History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 25

Author: J. Fletcher Williams
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Minnesota > Dakota County > History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 25

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OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.

drau was chosen commander-in-chief, Capt. Dodd, provost marshal, &c. Small reinforcements con- tinued to arrive from Mankato and other points, and by Thursday, 325 armed men were guarding the town. Wednesday passed without any alarms, and scouting parties were sent out in va- rious directions to bury the dead, of which a number were found. Let us now glance at the condition of things

AT FORT RIDGELY.

About three o'clock on Wednesday, the 20th, the first attack was made on this post, probably by the same force who had been at New U'lm the evening previous. It is thought five hundred Indians were engaged in it. Concealing them- selves in the wooded ravines near the post, the savages suddenly advanced on it with horrid yells and a volley of balls. The suddenness of the on- set almost threw the garrison off their guard, and two of the soldiers were killed at the first fire. The men speedily rallied. however, and fought bravely. Sergeant Jones was quickly at his guns. two 6-pounders and one 24-pounder, but on at- tempting to fire, they would not go off. On drawing the charges. he found them stuffed with rags! Some treacherous half-breeds had done this dastardly act, and then deserted to the enemy. Assisted by a citizen, J. C. Whipple. who had served in the Mexican war, and Sergt. McGrew. of Company (. he soon poured several rounds of cannister and shell into the thickets. amongst the foe, killing and wounding a number. The savages then succeeded in crawling up be- ·hind some old outbuildings and hay-stacks. from which they poured furious volleys into the fort. Sergt. Jones soon set these on fire with shells. and drove the savages off. At dusk the light of this fire, and the noise of the artillery, impressed the people at New Ulm and other places in the vicinity with the belief that the fort had fallen. But when night closed down, the savages with- drew. The garrison remained on arms all night. One great danger was the dryness of the roofs' which could have been ignited with " fire-ar- rows." A close watch was kept. and Providence favored the beleagured force, for late at night a heavy rain-storm commenced falling, and contin- ued until next day, entirely averting this danger. The large stables of the fort, about thirty rods

distant, were perfectly filled with government mules, and horses brought in by the fugitives. These the Indians succeeded in getting out and stampeding.

The next morning (Thursday) the attack was renewed about 9 o'clock, and lasted hotly for an hour, when the savages retreated. but again at- tacked the fort about 6 P. M., when another en- gagement took place, and lasted about an hour. But their efforts to capture the fort were useless. They found it too well defended. It could have been taken by charging into it, but this Indians are afraid to do. Meantime the garrison was be- coming worn out with loss of sleep and continual labor and fighting. Nearly five hundred refugees were crowded into its small buildings, where they were compelled to lie on the floor to avoid the bullets of the foe, which swept like a hail- storm through the windows. To add to the trou- ble, many were becoming sick, and the stores both of ammunition and provisions, and even water, were running low.

That night, as subsequent evidence revealed. Little ('row and his forces returned to the Lower Agency, where he found the upper Indians, whom he had sent for, arrived. This increased his force to 450 warriors. Large numbers were also marauding among the settlements, as far east as Forest City and as far south as Lake Shetek. Confident that with this large force he could take both Fort Ridgely and New Ulm, he now moved on the former post.

During the night, however, the garrison had strengthened its weak points with great skill and success. Earthworks had been thrown up. bar- ricades erected, out of cordwood, sacks of grain. etc .. and other defenses provided. while the can- non were stationed so as to command the most exposed points, and the riflemen posted where they could do the greatest execution. About noon the Indians appeared in greater numbers than on either previous attack, and commenced an assault so determined and furious, it seemed as if they were confident that this time the post must fall. But as they advanced, yelling like de- mons, the gunners sent a storm of grape and can- nister amongst them, while the riflemen poured volley after volley into them, and the savages re- treated from this hot fire. They soon rallied and took possession of the stables and other outbuild-

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THE SIOUX MASSACRE.

ings near the fort, and kept up a terrible fire from them. A perfect storm of balls poured into the frame buildings in the fort, sometimes passing clear through them. Several soldiers were hit, and some civilians (one being killed), though all the non-combatants kept well concealed. Finally Sergt. Jones was compelled to fire the outbuild- ings with shells, and drive the savages out. Soon the flames and black smoke rolled up, and, with the yells of the Indians, the rattle of small arms, and the thunder of the cannon, made an exciting scene. For five hours the battle raged hotly. Little Crow was heard repeatedly order- ing his warriors to charge into the fort, and sev- eral times they gathered for that purpose and started, but Sergt. Jones would send a storm of shell or cannister among them, and drive them back. It is thought numbers of them were killed in this attack.

About dark their fire ceased, and the night was passed in quiet, but there were few slept around the post except the non-combatants. All the men were under arms all night, being five nights of weary vigil and sleeplessness. The garrison were well nigh worn out, and expected another day of hard fighting. The sun rose, but no signs of In- dians. Work was continued on the fortifications, which were greatly strengthened. While thus engaged, a large body of mounted Indians (said by Louis Robert, who counted them, to number nearly 1,000) were seen coming down from the Lower Agency on the opposite side of the river. They did not, however. cross to the Fort Ridgely side, but kept on towards New Ulm. It now became evident that the latter place was their objective point, and the garrison breathed freer. Still, they knew not what a day might bring forth, and kept up their working and watching. Let us now return to

NEW ULM,

and see how that beleagured town fared. After the battle of Tuesday, before described, no at- tack had been made on the town, though small parties of Indians, doubtless scouts, were once or twice seen near the place. This interval of quiet was spent in erecting barricades, and other works of defence, and in taking such steps as seemed necessary, in case of another attack.

About ten o'clock A. M. on Saturday, the 23d,

the Indians (mounted) appeared in great force on the prairie above town, and our forces were at once posted on the open ground in that direction. The Indians first approached slowly, but when about a mile from our line, increased their speed, and gradually spread out their front, like a fan, until it covered our whole line. On they came at full speed, yelling like demons. When about double rifle-shot off, Col. Flandrau's men, inex- perienced in such warfare, fell back on the town, the Indians firing on them. The whites com- mitted the error of passing the outermost build- ings, and not occupying them, an error the sav- ages soon took advantage of, as they at once took possession of them, and opened a furious fire on our men. By the exertions of Col. Flandrau, the latter soon rallied, and commenced a vigorous fire from every protected spot, each doing duty as best he could, "on his own hook." They soon recovered their coolness, and fought bravely. The enemy, from their great numbers, were able to surround the town, and soon poured into it a fire from every direction. The battle became fu- rious and general.

The Indians also succeeded in getting possess- ion of the houses on the bluff, which gave them a great advantage, commanding, as it did, the inte- rior of the town below, but about twenty men of the Le Sueur company had occupied the windmill, a high building in that locality, and kept up such a hot fire, the Indians could do but little execution on that side. They took possession of the lower end of the city, however, and, the wind being from that direction, fired the houses one by one, ad- vancing thus towards the center of the city, con- cealing themselves behind the smoke. The greatest danger seemed now to be from this di- rection. and a strong force of the best marksmen was sent to resist the advance. They fought bravely, and checked the enemy considerably. The battle here was very hot for several hours. About three o'clock the enemy concentrated a force on the river side, as if preparing for a grand assault. A detachment was sent to meet it. The Indians came on at full speed, but our men stood firm, and sent such volleys among them, that they broke and retreated, losing several. Two of our best marksmen, however, fell at the same time.

The battle raged furiously and without inter- mission until dark. Many of our men were

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OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.

wounded, several killed. All had fought nobly, some performing feats of great daring. The en- emy had left ten dead on the field, besides many killed and wounded carried off, and had gained. so far, no great advantage; but if the attack con- tinued much longer, the worst result was feared. Night closed on the weary defenders, full of doubt and anxiety.

A consultation was now held among the leading men and those in command. as to the " situation.' One thing that seemed necessary, was to contract the lines of defence toward the center of the town so that a less number could more readily defend any point. To do this it was voted that all build- ings, except a few in the center of the town, must be burned. To this the inhabitants consented, and themselves applied the torch to about forty buildings. One brick house was left, and loop- holed for defence. Including those burned by the savages, 190 houses in all were now in ashes. Only about twenty-five were still standing. A range of rifle-pits were now dug in front of the barricade, and all the defences strengthened.

When morning dawned (Sunday, August 24th), the savages feebly renewed their attack, but they soon saw they were foiled. In order to get near enough to the barricade or buildings to do any execution, they must pass over an open space right in the face of the defenders rifles, where there was not even a bunch of grass to skulk behind. They kept up a fire at long range for three or four hours, but as it made no impression they ceased the attack about noon. and left it the direction of Lower Agency They were seen from Fort Ridge- ly tha afternoon. passing up the river with a long train of wagons. probably loaded with their plun- der, and many horses and cattle stolen from the settlers. Neither Fort Ridgely nor New Ulm were again attacked. The brave resistance of the whites had balked the red demons at both places. Had either of those posts fallen. hundreds of women and children, and even of the armed men, would have been massacred. But few would have escaped, and there is no doubt but that the victorious savages would have pressed on and taken both St. Peter and Mankato.

In the attack on New Ulm, ten whites were killed and about fifty wounded. The few build- ings left standing in the place, were almost filled with the dead and wounded, and with sick people ; for disease had by this time commenced to do its work. The provisions were nearly exhausted, and it seemed impossible to hold the place any longer. There were no houses adequate to shel- ter the two thousand people now crowded within the fortifications. Hundreds had been for several days huddled in cellars and other unsuitable pla- ces. On Sunday afternoon, one hundred and fifty more volunteers from St. Peter and vicinity, arrived, in command of E. St. Julien Cox, well armed and equipped. A council of war was held, and it was resolved to evacuate the town. Ac- cordingly, on Monday, August 25th, every inhab- itant, some two thousand in number, with a train of one hundred and fifty-three wagons bearing the sick. wounded and feeble, commenced the march to Mankato. " It was a melancholy spec- tacle (says Colonel Flandrau, in his report) to see two thousand people, who a week before had been prosperous and happy, reduced to utter beggary, starting on a journey of thirty miles through a hostile country." The volunteer troops guarded the train through safely

One week had now elapsed since the cruel mas- sacre began. It was a " week of blood." Over seven hundred persons had been murdered (many think the number exceeds one thousand); two hundred had been taken captive: nearly two thousand houses burned : thousands of horses and cattle stolen, and a fertile region some two hundred miles long and one hundred wide, laid waste and depopulated. Eighteen counties were ravaged, thirty thousand people (one-tenth of the population of the State) homeless, their crops and property going to ruin. Claims were subsequently filed by nearly three thousand persons, who lost property valued at $2.500,000. But this does not represent the total loss to our State, while no sum can represent the sorrow and suffering caused by the massacre.

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DEFEAT AND PUNISHMENT OF THE HOSTILE INDIANS.

CHAPTER XXVII.

DEFEAT AND PUNISHMENT OF THE HOSTILE INDIANS.

Military Measures to Defend the Frontier. - Want of any Organized Force .- H. H. Sibley Appointed to Command an Expedition .- Great Lack of Arms and Am. munition. - Volunteers Hurry to the Rescue in Large Force .- Col. Sibley Gath. ers a Column at St. Peter-And Relieves Fort Ridgely .- Great Want of Ammu- nition, Transportation, and Supplies --- Danger of a Chippewa Outbreak .- Ac- count of Indian Raids in Kandiyohi, Meeker, and other Counties .- Siege of Hutchinson .- Biege of Fort Abercrombie .- A Mounted Force Provided .- The Battle of Birch Coolie .- Relief Measures for the Refugees. - The State Apro- priates $25,000 .- Col. Sibley Opens Negotiations for the Release of Prisoners .- They Prove Successful .- Extra Session of the Legislature .- Battle of Wood Lake .- The Savages Defeated .-- Release of the Captives, ... Arrest and Trial of the Guilty Murderers. --- Three hundred and Three Convicted and Sentenced to be Hung .... Close of the Indian War .-. Departure of more Regiments for the War .--- Hard Fighting by our Troops in the South. -- Execution of Thirty-eight Indian Murderers at Mankato.

While these exciting events were occurring along the frontier, the State authorities had been acting with great energy and promptness in or- ganizing and equipping a military force to pro- ceed against the savages. The suddenness of the outbreak found them totally unprepared for any such emergency. The Sixth Regiment was in barracks at Fort Snelling, nearly full and par- tially organized, but its field officers had not yet been appointed, nor had the men received their arms. The Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Regiments were also partially recruited but not mustered in. Skeleton companies were at Fort SneMing, but none had been organized, and the men were undisciplined. Large numbers had been let off on furlough, to complete harvesting their crops. All the arms due the State had been drawn and issued to the old regi- ments. The general government was so hard pushed that even blankets and tents could not be furnished to the new troops.

Immediately on receiving the news, Governor Ramsey appointed Hon. H. H. Sibley, of Men- dota, to the command of such forces at Fort Snelling as the commandant there, Colonel B. F. Smith, could organize on the instant. Colonel Sibley was admirably qualified for such a respon- sible duty. His long and intimate acquaintance with the Indian character and habits, and espe- cially with the bands now in rebellion, together with his knowledge of military matters, and his

familiarity with the topography of the country, enabled him to either meet the savages in the field successfully, or to treat with them to advantage.

Four companies of troops, about three hundred in all, armed with Belgian rifles and 19,000 cart- ridges, were furnished to him; and they at once started on a small steamer for Shakopee, arriving there on the 20th. From thence they marched to St. Peter. On the 21st, the six remaining compa- nies of the Sixth Regiment were filled by consol- idation and transfers, and sent forward as rapidly as possible. On the 21st, Governor Ramsey is- sued a proclamation, reciting the news of the out- break, and calling on such citizens as had horses and arms, to start at once and join the expedition moving up the river. Considerable numbers did so. Companies of horsemen were formed in St. Paul, and several other places, and rode forward night and day. Small companies of infantry also organized in various towns in the central and east- ern portion of the State, and made forced marches to the relief of the frontier. By the end of the first " week of blood " (a very short period, con- sidering how unprepared the State was for such a war) several thousand armed men were pressing forward on different routes to meet and drive back the savages. These companies were mostly distributed at stockades and garrisoned towns along the frontier, where they remained for sev- eral weeks, until the worst danger was over. On September 9th, Governor Ramsey's message re- ports, there were twenty-two militia companies, with 2800 men under arms, and volunteer troops enough to make 5500 men in all.

On Friday, the 22d, Col. Sibley arrived at St. Peter, and remained there some three days, get- ting his troops in hand and properly armed. The latter was a work of difficulty. Most of the Sixth Regiment were armed with Belgian rifles, many of them almost worthless, and none of them very reliable. But a small part of the cartridges fur-

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OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.

nished were of the right calibre, and much time was lost " swedging " bullets. Gov. Ramsey had, on the 20th, telegraphed to the governor of Wis- consin to "borrow " 100,000 cartridges. They were promptly sent, and reached Col. Sibley at Fort Ridgely. Provisions had to be collected, and transportation secured. Meantime the peo- ple of the State were nervous with anxiety, and blamed the commander and State authorities for not throwing his half-armed and unorganized troops at once on the sev . I hundred well armed and desperate savages at New Ulm or Fort Ridgely. Had this been done, a " Custer massa- cre " would have resulted, and another rout and panic ensued, many fold worse than that of the week previous.

By the 24th, nine companies of the sixth reg- iment (of which Wm. Crooks had just been ap- pointed colonel) were concentrated at St. Peter. There were also some three hundred mounted men, and several companies of militia infantry. On the morning of August 26th, Col. Sibley, with his entire force, about 1400 men, commenced the march to Fort Ridgely. Col. McPhaill, with one hundred and eighty mounted men, was sent on in advance. These arrived at the Fort at dark, to the great joy of its beleaguered inmates. The main force arrived on August 28th. No Indians were encountered on the way. The expedition was halted at this post for several days, until nec- essary reinforcements and ammunition (which he called for from the executive) should arrive, and enable him to pursue and successfully act against the Indians, who had retreated some distance up the river, where it was reported they had a number of prisoners.

On August 25th, Col. B. F. Smith was ordered to organize a force of 1000 men, out of detach- ments of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth regiments, at Fort Snelling, and dispatch said force at once to join Col. Sibley. This force was put under command of Lt. Col. Wm. R. Marshall, of the seventh regiment, and moved forward as soon as it could be properly equipped, reaching the expedition on September 1st.

The difficulty of securing transportation for these expeditions, was a serious drawback to ce- lerity of movements. Finally, a general order was issued by the adjutant general authorizing the commanding officers of detachments in act-

ual service, to seize and impress citizens teams whenever needed. This was done, and enough transportation secured in that way, resulting in many cases of individual hardship, but this is one of the inexorable "necessities of war." Another great need which bothered the state au- thorities, was the scarcity of serviceable arms.

Good rifles were few. Many of the troops were very poorly armed, and even of these inferi- or guns, enough could not be had. The general government was telegraphed to, but could supply none, in season to do any good. The authori- ties then seized all the gun-shops in the states and confiscated their serviceable rifles and mus- kets, and ammunition. All the powder and lead in the hands of dealers everywhere was seized, yielding 3.175 pounds of powder and 1,200 pounds of lead. Even this was insufficient. A lead pipe, some 3,000 feet long, which had been laid in one of the streets o St. Paul, but was just then unused, was dug up and melted into bullets. A force of young women were working day and night making cartridges. Finally, however, all the troops were wel supplied and equipped. and no further trouble was felt. It must be remem- bered that there were then no railroads in the state (except one ten-mile section between St. Paul and Minneapolis,) and no telegraph but one from St. Paul to La Crosse. All military messages and dispatches to the frontier, had to be sent by special couriers.

DANGER OF A CHIPPEWA WAR.

Meantime, a new danger threatened the people of the state. In addition to the powerful Sioux nation, there were in Minnesota the Winnebagoes, with 400 warriors, and in the northern half of the state, the Chippewas, whr could muster 2,500 or 3,000 warriors. There were good grounds for be- lieving that these tribes had been in consultation with the Sioux, and that if the latter were suc- cessful they would also rise It has been proved that several Winnebagoes participated in the earlier murders near the Upper and Lower Agen- cies, while on the same day as the outbreak at Redwood, the Chippewas commenced plundering their agency at Crow Wing on the Upper Miss- issippi, and assembling armed warriors. They acted very turbulent and defiant, and an out- break between them and the whites was immi-

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DEFEAT AND PUNISHMENT OF THE HOSTILE INDIANS.

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ment. Indeed, on one occasion, shots were act- ually exchanged. The possibility of an outbreak by them so weighed on the mind of Maj. L. C. Walker, their agent, that he committed suicide near Monticello, on Aug. 23d. Companies of cavalry were authorized by the state authorities to protect the country north of St. Paul, and per- formed patrol duty for some days. Had the Chippewas risen also, nearly the whole state would have been laid waste. Even the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, etc., would have been captured, as there were not arms in those places enough to have defended them. A company of Home Guards was organized in St. Paul as a precau- tionary measure. For some days the situation was very critical, and full of danger. Finally, Hon. Wm. P. Dole, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Hon. H. M. Rice, Major E. A. C. Hatch, Clark W. Thompson, and other men who had influence with the Ojibways, calmed them down, and averted what might have proved an awful disaster.

THE WAR IN MEEKER. KANDIYOHI AND STEARNS COUNTIES.

The counties along the Minnesota River were not the only ones ravaged by the red devils during that week of blood. McLeod, Monongalia, Kandi- yohi, Stearns, Meeker, Otter Tail, Douglas, Sib- ley, etc., were all overrun in whole or in part, and the inhabitants either butchered or driven away. The first blood of the outbreak had been shed at Acton, Meeker county. A messenger was sent post haste by the citizens there to inform Gov. Ramsey. He arrived at the capitol just at the same time that the courier from St. Peter bore the news from Redwood. The Governor issued to Capt. Geo. C. Whitcomb, of Forest City, seventy-five guns and a small amount of ammunition, to en- able them to make a stand. Capt. W. returned with these at once, via Hutchinson, where he left some of the guns. On arriving at Forest City he found the whole region in a state of panic, the inhabitants fleeing, and the Indians killing and ravaging the country. A company was at once organized and armed, and marched over into Monongalia county (since a part of Kandiyohi), where they found the bodies of a number of slain, and also of hundreds of cattle killed in mere wan- tonness. They also rescued several persons who

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History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 25

Author: J. Fletcher Williams Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: J. Fletcher Williams
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: