struck it -squarely in the center. The concussion knocked the lieutenant -over, but the watch saved his life. He keeps it as a -valued souvenir of the occasion.</p> - -<p>The incident relates to Private James Leyde, of Company -A, of the Sixth. He was a little fellow who could -march longer and eat oftener than any youngster of his -size I ever saw. Jimmy was a splendid soldier, always -ready for drill or guard, and never forgot his manners -when he met a “shoulder-straps.” He was a pious little -fellow, too, and carried a Bible his mother gave him.</p> - -<p>Well, “after the battle” Jimmy was looking over the -wreck with his comrade, Billy Caine, and in taking up his -Bible found a bullet embedded in it. “Hello, Billy, my -Bible got struck!” The ball had gone through Genesis, -Exodus and Leviticus, until it stopped half way through -Deuteronomy. Jimmy says: “God, Billy, it didn’t get -through Deuteronomy anyway!”</p> - -<p>There were many close calls, and it really seemed remarkable -that so many could escape. I could specify -scores, but it is not necessary.</p> - -<p>Among the incidents on the march before we arrived -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">« 127 »</a></span> -at Birch Coolie I might mention the finding of a wounded -woman by the roadside. She had been without food or -water for twelve days, and was the only one of a large -party supposed to have been murdered. She did not -escape uninjured, however, for the surgeon took fourteen -buckshot from her back. During our thirty-six hours’ -siege this poor woman remained in the wagon where she -had been placed the first day, and spent her time in praying -for our deliverance. She sustained a broken wrist in -addition to her other wounds, but after we got to the -fort she was among her own people and soon fully recovered -to tell the tale of her twelve days’ wanderings and her -marvelous escape.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">« 128 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE.</p> - - -<p>At this juncture the press and people were clamoring for -Colonel Sibley’s removal because of his delay and, as they -claimed—lack of energy and judgment. He lacked in -neither, for he knew the foe he had to deal with, and if -he had heeded the behests of the press and people, so -far away, not a woman or child of the captives would have -escaped. However, he dispatched Col. William Crooks to -St. Paul to explain the situation in detail to Governor -Ramsey and satisfy the clamorous press that they knew -but little of the situation as it existed at the seat of the -Sioux war.</p> - -<p>After our return to Fort Ridgely and a few more days -of preparation, the command was put in splendid marching -condition, and “forward” was the word for the rescuing -of the captives and if possible the capture of the renegades. -We met the Indians next at Wood Lake and had a sharp -battle with them early in the morning. They had come -down in force to annihilate us, but we were glad to meet -them in broad day light on the open prairie and receive -them with “open arms to hospitable graves.” We were -just up from a good night’s sleep and had partaken of a -generous supply of Old Java and “hard tack,” and felt -abundantly able to defend ourselves. Besides we were -veterans now, for we had profited by our baptismal fire and -had an old score to settle with “Mr. Injun,” and we settled -to our entire satisfaction.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">« 129 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 671px;"> -<img src="images/page_129.png" width="671" height="370" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly</span>.</div><br /> -<span class="smcap">Battle of Wood Lake, Minn.</span><br /> -<span class="smaller">Fought September 23d, in which the Indians were defeated.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">« 130 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">« 131 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Our sappers had gone out to repair a bridge that had -been burned, and the temptation was too great for some -of the younger warriors. The plan of the Indians was to -surprise us as we were crossing the river—to divide our -attention by having a small body in the rear and one in -front, and then the main body to spring from their ambush, -and in our confusion to destroy us; but the young -bucks, when they saw a few of our men, wanted their -scalps so bad they opened fire. The “long roll” was -sounded, and we stood to arms. Little Crow knew that -Colonel Sibley was aware of his tactics, and was determined -to remove him if he could by detailing about eighty of his -best warriors to do the work, and at this battle of Wood -Lake they tried hard to reach him, but he was too watchful -to be caught napping. A detachment of the Third -Minnesota, under Major Welch, and the Renville Rangers -charged upon the Indians in one direction, and the Seventh -Minnesota, in command of Col. William R. Marshall, in -another, while the battery, under command of Captain -Mark Hendricks, did effective work also. The Sixth Minnesota, -under command of Colonel William Crooks, routed -the Indians from a deep ravine on the right flank of our -camp and probably saved Colonel Sibley from being captured -by the picked men sent out for that purpose by Little -Crow.</p> - -<p>The conflict lasted more than two hours and was decisive. -The Indians offered to surrender if Colonel Sibley -would promise them immunity from punishment, but -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">« 132 »</a></span> -this was sternly refused. They fled in dismay, not being -permitted to take their dead and wounded from the field. -So confident were they of success that they had brought -their women and teams to take back the pillage after the -Indians had loaded themselves with glory and scalps—but -presto, change; they got no glory and lost their scalps.</p> - -<p>The soldiers had not forgotten Birch Coolie quite so -soon and took great pleasure in procuring Indian scalps -for trophies.</p> - -<p>“Other Day,” who guided a large party in escaping the -massacre, seemed to have a charmed life, and a little incident -here, in which he is the chief figure, will not be amiss. -“Other Day,” the same as other scouts, wore United States -clothing. The day before the Wood Lake battle he was -out scouting, and coming to a house turned his pony out -to graze and lay down to take a noon-day nap. An Indian -espied the pony and wanted it. He stealthily came up to -the sleeping “Other Day,” and putting up some kind of a -sign so he might know a brother Indian had his pony, he -rode off with the animal. “Other Day,” considerably crestfallen, -came back to headquarters and reported his loss -and the manner of it. The Colonel and his staff had a -hearty laugh at his expense, which rather offended his Indian -sensitiveness. “Never mind,” says he, “me get two -for one.”</p> - -<p>Early next morning “Other Day” put on his Indian toggery, -paint, feathers and all, and as the Indians hove in -sight the morning of the Wood Lake battle, he started out -on his pony hunt. Our men espied him across the ravine, -and thinking him a hostile opened fire on him. His blanket -was perforated with bullets, even the feathers in his -hair were shot off, and yet no harm came to him. After the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">« 133 »</a></span> -battle he came in with two ponies, and reporting to the -Colonel, laughingly said: “Me got two for one.” His wonderful -escape was the talk of the camp, and the Colonel had -an order issued prohibiting any one attached to the command, -in the future, wearing anything but the United -States regulation uniform.</p> - -<p>The battle was a very decisive one and very discouraging -to the Indians, who suffered a loss of 175 in killed and -wounded, while our loss was fifty-seven killed and wounded. -The engagement lasted two hours, and after the dead were -gathered up and buried and the wounded cared for the -column was again ready to move. This battle developed -the fact that the Indian forces resisting our advance were -composed in part of the Medawakantons and Wahpekutas -of the Lower and Wahpetons and Sissetons of the Upper -Sioux and Winnebagoes, half-breeds and deserters from the -Renville Rangers.</p> - -<p>The utmost solicitude was expressed for the safety of -the white prisoners, who knew that the Indians had gone -down to fight the soldiers. They knew the temper of the -squaws especially and feared the results of the battle. They -heard the firing of the howitzer away in the distance, and -by noon squaws began to arrive and in a most unhappy -mood.</p> - -<p>It was immediately after the battle of Wood Lake that -General Pope wrote to General Halleck as follows;</p> - -<p>“You do not seem to be aware of the extent of the Indian -outbreak. The Sioux, 2,600 warriors, are assembled at -the Upper Agency to give battle to Colonel Sibley, who is -advancing with 1,600 men and five pieces of artillery. -Three hundred and over of women and children are captives -in their hands. Cannot the paroled officers and men -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">« 134 »</a></span> -of the rifle regiment (dragoons) now in Michigan be sent -here?”</p> - -<p>The stay-at-homes, who were loudest in their complaints, -were raising the cry, “On to Richmond,” on the one hand, -and then again, “On to Little Crow” on the other. Colonel -Sibley stood like a man of iron against these impatient -behests. The “howlers” were not heeded, and in the liberation -of the captives he gained the gratitude of the nation -and a merited promotion.</p> - -<p>The friendly chiefs who had determined at all hazards -to protect the defenseless women and children redoubled -their vigilance during the night; because they, too, knew -the temper of a vanquished Sioux warrior. The position -of these poor creatures was truly pitiable.</p> - -<p>No less than four different councils were convoked, the -Upper Indians arrayed, in a measure, against the Lower, -and a quarrel ensued. Little Paul, Red Iron, Standing -Buffalo, Chaska and a hundred Sissetons determined to -fight Little Crow himself should any attempt be made to -massacre the captives or place them in front at the coming -battle. The hostiles began to fear that judgment was -near, and it compelled Little Crow to assume a spirit of -bravado not at all in consonance with his feelings.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">« 135 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 487px;"> -<img src="images/page_135.png" width="487" height="235" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">INDIAN CAMP TAKEN BY COLONEL SIBLEY.</div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">« 136 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">« 137 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Colonel Sibley, when he came in sight of the hostile -camp, did not do as the majority of the soldiers thought -he ought; viz., march up and at once surround the camp. -This is where his coolness and knowledge of the Indians -served him so good a purpose. He knew if he attempted -such a course that the renegade Indians in the camp would -at once take the alarm and run away, and that probably before -they did go they would attempt to take the prisoners -with them, and failing in this would kill them outright. -He was informed of this by one of the scouts and at once -concluded to adopt but one course, to go into camp and -pay no attention to them and thus disarm them of any fear -as to his real intention. While the Colonel did this, and -apparently intended to leave them alone, he was informing -himself of the condition of affairs in the Indian camp. He -learned that several of the worst bands had gone farther -up north, and he sent word to them to return and they -should not be harmed. Several bands did come back, but -there were those who did not, and after the scouts had -located them, companies of soldiers were sent out to make -their capture. In this way they all came back or were -captured and compelled to come, excepting Little Crow -and his immediate followers.</p> - -<p>At Camp Release we attended to guard mount, company -and battalion drill, and all other duties incident to a soldier’s -life. It became necessary to make a concerted move -against the Indian camp in our immediate vicinity and -relieve the white prisoners, and the orders were received one -night for all the infantry to turn out at twelve midnight. -It was to be done noiselessly, and the instructions were so -given. The whole command marched out in single file -until the Indian camp was surrounded, and then we were -ordered to close in. After this was done we received orders -to lie down and to remain until daylight, when, at the -sound of reveille, we were to rise up. The Indians, hearing -the early bugle call so near them, flocked out to see -what it was and found themselves prisoners.</p> - -<p>Negotiations at once commenced for the unconditional -surrender of the white prisoners, and the object about -which General Sibley was so solicitous was accomplished. -He knew that he could not attack the hostiles in the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">« 138 »</a></span> -friendly camp without endangering the lives of the captives, -and that the best policy was to appear indifferent -about their presence and thus disarm them of fear. The -plan worked admirably, and the game was successfully -bagged.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 241px;"> -<img src="images/page_138.png" width="241" height="303" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">OTHER DAY.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">« 139 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">CAMP RELEASE.</p> - - -<p>Among the attractive and cultivated women found -among the prisoners was a Miss Mattie Williams, of Painesville, -Ohio, who at the time of the outbreak was living with -an uncle on the Yellow Medicine River. They had been -surprised by the Indians without a moment’s warning, and -of course, in their hurry, had no time to plan for an escape; -but each sought safety as best they could and became -separated. Miss Williams, in her wanderings, was picked -up by a Mr. Patwell, who was escaping with a German girl, -who also was fleeing. They were overtaken by the Indians, -Mr. Patwell was killed, the German girl so wounded that -she died, and Miss Williams herself, wounded in the -shoulder, was alone with her Indian captors, who imposed -upon her all the indignities born of their hellish desires. -For forty days she suffered as no human mind can imagine, -forty anxious days and sleepless nights in a dirty, smoke-begrimed, -leaky tent, clad in Indian costume and obliged -to submit to savage passion. But the angels listened and -the day of deliverance drew near. The women of this -camp were all of one mind—in accord they prayed that -deliverance should come, and that the guiding hand should -be directed by a clear head. As Moses was preserved in the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">« 140 »</a></span> -bulrushes and found by Pharaoh’s daughter and educated -for a purpose—to lead the children of Israel from out the -land of bondage and through the Red Sea to the wilderness -and the promised land—so, too, was Colonel Sibley -raised up to frustrate the designs of the Indians and liberate -these women and children.</p> - -<p>On the night of September 25th our heroine, wrapped in -her Indian blanket, laid herself down, not to pleasant -dreams, but to blissful waking visions of release. Nor was -she alone in her night vigils; other hearts, burdened and -borne down with unutterable anguish, petitioned God to -so direct the soldiers who were on the way, that their -release might be sure. The soldiers are coming, and are -these weary, anxious, fearful days and nights to end? At the -first dawning of the day, September 26th, the Indian camp -was astir and preparations made to receive distinguished -guests. And who were these guests? Colonel Sibley, the -big white chief, and his staff. Extra paint, paint of every -hue, and beads, together with eagle feathers and white flags, -were conspicuous throughout this excited Indian tepee -village.</p> - -<p>The bright gleam of muskets away in the distance, -banners fluttering in the breeze and the sound of martial -music as it struck the glad expectant ear, was an answer -to all their prayers: “Deliverance had come!” Hearts made -glad because the terrible nightmare of weeks had been -dissipated, the anxious days and sleepless nights were at -an end, prayers had been answered, and it was now a time -for thanksgiving. Was it ended, this horrible dream? Yes. -But with it all, strong attachments sprang up between the -captive and the captor. They would have been less than -human if it were not so. These sturdy and determined -Indian women and men who protected them had jeopardized -their lives, and what greater love can we show one -for the other than that we lay down our lives?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">« 141 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 506px;"> -<img src="images/page_141.png" width="506" height="378" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">CAMP RELEASE.</div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">« 142 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">« 143 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The little children, from one year up to four or five, -who had become orphaned, were adopted by the Indian -mother, and these mothers, who became so under such -sorrowful circumstances, and having all the maternal instincts -of her more favored white sister, cared for them -as tenderly as she did her own. The little things were -there with their dirty, chubby faces, just the same as their -Indian mates, their faces were painted, their hair braided -and garnished with eagle feathers, and they really seemed -happy and contented amid their changed and strange environments. -When the time came for them to go to our camps -they cried and wanted to stay with their newly found Indian -mothers, and the mothers in turn hugged them and cried -over them and hated to give them up. There is nothing -passes a mother’s love, even an Indian mother’s love.</p> - -<p>It was a proud day for Colonel Sibley, and as he looked -into the happy faces of the captives and received their blessings -and reverent homage, his heart was touched and tears -coursed down his cheeks. He was yet a colonel, so far as -we knew, and one of his staff officers, in addressing him -said:</p> - -<p>“Colonel Sibley, I would rather have the glory of your -achievement to-day than the proudest victory ever won in -battle.”</p> - -<p>The military camp at this point was designated Camp -Release, so named from the nature of our mission in releasing -the people from their Indian captivity. The manner -in which they were rescued and the Indians captured reflects -greatly to the credit and sagacity of Colonel Sibley -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">« 144 »</a></span> -and his advisers. The impetuous and indignant soldiers, -after what their eyes had beheld in the region where the -whites had been murdered, were determined to annihilate -the camp, and it was almost impossible to restrain them, -especially Company A, of the Sixth Minnesota, which had -suffered so severely at Birch Coolie; but wiser counsels prevailed.</p> - -<p>After the Indians had been secured, and the captives -released, we went among them and listened to the recital -of experiences that would make the blood of any ordinary -mortal boil with indignation, and it was a miracle that the -soldiers did not take the matter in hand and then and -there forever settle the Indian question. The orders were -very strict about guarding the Indians, but on the sly many -acts of cruelty were indulged in by the soldiers that would -hardly be warranted, for we should not for a moment -forget the fact that they were our prisoners and we were -not savages and should not indulge in savage propensities.</p> - -<p>Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley at Camp Release received -a notification of his deserved promotion, and we shall -hereafter speak of him as General Sibley.</p> - -<p>During our stay at Camp Release we were daily drilling -by company and battalion, and perfecting ourselves in all -things pertaining to soldier life. We had a splendid camping -place on the broad prairie near the river bank, but the -cold nights reminded us that winter quarters would soon -be more comfortable than the open prairie, and the rations -were getting rather scarce. “Fall in for grub” ordinarily -is quite as welcome to the hungry soldier as is the gong at -a fashionable hotel to the fashionable guest. How we -jumped for the haversack containing, not solid silver, but -tin cup, tin plate, knife, fork and spoon, and fell in line -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">« 145 »</a></span> -according to our agility to get there, and not according to -size, so as to give the ponies an equal chance with the tall -men, whose place is on the right when in parade. Each -received his ration of coffee, hard tack, pork and beans, -irrespective of size, weight or previous condition.</p> - -<p>Commissary stores at Camp Release were getting very -low and the supply train was not yet due by several days’ -march, so it became necessary to count out the crackers—five -crackers to each man for a day, and no pie or strawberries -and cream for dessert. From five we were reduced -to three, and then there was nothing left but the bottom -of the barrels. There was some ear corn, but a guard was -placed over that to keep it safe for the horses and mules. -Every mule was honored with a guard during his meal -hour to prevent the “boys in blue” from appropriating the -precious ear for his own use. No coffee, no meal, no hardtack, -but there was a load of potatoes remaining, and when -the call to grub sounded, again we scrambled into line to -receive our ration for the day, which was—one potato. Just -after we received this potato ration the commissary train -hove in sight under strong guard with three days’ rations, -which were issued to the hungry soldiers, and the indications -were that the command would soon move.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">« 146 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">THE INDIAN PRISONERS—THE TRIAL.</p> - - -<p>After liberating the captives it became necessary to at -once proceed against the Indians, and to this end the -General appointed a commission consisting of Colonel -William Crooks, president; Lieutenant-Colonel William R. -Marshall, Captains H. P. Grant, H. S. Bailey and Rollin -C. Olin and Lieutenant I. V. D. Heard as recorder. The -Indians were properly represented, and through an interpreter -understood the nature of the charges brought -against them.</p> - -<p>The rescued white captives, as soon as possible, were -sent under suitable escort to Fort Ridgely and then forwarded -to their friends. As before narrated, some of them -had formed quite strong attachments for their dusky protectors.</p> - -<p>And it is not to be wondered at. Because a man’s skin -is red or black it does not follow that his heart is black. -The blackest hearts the world’s history ever recorded beat -beneath the whitest breasts.</p> - -<p>These friendly Indians were in a very small minority, -succeeded in saving the lives of the captives. It was a -watch by day and by night, and through a bold determination, -that the few friendly ones succeeded in saving, as they -did, these captives, and they would be less than human -if they did not form strong attachments for their dusky -friends.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">« 147 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 410px;"> -<img src="images/page_147.png" width="410" height="502" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">THE COURT-HOUSE OF THE MILITARY COMMISSION.</div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">« 148 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">« 149 »</a></span></p> - -<p>After the departure of the white captives, the Indian -trial proceeded, but for good reasons the General concluded -to move the camp down to the Lower Agency on the Red -Wood River. The Indian camp, mostly made up of women -and children, had been moved from Yellow Medicine to -this place, where the trial still progressed.</p> - -<p>It was really amusing to sit by and listen to the testimony -given in by the Indians through their interpreter. They -were nearly all like the white criminals of to-day—innocent. -I will only record a few. Cut-Nose, for instance, -will be a fair example of others, who were as guilty wretches -as ever escaped the immediate vengeance of an outraged -people.</p> - -<p>The bloody old chief tried to play the innocent by saying -he was not in the battles to hurt anyone. He was most -always there, but he was engaged in some innocent pastime, -such as feasting on roast beef and green corn, while -his comrades of the paint and feathers were killing people -by the score. If he fired at all it was at random and -nobody was hurt. He would steal, but that was for the -benefit of his wife; she insisted upon his doing something -towards the support of herself and their Indian kids; but -as for killing anyone, oh! no, he could not think of that -for a minute.</p> - -<p>We have his picture here, and his looks are a “dead giveaway;” -and, besides, twenty-seven murders were traced -directly to him, and his protestation of “me good Injun” -all went for nought. He was a notoriously bad Indian; -he was so adjudged by the commission, who condemned -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">« 150 »</a></span> -him to death, and he finally dangled at one end of a hempen -cord.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 245px;"> -<img src="images/page_150.png" width="245" height="377" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">CUT-NOSE.<br /> -<br /> -<span class="smaller">Who killed twenty-seven persons, and -was hanged.</span></div> -</div> - -<p>Another one, prematurely gray, thought this ought to -be evidence in his favor, and others protested that they -were too weak to face fire; others, that their lives were -threatened and they were compelled to go on the war path; -others, that they slept while their more wakeful companions -fought; and one old man who said he was fifty years old -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">« 151 »</a></span> -a great many years ago, thought he might be excused, but -a boy swore straight against him and said, “I saw that man -kill my mother,” which solemn words settled the prisoner’s -fate.</p> - -<p>This Indian was “Round Wind,” but it was afterwards -shown that he was not there and he was reprieved just -before the day set for the execution.</p> - -<p>Among the Indian prisoners were some who had been -enlisted in the “Renville Rangers,” and had deserted to -their friends—our enemies. These rangers were all Indians -and half-breeds, and it was largely from this fact that the -Indians conceived the idea that all the white men had left -the state and that the time was propitious for the Indians -to strike to regain their territory.</p> - -<p>It was proven conclusively that these men had been -in all the battles, and at Wood Lake one of them had -taken the first scalp, and this from an old man and a -former comrade in his company. For this he received one -of the two belts of wampum which had been promised by -Little Crow as a reward for killing the first white man. -These men all offered excuses, but the evidence was so -overwhelmingly against them that they also were condemned -to death.</p> - -<p>It was necessary to make an indiscriminate capture of -the Indians and then investigate their several cases to find -out the guilty ones, because, there were many among them -who no doubt had been compelled to participate in the -fights we had with them at Birch Coolie and Wood Lake, -and only kept with the hostiles from policy and to save -the lives of the white people. To these and a good old -squaw, well known in St. Paul and other parts of the -Union as “Old Betz,” over 400 persons owe their lives.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">« 152 »</a></span></p> - -<p>“Old Betz” has gone to her reward in the happy hunting -grounds, having lived over seventy-five years. She was a -good woman and a good friend to the early settlers of Minnesota. -Others who were friendly to the whites and loyal -to their great father at Washington were liberated, and the -guilty placed under strong guard.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 246px;"> -<img src="images/page_152.png" width="246" height="371" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">OLD BETZ.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">« 153 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">CAPTURE OF RENEGADE BANDS—MIDNIGHT MARCH.</p> - - -<p>General Sibley was apprised by his scouts that there -were several lodges of Indians up around Goose Nest Lake, -and also near the mouth of the Lac-qui-Parle River, and -he dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall with two hundred -and fifty men (having six days’ rations) to bring them -in. The little expedition started at midnight. They did -not find Indians at the point designated, but struck across -the country, and by a forced march of forty-five miles, -found two lodges. They took the young men prisoners, -but the women and children were placed in charge of the -old men and sent away with instructions to report at -Camp Release, which they did in due time. Colonel Marshall -heard of twenty-seven lodges at a place described as -Two Wood Lake, but upon arriving there, found the place -deserted, the enemy leaving behind for the benefit of other -Indians, a sign indicating that they had left two days -before. In order to catch them, the infantry were instructed -to follow, while the cavalry, with a howitzer, -pushed on as fast as possible, and about midnight on the -16th the detachment came up to the Indians, who, unsuspecting, -were enjoying their sleep. The barking of the -dogs awoke them, and they realized that something unusual -was about to occur. Peering out through the opening -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">« 154 »</a></span> -of their tepees, they saw horsemen and at once suspected -they were soldiers. The half-breed scouts called upon -them to surrender and they would not be harmed. Some -of the younger men started to run away, but they were -overtaken and all made prisoners. In their conversation -with the interpreter they said they would have given themselves -up, but were afraid to do so. They said they knew -that starvation stared them in the face, because a cold -winter was at hand, their provisions were all gone, and -that for the sake of their families they were glad to be -caught. They said also that Little Crow and some of his -immediate followers had gone farther north, near Devil’s -Lake.</p> - -<p>The game having been successfully bagged, Colonel -Marshall hastened with the prisoners back to Camp Release, -where everything was in readiness for a move down -to Red Wood.</p> - -<p>Among the Indians was a negro by the name of Godfrey. -He had never known any other people and was -totally ignorant concerning his parentage; but he was -among them, taking part in all their battles, and a very -active part, too, for the charge against him was “murder,” -in that with his own hand he had killed seven white men, -women and children. He said he was not guilty. It is -often thus—guilty men are innocent in their own estimation. -Mr. O-ta-kle (Godfrey), was in his own opinion one -of this sort. Certain it was, he had been enthusiastic over -the prospect of the excitement that would follow a general -uprising, for he put on a breech-clout and decorated his -black face and legs in all the gorgeous hues of Indian war -paint. He could “whoop” as loud and yell as fiercely as -the best of them, and when the Indians returned from one -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">« 155 »</a></span> -of their raids he was accounted one of the bravest of their -warriors. He admitted that he had killed seven; this he -did, however, to his Indian comrades, when it would, if -a fact, add feathers to his coronet and renown to his cruel -record; but, when confronted by the men who could pass -judgment against him if found guilty, he was the most -innocent creature in all the world. In his hesitating, -broken way of speaking, he gave a minute account of his -whereabouts. There was no direct evidence against him, -excepting his own confession to his comrades that he was -with the Indians in all their raids and that he had killed -seven people. In his earnest denial of the fact, he had such -an honest look, and spoke with such a truthful tone, that -the court, although prejudiced against him, were inclined -to listen to his story with a reasonable degree of favor; -yet he was finally found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, -the verdict being accompanied with a recommendation that -his punishment be commuted to imprisonment for ten -years. He did not go to prison, but was sent to a reservation -and compelled to stay there. Who he was, or where -he came from, no one seemed to know, and he could remember -nothing beyond his life among the Indians.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">« 156 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">HOMEWARD BOUND.</p> - - -<p>“We start for home to-morrow morning,” were the gladsome -words passed around the camp-fire on the evening of -the 22d of October. The nights were getting chilly, and -the shortening days indicated that the autumn was fast -passing away, and that warmer quarters than our tents -would soon be an absolute necessity. The contemplation -of the homeward march was a pleasure, for there were ties -of friendship there that forbade procrastination. A sad -thought came over us as we remembered the poor fellows -who had given up their lives—their waiting ones at home -would wait in vain.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 335px;"> -<img src="images/page_156.png" width="335" height="168" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">“<span class="smcap">Reveille.</span>”</div> -</div> - -<p>Reveille sounded early one morning, and after a hurried -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">« 157 »</a></span> -breakfast of coffee and hard tack, the headquarters bugle -sounded “strike tents,” and the city of canvas was soon -razed to the ground. With the captives and prisoners we -took up our line of march for Yellow Medicine, where the -commission appointed by the General tried and condemned -305 Indians to hang.</p> - -<p>The morning we left Camp Release the sun shone brightly, -the sky was clear, but there was frost in the air; and, -as we were on very short rations and only one blanket each, -we were in high glee as we marched out to the music of -the band. I think our steps were more than the regulation -twenty-eight inches, for we were headed towards God’s -country—home. About four p. m. the fierce fall wind -veered around in our faces, and coming as it did off the -burnt prairie, our faces soon presented the appearance of -men from the interior of Africa. We were black in the -face. At five o’clock we went into camp. It was pitch -dark, with the wind blowing a hurricane, and in the darkness, -infantry, cavalry, and artillery were one interminable -mass of troops and order was impossible. So the orders -were: “By company, left wheel, halt;” “stack arms;” -“break ranks,” with orders to pitch tents and get under -cover. To make fires and cook supper was impossible, so -we supped on raw salt pork, hard tack, and cold water. The -Sibley tents blew down as fast as put up, and in this condition -we crawled under them to get the best protection -possible from the fierce northern blast. Some of the men -had found potato cellars that had been dug in the hillside -by the Indians, and taking possession of them were thus -afforded good, warm quarters and plenty of potatoes to eat. -In this respect they were much more fortunate than the -rest of us who were on the outside and had all we could do -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">« 158 »</a></span> -to keep from freezing to death. The storm abated somewhat -by morning, so we could make our fires, which we -did, and availed ourselves of the Indian potatoes, and with -salt pork, hard tack and coffee made a hearty breakfast and -were soon on the march again.</p> - -<p>The exposure of that night gave many of us the rheumatism, -and it took several hours’ march to get ourselves limbered -up, but the day was bright and we were homeward -bound. We made a good day’s march, and pitched our -tents in the valley of the Red Wood.</p> - -<p>The Indian camp, consisting principally of women and -children, had been previously removed to this place from -Yellow Medicine, where the quartermaster had erected a -large board prison to hold the captive red men, who had -all been condemned by the Commission. The papers had -been sent on to President Lincoln for his final decision, -and we were here awaiting developments.</p> - -<p>The condemned Indians were sent under strong guard -to Camp Sibley, on the banks of the Red Wood River. -They were chained together and kept in a structure built -for the purpose, and their squaws, who were camped on -the outside, were allowed to cook for them under the supervision -of a guard, to prevent them from smuggling knives -or a weapon of any kind on the inside of the enclosure.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">« 159 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 546px;"> -<img src="images/page_159.png" width="546" height="412" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">CAMP LINCOLN.</div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">« 160 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">« 161 »</a></span></p> - -<p>After a week or ten days we again took up the line of -march to a destination known only to the General and his -Staff, but which proved to be that the Seventh Minnesota, -under Colonel William R. Marshall, should proceed with -the prisoners to Mankato, and the Sixth Minnesota, under -Colonel Crooks, should report at Fort Snelling for further -orders. The two regiments marched together until we -reached a point some way below New Ulm. Nothing of -importance took place until we reached this place. The -General having heard that the citizens had determined to -kill every redskin regardless of consequences if they could -possibly get hold of them, took precaution against it. It -was said that every house was supplied with hot water, hot -soft soap and anything and everything that ingenuity could -invent to inflict sudden and sure punishment, and death -if possible, to those that had brought such woe to them. -For this reason the General changed his course somewhat, -and making a detour to the right, escaped the necessity -or perhaps bloodshed, in trying to save his captives from the -hands of this justly furious people. Men and women turned -out en masse and hurling imprecations, flourishing butcher -knives, table knives, and even scissors, axes, pitchforks—in -fact, every sort of weapon—seemed determined to get at -them, and abused soldiers and Indians alike because they -were held at bay. They followed us for two or three miles -before they became convinced that the General was determined -at all hazards to uphold the supremacy of the government -in protecting these blood-stained captives from the -furies of a people who had suffered so much at the hands -of some of their tribes in the murder of their innocent -women and children.</p> - -<p>At a point below New Ulm the command was divided, -a portion taking all the condemned men to Mankato, and -the balance of the command proceeding to Fort Snelling.</p> - -<p>At Mankato, as the days wore away and there was some -doubt as to what the final decision of President Lincoln -would be, great fear was entertained that there would be -a general uprising of the people, and an attempt made to -override military and civil law by wresting the Indians -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">« 162 »</a></span> -from the soldiers and instituting a general massacre of -them, irrespective of their guilt or innocence, but Colonel -Stephen Miller, the post commander, having determined -that law and not lawlessness should prevail, used the utmost -vigilance to defeat any such undertaking.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">« 163 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">PROTESTS—PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S ORDER FOR THE -EXECUTION.</p> - - -<p>The Indians did not seem to feel cast down; some in fact -appeared rather to enjoy the situation; others, again, were -more serious, and were probably speculating as to the -probable outcome of the unfortunate condition of affairs. -The soldiers did not relish the idea of guarding them, and -one night a conspiracy, which I overheard, was formed to -create a false alarm in the camp and in the excitement fall -on the Indians and murder them. The plot leaked out and -the plan miscarried, as it should, for it would have been -rank murder to have executed it. Among the prisoners -there were many who really were not guilty, but had been -caught in bad company. The prisoners were arraigned -upon written charges specifying the criminating acts, and -these charges were signed by General Sibley, and with but -few exceptions were based on information furnished by -Rev. S. R. Riggs, who had long been a missionary among -them. The majority of the prisoners were condemned to -death, and the news reaching the East, far away from the -scene of the outrages, petitions went in from many New -England cities, imploring the President to exercise clemency -toward this unfortunate people. He yielded to the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">« 164 »</a></span> -clamor in so far as only to include the very worst characters -among them.</p> - -<p>Bishop Whipple said: “There are times when the Christian -laborer has a right to ask for the sympathy, the prayers -and the co-operation of our fellow-citizens, and to make -a strong appeal in behalf of this most wretched race of -heathen men on the face of the earth. The responsibility,” -he says, “is great, the fearful issues are upon us, and as -we are to settle them justly or unjustly we shall receive -the blessing or curse of Almighty God. Many of these -victims of savage ferocity were my friends. They had -mingled their voices with mine in prayer; they had given -to me such hospitality as can only be found in the log -cabin of the frontier; and it fills my heart with grief, and -blinds my eyes with tears, when I think of their nameless -graves. It is because I love them and would save others -from their fate that I ask that the people shall lay the -blame of this great crime where it belongs, and rise up -with one voice to demand the reform of the atrocious Indian -system, which has always garnered for us the same fruit -of anguish and blood.”</p> - -<p>Thousands of miles away from the scene of the outrages -perpetrated against the inoffensive white settlers, protests -were sent in to the President from all sorts of humanitarians, -imploring him to stay the sentence that condemned -to death so many human beings. The provocation to indiscriminately -condemn and hang was very great, for thousands -of innocents had been ruthlessly murdered; no moments -of warning were given them; no former kindnesses -seemed to be remembered by the Indians, and their hands -were steeped in their friends’ blood, and there seemed no -palliating circumstances. The enormity of the outbreak -and the fiendish cruelty of the redskins were appalling; -the people were paralyzed with astonishment and fear, and -the witnesses, no doubt mistaken and prejudiced, gave such -positive testimony that the commission felt satisfied in pronouncing -them guilty of murder in the first degree; but -would this have been the case if these prisoners had been -white instead of red?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">« 165 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 505px;"> -<img src="images/page_165.png" width="505" height="249" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">INTERIOR OF INDIAN JAIL.</div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">« 166 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">« 167 »</a></span></p> - -<p>No doubt General Sibley himself was surprised when he -learned of the indiscriminate condemnation of these prisoners, -and was glad not to be held responsible for their -hanging.</p> - -<p>It is a fact that there were Indians found with arms in -their hands in nearly all the battles, but their object was -to protect the women and children prisoners, and they said -they must make a show of fighting whether they did or not -in order to accomplish this. It would have been a great -stain on the fair name of our country if this wholesale hanging -had occurred, and President Lincoln acted wisely in -overruling the recommendation of the commission, which -he did to such an extent as to sanction the execution of -thirty-nine of the condemned men, and the balance to be -further held as prisoners until he should designate a reservation -to which they should be sent. During the time the -preparations were being made to carry out the President’s -order the people were clamorous. They were not satisfied -with the modification of the President’s order, and grave -rumors were abroad that there would be a vigorous effort -made to take the Indians from the soldiers and have a -wholesale execution, but the military authorities prevented -it.</p> - -<p>The President acted wisely in this matter. In fact, -the state of the public mind was such and the pressure -within our lines was exercised to such a degree that -the President could do nothing less. If all the condemned -Indians had been executed the impression would -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">« 168 »</a></span> -have gone abroad that the great government of the United -States was putting to death its prisoners of war, and this -would have done much toward bringing about a recognition -of the Southern Confederacy.</p> - -<p>The President’s order was as follows:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p class="tdr"> -“Executive Mansion, <br /> -“Washington, December 6, 1862.</p> - -<p class="tdl">“Brigadier-General H. H. Sibley, St. Paul, Minn.:</p> - -<p>“Ordered, that the Indians and half-breeds sentenced -to be hanged by the military commission, composed of -Colonel Crooks, Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall, Captain -Grant, Captain Bailey and Lieutenant Olin, and lately sitting -in Minnesota, you cause to be executed on Friday, the -19th day of December, instant.</p> - -<p>“The other condemned prisoners you will hold subject -to further orders, taking care that they neither escape nor -are subjected to any unlawful violence.</p> - -<p class="tdr">“Abraham Lincoln, <br /> -“President of United States.”</p> -</div> - -<p>The execution was carried out on the 26th of December, -1862. Thirty-eight were hanged.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">« 169 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">THE EXECUTION—THE NIGHT BEFORE.</p> - - -<p>The date of the execution was fixed for December 26, -1862. On the 22d instant the condemned prisoners were -separated from the others, and on the same day Colonel -Stephen Miller (afterwards Governor), who was in command, -through the interpreter, Rev. Mr. Riggs, called -upon the condemned and announced the decision of the -Great Father at Washington. He said:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>Tell these thirty-nine condemned men that the commanding -officer of this place has called to speak to them -on a serious subject this afternoon. Their Great Father -at Washington, after carefully reading what the witnesses -testified to in their several trials, has come to the conclusion -that they have been guilty of murdering his white -children; and, for this reason, has directed that each be -hanged by the neck until dead next Friday at ten a. m.</p> - -<p>That good ministers, both Catholic and Protestant, are -here, and can commune with them for the remaining four -days they have to live.</p> - -<p>That I will now cause to be read the letter from their -Great Father at Washington, first in English and then in -their own language.</p> - -<p>Say to them, now, that they have so sinned against -their fellow-men, that there is no hope for clemency except -in the mercy of God, through the merits of the blessed -Redeemer; and that I earnestly exhort them to apply to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">« 170 »</a></span> -that, as their only remaining source of comfort and consolation.</p> -</div> - -<p>Rev. Mr. Riggs, the interpreter, had been a missionary -among them for twenty-five years, and he had known -them intimately, and it pained him sorely to be obliged to -convey to them as an interpreter the words that were to -condemn them to death. In so doing he said:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>I have known you for many years; I have pointed you -to the cross; endeavored to prayerfully convince you that -allegiance to God, and the Great Father at Washington, -was your duty. I have with a broken heart witnessed -your cruelty to inoffensive men, women and children; -cruelty to your best friends. You have stained your hands -in innocent blood, and now the law holds you to strict -accountability. It pains me to inform you that your Great -Father in Washington says you must die for your cruelty -and murders, and I am directed to inform you that on the -26th day of February you will be hanged by the neck until -you are dead, and may God have mercy on your souls.</p> -</div> - -<p>The prisoners received the sentence rather coolly; some -smoking their pipes composedly during its reading, one of -them knocking the ashes out of his pipe, and another putting -in his a fresh supply of kinnikinnick. On Tuesday -evening they held a death dance, accompanied by wild -Indian songs, and there were some fears that the excitement -might cause an attempt to make an escape or create -a panic; so, precautionary measures were taken. The Indians’ -friends and families were permitted to visit them -and take a last farewell. It was a solemn time even to -the white soldiers, for it was plainly evident that while -there was a lack of such demonstration as would be witnessed -among the whites under similar circumstances, yet -to the observant eye only, it was plain to be seen that deep, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">« 171 »</a></span> -deep grief had taken possession of their hearts. There were -few tears; no hysterics, but profound sorrow was depicted -on the countenances as the parting word was said, and -messages sent to children and friends. Some were completely -overcome; others in bravado laughed and joked as -if it were an every-day occurrence. One said: “Yes, tell -our friends that we are being removed from this world -over the same path they must shortly travel. We go -first.”</p> - -<p>Many spoke in a mournful tone; in fact, the majority -of them desired to say something, and with one or two -exceptions they seemed to be penitent. Why should they -not? Their white brethren under like circumstances are -accorded religious privileges. They repent and accept the -invitation, “Come unto Me all ye who are weary and heavy -laden and I will give you rest.” The thief on the cross -repented. Could not an ignorant, misguided Indian under -religious instruction receive light and repent?</p> - -<p>The night before the execution Colonel Miller received -a stay for one of the condemned, as strong doubt existed -as to his participation in the murders, and he was finally -pardoned.</p> - -<p>It has been said that in the excitement of the preparations -for the execution that the wrong man was pardoned. -He was guilty, but the innocent man suffered in his stead. -The last night was spent by the prisoners in quite a jolly -camp-fire, chatting merrily and smoking to their hearts’ -content.</p> - -<p>Father Ravoux, a Catholic priest from St. Paul, remained -with them all night administering consolation and -communion, and the more serious of them listened attentively -to his words of comfort. In the morning, as the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">« 172 »</a></span> -hour for the execution approached, and while Father -Ravoux was speaking to the Indians, the provost marshal -entered and whispered something to the good priest, who -in turn spoke in French to one of the half-breeds, and he -repeated it in Dakota to the Indians, who were all lying -down around the prison. The information he gave was that -the hour had arrived when they were to march to the -gallows. In a moment every Indian stood erect, and as -the provost marshal opened the door they fell in behind -him with the greatest alacrity. Indeed, a notice of release, -pardon or reprieve could not have induced them to leave -their cells with more apparent willingness than this call -to death. At the foot of the steps there was no delay. -Captain Redfield mounted the drop, at the head, and the -Indians crowded after him, as if it were a race to see who -would get there first. They actually crowded on each -other’s heels, and as they got to the top, each took his position, -without any assistance from those who were detailed -for that purpose. They still kept up a mournful wail, and -occasionally there would be a piercing scream. The ropes -were soon arranged around their necks without the least -opposition being offered. The white caps, which had been -placed on the tops of their heads, were now drawn down -over their faces, shutting out forever the light of day from -their eyes. Then ensued a scene that can hardly be described -and can never be forgotten. All joined in shouting -and singing, as it appeared to those who were ignorant of -the language. The tones seemed somewhat discordant, -and yet there was harmony in it. It was not their voices -alone, but their bodies swayed to and fro, and their every -limb seemed to be keeping time. The drop trembled and -shook as if all were dancing. The most touching scene on -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">« 173 »</a></span> -the drop was their attempt to grasp each other’s hands, -fettered as they were. They were very close to each other, -and many succeeded. Three or four in a row were hand -in hand, and all hands swaying up and down with the rise -and fall of their voices. One old man reached out on each -side, but could not grasp a hand; his struggles were piteous -and affected many beholders.</p> - -<p>Those who understood their manners and language said -that their singing and shouting was necessary to sustain -each other. Each one shouted his own name and called on -the name of his friend, saying in substance: “I am here! I -am here!”</p> - -<p>The supreme moment arrived, and amid an immense -concourse of citizens and soldiers the drop fell, and thirty-eight -human beings, whose hands were steeped in innocent -blood and who had spread such desolation and sorrow to -thousands of happy homes, were ushered into the presence -of their Maker.</p> - -<p>The arrangements were under the immediate supervision -of Captain Burt, of the Seventh Regiment, and they -were so complete that there was not the slightest hitch.</p> - -<p>“Positions of honor were given to the most interested. -For instance, the cutting of the rope was assigned to William -J. Daly, of Lake Shetek, who had three children killed -and his wife and two children captured, and who were at -this time in the hands of Little Crow, on the Missouri, and -were afterward ransomed by Major Galpin at Fort Pierre.”</p> - -<p>The quotation I make here is from a book in the public -library, and I found penciled on the margin by one of -those persons who take advantage of the courtesies extended -by public libraries, the following:</p> - -<p>“So should every remaining Indian be ’elevated'!” Nay! -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">« 174 »</a></span> -Nay! scribbler. We cannot tell why one man’s face is -black and another red, while yours and mine are white. -Would you mete out the same measure to the whites? Innocency -among the Indians, per capita, is not more rare -than among their more favored white brethren, and we are -brethren of a different hue. Punish the guilty, be he -white or black, but protect the innocent.</p> - -<p>After the bodies had hung for about half an hour, the -physicians of the several regiments present examined them -and reported that life was extinct. The bodies were carried -away in United States mule teams and dumped in one -common grave, dug in the sand bar in front of the city, -the half-breeds in one corner of the hole so they might be -found by their friends if they so desired. There may be -times and circumstances when a Christian people can afford -to act as we expect the benighted to do; but it has not -arrived yet. No matter what the crime, the penalty has -been paid, and after the spirit has gone to God -to be adjudged, it is part of our civilization to -be decent in our conduct toward all that remains -mortal. It is not necessary to make a great display, -but that we perform our duty according to our law. -We have taken a life in accordance with a human law, and -in justification of it we quote, “An eye for an eye and a -tooth for a tooth.” No matter how atrocious the deed, -after the penalty has been paid we cannot as a Christian -people, apologize for our acts of barbarism to the inanimate -clay.</p> - -<p>After the mandate of the President had been executed -the telegraph flashed to Washington the following:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p class="tdr2">“St. Paul, Minn., December 27, 1862.</p> - -<p class="tdl">“To the President of the United States:</p> - -<p>“I have the honor to inform you that the thirty-eight -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">« 175 »</a></span> -Indians and half-breeds, ordered by you for execution, were -hung on yesterday at Mankato, at ten a. m. Everything -went off quietly, and the other prisoners are well secured.</p> - -<p class="tdr">“Henry H. Sibley, <br /> -“Brigadier-General.”</p> -</div> - -<p>With this the curtain drops on this bloody drama, and -thus ended the great Indian campaign of 1862.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">« 176 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">SQUAWS TAKE LEAVE OF THEIR HUSBANDS.</p> - - -<p>The condemned men, and the others who were to be -deported after the execution took place, were called upon -to bid good-bye to their wives and children, who were to -be taken down to Fort Snelling. The wives were allowed -a few at a time to go inside the jail and with the children -have words of conversation with the husband and father. -After a reasonable time they took leave of them. There -were no hysterics, no sobs, no tears, but the heart-beats -and the thoughts were there. Love? Yes. How deep, -no white on-looker could tell. It was a supreme moment -to the poor Indian and his dusky wife. Their roads were -very divergent from this time, and in low tones they -answered in their own tongue. Some of the soldiers made -slighting remarks, but there are those among educated -whites who have no serious moments, no serious thoughts; -they have not time to be serious, and no inclination; but -this was a serious time for those poor creatures; they knew -the hour had arrived when they must say good-bye forever -on earth to their red-skinned partners in life’s joys and -sorrows. No hand shake; no embrace; no crying; but -a sorrowful, affectionate look, and they turn their back on -them forever.</p> - -<p>The women and children are taken down to Fort Snelling, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">« 177 »</a></span> -and in a camp prepared for them they are put for the -winter, and a strong guard placed about them to prevent -any outrages being committed. The night the news was -carried to them of the execution the wails of the poor -creatures could be heard for a long distance away: “Rachael -mourning for her children and would not be comforted, -because they were not.”</p> - -<p>Much sorrow was expressed for them because we could -but feel that they were unfortunate creatures, endowed -with all the attributes of human beings.</p> - -<p>The mortality among them was very great and hundreds -died before the winter of suspense had passed away.</p> - -<p>In April, 1863, the camp was broken up and the remaining -ones were placed in a steamer for St. Louis, from -whence they were to be sent up the Missouri River to the -Crow Creek agency. Some died on the way, and as they -left their homes and looked for the last time on their -native hills, a dark cloud was crushing out their hearts. -Soon after landing at Crow Creek every tepee had its sick -and anxious hearts—mothers and children far away from -their dead.</p> - -<p>The deported ones joined their families in time, and as -the years glide on they have had time for reflection, and -the events, as they undoubtedly come trooping back to -them, furnish food for thought.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">« 178 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">CAPTURE AND RELEASE OF JOE BROWN’S INDIAN -FAMILY.</p> - - -<p>We knew Major Brown well. He was known to nearly -all early settlers, because he came to Minnesota when the -white people were very few. He felt that it was not well -for man to live alone, a white man especially, and so he -took unto himself a dusky bride. He was in government -employ and a big white chief among his new found wife’s -people and to whom he was a friend.</p> - -<p>As he grew in years his family grew also, and the -dusky mother’s household cares increased. Yes, they lived -in a fine stone house, elegantly furnished, down on the Yellow -Medicine below the agency, but which came in the way -of his red brother’s vengeance, and it was destroyed. The -Brown family lived happily in their rather modern home. -The Major attended to his official duties, and the wife and -boys cultivated the land; but in common with all the -others during these sad days, their only safety was in flight. -Their home, including books and furniture, was totally -destroyed. The father was a fugitive and his family prisoners. -They did not suffer as some others did, because the -wife and mother was a full blood and was related to the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">« 179 »</a></span> -Sisseton tribe and had powerful friends among them. Their -capture, captivity, and final release, as related by Samuel -Brown, the fifteen-year-old boy, is an interesting recital. -He says:</p> - -<p>On Monday, the 18th day of August, I went to Yellow -Medicine with my sister Ellen upon an errand. We met -on the way an Indian named Little Dog, who told us that -the Indians had killed a family at Beaver Creek, and were -going to kill the whites as far as St. Paul, and that we -must not tell any one about it, or they would kill us. He -said he warned us at the risk of his own life. This was -about noon. Soon after our arrival at Yellow Medicine -an old squaw told us that we had better be getting away, -as there would be trouble. We asked many of the other -Indians about it, but they said they had heard of nothing -of the kind. Another squaw afterward told us that she -thought it must be the Yanktonais who were coming down -to take the agency. We left them about half-past three -o’clock. George Gleason had just left with Mrs. Wakefield -and her children for below. When we reached home -we told mother what we heard. She was very much scared -and did not sleep any that night. About four o’clock -next morning I heard some one outside calling in a loud -voice a number of times for my mother, and then I heard -Charles Blair, my brother-in-law (a white man), ask what -was the matter, and the man, who was a half-breed named -Royer, said that four hundred Yanktonais had arrived at -the upper agency and were killing everybody. We then -became very much alarmed, and had our oxen yoked at -once to the wagon, put everything in we could, and started -for Fort Ridgely. We had all the neighbors warned, and -they went with us. They had three wagons, with ox -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">« 180 »</a></span> -teams. Four or five white men overtook us on the road, -among them Garvey’s cook (Garvey was the trader -wounded at the agency, and who afterward died at Hutchinson.)</p> - -<p>When we had gone about five miles we saw some -men two miles ahead, near the bank of the river, -but supposed they were farmers. The Yanktonais, -whom we were afraid of, lived above us. We -thought nothing about the men until we saw an Indian -on a hill ahead of us. He beckoned to others, and before -we knew it we were surrounded. De-wa-nea, of Crow’s -band, and Cut-Nose and Shakopee, three of the worst -among the Lower Indians, came to us first. We were in -the head wagon. Mother told them who we were, and -they said we must follow them, and that we were all as -good as dead. De-wa-nea said that the whites had taken -him prisoner a good many times and that it was now his -turn. He wanted the rest of the Indians to kill us all. -There was an Indian in the party, John Moore’s brother-in-law, -who took our part, and he and his friends saved us -from the others. This Indian had once come to our -house when he was freezing and my mother took him in -and warmed him. He told the other Indians that he remembered -this, and that we should live. They insisted -that my brother Angus should shoot one of the white men, -but he refused to do so. Each of the Indians had one of -the whites picked out to shoot as they came up. My mother -said they were poor men and it would do no good to kill -them. John Moore’s brother-in-law said they should live -if she wanted them to. The Indians made a great fuss -about it, and said she ought to be satisfied with what she -had got, but afterwards consented and told the men to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">« 181 »</a></span> -start off. The women stayed with us. After the men had -got off a little, Leopold Wohler, who had a lime-kiln at the -agency, came back to the wagon after his boots, and an -Indian told him if he didn’t go away he would kill him. He -started off with one boot, and came back again for the -other, and the Indian drove him away again with the same -threat. He went a short distance and came back again -to kiss his wife. The Indians then became very much -enraged, and acted so fiercely that he was glad to escape -without further difficulty. There were ten Indians close -to us, and twenty-five or thirty near, running into the -houses. They made Angus and Charles Blair, who were -riding horses, give them up. De-wa-nea put on my sister’s -bonnet and began singing a war song. He was very merry. -He said the Indians were now going to have a good time, -and if they got killed it was all right; that the whites -wanted to kill them off, and were delaying the payment -in order to do it by starvation, and that he preferred to be -shot. We saw three men and a woman on the road terribly -hacked up. This party had committed the murders. -The men had been mowing together; their scythes -and pitchforks were lying near by. Cut-nose showed -us his thumb, from which a piece had been bitten -near the nail, and he said it was done by one of these men -while he was working the knife around in his breast; that -he was very hard to kill, and he thought he would never -die.</p> - -<p>Cut-nose afterward went to a wagon and told a Scotch -girl who was in it that he wanted her for his wife, and -to get out and follow him. She refused, and he then drew -his knife and flourished it over her, and she got out and -went away with him. That was the last I saw of him until -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">« 182 »</a></span> -we got to camp. He was called Cut-nose because one of his -nostrils had been bitten out. This was done by Other Day -in a quarrel.</p> - -<p>When we reached the camp of the Red Creek Indians, -four miles above the Redwood River, they told us that the -Agency Indians had sent word for all to come down there, -and that those who did not come would be taken care of -by the “Soldiers’ Lodge.” They were then about starting, -and an Indian made Augus and myself hitch up a mule -team which he said he had taken from Captain Marsh’s -men the day before. He said they had just heard a cannon -at the fort and they wanted to go down and whip the -whites there. This was about noon. We then went down -to John Moore’s house (this was where Other Day’s horse -was stolen), and they put us upstairs, where they had two -or three women captives. We were there about an hour, -when three Indians told us to come up to their camp on the -hill, where we were to stop with John Moore’s mother, -or grandmother. We followed them, and when we got halfway -up suddenly missed them. We supposed they hid -from us, and we wandered on. We met a German woman -who had seven or eight children with her, all under eight -years of age,—two on her back, one under each arm and -two following behind. They came along with us. We -went to Moore’s relative, but she said she knew nothing -about us and couldn’t take us, and that we had better go -down to Crow’s Village. We started, not knowing where -to go, when a squaw, who was crying about the troubles, -met us, and took us home with her. The Indians sent our -team back to camp. They gave Augus and I blankets and -moccasins, and we put them on and went down to see Little -Crow. He told us to bring our folks down there, and no -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">« 183 »</a></span> -one should hurt us. This was Tuesday evening, about -seven o’clock. He was in his own house, and the camp was -pitched around it. We went back and brought our folks -down. Little Crow put us up in the top room of the house, -and gave us buffalo robes and everything to make us comfortable. -He brought us a candle as soon as it was dark; -he was very kind to us; he said he would take as good care -of us as he could, but he didn’t believe he could keep Charley -Blair alive until morning. He gave him a breech clout -and leggings, which he put on.</p> - -<p>During the night an Indian or a half-breed came in -the room downstairs where Crow was, and told him that -we ought to be killed. We overheard what they said. The -man was very ugly, and said no prisoners ought to be -taken, and that we were related to the Sissetons, and had -no claim on the Lower Indians, and there was no reason -why we should be spared. He said he wanted Crow to call -a council about it immediately. Crow told him that he -saved us because we were his friends, and that he would -protect us; that it was too late to hold a council that night, -and he compelled him to leave.</p> - -<p>He gave us plenty to eat, and came up several times -during the night to see how we were getting along. We -begged him to let Charley Blair go. He said he couldn’t; -that the Indians knew he was there, and would kill him -(Crow) if he allowed it. We coaxed him for a couple of -hours, when he consented, and brought an Indian, who -took Charley down to the river and left him in the brush. -He made his escape from there to the fort. Crow told us -not to say anything about it, for the Indians would kill -him, and that he did it because he had known our folks -so long. He said the young men started the massacre, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">« 184 »</a></span> -he could not stop them. A week after that Akipu, an -Upper Indian, came down from the Yellow Medicine -Agency and took us up with him. From that time until our -deliverance we remained with our relatives, and were well -treated by them.</p> - -<p>The foregoing recital is just as the boy gave it, and in -subsequent conversations with the father it was substantially -verified.</p> - -<p>Major Brown, after recovering his family, lived for a few -years, and did much toward assisting the Government in -adjusting the many claims brought against it by persons -who had suffered so much at the hands of the Indians. -He died a number of years ago, but the members of his -family live and are much respected in the community in -which they live.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">« 185 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">GOVERNOR RAMSEY AND HOLE-IN-THE-DAY.</p> - - -<p>Alexander Ramsey, of Minnesota, is the last of the famous -coterie of war governors; a band that will be immortal. -Curtin, of Pennsylvania; Dix, of New York; Dennison, -of Ohio; Morton, of Indiana; Randall, of Wisconsin; -Yates, of Illinois; Blair, of Michigan; Andrew, of Massachusetts; -and Kirkwood, of Iowa;—a notable group, stalwart, -rugged patriots with hearts beating as one. Comprehending -the danger that menaced the nation, confronted -with no easy task, these grand old stalwarts pledged their -states to uphold, with men and money, the general government. -They have passed away honored by a grateful country -and beloved by the men who responded to their call. -Governor Ramsey alone remains, and in the National Grand -Army encampment held in St. Paul in 1896 he was a central -figure. Passed, as he has, beyond the allotted time of -man, measure full and running over, he saw the salvation -of his country, proud of the part Minnesota’s sons took in -its restoration, and proud to meet them after the smoke -of battle had cleared away. Governor Ramsey, being in -Washington at the time of the first call for troops, promptly -responded in person to the President, and tendered a regiment -from Minnesota, and it was accepted; and it was the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">« 186 »</a></span> -first to be accepted. He immediately telegraphed to Adjutant -General William Henry Acker to at once issue -a call for one regiment of three months men.</p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 352px;"> -<img src="images/page_186.png" width="352" height="501" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">HOLE-IN-THE-DAY.</div> -</div> - -<p>The companies were soon filled up, and Adjutant-General -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">« 187 »</a></span> -Acker was commissioned as captain of Company “C.” -He was afterwards commissioned as captain in the Sixteenth -U. S. Infantry, and was killed at Shiloh.</p> - -<p>Governor Ramsey was elected United States Senator from -Minnesota, and served his state faithfully and well, and -was at one time Secretary of War. At this writing he is -hale and hearty, honored by men of all political faith.</p> - -<p>Governor Ramsey’s part in the Indian trouble was more -than commissioning officers and sending men to the frontier.</p> - -<p>The Chippewas were in a turbulent state of mind, and -Hole-in-the-Day, their chief, did not seem inclined to -soften their feelings to the Government, but rather encouraged -them in their desire to break their compact. He -said to his people that “we had all we could manage, with -our brethren in the South, and if they pleased to combine -with the Sioux, their power could not be resisted.”</p> - -<p>This surely was cause for alarm,—alarm for the safety -of the state, and it required strong measures to curb this -uprising among these Indians. Commissioner Dole lost -hope of successfully meeting the demands of the Indians, -and dispatched a messenger to Governor Ramsey asking -him to hasten to his relief. The Governor lost no time, -and with two or three others were soon on the way. He -did not go with an army carrying banners, but quietly and -unostentatiously met the Chippewa chiefs, and soon adjusted -all difficulties.</p> - -<p>When it became known to Hole-in-the-Day that General -Sibley had an overwhelming force, he was then desirous to -befriend the state and assist in making a treaty of perpetual -friendship with the whites, and assist them in fighting -Little Crow. And after the battle of Wood Lake the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">« 188 »</a></span> -Winnebagoes, who were inclined to go to war against the -“pale faces,” concluded it best to court his favor and proclaim -war against the Sioux. Prior to this, all the tribes -in Wisconsin had sent their “wampums” to the Winnebago -chief, and a council of war had been fixed for the 28th of -September. There seemed to be indications that an unfriendly -white element was stirring up strife among all our -Indian neighbors, and hence the impression that it was -emissaries from the South who were doing it. It came -from high authority that evidence existed to show that -“the Western tribes are going to join the South.” It was -a critical moment for this country. Slavery existed yet, -and God’s hand was laying heavily upon us. Federal reverses -and Confederate successes cast a gloom over the -North, and loyal men trembled, while the copper-head -came forth and, with an exultant hiss, impeded the progress -of the Government in its efforts to bring about an -honorable peace. Under these depressing conditions Governor -Ramsey, to whom all looked with so much solicitude, -nerved himself to bring about an amicable settlement with -the Chippewas.</p> - -<p>In three days from the time of departure, Governor -Ramsey returned, having effected a settlement of all misunderstandings -on September 15th, 1862.</p> - -<p>The public mind was relieved, for nearly every chief of -the Nation being present to sign this treaty of peace, all -hostile demonstrations ceased, and they evinced their -further friendship by coming to St. Paul to return Governor -Ramsey’s visit, and tender their services to General -Pope to operate against the Sioux.</p> - -<p>The Governor assured them he was pleased to know they -had not stained their hands in innocent blood, as the Sioux -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">« 189 »</a></span> -had done;—that he would communicate their desire to join -the white soldiers to the big chief, General Pope, and he -would send for them. The talk they had with the Governor -so pleased them that they became confidential and talkative. -Their responses thus far had been grunts and “ho, -hos,” but Chief Berry Hunter said the words they listened -to “went right into his ears, and they were good,” and -although he was an old man he had not lost his reason. -That they had come down to show their white brothers -they felt very friendly, and never desired to have any other -feeling towards them.</p> - -<p>Big Dog, another of their noted chiefs, whose hands -were very red, said he had painted them purposely, so that -if he should kill an enemy and blood got on his hands it -would not stain them.</p> - -<p>Governor Ramsey extended them an invitation to ride -in the “fire wagon” to St. Anthony (now East Minneapolis).</p> - -<p>This meant that he would take them on the train. Railroading -in Minnesota at this time was new to the white -people, and the beautiful engines were objects of delight -and admiration to them, and more so to the Indians, who -were much interested in everything they saw in and about -the locomotive, and they expressed great wonder at the -steam whistle, and invariably ducked their heads as its -shrill notes broke upon their ears. They did not wish to -appear as cowards, but, like white soldiers dodging bullets -after they had passed, so they inadvertently would “duck” -when the whistle blew, and afterward have a hearty laugh -over it.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">« 190 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">CHASKA—GEORGE SPENCER—CHASKA’S DEATH—THE -“MOSCOW” EXPEDITION.</p> - - -<p>Chaska and George Spencer were great friends, and there -was reason for it, as you will see. It was in George Spencer’s -store where the first shot was fired, and he was the -victim. He ran upstairs, but the Indians surrounded the -place and threatened to burn the store, which they probably -would have done but for the fact they wanted the -goods. They could not muster courage to go upstairs to -kill him, because they naturally thought: “What would -he be doing while we are trying to kill him?”</p> - -<p>An old squaw got him out the back way and secreted -him in her tepee, and the Indians finally burnt the building, -and supposed he had perished in the flames. The -squaw turned him over to his Indian friend Chaska, and -when the other Indians, who supposed he was dead already, -saw him quite alive, they were much puzzled, for they -had no inkling of his escape.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">« 191 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 498px;"> -<img src="images/page_191.png" width="498" height="366" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">HOUSE OF CHASKA, A CIVILIZED INDIAN.</div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">« 192 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">« 193 »</a></span></p> - -<p>He was the only white man at the agency who did -escape, and can attribute it to the friendly ministration -of those two native Americans, Chaska and the squaw. It -was no miraculous escape, but a plain case of genuine -friendship toward a white man by an Indian. An Indian -will avenge a wrong—that is his nature. It is born in -him, and it cannot be blotted out; so, too, will he remember -a kindness with an equal degree of fidelity, and, under -any and all circumstances, will “stick closer than a brother.” -Friend Spencer in this case found that the investment he -had made in kindness to this red man was a paying one—it -came in good time—his life was surely in jeopardy, and -no miracle, but a faithful Indian, saved him, and this Indian -was Chaska, a chief whom Little Crow had depended -upon to help carry on the war. His friendship for Spencer -was great, and when his friend’s life was threatened, he -with a double shooter in his hands would cry out: “Shoot -if you like, kill him if you will, but two of you will come -out of your saddles if you do.”</p> - -<p>Chaska dressed his friend in Indian garb and painted -his face. It became necessary to kite him about, first in -one friendly tepee and then in another, so that the spies -could not keep track of him. I remember well the day -I spoke with him. He had been wounded and was suffering -from this, and the long days and nights of anxiety had -told on him, but now that he could throw all this off he -said he would soon be on the speedy round to complete -recovery. Chaska was faithful to his friend of former -years. He was desirous of becoming a white man so far -as he could, by adopting their manners and customs. He -came to see General Sibley one morning in his Indian garb, -and the General said to him: “I am not pleased to see you -in your blanket.”</p> - -<p>“Then I will wear it no more,” was his reply. He washed -off the paint from his face, trimmed his hair, and dressed -as a citizen. He desired to live in a house rather than a -tepee and to have his children attend school. This was -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">« 194 »</a></span> -the wish of all the friendly Indians. They instituted reforms -in the social fabric, and in marrying, the rite was -performed by an ordained minister, the same as among -their white brethren. Poor Chaska, I remember well the -night he died, for at the time a strong suspicion pointed -toward a member of my own regiment, who was a clerk -in the hospital department, and there never was a doubt -but Chaska’s death was by poison administered by this -man. George Spencer, his white friend, said of him: “On -the second day of our return from the Missouri, we rode -along talking pleasantly of the future, he telling me how -he would like to be situated on a small farm of land near -me, and congratulating himself that his trouble was over, -and that he would soon be restored to the bosom of his -family. Alas, for my friend! He now sleeps tranquilly -near the turbid waters of the Missouri, under the shadow -of our intrenchments. Savage though he was, he was a -noble man!”</p> - -<p>The night he died he had gone around to his white -friend’s tent, where he was always welcome, and supped -with him and arranged for carrying in the commissary -wagon, a pack of furs he had captured. He went to his -quarters after taking a dose of medicine and was soon -taken ill. He sent for his white comrade, who went immediately -to his bedside, to find him senseless, dying. In -his delirium he predicted a thunderstorm that would -shake the earth and blind the people the day he was put in -the ground, and the prediction came true. He did not -once recognize his friend, who remained with him, closing -his eyes with a sorrowful heart. He died at the age of -thirty-two, leaving a wife and two interesting children. -He was faithful among the faithless.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">« 195 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 331px;"> -<a id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a> -<img src="images/page_195.png" width="331" height="168" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">The Sentinel.</span></div> -</div> - -<p class="caption2">CHAPTER XXXI.</p> - -<p class="caption3">THE “MOSCOW” EXPEDITION.</p> - - -<p>This expedition, well named “Moscow,” will be remembered -by the participants so long as they live. The government -had decided to remove all the Indians to Fort Thompson, -a military post on the Missouri, and after it had been -done, it was found a little later that they were in a starving -condition. General Pope communicated this fact to the -authorities at Washington, and that the Indian agent had -applied to him to furnish an escort for a supply train, that -would be sent from Minnesota rather than from Sioux City, -Iowa. Three companies were designated to undertake this -perilous journey, and placed in command of Captain J. C. -Whitney, of the Sixth Minnesota. It was impossible to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">« 196 »</a></span> -hire teamsters to go, so an offer of twenty-five cents per -day was made to the soldiers in addition to their $13 per -month; but the undertaking was too hazardous and the -offer was refused. The bid was raised until it reached $1.25 -per day extra, when a few soldiers agreed to accept. On -the 6th day of November a partial start was made, but one -delay after another occurred until the case became desperate, -and the teamsters finally got two dollars a day -extra.</p> - -<p>The fact was, the soldiers rebelled, and in order to frustrate -the plans of the contractors the wagons were so disabled -that it was impossible to move. Colonel Crooks, of -the Sixth Minnesota, took matters in hand so vigorously -that the soldiers knew that the expedition would have to -move at all hazards, and it was foolish and dangerous to -object and waste any more time. Several arrests of mutinous -soldiers were made, but upon promises of better conduct -they were released, and the “Moscow” expedition was -finally and fully launched on the 20th day of November, -1863. The undertaking was hazardous, but the men were -supplied with the best of Sibley tents and blankets in -plenty. Under the most favorable circumstances it was -not a picnic, but barring the stinging cold days and colder -nights, with a few frozen noses, no serious mishap overtook -the brave soldier boys of this celebrated “Moscow” expedition.</p> - -<p>The return march was by way of Sioux City, Iowa, and -the first post in Minnesota was reached on December 29th, -1863. During the trip the command encountered severe -storms and the thermometer at times fell to 40 degrees -below zero—but thirteen dollars a month in depreciated -currency was a fair compensation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">« 197 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 381px;"> -<img src="images/page_197.png" width="381" height="259" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly</span>.</div><br /> -<span class="smcap">Camp Pope</span>.<br /> -<span class="smaller">Where the troops assembled for the campaign of 1863.</span></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">« 198 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">« 199 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">CAMPAIGN OF 1863—CAMP POPE.</p> - - -<p>In October, 1862, General John Pope had informed -General Halleck that five Minnesota regiments could be -sent south by November 1, but local influences were at -work to prevent the transfer of troops, as it seemed very -likely that hostilities would be renewed by the Indians -again in the spring, and the demand that the State should -be fully protected against these roving bands was acceded -to, and orders were forthwith issued to the various companies -to proceed at once to points designated on the -frontier and go into winter quarters. Rumors were afloat -at all times, but there really was no danger, and the soldiers -had little to do but attend to a light guard duty and while -away the tedious hours as best they could. The campaign -of 1863 was planned by General John Pope, and General -H. H. Sibley, who was in command of the district of Minnesota, -with headquarters at St. Paul, was selected to command -the Minnesota column, and General Alfred Sully -to command the column that was to proceed up the west -bank of the Missouri.</p> - -<p>These two columns were to co-operate for the final extinction -of the Indians; but the low water of the Missouri -prevented the plan from being carried out.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">« 200 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The rendezvous of the Sibley column was at a point -near the mouth of the Red Wood River, and twenty-five -miles above Fort Ridgely. The forces comprising the -expedition organizing at this point were the Sixth, the -Seventh and the Tenth Regiments of Minnesota Infantry, -under Colonels William Crooks, William R. Marshall and -James H. Baker; eight pieces of artillery, under command -of Captain John Jones; the Mounted Rangers, under -Colonel McPhail; Indian scouts and other small detachments, -which brought the force up to 3,052 infantry, 800 -cavalry and 146 artillerymen.</p> - -<p>The camp, named in honor of General John Pope, then -in command of the Department of the Northwest, was -situated at the mouth of Red Wood River, in the vicinity -of the place where the outbreak was inaugurated. The -various regiments, composed of infantry, cavalry and artillery, -rendezvoused here. Colonel William Crooks, of the -Sixth Minnesota, was in temporary command, and soon -after the troops began to assemble, guard mount, company -and regimental drills were the order of the day.</p> - -<p>The land upon which we were encamped was a perfect -level, and in order to attain better discipline, and instruct -the men in works of defense, a complete system of sod -breastworks and bastions were erected about the camp, of -sufficient width to admit of the sentinels being placed on -the top of them. It was really a magnificent piece of -engineering and reflected credit on the officer in command. -The sentinels were instructed to “walk the beat” all in -the same direction, turn about at the same time and retrace -their steps, so that an enemy could not creep in between -them. This was done to instruct the men in guard duty -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">« 201 »</a></span> -and keep them out of mischief, for there really was no -danger.</p> - -<p>On the 9th day of June, 1863, the monotony of the camp -was relieved by the arrival of General Sibley and his staff. -This official family consisted of Captain R. C. Olin, A. A. -G.; Captain Forbes, brigade commissary; Captain Atchinson, -ordnance officer; Captain Edward L. Corning, brigade -commissary; Captain Kimball, A. Q. M.; First Lieutenants -Douglas Pope, F. J. H. Beaver, Joseph R. Putnam and -Charles H. Flandreau, aides-de-camp, and Rev. S. R. Riggs, -brigade chaplain.</p> - -<p>The cannon, placed across the river on the high bluff, -boomed forth the intelligence that the cavalcade of brilliantly -uniformed officers was approaching, and the General -doffed his hat in salute as he rode down the long line of -soldiers who stood at “present arms.” General Henry H. -Sibley, who had gained the confidence and universal respect -and love of the soldiers, was again with us.</p> - -<p>Soon after his arrival he received the sad intelligence of -a beloved daughter’s death. But the responsibilities resting -upon him would not admit of days of mourning; there -was no time for communion with grief; the needs of the -hour reminded him of his duty.</p> - -<p>While lying at Camp Pope, General Sibley heard that a -party of Indians were on their way down to the settlements, -and would cross Red Wood River at a certain point the -next night. He at once gave orders that my own company, -the one that had sustained such losses at Birch Coolie, -should proceed at once to watch for and intercept this band. -We received the orders at midnight, and with three days’ -rations, and sixty rounds of ammunition, started out on -our mission in charge of First Lieutenant Harry J. Gillhams. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">« 202 »</a></span> -We had no doctor with us; no team; not even an -ambulance. I never thought our General knew of this, -for he was a very careful man, and the question with me -was: “If we are attacked and meet with losses in killed -or wounded what shall we do with them in the absence of -any means of transportation?”</p> - -<p>We arrived at the point designated the next day about -noon and halted. There was no going into camp, for we -had no tents. We simply halted and waited for night and -Indians. I was in hopes that the Indians would not come, -and I got my wish. There were others hoping they would -come, and among those most desirous for them to make -their appearance were our three full blooded Indian soldiers -we had captured, and who were present at the various -battles the year before. One of them, Joe Alord, a powerful -fellow, claimed to have a grudge against his own people. -He said they had always treated him badly, and he wanted -to fight them, but I was a little suspicious of him—did not -think him sincere. This Alord formed a strong attachment -for me, which endured until he was finally mustered -out. He went south with us and stood the climate, and -proved himself a faithful soldier. I at one time saved him -from death by his own hands. He had been punished by -the Colonel for an offense of which he said he was not -guilty. I think myself he had been imposed upon, like -“Old Dog Tray,” by getting into bad company. The -Colonel, as a punishment, ordered him to parade up and -down the square with a bag of sand on his back. This -was galling to the Indian, and calling me to one side, he -said: “Sergeant, me kill me mine self; me kill me mine -self!”</p> - -<p>I tried to persuade him from his purpose, but he seemed -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">« 203 »</a></span> -determined to carry out his threat, and I watched him -closely. I could see he was very much aggrieved, for to him -the humiliation was galling.</p> - -<p>He grabbed a bayonet, and putting it to his breast, attempted -to throw the weight of his body and thus push it -through him. I jumped and kicked it from under him -just in time and then put him in a cell until he became -more reconciled. Soon after the close of the war he enlisted -in the regular cavalry, but one morning he was missing. -He had deserted, taking his horse and all his equipments -with him; and although he was posted as a deserter, -he was not heard of for many months.</p> - -<p>When heard from it was to the effect that he had gone -back to the Indians, taking the horse and all plunder with -him. The old grudge against him was rekindled and intensified -on account of the course he pursued against his -people during the Sioux war, and some of the young bucks, -engaging him in a controversy, it resulted in his death.</p> - -<p>The Indian soldier Miller was inclined to be pious. He -served until the close of the war, and afterwards was caught -on the prairie in a severe thunder storm, from which he -took refuge in a barn, which was struck by lightning and -he was killed. The third was named Walker. At the outbreak -he was home on vacation from Bishop Whipple’s -school at Faribault, Minn., and was taken prisoner. I have -referred to these Indian soldiers once before. Walker was -quite well educated and now lives near St. Paul.</p> - -<p>These three Indian boys were with us on this midnight -expedition, and I felt they would bear watching, because -I could not make up my mind to the fact that they should -want to so suddenly turn against their own people. About -midnight the second night an incident happened that gave -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">« 204 »</a></span> -us some alarm for a little while. We were all on duty -watching and listening for Indians. You have heard -about the burnt child dreading the fire. Well, we had -been seriously burnt at Birch Coolie, and did not relish -another taste of the same sort of fire, and it is not astonishing -under such circumstances how many Indian sounds -there are to the square foot. Every minute some of us -heard an Indian sound, and all at once Joe Alord skipped -out in the darkness, and immediately he was followed by -Miller. I at once thought it was treachery, and the same -opinion prevailed among nearly all the boys. I was but -a sergeant then and of course could not assume supreme -authority. If I had been in command I should have held -the remaining one as a hostage. He wanted to go after -the other two and gained the consent of the lieutenant to -do so, and away he went out in the darkness. I expected -soon to hear the crack of the rifle, for I felt satisfied that -they had proved false to us. After they were gone half -an hour and returned to our lines with the news that the -noise they heard was not Indians we all felt relieved.</p> - -<p>But the half hour was an anxious one, and we were -rejoiced to have them return. The Indians we were sent -out to intercept did not appear, and the next day our little -expedition returned to camp.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">« 205 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">“FORWARD MARCH.”</p> - - -<p>On the 16th day of June, 1863, with the thermometer -100 degrees in the shade, all things being in readiness, the -column took up the line of march into the almost unexplored -region of Dakota Territory.</p> - -<p>This invading army was composed of nearly five thousand -men, with a pontoon train, and an adequate ammunition -and commissary train composed of 225 four- and six-mule -teams; and these, with the troops, really made a formidable -army. The big train, five miles long, was necessary, -because the expedition was headed for an unknown and -hostile country, and expected to traverse a territory totally -devoid of vegetables of any sort, and game would probably -be very scarce.</p> - -<p>The force was well organized, and the appearance of the -train alone would awe the whole Sioux nation. It was a -season of drouth such as was never before known in the -West. The prairies were literally parched up with the -heat, the grass was burned up, and the sloughs and little -streams were dry. The fierce prairie winds were like the -hot siroccos of the desert, and great clouds of dust, raised -by the immense column, could be seen for miles and were -viewed in wonder. We suffered from the heat, the dust -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">« 206 »</a></span> -and the weight of our knapsacks, gun and equipments, for -the first day. The second day was as hot and dry, but the -knapsacks were much lighter. Any one, even at this late -date and so far removed from the days of the war, who -thinks that a soldier’s life is an easy one, that war is a -picnic, is not endowed with common “horse sense.” And -yet there are those who thus express themselves.</p> - -<p>The trains were soon being relieved of a part of their -load by us drawing rations, and we had transportation to -carry our individual loads.</p> - -<p>I cannot in the few pages allotted me follow the daily -march of General Sibley and his hosts; but will, after a -hard day’s march of eighteen prairie miles (twenty-five in -God’s country), with heavy knapsacks, halt, stack arms, -pitch our tents and direct letters from</p> - -<p class="center">CAMP SIBLEY,</p> - -<p class="p0">for such it was named, in honor of our commander.</p> - -<p>The General had decided to observe Sunday as a day -of rest, deeming it necessary for the welfare of man and -beast. There is no doubt but better service was rendered -for so doing, and General Sibley was honored for this -proper respect shown the Lord’s day.</p> - -<p>The several camps were named after the officers in the -command, the senior officers taking precedence; first, the -colonels, then lieutenant-colonels, etc., etc. Nothing of an -unusual nature other than a prairie fire occurred until we -reached camp Atchison, where the forces were divided, -and this will be the subject of a future chapter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">« 207 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 537px;"> -<img src="images/page_207.png" width="537" height="391" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption">PRAIRIE ON FIRE.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">« 208 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">« 209 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">BURNING PRAIRIE—FIGHTING FIRE.</p> - - -<p>We started out on an exploring expedition to hunt Indians -when we left Camp Pope. On the prairies there -are enemies of various sorts—Indians, dust, heat and fire. -The latter is a most formidable weapon with the Indian -if the grass is plentiful and the weather dry, and they can -use it to great advantage if the attacking party is not cool -headed.</p> - -<p>Our sentinels were always instructed to report fire at -once, no matter how far off it might appear to be. This -enemy came in good time—it appeared one night when -there was a high wind.</p> - -<p>The flames spread, becoming one vast sheet, sweeping -over the prairies—a very roaring cataract of fire, the billows -of which reached to the clouds. Coming on at this -rapid, relentless rate, it would envelop and destroy the -whole command.</p> - -<p>To arms! to arms! we are called, by bugle and by drum, -and in face of this enemy, at a “double quick,” we march -out to meet it. In case of fire the animals are frenzied, -and it was a question at one time whether there would not -be a stampede.</p> - -<p>The only way to conquer this sort of an enemy is to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">« 210 »</a></span> -fight fire with fire, and this is done by burning away from -you; so we started our fire, and as it burned away from us, -we took possession of the burnt area as the fire demon in -the rear came roaring on to consume us in his hot embrace. -The red flames roared on high, the dense smoke obscured -the moon and the stars, the atmosphere was stifling and -thick with coal black dust, and the roar, as the fire fiend -rolled on towards us, would have struck terror to the stoutest -heart did we not know that his fury would soon be -spent.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">« 211 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">DEATH OF LITTLE CROW.</p> - - -<p>We will halt the column for a little and hunt in another -direction for Little Crow. He had not been captured and -would not surrender after the battle of Wood Lake in -1862. Carried away with the idea that he would receive -proper recognition and the confidence of the Indians he -started away towards the British dominions. Devil’s Lake -was always a favorite “summer resort” for the Indians, and -perhaps we can find him there.</p> - -<p>In the State of Dakota, nearly five hundred miles west -from St. Paul, Minn., is the celebrated Minnewakan, or -Devil’s Lake. It is about sixty-five miles in length, and -its waters are as salt as are those of the ocean. The immediate -shores are part timber and part prairie; but a mile -beyond, the country is one vast rolling prairie, destitute of -trees, and dotted over with little lakes of salt water. This -inland sea is a romantic place, and is well filled with fish, -and game quite plentifully can be found there. Among -other things are sea gulls and swan. The shore of the lake -is covered with petrified wood, and the bones of fishes and -animals are in abundance.</p> - -<p>To this neighborhood Little Crow and his followers, -after the defeat at Wood Lake, Minn., wended their way -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">« 212 »</a></span> -and encamped, where they were joined by nearly all the -Minnesota Sioux who had not surrendered or been captured. -There were in all about 4,000 souls, and among -them were Yanktonais. During the winter the chief sent -out runners with messages and presents to many of the -Western tribes, and endeavored to enlist them as allies in -a general war.</p> - -<p>About the first of June Little Crow went to St. Joseph -and Fort Garry to gain recognition from the British, as -well as to obtain ammunition, but both were refused him.</p> - -<p>When at St. Joseph Little Crow had on a black coat -with velvet collar, a lady’s fine shawl adorned his head, -and another was knotted around his waist. He had discarded -his rifle, and carried a pistol instead, which latter -was one of his trophies from the last summer’s raid. He -had learned of the deportation of his friends to the Missouri, -of which the white residents there had as yet received -no information. Crow received the news in advance from -an Indian who had outstripped the regular mail. He and -sixty of his braves had a war dance, after which he made a -speech, in which he said that he considered himself as good -as dead, but that he still had plenty of warriors upon whom -he could rely, and would not be caught during the summer. -He failed to get the recognition he thought he was entitled -to as commander-in-chief of the Sioux army then in the -field. It is a little strange that he could not be recognized, -when cannibal kings from the islands of the sea can get -recognition, and the devotees of royalty will tumble over -each other to pay their respects to a lecherous, murderous -Turk.</p> - -<p>Being disappointed in this, he made up his mind to slip -through the cordon of posts that had been established for -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">« 213 »</a></span> -the protection of the people, and while General Sibley with -his army was hunting for him away towards the Missouri, -he would, single-handed and alone, go horse stealing down -in the settlements.</p> - -<p>Alas! How are the mighty fallen! From a commander-in-chief, -seeking recognition of a foreign nation, he at -once becomes a vagabond horse thief.</p> - -<p>His son, Crow, Jr., was his only confidant, and to him -he said:</p> - -<p>“I am getting old and cannot fight the white men, but -will go below, steal horses from them for you children, -so you may be comfortable, and then I can go away where -they cannot catch me.”</p> - -<p>The whole party that went with the fallen chief numbered -sixteen men and one squaw.</p> - -<p>Crow, Jr., whose Indian name was Wa-wi-nap-a (one who -appeareth), was with his father near Hutchinson, Minn., -picking berries to “stay their stomachs,” when they were -discovered by a Mr. Lamson and his son Chauncey. This -was Friday evening, July 3, 1863, and the skirmish that -followed between Crow, his son, and the Lamsons prevented -the Sioux chief from celebrating the Fourth of -July in any sort of patriotic manner, for two shots from -the trusty rifle of Mr. Lamson sent Crow’s soul on its -eternal mission to the happy hunting ground of his fathers. -Mr. Lamson and his son were out in the country and they -saw two Indians picking berries in an “opening” in the -woods. The Indians did not discover the white men, who -were taking aim at them. Mr. Lamson had crept cautiously -forward among the vines and rested his gun against a -tree and fired. His first shot took effect, but not a deadly -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">« 214 »</a></span> -one, as evinced by the loud yell of his victim, who fell to -the ground severely wounded.</p> - -<p>With prudence and caution Mr. Lamson retreated a -short distance, where he could obtain shelter from behind -some bushes.</p> - -<p>The wounded Indian, not to be foiled, crept after him, -and thus they were brought face to face. Another shot -from the white man and the Indian was dead. His companions, -his own son and another Indian, mounted a horse -and fled.</p> - -<p>The Indian’s shot, however, had not gone amiss, for it -lodged in Mr. Lamson’s shoulder, and he being some distance -from his son, was supposed by him to be killed. The -son returned to town to give the alarm. A quick response -brought men to the scene of conflict, where they found -the dead Indian, but Mr. Lamson was missing. A singular -thing about it was that Crow was laid out, his head resting -on his rolled-up coat, and he had a new pair of moccasins -on. It would appear as though his son returned to make -sure of his father’s death, and finding him dead, he performed -this last deed.<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Brown’s Valley, Minn., Nov. 30.—Nathan Lamson, the man -who, during the Indian outbreak in Minnesota in 1862, killed -Little Crow, the famous Sioux chieftain, died to-day on his -farm across the line in South Dakota, aged 96.—[Chicago -Times-Herald, Dec. 1, 1896.</p> -</div> - -<p>Mr. Lamson’s wound was a severe one, but he made his -way back to his home, which he reached about two o’clock -the next morning. Little Crow’s body was brought to -town, and the coat he had on was recognized as belonging -to a man who had been found murdered some weeks before.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">« 215 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 579px;"> -<img src="images/page_215.png" width="579" height="318" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly</span>.</div><br /> -<span class="smcap">Mr. Lamson Shooting Little Crow near Hutchinson, Minn., in August, 1863.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">« 216 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">« 217 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The body of this murderous old chief, after it lay in state -on the ground for a day or two, was dumped into an unhonored -grave, and no tears of regret were shed for him. -While this was being done down in Minnesota, a military -train five miles long was in pursuit of him up in Dakota; -and the news did not reach General Sibley for two weeks. -The description given of this Indian was so accurate that -the General said it was no other than Little Crow. This -again was corroborated by his son, who was some weeks -after captured in a starving condition.</p> - -<p>Thus ended the ignominious life of Little Crow, the great -Sioux chief who had influenced his people to believe that -the time had come for them to reclaim their lost empire.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">« 218 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">LITTLE CROW, JR.—HIS CAPTURE.</p> - - -<p>After the death of Crow, senior, as narrated in the preceding -chapter, his son and heir, Wo-wi-nap-a, becomes an -important character in this chapter, and we will follow -him and hear what he has to say about his father’s death.</p> - -<p>When he was satisfied that his father was dead he started -off he knew not where. He was a fugitive, a miserable creature, -bereft of home, country and parents—a human being -without a country, but with a soul—in a land where every -hand was raised against him; a fugitive from an enraged -white people because of the sins of his father. He hid by -day and travelled by night until beyond the white settlements. -He was captured by a company of soldiers who -were out hunting Indians in the region of Devil’s Lake, -Dakota. When captured he was in a starving condition -and glad to get even among Uncle Sam’s soldiers. He was -questioned as to his father and where he had been. He -said:</p> - -<p>“I am the son of Little Crow; my name is Wo-wi-nap-a, -and I am sixteen years old. Father said he was getting -old and wanted me to go with him to carry his bundles. -He left his wives and other children behind. There were -sixteen men and one squaw in the party that went below -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">« 219 »</a></span> -with us. We had no horses, but walked all the way down -to the settlements. Father and I were picking red berries -near Scattered Lake at the time he was shot. It was near -night. He was hit the first time in the side, just above the -hip. His gun and mine were lying on the ground. He -took up my gun and fired it first, and then fired his own. -He was shot the second time while firing his own gun. -The ball struck the stock of the gun and then hit him in -the side near the shoulder. This was the shot that killed -him. He told me that he was killed and asked me for -water, which I gave him. He died immediately after. -When I heard the first shot fired I laid down and the man -did not see me before father was killed.</p> - -<p>“A short time before father was killed an Indian named -Hi-a-ka, who married the daughter of my father’s second -wife, came to him. He had a horse with him, also a gray-colored -blanket that he had taken from a man whom he -had killed, to the north of where father was killed. He -gave the coat to my father, telling him that he would -need it when it rained, as he had no coat with him. Hi-a-ka -said he had a horse now and was going north. He further -said that the Indians who went down with them had -separated, and he had not seen them since.”</p> - -<p>After the death of his father Young Crow took both -guns and started for Devil’s Lake. He had no ammunition, -but found a cartridge and cut it into slugs. With this he -shot a wolf and ate some of it. His strength gave out, -and twenty-six days after his father was killed he was captured.</p> - -<p>The old chief was a great wooer of the fair sex, for his -son said of him:</p> - -<p>“My father had two wives before he took my mother; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">« 220 »</a></span> -the first one had one son, the second a son and daughter; -the third wife was my mother. After taking my mother -he put away the first two; he had seven children by my -mother; six are dead; I am the only one living now; the -fourth wife had four children born; do not know whether -any died or not; two were boys, two were girls; the fifth -wife had five children; three of them are dead, two are -living; the sixth wife had three children; all of them are -dead; the oldest was a boy, the other two were girls; the -last four wives were sisters.”</p> - -<p>This young savage was cared for and finally sent away -to the reservation. Having found the whereabouts of Little -Crow and disposed of him, we will return to the command.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">« 221 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">CAMP ATCHISON—GEORGE A. BRACKETT’S ADVENTURE—LIEUTENANT -FREEMAN’S DEATH.</p> - - -<p>Camp Atchison was the most important of all the camps -on the whole route. It was here the General was visited -by some three hundred Chippewa half-breeds, led by a -Catholic priest named Father Andre, who told him that -the Indians, hearing that General Sully, who was marching -up the west side of the Missouri with a large body of -troops, was delayed on account of low water, were deflecting -their course in the hope of being reinforced by the -Sioux inhabiting the country west of the Missouri.</p> - -<p>The General, upon becoming satisfied of this, decided -to push on as rapidly as possible after them, and to facilitate -the movement he formed a permanent post at Camp -Atchison, which is located about fifty miles southeast -from Devil’s Lake, where he left all the sick and broken-down -men, and a large portion of his ponderous train, with -a sufficient guard to protect them if attacked. With these -arrangements completed, the column, with twenty-five -days’ rations for 1,500 infantry, 500 cavalry, 100 pioneers -and artillery, started by forced marches to overtake the -Indians before they reached the Missouri River.</p> - -<p>On the morning of July 20th the General, with his selected -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">« 222 »</a></span> -men and reduced train, left Camp Atchison to pursue -the Indians and engage them in battle. Attached to the -expedition in the capacity of contractor was Mr. George A. -Brackett, who met with an experience, the memory of -which will remain with him during his life. It is most -interesting and exciting, and his own version of it, as -narrated at the “camp fire” when he found his old St. -Anthony friends and Captain Chase’s company, known as -the “Pioneers,” will be read with interest. Mr. Brackett -says:</p> - -<p>On the fourth day out, in company with Lieutenant -Ambrose Freeman, of the Mounted Rangers, we left the -main column for the purpose of adventure and game. I -had my train started and in good hands, and got permission -for the Lieutenant to accompany me. Five miles -away, having met nothing worthy of note, we surveyed the -country from the summit of a range of hills, when we saw -several scouts not very far away. We struck a parallel -course, believing we were moving in the same direction -as the main column. While watering our horses in the -lake, we espied two other scouts on the opposite side doing -the same thing. We then moved farther on, over the range -of bluffs, covering about three-quarters of a mile. We -followed along parallel, or perhaps a little to the left of -the main body, a distance of three miles. Lieutenant -Freeman saw three antelopes, an old one and two young -ones, in the distance. We fired and wounded the old one, -who made off around the bluff. I held the Lieutenant’s -horse and he chased her on foot, which took us off our -course some distance round the bluffs. We traversed a -section of country bordering a large lake, near which we -succeeded in killing the antelope.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">« 223 »</a></span></p> - -<p>As we were coming down to the lake and while the -Lieutenant was creeping up toward the antelope, I again -saw scouts on the opposite side of the lake, and the train -was in sight on the hillside several miles distant. Instead -of taking our course back, we had a curiosity to go around -the lake to where we saw the scouts. On our way around -we saw cherry bushes newly cut and piled up, and I set -about to tear them down. Lieutenant Freeman persisted -in saying that they were Indian signs and that Indians -were in the vicinity. In preparation for them we cocked -our rifles and made around the bushes, so as not to put -ourselves in a too exposed position. We took our course, -as we supposed, towards the train, or where the train had -recently passed.</p> - -<p>Between one and two o’clock we discovered three objects -a long distance off, but between us and the train’s course, -and making for the train. This action, as soon as we -came near enough to judge, convinced us that they were -Indians, yet we kept on toward them, and they were making -preparations to meet us, one leading and the other two -riding their horses. We got all ready to give them a trial, -they creeping around on one side of the bluff and we creeping -around to meet them. I saw one with a straw hat on -rise up and recognized him as one of our scouts. He beckoned -us to come towards him. From all the description I -had of him I supposed him to be Chaska, and the other -two were full blood Sioux. Both had government horses, -and armed, one with a Springfield and the other a carbine. -I asked him where General Sibley was. They pointed to -a hill, I should judge, three miles away from where we -stood, in the direction where the train passed.</p> - -<p>I saw a large number of men on a bluff, judged to be -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">« 224 »</a></span> -about two hundred in number, whom I supposed to be -General Sibley’s men looking for us. We all started -directly for them, and as we did so, saw what we supposed -to be a guard of cavalry starting towards us. After we -had started the scouts turned to a little lake to water their -horses, but the Lieutenant and myself having previously -watered ours, did not go with them. We still saw the -cavalry, as we supposed, about fifteen in number, coming -towards us.</p> - -<p>I remarked to Lieutenant Freeman that they must have -turned back, as they had disappeared and were out of -sight. We were soon surprised, however, by seeing fifteen -Indians charging upon us as with a flag of truce; but they -were not coming evidently in a friendly spirit, as they -fired a volley upon us. I yelled to the scouts that they -were Indians, and remarked to Lieutenant Freeman that -we had better at once join the scouts, which we endeavored -to do. When we got within twenty or twenty-five rods of -the scouts we were riding about three rods apart. One -Indian rode up to Lieutenant Freeman and shot an arrow -through his back, on the left side, and at the same time -another Indian dismounted and discharged his gun at me, -but I laid low on my horse’s neck, as close as I possibly -could, and he shot over me, and Chaska stepped up to the -top of a knoll and shot this same Indian who had fired at -me.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">« 225 »</a></span></p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 505px;"> -<img src="images/page_225.png" width="505" height="373" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">George A. Brackett Telling the Thrilling Story of His Escape to the -Members of Capt. Chase’s Company of “Pioneers.”</span></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="caption3">THE MINNESOTA MASSACRE OF 1862.</p> - -<table summary="prices"> -<tr> - <td class="vmid">Price, to any address,</td> - <td style="font-size:3em;">{</td> - <td class="tdl">60 Cents in Paper.<br /> - $1.00 and $1.50 in Cloth.</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p class="caption4"><i>A. P. CONNOLLY, Chicago.</i></p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">« 226 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">« 227 »</a></span></p> - -<p>As Lieutenant Freeman dropped from his horse I asked -him if he was hurt. He replied, “I am gone.” He wished -me to cut a piece of string which was around his neck, -and supported a part of the antelope which he was carrying. -As I cut the string he changed his position more on -his side and more up hill. He asked faintly for water, -which I gave him from my canteen, and by this time the -scouts had mounted their horses and left us. The Indians -were then all around us, and one at the side of the lake; -but as the scouts ran toward them they fell back. Lieutenant -Freeman, by this time being dead, I took his rifle -and revolver and followed the scouts as fast as I could. The -Indians mentioned as near the lake, seeing the Lieutenant’s -horse, which followed me, left us and started for the horse, -thus enabling me to overtake the scouts. The Indians succeeded -in catching the horse, and the whole crowd again -started after us. We rode for about four miles, when we -were overtaken and surrounded by them by the side of a -little marsh. We all jumped from our horses. The scouts -made motions and ran up to meet them, but Chaska motioned -for me to jump into the tall rushes on the marsh. -I saw nothing more of the scouts, and the Indians all -rushed down to where the horses were. I cocked my rifle, -and lay in the rushes within ten feet of where they were, -and heard them quarrel about the possession of the horses. -They presently settled their dispute and started off, for -fear, as I supposed, of being overtaken by some of our -forces. They took their course around the marsh in which -I lay for an hour; this was about three p. m. A shower -came up, and immediately after it cleared I started on my -course, with the sun to my back, and traveled for two hours. -I followed this direction for two days, stopping in marshes -during the night. On the evening of the second day I -struck a river of clear water, about a quarter of a mile -wide, running in a southerly direction. Next morning I -started due south, and traveled until almost night, when -I took a westerly course, concluding that the trail was not -in that direction; traveled a little to north of west, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">« 228 »</a></span> -struck Gen. Sibley’s trail the afternoon of the third day, -about twelve miles from where we camped the night before. -I left the main column, and made the deserted camp that -night. I started next morning on the back track for Camp -Atchison, and made the painful journey in two days, arriving -there the second night, between eight and nine o’clock, -making the distance of the four camps in two days, bare-headed, -barefooted and coatless. I was obliged to leave -my rifle on the last day of my travel, but I could not carry -it any farther, and made up my mind that this would probably -be my last day. It was probably about nine o’clock, -and I was about to give up when I came to a few tents and -found them to be those of the Pioneers (Captain Chase’s -company of the Ninth Minnesota Infantry), and fell to the -ground faint and unable to rise again. But, thank God! -around that fire were sitting some of my old St. Anthony -friends, who kindly picked me up and carried me to my -tent.</p> - -<p>I lost my coat, hat and knife in the fight the first day, -so I took Lieutenant Freeman’s knife, and with it made -moccasins of my boot legs, as my boots so chafed my feet -in walking that I could not possibly wear them. These -improvised moccasins were constantly getting out of repair, -and my knife was much needed to keep them in order -for use, as well as to make them in the first place. But -just before reaching the trail of the expedition on the fifth -day I lost the knife, and the loss, I felt at the time, would -have decided my fate if I had much farther to go. But -a kind Providence was in my favor, for almost the first -object that greeted my eyes upon reaching the trail was a -knife, old and worn to be sure, but priceless to me. This -incident some may deem a mere accident, but let such a one -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">« 229 »</a></span> -be placed in my situation at that time and he would feel -with me that it was given in answer to a prayer made to -the great Giver of Good. On the third day, about ten -miles from the river spoken of, I left Lieutenant Freeman’s -rifle on the prairie because I became too weak to carry it -longer; besides, it had already been so damaged by rain -that I could not use it. I wrote upon it that Lieutenant -Freeman had been killed, and named the course I was then -pursuing. The pistol I retained and brought with me to -Camp Atchison.</p> - -<p>While wandering I lived on cherries, roots, birds’ eggs, -young birds and frogs, caught by my hands, all my ammunition -but one cartridge having been spoiled by the -rain of the first day. That cartridge had a gutta percha -case and was preserved. It was my only hope for fire -when I should need it, or when I dared venture to make -one. I had also some water-proof percussion caps in my -portmanteau, which were also put to good use. I took -one-half the powder in the cartridge, with a percussion -cap, and with the use of my pistol and some dried grass, -started a fire at which I cooked a young bird. How did I -catch the bird? Well, Providence again favored me, and -as I was lying low and making no noise, the bird wandered -so near that by firing a stick I had with me in such a -manner as to make it whirl horizontally, it struck the bird -on the side of the head and broke its neck. This was on -the second night. On the fourth I used the remainder of -the cartridge in the same way and for a like purpose. The -rest of the time I ate my food uncooked. Except some hard -bread (found at the fourth camp mentioned above), which -had been fried and then thrown in the ashes. I have forgotten -one sweet morsel (and all were sweet and very -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">« 230 »</a></span> -palatable to me), viz., some sinews spared by wolves from -a buffalo carcass. As near as I am able to judge I traveled -in the seven days at least two hundred miles. I had ample -means for a like journey in civilized localities, but for the -first time in my life found gold and silver coin not legal -tender. My boot-leg moccasins saved me, for a walk of -ten miles upon such a prairie, barefooted, would stop all -farther progress of any person accustomed to wearing covering -upon the feet. The exposure at night, caused more -particularly by lying in low and wet places, in order to -hide myself, was more prostrating to me than scarcity of -food. The loneliness of the prairies would have been -terrible in itself, but for the drove of wolves that after -the first day hovered, in the day time, at a respectful distance, -and at night howled closely around me, seemingly -sure that my failing strength would soon render me an -easy prey. But a merciful Providence has spared my life -by what seems now, even to myself, almost a miracle.</p> - -<p>The body of Lieutenant Freeman was afterwards found -and buried by members of General Sibley’s main force. -An arrow had pierced his breast, and the tomahawk and -scalping knife had left bloody traces about his head. He -was buried on the desolate plain, five hundred miles away -from his beloved, bereaved wife and children. After the -war closed his body was exhumed, carried to his late home, -and re-interred by loving hands, with all the honors due a -brave soldier. The peculiar circumstances of his death, -my last moments with him, my subsequent days of weary, -dangerous wandering, my suffering, anxiety and happy deliverance -have made an impression upon my memory so -indelible that time has not, nor cannot efface them.</p> - -<p>My friend Brackett and myself came to St. Anthony, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">« 231 »</a></span> -Minn., on the same day, May 1st, 1857, and we “put up” -at the same hotel, and it is most interesting to hear him -relate this wonderful adventure and marvelous escape. He -yet lives to tell the story, and poor Freeman! It seemed -sad to leave him in his lonely grave on the prairie wild, -but such is the fate of war.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">« 232 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">BATTLE OF BIG MOUND.</p> - - -<p>A few days after leaving Camp Atchison scouts began -to report to General Sibley that Indians in large numbers -were between us and the hills beyond. Everything indicated -this, and the evidences were that we were soon to -have a battle.</p> - -<p>We came in sight of the Indians every day, but nothing -decisive until July 24th, when we overtook them. Scouts -reported a large body of Indians, with Red Plume and -Standing Buffalo among them, encamped by the very -lake near which the General intended camping. Standing -Buffalo was not there as a hostile, and it was a surprise -all around. The General, satisfying himself that a determined -resistance would be offered us, corralled his train and -made such disposition of the troops as he deemed necessary. -It was here where Dr. Weiser, of the First Minnesota -Rangers, was killed while parleying with a delegation from -the hostile camp, and it was treachery, pure and simple. -The battle was opened by Whipple’s battery, and while the -cannon boomed and sent leaden hail and death among the -fleeing Indians, the artillery of Heaven opened amid a -furious thunder storm, and a private of Colonel McPhail’s -command was killed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">« 233 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 662px;"> -<img src="images/page_233.png" width="662" height="363" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly</span>.</div><br /> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Battle of Big Mound, Dakota.</span><br /> -<br /> -<span class="smaller">Fought between General Sibley’s forces and the Sioux, on July 24th, 1863. The Indians were defeated.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">« 234 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">« 235 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The Indians in this affair lost eighty-seven killed and -wounded and a vast amount of property.</p> - -<p>A portion of our command made forty-six miles that -day. My own regiment was ordered in pursuit, and we -followed them for ten miles, after having already marched -eighteen. An order had been sent by an aide for the pursuing -troops to bivouac where they were, but being misunderstood, -instead of camping, as it was intended, we returned, -having been on the march all night. As we came -into camp we found that an early reveille had been -sounded, and the troops were about ready to march. The -part of the command that had joined in the pursuit and -returned during the night was so completely exhausted -that the whole force was compelled to rest for a day. This -battle was a decided victory, counting heavily in the scale -of advantage, as it put the savages on the run to a place -of safety and materially disabled them from prosecuting -further hostilities.</p> - -<p>After the battle of the Big Mound, as narrated, the -command was compelled to take one day’s rest on account -of the over-taxed condition of the troops. The next day -we marched over the same ground, and it was a comical yet -interesting sight to witness the wholesale abandonment of -buffalo robes, camp equipage and “jerked” meat; robes by -the thousands and meat by the tons had been thrown away -by the Indians in their hurry to get out of harm’s way. -We found dogs that had been harnessed up and loaded -down with cooking utensils, dead;—they had died from -sheer exhaustion. The prairies as far as the eye could penetrate -on either side presented this condition of abandonment -by the Indians, of their property and winter’s supply -of food. As far as the eye could penetrate on either hand -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">« 236 »</a></span> -were evidences of their hasty flight, as if swept with the -besom of God’s wrath. The men would “right about” and -fight the soldiers, and then turn, and running towards their -fleeing families, urge them to still greater exertion to get -away from the avenging army.</p> - -<p>In the sand on the bank of the lake, I found a tiny papoose -moccasin, and could see the imprint and count each -separate toe of the little foot in the sand, as it probably -was dragged along by the anxious mother, who was too -heavily laden to carry her little baby. I thought,—poor, -helpless child, not in the least responsible for its unhappy -condition, and yet made to suffer. So with all -classes of God’s humanity;—the innocent too often made -to suffer, not only with the guilty, but for the guilty, and -in our decisions we should be careful lest we injure innocent -persons. The fresh made graves we found on this -trail told their sorrowful story,—the little Indian spirit had -taken its flight,—the body was buried and the heart-broken -mother hurried on to keep up with her people, and get -away from the army.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">« 237 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 265px;"> -<a id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a> -<img src="images/page_237.png" width="265" height="206" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Ready to Go Into Action.</span></div> -</div> - -<p class="caption2">CHAPTER XXXIX.</p> - -<p class="caption3">BATTLE OF DEAD BUFFALO LAKE.</p> - - -<p>After the decisive battle of the Big Mound the Indians -made up their minds evidently that the army and destruction -was in their rear, and their Rubicon must be reached -and crossed or annihilation was their portion, hence activity -was apparent among them. The great impediment to -their active work in the field and hasty flight was their -families, and it required good generalship to successfully -manage this retreating host.</p> - -<p>The next decisive engagement with them was fought on -July 26th; known as the battle of “Dead Buffalo Lake,” -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">« 238 »</a></span> -so designated from the fact that the carcass of a big buffalo -was found on its shores.</p> - -<p>This day strict orders had been given that there should -be no shooting within the lines. This was made necessary -from the fact of a soldier having been wounded the day before -from the careless use of a rifle in the hands of a comrade. -We were going along at an easy jog, when all at -once a beautiful deer went bounding along. He seemed -terribly frightened, and evidently had been surprised by the -skirmishers ahead. All orders were forgotten, and a general -stampede was made for this beautiful deer. Shots -were fired after him, but he made his escape, and it did -seem too bad, for we were hungry for deer meat. The -general thought we had met the Indians again, and aides -were sent to the front, with orders for the proper disposition -of the troops. As the Indians were known to be in -large numbers not far ahead, the General was pardoned for -his surmises.</p> - -<p>We passed their abandoned camp early in the morning, -but about noon the scouts reported a large body of Indians -coming down upon us from various directions. The command -was placed in line of battle, and soon the skirmishers, -in command of Colonel William Crooks, opened fire, -supported by Lieutenant Whipple’s six-pounder.</p> - -<p>The savages came swooping down on us, and it seemed -as though they sprang up out of the earth, so numerous -were they.</p> - -<p>There were those among them who knew something -of the tactics of war, and they attempted a vigorous flank -movement on the left of the column, which was promptly -checked by Captain Taylor and his mounted Rangers. -Another determined attack was made which was handsomely -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">« 239 »</a></span> -repulsed by two companies of the Sixth Minnesota, -under Colonel Averill.</p> - -<p>A running fire was kept up until about three o’clock, -when a bold dash was made to stampede the animals which -were herded on the bank of a lake.</p> - -<p>This attempt was promptly met and defeated by Wilson’s -and Davy’s cavalry and six companies of the Sixth -Minnesota, under Major McLaren. The Indians, foiled at -all points, and having suffered serious losses in killed and -wounded, retired from the field, and galloped away after -their families, who, a few miles ahead, were hurrying -on towards the Missouri river. Our animals were so jaded -they could not stand a forced march. The reason was very -apparent. We had our regular rations, while the horses -and mules were on short rations on account of the hot -weather burning up the grass, and, besides, the alkali water -was as bad for beast as for man.</p> - -<p>We were obliged to dig wells every night for water before -we could get our supper, for we could not use the water -from the alkali lakes. As many as sixty wells were dug -in a night. Think of it,—each company obliged to dig a -well in order to get water for supper, but this was one of -the daily duties of the soldier. It is astonishing how the -“boys in blue” could adapt themselves to every condition -and circumstance. I am on a tender spot now,—“the boys -in blue.” ’Tis true times are changed; a few of us are -alive yet, and perhaps we are just a little bit “stuck on ourselves”; -but, “the old soldier,” as we are now dubbed, -cannot forget “the boys in blue.” In a few years more a -new generation will have control of our government, but -the wonderful years from 1861 to 1865 will not be forgotten. -If we do not give our government, body and soul, into -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">« 240 »</a></span> -the hands of foreigners who cannot speak our language it -is possible that the memory of the “boys in blue” will remain -with us for a time yet. They were a mighty host -then, and the tramp, tramp, tramp of their feet as they -marched to defeat and victory will go down the centuries;—but, -I must come back to my narrative.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">« 241 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER XL.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">BATTLE OF STONY LAKE—CAPTURE OF A TETON—DEATH -OF LIEUTENANT BEAVER.</p> - - -<p>On the morning of July 28th, just as the command was -breaking camp at Stony Lake, we were attacked by Indians, -in full force.</p> - -<p>General Sibley had the expeditionary forces so well in -hand that the enemy could not possibly do us any harm. -We halted but a moment, as some of the scouts came riding -furiously towards us, followed by Indians intent on their -capture. The boys cheered as they came within our lines. -The battery was ordered to the front, and soon threw a -shell among the Indians, who then galloped around on the -flank, while another squad came immediately upon our -rear; but, the whole column, in a solid square, moved on. -The engagement took place on the prairie, and it was a -beautiful sight to see the regularity with which the column -moved. First, two companies of cavalry skirmishers, -and at a proper interval two companies of infantry; the -same order was preserved in the rear, and flankers on the -right and left, so as to form a hollow square. In the center -were the reserve troops, stores of all sorts, and the -artillery.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">« 242 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The teams were so fixed as to make it impossible to get -up a stampede. The Indians resort to their peculiar tactics -to stampede the teams,—they tried it to its fullest extent -on this occasion, but without avail. They did not -impede our progress in the least, and as the column moved -right along, they soon gave up the attempt, and we pressed -them so closely they allowed the killed and wounded to -fall into our hands. The casualties were light, because the -shells that were thrown among them did but little damage.</p> - -<p>The cavalry in this case was effective, and crowded the -Indians, as they charged them with drawn sabre.</p> - -<p>This was the last stand the Indians made in a body, and -they hastened on towards the Missouri river, which they -finally crossed at a point near where Bismarck, North Dakota, -now stands. They made a determined resistance, and -had been repulsed in three successive engagements, and -their situation was critical in the extreme,—the victorious -army in the rear and the Missouri in front.</p> - -<p>After the Indians had given up the fight and had ridden -ahead to urge their families on, and we had buried the -dead and cared for the wounded, we pushed on after them.</p> - -<p>A young Teton chief, who was out on a tour of observation, -was captured by some of the cavalry, and the circumstances -and manner in which it was done are interesting.</p> - -<p>Thousands of us saw the strange object, but the men -who captured him were the more interested observers, and -the narrator says:</p> - -<p>“As the scouts approached it, a dark, motionless object -was seen lying upon the ground. Coming nearer, some one -cried out: ‘It’s an old buffalo robe’; but, as one stooped to -pick it up, it sprang from the earth and bounded off like -a deer, arms extended, and flying swiftly, in a zig-zag manner. -It was a broad mark for the carbines, but where in -it was the motive power? It was impossible to tell. Some -thirty shots were fired, all hitting the robe, but still he -kept on with the same zig-zag motion, so that it was impossible -to hit him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">« 243 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 609px;"> -<img src="images/page_243.png" width="609" height="337" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><div class="tdl smaller">Designed by <span class="smcap">A. P. Connolly</span>.</div><br /> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Battle of Stony Lake, Dakota, July 28th, 1863.</span><br /> -<br /> -<span class="smaller">Indians defeated and slaughtered in great numbers by General Sibley’s troops.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">« 244 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">« 245 »</a></span></p> - -<p>“At last one of the guides reined up near him and, placing -a revolver to his head, fired, but he dodged and escaped -the ball.</p> - -<p>“He now stopped, dropped the robe, and threw up both -hands, in token of surrender.”</p> - -<p>The robe he wore was literally riddled with bullets, but -not a scratch upon the body of the Indian. His gallantry -and his lordly bearing won the admiration of his captors, -and placing him behind one of the scouts they bore him -away in triumph, and presented him to General Sibley, -to whom he extended his hand in friendly salute, but -which was declined until he had made his statement, and -assured the General that his hands were not stained with -innocent blood. Being thus convinced, General Sibley -shook him by the hand, and they became friends. He belonged -to the Teton band, which is one of the largest divisions -of the Dakota Nation. They lived west of the -Missouri, and his information was that they were interested -observers, but had no sympathy with, nor taking no part in, -the war.</p> - -<p>He and his father, who was one of the head chiefs, were -out on a visit to the Yanktonians, and, learning that they -were soon to have a fight with the soldiers, his curiosity -prompted him to go as an observer. His curiosity was -satisfied, and he retired with the balance, but had stopped -in a clump of grass to allow his pony to graze. While here -he had fallen asleep, and the pony was the object that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">« 246 »</a></span> -first attracted the attention of the scouts, which resulted in -the Indian’s capture, as above narrated.</p> - -<p>He was a prisoner with us for five days, during which -time he was treated with some consideration as the heir -apparent to the chieftainship of his tribe. He was about -twenty years old; a fine looking fellow, tall and athletic. -He became strongly attached to the General and the staff.</p> - -<p>General Sibley afterwards learned of this Indian’s death. -He had given the boy, on his departure, a letter to his -father, commending him for refusing to take up the tomahawk -against the whites, and in appreciation of this, that -he had kept the son for a few days in his camp and then -gave him his liberty, so that he might return to his own -people. It was good policy, because the letter, being found -in his possession, indicated to the Indians that General -Sibley was not responsible for his death.</p> - -<p>A few days after his departure, a party of miners, who -had been up in Idaho, were coming down the Missouri -river, and at the very place where our men had reached the -river and filled their canteens the Indians were lying in -wait for the descending miners.</p> - -<p>The young Teton desired peace, and rushed toward them -waving General Sibley’s letter over his head. They, not -understanding his signal, shot him to death, when they -were at once surrounded by the exasperated Indians, and -a battle, short and decisive, was fought, and every man of -the miners was killed, but not before twice their number -of Indians had shared the same fate.</p> - -<p>This was another sad chapter of this unholy war.</p> - -<p>The Indians now approached the river, but, owing to the -thick underbrush, were obliged to abandon all their carts,—their -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">« 247 »</a></span> -ponies they took with them, but their winter’s supply -of meat they abandoned.</p> - -<p>Our skirmish line was formed at three paces, but even -then it was impossible to observe a line, so thick were the -weeds and underbrush. The enemy was sighted, and an -advance ordered, when the line moved forward, and after -an hour of hard work, we, like De Soto, when he discovered -the Mississippi, gazed in admiration on its prototype,—the -Missouri.</p> - -<p>After having for weeks drank the brackish water of the -prairie lakes, we drank from this sweet though turbid -stream, and were refreshed, as were the children of Israel, -who partook of the cool water from the stricken rock.</p> - -<p>While drinking and wading in the stream, we were fired -upon from the opposite shore, although a flag of truce had -been raised. The Indians’ bullets fell short of their mark, -but the retreat was sounded, and we marched back for the -open prairie, and returned to our camp, which was situated -on a beautiful plateau a few miles below. The brush was -so thick that the Indians were obliged to abandon all of -their carts and camp equipage, with thousands of buffalo -robes, and tons of dried meat. The rout of the Indians -and destruction of property was complete.</p> - -<p>Our casualties were very light; but, among the killed -was Lieutenant Beaver, an English lord, who came to this -country to engage in a buffalo hunt; but, upon his arrival, -learning of the Indian outbreak, tendered his services to -the Government, and was commissioned a lieutenant on -General Sibley’s staff, as aide-de-camp. He had been sent -by General Sibley with an order to Colonel Crooks, who -was in command of the advance, and, on his return, he and -his beautiful black horse were killed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">« 248 »</a></span></p> - -<p>Colonel Crooks said to Lieutenant Beaver that the regiment -would return as soon as the skirmishers could be rallied, -and invited him to remain and ride with him back to -camp, but the aide, true soldier that he was, felt it his -duty to report to General Sibley at once, and paid the -penalty.</p> - -<p>The Indians, some at least, not being able to cross the -river, were in hiding, and others had re-crossed, and were -skulking in the thick brush, waiting for a chance to shoot -with arrows. Lieutenant Beaver had mistaken the path -he came in on, and took one that led him on to some of -these skulking Indians, and he thus met his death.</p> - -<p>Colonel Crooks returned, and though Lieutenant Beaver -messed with him, his tent was at General Sibley’s headquarters, -and his absence from mess was not noticed until, upon -inquiry at the General’s tent, it was found he had not -reported. The sudden disappearance of one who was such -a general favorite cast a gloom over the camp.</p> - -<p>As soon as it became dark fire rockets were sent up, in -hopes that if he was wandering away, through taking a -wrong road, he might be guided back to camp. The early -morning found us astir, for a detail of my regiment had -been made to reconnoiter and to skirmish clear down to the -bank of the river, in order to gain tidings of Lieutenant -Beaver, and, also, of Private Miller, of the Sixth Regiment, -who also was missing.</p> - -<p>The reconnoissance proved successful, and both bodies -were found, as well as the body of the lieutenant’s horse. -Lieutenant Beaver had evidently made a desperate fight -for his life, because his two revolvers were empty, and the -indications were that he had made more than one of the -enemy bite the dust.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">« 249 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 523px;"> -<img src="images/page_249.png" width="523" height="388" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Sighting the Enemy on the Missouri.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">« 250 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">« 251 »</a></span></p> - -<p>The bodies were brought to camp and prepared for -burial in the trenches on opposite sides of the camp, and -the work was so done as to obliterate all signs and prevent -the Indians from locating the spots and desecrating the -graves. The service was touchingly solemn, and many -tears were shed, as we thought of these lonely graves so -far away from the homes of the living relatives.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Beaver had friends in England who were -abundantly able to have his remains disinterred and removed -to a more suitable place of burial. Money was sent -out from England for this purpose, and trusted agents sent -up to the Missouri banks for the purpose of bringing back -the remains. There is a grave at Graceland, in St. Paul, -on the top of which rests a slab of granite, and engraven on -this are the words:</p> - -<p>“Sacred to the memory of Lieutenant F. J. H. Beaver, -who died July 28, 1863. Peace to his ashes.”</p> - -<p>On the banks of the Missouri is a lonely grave. The -winter’s storms and the summer’s heat have come and gone. -The night vigils of the strange birds have been kept, the -requiem of gentle breezes has been sung over this lonely -grave. Comrade Nicholas Miller, private of Company K, -Sixth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers, sleeps in his lonely -bed, and “after life’s fitful fever he sleeps well.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">« 252 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI">CHAPTER XLI.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">HOMEWARD BOUND.</p> - - -<p>We remained but two days at this Missouri camp, when -the reveille sounded early in the morning of August 1st, -and the troops were astir. We were a long way from home, -and on short rations; and, in addition to this, we felt -some anxiety about the boys we left at Camp Atchison, -having heard nothing from them. The sun was very hot -the day we left; one of the kind the boys called “muggy,”—disagreeable -in the extreme. At dress parade the night -before, we received the compliments of the General in orders -read, announcing that the purpose of the expedition -had been accomplished. This was, of course, good news -to us, and we speculated as to how early a date would find -us taking leave of this far-away camp.</p> - -<p>The scouts reported to the General that Indians had -been crossing the river below us all day long, and the indications -were that they intended to make an attack about -midnight, in order to steal our teams. With this information -before him, General Sibley ordered one-half the -command out on guard, and the balance to lay on their -arms. In an hour or so another order came, for the balance -of the command to reinforce the guard, because there surely -would be an attack, and it did come about twelve o’clock; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">« 253 »</a></span> -but the attempt to capture the teams miscarried; for, after -a few shots, the Indians retired. Having lost nearly all of -their wagons and cured meat, they were in a desperate condition, -and a commissary train would have been a rich -prize.</p> - -<p>On the morning we left it was astonishing how quickly -we got ready, and how lonesome the canvas city looked -after the bugle sounded “strike tents.” We marched out -this fine morning with our banners flying, and the band -playing “The Girl I Left Behind Me.”</p> - -<p>There were no regrets, for the “beautiful Indian maiden” -had not made a favorable impression on us, and we had our -own little families at home.</p> - -<p>The Sixth Minnesota was in the rear, and we were hardly -beyond the limits of the camp before the Indians had taken -possession and commenced firing on our rear guard. The -Colonel gave the necessary commands to bring us to a -“right about,” with orders to “commence firing.” The orders -came in quick succession, and were such a surprise to -the Indians that they took to their heels with great alacrity. -They hovered about us during all the day, but did not in -the least retard us in our homeward march. We were -instructed to supply ourselves with water before starting, -because we must march eighteen miles, to Apple river bend, -before we could get a fresh supply.</p> - -<p>The day was excessively warm, and the men became -thirsty; but, behold! we look away, and a beautiful lake -appears before us. “Water! water!” cry the thirsty men, -and our canteens were soon empty, in anticipation of refilling -them from the bosom of this beautiful lake before -us. We march and thirst again, and the beautiful lake -seems just as far away.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">« 254 »</a></span></p> - -<p>“It’s two miles to that lake,” says one thirsty soul. We -march the two miles, and yet are two miles away, and the -thirst and heat are intolerable.</p> - -<p>“Surely that’s water,” said another, “but we don’t seem -to get any nearer to it.”</p> - -<p>We marched and marched; but we must be in a valley, -for the lake is out of sight.</p> - -<p>“When we get over the ridge we’ll see the beautiful -lake,” comes from some one in the ranks.</p> - -<p>We got over the ridge, but the beautiful lake, in all its -refreshing loveliness, had vanished. Had it evaporated, or -had it sunk into the ground? Neither. We had been deceived,—it -was a mirage! The air was hot, the earth -parched, the throats dry, the canteens empty, and we were -yet eight miles from water.</p> - -<p>Eight long, weary miles to go before we reach the bend -in Apple river, but there was no help for it, and we bear to -it with our soldier load. “Five miles farther,” says the -scout, and our hearts almost stop beating, we are so -parched; three miles, and on we march; only one mile -more, and we would run if we could. We reach the bank, -and the Colonel commands: “Battalion, halt!” but the -refreshing water is too near, and the famishing men make -a run for it, and do not stop until they are in waist deep, -and then they drink to their fill and replenish their canteens.</p> - -<p>On our return march we passed nearly over the same -ground as we did going out. We passed the battlefield of -the Big Mound, and went into camp by the lake where -Lieutenant Freeman was killed; this was on the 4th of -August. The next day our scouts reported “Indians -ahead,”—a false alarm,—the Indians espied were half-breeds -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">« 255 »</a></span> -bringing us mail from Camp Atchison, and also the -news that George A. Brackett, who was with Lieutenant -Freeman when he was killed, had made his way, after -weary days and nights of wandering, and in a half-starved -condition, to Camp Atchison, where he fell among friends.</p> - -<p>When we arrived at Camp Atchison it took but a day to -arrange for our final departure. Lieutenant Freeman’s -body had been recovered and buried, and the place so -marked that it was easily found afterwards, when the body -was removed and taken to his home for final interment.</p> - -<p>We drew five days’ rations of hard tack and bacon, and -the side dishes that go with it; just what they were I cannot -now remember. I guess the dear old army bean was -one and desiccated vegetable another; anyway, we were -not troubled with the gout from too much eating of rich -food. The surgeons made proper provision for the transportation -of the sick by placing them in ambulances, and at -an early hour the headquarters’ bugler sounded “strike -tents,” and the canvas city was razed to the ground;—Camp -Atchison was a back number.</p> - -<p>The command took up the line of march for Fort Snelling, -where we expected to receive orders to proceed at once -to join the Union Army in the South. We were a jolly -crowd, and the march seemed but a pleasant pastime; we -had driven the enemy out of the country, and, save the first -two or three days of our return march, he was giving us no -trouble. We made good time, and the nearer we got home -the shorter the miles became.</p> - -<p>When we got down to civilization we were accorded an -ovation; especially was this the case at Minneapolis, where -the whole city turned out to bid us welcome.</p> - -<p>We arrived at Fort Snelling on the morning of September -12th, after having made a march of more than twelve -hundred miles;—and thus ended the campaign of 1863.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">« 256 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII">CHAPTER XLII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">THE CAMPAIGN OF 1864.</p> - - -<p>My active work in the Sioux Indian war ended in the -autumn of 1863, and the regiment went South, but history -has made me familiar with the campaign of 1864, and I -thus devote space to it, so as to follow the troops and Indians -to the culmination and final successful closing of the -greatest Indian war of modern times.</p> - -<p>The return of General Sibley from the Missouri campaign -of 1863 did not end the Sioux war, because, while -the Indians had been defeated in five pitched battles in -1862 and ’63, yet they were known to be in large numbers, -ready to take the field again in 1864, as soon as -the weather would permit. Such being the case, it became -necessary to organize against them.</p> - -<p>To this end another expedition was fitted out from the -Minnesota side, which was to co-operate with General -Sully from the Missouri side. General Sully, on account -of the low stage of water in the Missouri in 1863, was -unable to co-operate with General Sibley, as was intended, -and on August 1st, 1863, and when General Sibley’s order -for the homeward march was promulgated, General Sully -was one hundred and sixty miles farther down the river -than it was intended he should be. This was the reason why -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">« 257 »</a></span> -the Indians were not more severely whipped than they were. -It would have been suicidal for General Sibley to have -crossed the Missouri river at this time, with rations and ammunition -as scarce as they were.</p> - -<p>The Indians took advantage of the situation and evinced -a determination to take the field again. A cavalry regiment -had been authorized by the War Department for one -year and for frontier service. This regiment was filled to -the maximum, and placed in command of Colonel R. N. -McLaren.</p> - -<p>A battalion had been raised previous to this, known -as Hatch’s battalion, and was on duty near Pembina, and by -this wise provision confidence was restored in this part of -the country.</p> - -<p>The Indians still had undisputed possession of the country -west of the Missouri, and, although they may have been -peaceable, it was necessary to settle the question permanently, -and place them on their reservations.</p> - -<p>The plan of the campaign of 1864 was very similar to -that of the year previous, excepting in the matter of command, -the two columns,—the one from the Minnesota side -and the other from the Missouri side,—were to combine -and become two brigades, under the command of General -Sully.</p> - -<p>The first brigade was composed of Iowa and Kansas infantry, -and they embarked at Sioux City, Iowa, and proceeded -up the Missouri. The second brigade embraced the -Eighth Minnesota Infantry, mounted on ponies, Colonel M. -T. Thomas in command; the Second Minnesota Cavalry, -Colonel McLaren; and the Third Minnesota Battery, Captain -John Jones. This brigade was in command of Colonel -Thomas, and left Fort Snelling on June 1st.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">« 258 »</a></span></p> - -<p>General Sibley and staff accompanied this brigade of -2,100 men as far as Fort Ridgely, where he gave them their -final orders.</p> - -<p>Colonel Thomas, who considered General Sibley a man -of ability, thought him too cautious, and, in response to -his final orders, said: “General, I am going to hunt for -Indians; if they will hunt for and find me it will save a -heap of trouble.”</p> - -<p>It was a beautiful morning on June 5th, and as the first -rays of the morning sun flashed the full light of day, “boots -and saddles” sounded in the clear tones of the bugles, and -the column, headed by a magnificent band, mounted on -milk white horses, marched out to the tune of “The Girl -I Left Behind Me.”</p> - -<p>The General reviewed the column as it passed, and after -complimenting the appearance of the soldiers and bidding -good-bye to Colonel Thomas and his staff, who were starting -on a five months’ campaign beyond the bounds of civilization, -rode back to the fort.</p> - -<p>The column was now under way, and day after day the -march went on, in solid square, so organized that all the -Indians in North America could not disturb it. At night -the square closed up, so as to ensure greater safety and reduce -guard duty.</p> - -<p>The column moved up the valley of the Minnesota river -to its source, and then took a westerly course, making daily -from sixteen to twenty miles, resting on Sunday.</p> - -<p>The scouts, failing to find even signs of Indians, the -march became monotonous until the valley of the Missouri -was reached. Here was found General Sully’s trail of the -year previous, and soon some of his scouts came into camp -and reported General Sully only one day’s march away, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">« 259 »</a></span> -where he was waiting for the fleet of boats on which were -supplies for the troops.</p> - -<p>The monotony of the daily march was enlivened by the -report that Indians were hovering around,—they came to -reconnoiter, but not to fight yet. This of itself was encouraging, -because the boys began to think they would not even -see an Indian; but there was fun ahead, as we shall see in -the next chapter.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">« 260 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="caption2"><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII">CHAPTER XLIII.</a></p> - -<p class="caption3">THE BATTLE OF THE BAD LANDS.</p> - - -<p>General Sully, an unpretentious man, with clear perception, -appeared to know where the Indians were, and -what they would do. His service in the regular army peculiarly -fitted him for this service, and this, with his genial -temperament, made him an agreeable commander.</p> - -<p>The boats were unloaded, the command supplied with -sixty days’ rations and divested of all surplus clothing and -equipments, made ready for a vigorous march after Indians.</p> - -<p>The troops were reviewed by the commanding officer, -General Sully, who, by the way, was at one time Colonel -of the First Minnesota, and afterwards promoted to Major-General -of Volunteers and Brevet Brigadier-General of the -regular army. The review of the troops constituted the -celebrating the Fourth of July, 1864.</p> - -<p>When the column finally moved, which was on July 19, -it marched out into an unknown and unexplored country, -from the white man’s standpoint.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">« 261 »</a></span></p> - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 563px;"> -<img src="images/page_261.png" width="563" height="384" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><span class="smcap">Resting Before an Attack.</span></div> -</div> - -<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">« 262 »</a></span></p> -<p class="pmt2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">« 263 »</a></span></p> - -<p>What a transformation,—then unknown and unexplored,—no -highways, no railroads, no civilization,—to-day the -onward march of our race has left its imprint by railroads, -beautiful farms, busy cities, busy factories, Christian civilization, -education and the “little red school house.” But -I am anticipating; turn back the leaves and we are again -on the Knife river, and we snuff a battle, for the Indians -are ahead in great numbers.</p> - -<p>It was on July 28th, among the foothills of the mountains, -that a large camp of Indians was found. In this camp -were no less than one hundred and ten bands of hostile -Sioux, and they meant business, for they had congregated -here for the express purpose of cleaning out the white -soldiers, and they felt confident they could do it.</p> - -<p>The Indians, on their horses, were stripped for the fray, -and began leisurely to ride in line of battle toward the -white enemy. When within rifle shot, the soldiers opened -fire, and instantly the scene was changed. The bands concentrated, -and, uttering their war cries, they dashed at -full speed on our lines, firing, and, like the wind, whirled -to the rear, loading as they went, when they would again -face the enemy, and, coming within gunshot, fire again.</p> - -<p>They were so confident of success that they did not attempt -to save their own camp, which was the objective -point of the soldiers; and they did not realize their dangerous -position until they found that their terrific onslaught -on our lines did not in the least impede the progress of the -troops.</p> - -<p>Soon the artillery was brought up, and the shells were -sent thick and fast among them. By this time they began -to realize that retreat were the tactics now.</p> - -<p>There were 1,600 tepees filled with women and children, -with the usual supply of dogs,—not less than two dogs to -a tepee, and such a stampede.</p> - -<p>It was a grand sight in one sense and sad in another. -To see this great, moving mass of 10,000 or 12,000 souls, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">« 264 »</a></span> -with their camp paraphernalia, including dogs and ponies, -rushing over the prairie; the fleeing multitude spread out -as far as the eye could reach on either side, rushing on in -mad haste, as though fleeing from the city of destruction. -It was the sight of a lifetime, but sad to contemplate that -the sins of some were being showered upon the heads of -the innocent women and children.</p> - -<p>The loss to the Indians in killed was estimated at 100 to -150; the wounded they carried off the field. The dead -were buried in the night in large trenches, the earth leveled -off, and the troops marched away.</p> - -<p>The Indians were not satisfied with the result of this -engagement; they naturally would not be. They claimed -that the best of their young men were off hunting for our -troops in another direction, and they should at once call -them in and give battle again.</p> - -<p>The last six days had been very exciting, and was a nervous -strain on the soldiers. One hundred and seventy-five -miles had been made, a battle of eight hours had been -fought, and the camp of Indians destroyed.</p> - -<p>The march to the west was resumed over the prairie, -with the Knife Mountains to the north and the Black Hills -to the south, looming up in the distance like great sentinels, -standing to contest the approach of civilization and defying -the elements of ages.</p> - -<p>In the immediate front, off towards the horizon, was -what seemed to be a level plain,—it was level, but for a -little distance, and then broke to your view what might -have inspired a Dante to write a more recent edition of -Inferno; for, as far as the eye could reach, north and -south and for forty miles to the west, the body of the earth -had been rent and torn asunder, as though giant demons, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">« 265 »</a></span> -in their infuriated defeat, had sought to disembowel the -earth.</p> - -<p>General Sully said of it: “It is hell with the fires put -out.”</p> - -<p>We are now in the Bad Lands, and it is Sunday,—the -Lord’s day, and in such a region,—where devils had fought. -White men’s eyes had probably never before seen this region, -and the Indians were afraid of it; they looked upon -this region as the abode of evil spirits, and that the great -gorges and buttes and yawning chasms were but the product -of their wrath.</p> - -<p>The Sunday passed quietly until after noon, when a reconnoitering -party returned and said they had been fired -upon by Indians.</p> - -<p>About five o’clock on this Sunday General Sully changed -the position of the camp and went four miles farther up the -river, in order to be in better position to prevent a surprise -or repel an attack.</p> - -<p>The Indians were interested observers, for while this -move was being made 1,000 of them were quietly sitting on -their horses on the surrounding hills, observing.</p> - -<p>General Sully, being sick in his tent at this time, the -command devolved upon Colonel Thomas, of the Eighth -Minnesota, and to him he gave orders to “have everything -ready to move at six o’clock in the morning, in perfect -fighting order; put one of your most active field officers in -charge of a strong advance guard, and you will meet them -at the head of the ravine, and have the biggest Indian fight -that ever will happen on this continent; and let me further -say that under no circumstances must any man turn -his back on a live Indian.”</p> - -<p>On Monday morning, bright and early, on August 8th, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">« 266 »</a></span> -1864, the columns were formed. The General was in an -ambulance at the front, and in admiration looking up and -down the lines of the soldiers who were so soon to engage -the Indians in battle, gave vent to his feelings in words -more expressive than elegant: “Those fellows can whip -the devil and all his angels.”</p> - -<p>General Sully himself was unable to go farther, but -when he grasped Colonel Thomas, who was in immediate -command, by the hand he said: “You must make some -history to-day.”</p> - -<p>“Forward!” and the column is marching out, and not a -sound is there to indicate that its progress will be impeded, -as we enter the narrow gorge, only wide enough for a wagon -trail. Almost an hour passes in steadily climbing up the -narrow and secluded way, and when near the head of the -gulch, from the beautiful stillness of the morning the pandemonium -of war broke loose.</p> - -<p>The artillery advanced in a gallop, and, in position, soon -commenced planting shells among the redskins. This was -followed up by the steady advance of the dismounted men, -who pressed their lines, and they commenced to fall back. -The General, sick though he was, and in the ambulance, -could not endure being there when the fight was going on, -so he ordered up his horse and, mounting, rode to the front, -but nature resisted, and he was obliged to dismount, which -he did, and seating himself on a boulder, with his field -glass took in the whole situation. Colonel Thomas, who -was in command, hearing that the General was on the field, -sought him out and said: “I am ready to advance, sir.”</p> - -<p>The General, pointing his hand toward a range of hills, -said: "Go ahead, you will find the camp beyond those -buttes; hold your men well in hand, push the Indians; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">« 267 »</a></span> -they will fight for their families; protect your flank, and I -will protect the rear.”</p> - -<p>The fight went on; the wounded were sent to the rear, -and for twelve miles we drove the Indians from point to -point, but darkness came on before their camp was reached.</p> - -<p>In the bivouac at night the scene was a varied one. -At the roll-call there were names not answered, for the -unerring arrow and Indian bullet had done its work. At -the next muster it would be necessary to mark after some -name: “Killed in battle in the Bad Lands August 8th, -1864,” or, “died of wounds received from Indians in battle -in the Bad Lands August 8th, 1864,” for there were 109 -killed and wounded on this day.</p> - -<p>The wounded received proper attention at once, and the -other soldiers, well tired out with the day’s fighting and -marching, were soundly sleeping and dreaming of home.</p> - -<p>There were 8,000 warriors engaged in this battle, and as -nearly as could be estimated they lost 350 killed and from -600 to 800 wounded. It was a bloody battle, and the field -was named by the Indians Waps-chon-choka.</p> - -<p>The Indians, after this decisive battle, broke up into -small bands and went in every direction, so that the soldiers, -as an army, could not well follow them.</p> - -<p>The war had ended so far as the Indians were concerned, -but there was another fight on hand. Bad water and lack -of rations are not a happy condition of affairs, and the soldiers -had to look this square in the face. And hot! The -tongues of some of the men were so swelled from thirst -and heat that they could not talk. The animals suffered -equally with the men, and in numerous instances it became -necessary to put them out of their misery by blowing out -their brains.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">« 268 »</a></span></p> - -<p>And thus things went on from day to day until August -12th, when glad news came from one of the scouts, who -came riding back and frantically waving something in his -hands. It was simply a little chip of wood, and why should -this create such unbounded joy among a lot of war-begrimed -veterans? It was freshly cut and evidently came -from the steamboat men, as it was borne down on the -bosom of the cool waters of the longed-for Yellowstone.</p> - -<p>The weary soldiers, thirsting and starving, viewed this -little harbinger of plenty with delight, and their strength -began to return as they increased their step in the march -toward the river.</p> - -<p>O, that beautiful river:—“The Nectar of the Gods.” -How life-inspiring its fluid, as discipline was forgotten and -joy and happy shouts took the place of misery in the command.</p> - -<p>The thirst was slaked, and now for something to eat, for -soldiers, poor mortals, get very hungry, and how often they -longed for some good home-made bread and sugar and -cream for coffee. And pies; well, our mouths used to -fairly water for pies. But, on this especial occasion, almost -anything would do, for the boys were awfully hungry, and -the commissary was like “Old Mother Hubbard’s” cupboard—empty.</p> - -<p>There were timber bottoms a little way down the river -full of elk and black-tailed deer, so the Indians informed us.</p> - -<p>A detail was made, and the hunters went out in search -of game, and before night they returned with the evidence -of their day’s hunt with them. They were like the spies -sent out in Bible times, who came back laden with grapes, -and reported that the country which they had explored -was rich, and flowed with milk and honey.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">« 269 »</a></span></p> - -<p>So, too, our soldier-hunters said the bottom lands were -alive with elk and deer; and, by the next night, the luscious -ribs and steaks were sizzling in the blaze, and hunger was -being appeased as well as the thirst had been.</p> - -<p>The war being practically over, the several commands -returned by various routes to the points from whence they -came, and were at once ordered South to take their places -in some of the other armies. The campaigns of 1862, ’63 -and ’64 were successfully carried out, and we will recapitulate -our desires, our journeyings, our hopes and our fears -and our rejoicings in another chapter, and bid you adieu.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">« 270 »</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="fig_center" style="width: 270px;"> -<img src="images/page_270.png" width="270" height="224" alt="" /> -<div class="fig_caption"><a id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a><span class="smcap">Examining the Colors After the Campaign.</span></div> -</div> - -<p class="caption2">CHAPTER XLIV.</p> - -<p class="caption3">CONCLUSION.</p> - - -<p>In writing this narrative my mind has been refreshed -and incidents and the names of persons almost forgotten -come to me—they press on my memory.</p> - -<p>I am able to recall many, but to specify them would -unduly lengthen this book. There was one important -character, however, whom I had quite forgotten at the -proper time, and in this concluding chapter must make -mention of him.</p> - -<p>Pierre Bottineau came originally from the Selkirk settlement, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">« 271 »</a></span> -and in 1837 made a claim near St. Anthony Falls.</p> - -<p>I was with him upon the plains of Dakota in 1857, and -in his way he was a remarkable man. On one occasion -the party got lost in a furious storm and we knew that -war parties of Chippewas were roaming over the prairie -and it was not any way too healthy to be in the region we -supposed we were wandering in. We halted to hold a -council and Pierre said: “As soon as the stars come out -I can locate.” So we waited and waited for the storm to -pass over. The night was pitchy dark, but in time the stars -came, when Pierre laid flat down on the ground, face up, -and for perhaps half an hour surveyed the heavens and -located our wandering feet. We were soon on the right -trail for our camp, which was forty or fifty miles away.</p> - -<p>Pierre was one of General Sibley’s principal scouts during -the several campaigns against the Indians in 1862 -and 1863. He died some years ago, and speaking of his -death reminds me of others prominent in these military -operations who have gone beyond the river.</p> - -<p>The two generals, Sibley and Sully, are gone, and of -the field and staff, I can recall Colonel John T. Averill, -of the Sixth Minnesota, who was, after the war, member -of Congress. Adjutant Snow and Quartermasters Carver -and Gilbert, Colonels Stephen Miller and Wm. R. Marshall, -both honored by Minnesota by electing them to -chief executive—they, with Lieut. Colonel Bradley and -all of the Seventh; Colonel Robert N. McLaren, of the -Second Cavalry, and Major Hatch, of the battalion bearing -his name, and Captain John Jones, of the famous -battery. These are among some of the chiefs who have -been called.</p> - -<p>Among the line of officers and the rank and file, it -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">« 272 »</a></span> -would be a mighty host, and it saddens my heart when -I think of them, so I will desist and conclude by reminding -you of the invitation extended and briefly recapitulate -our journeyings.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>READER: The invitation extended to you to accompany -us on a military expedition into the Indian country -has been accepted. It was under exciting circumstances, -when the whole country was surcharged with alarm, and -for good cause.</p> - -<p>The Indians, cruel, relentless, revengeful, and with determination, -were murdering innocent men, women and -children, and but for the friendly offices of a faithful few, -whose hearts were whiter than their skins, the death list -and list of horrors would have been far greater; and it is -for these few we speak when we say there are good Indians -other than dead ones; and Minnesota could not do a more -appropriate thing to-day than erect a monument to the -memory of Old Betz, Other Day, Chaska and others, who -risked their lives to save their white friends from the tomahawk -of their more vengeful brethren, and who did so -much to alleviate the sufferings and to relieve the anxiety -of the captive prisoners.</p> - -<p>You went with us to besieged New Ulm and Fort Ridgely; -helped bury the dead at Redwood; marched with us -and went into camp and endured the thirty-six hours of -anxiety and suffering at Birch Coolie; helped bury the -dead and care for the wounded there; returned with us to -Fort Ridgely; took part in the battle at Wood Lake, where -the Indians were defeated; shared our joys when we liberated -the women at Camp Release; helped arrest, shackle -and guard the Indians; witnessed the execution of thirty-eight -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">« 273 »</a></span> -at Mankato; marched across with the “Moscow Expedition”; -rendezvoused with us at Camp Pope in 1863; -marched and fought Indians with us at Big Mound, Dead -Buffalo Lake, Stony Lake and the Missouri River. You -mingled your tears with ours over Beaver’s and Miller’s -graves, as we left them in their loneliness on the bank of -the river; participated in and rejoiced with us all the way -on our return, took part in the campaign of 1864, and now, -before bidding you adieu, one question: Are you satisfied?</p> - - -<p class="caption4">THE END.</p> - - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="trans_notes"> - -<p class="caption2">Transcriber Note</p> - -<p>Illustrations moved so as to not split paragraphs. Quotation usage -in quoted letters was standardized.</p> - -</div> - - - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Thrilling Narrative of the Minnesota -Massacre and the Sioux War of 1862-63, by A. P. 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