History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 26

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

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had been wounded and were hiding. The militia, aided by citizens at Forest City, at once began erecting a large stockade for defence, in the cen- ter of town, in which the inhabitants and refugees could take shelter. Hearing that a family at Green Lake were in great danger, Capt. Whit- comb went to their relief. Near that spot his men had a hard skirmish with the Indians, in which three of the redskins were left dead on the ground, and only one of his own men slightly wounded. He returned to the stockade that night, but next day, with a larger party, again attempted to reach Green Lake. The Indians again attacked him, and after a sharp battle he returned without loss to Forest City. That night the savages made a fierce attack on the town, burned several buildings, and fired on the stock- ade, but fortunately hurting no one. The troops returned the fire. About daylight the Indians were seen trying to drive off a number of horses and cattle in a corral. The troops sallied out and drove them off, killing two, and having two of their own number badly wounded. By this time Meeker county west of Forest City, and all of Kandiyohi and Monongalia counties, were entirely deserted by the whites.

On August 26th, Captain Richard Strout of the Tenth Regiment, was ordered to proceed to Glen- coe and the region adjacent, to protect it. He reached that place about September 1st, and found the town had been well fortified and de- fended by the militia under command of General John H. Stevens, of the state militia, and was safe from any immediate danger. He therefore marched, with about seventy-five men, towards Acton. On the morning of September 3d, he was attacked near that place by about one hundred and fifty Indians, and a sharp battle ensued. The troops were driven back towards Hutchinson, fighting all the way, until afternoon, when they reached that place. Captain Strout lost three men killed and fifteen wounded, all of whom were brought off the field, and lost most of their equi- page, rations, &c., and several horses and wagons abandoned and mired. The Indians must.have lost several killed.

At Hutchinson, a large stockade had been built, and a company of about sixty militia commanded by Captain Harrington, were defending the town. About nine the next morning, September 4th, the

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Indians attacked the post. They burned all the houses on the edge of the town and one or two more centrally located. Our troops sallied out and routed them, however, and a succession of skirmishes ensued, which lasted all day.

Meantime, General Stevens had heard of the engagement near Acton, and at once sent the companies of Captain Davis and Lieutenant Weinmann to the relief of Hutchinson. They arrived about six o'clock on the evening of the fight, but the Indians had withdrawn. Several persons in the neighborhood were killed by them, and others escaped into the stockade. All the signs indicated that the Indians had retreated towards the upper Minnesota, taking a large drove of stolen horses and cattle with them. The Indians were not seen again in this vicinity until September 23d, when a band of about fifty inva- ded Meeker and Kandiyohi counties. They killed two or three settlers who had returned to their farms, but seemed more intent on stealing cattle than on killing whites. They were pursued by the troops, and sixty-five head of cattle rescued from them.

Wright county does not seem to have been in- vaded by the Indians. Fortifications were erect- ed by the inhabitants at various points, but no depredations were made in that locality, so far as known.

Western and southern Stearns county, how- ever, suffered severely from the depredations of the red foe. About August 23d, they committed murders and other crimes near Paynesville. The people of that town erected a strong stockade, and the citizens and refugees from points further west, sheltered themselves therein. A part of the town was burned, but no attack was made on the post. At Maine Prairie, St. Joseph's, Sauk Centre, Clear Water, Little Falls, and other pla- ces, similar stockades were built, and held by a few determined citizens. At St. Cloud, which was filled with refugees, strong fortifications were built, and preparations made to defend the place to the utmost, but no foe ever appeared, fortu- nately. A number of persons were murdered in the western and southern part of Stearns county, and houses burned.

The southwestern portion of the State was also overrun, and a number of murders committed. This district was soon after placed in command

of Colonel Flandrau, and about five hundred militia garrisoned at different points, who soon rid the country of Indians.

The Third Regiment, which had been paroled, after its surrender, at Murfreesboro, was now at Benton Barracks, Mo. Gov. Ramsey telegraphed on Aug. 22d to have them sent to this state at once, for service against the Indians. The re- quest was complied with. The regiment received its exchange on Aug.24th, and they arrived in St. Paul on Sept. 4th. All their officers were still prisoners in the hands of the rebels, and the companies were commanded by non-commissioned officers. Maj. Welch, who was not with the regi- ment at its surrender, (having been taken pris- oner at Bull Run) was in command of the regi- ment. Three hundred men were at once sent to the frontier, where they did good service, being the only veteran troops engaged during the war. On Aug. 23d, Gov. Ramsey, in response to many petitions, called an extra session of the legislature, to meet on Sept. 9th.

SIEGE OF FORT ABERCROMBIE.

On Aug. 23d the Indians commenced hostili- ties in the valley of the Red River. Fort Aber- crombie was then garrisoned by Co. D., Fifth Regiment, Capt. J. Van der Horck, but about half the company was stationed at Georgetown, protecting the Transportation Company's goods at that place. Early on the 23d a band of 500 Sissetons and Yanktons crossed the Otter Tail River, with the intention of capturing a train of goods and cattle en route for Red Lake, where a treaty was to be made with the Chippewas. The train was at once ordered to take refuge in Fort Abercrombie, and did so. Most of the citizens in the surrounding region also repaired to that post, for safety, but many were killed, or taken prisoners. The town of Dayton was destroyed.

Reinforcements were ordered to Fort Aber- crombie as soon as its danger was learned, but the troops sent out were detained en route, to protect and aid threatened places in Stearns and Meeker Counties, and did not reach the fort. Meantime it was in great danger, and was quite surrounded by the enemy. Skirmishes near by had taken place between detachments of the troops and the Indians. On Aug. 30th the latter appeared in large numbers before the fort. A

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large herd of the treaty cattle (172 head) and about 100 horses and mules were grazing on the prairie near by. The Indians drove these off, and the small garrison could make no resistance. On Sept. 8d, at daybreak, the Indians attacked the post. A fight was kept up for two or three hours, but they were repulsed, with some loss on both sides. Active measures were then taken to strengthen the post by a stockade of timber. On Sept. 6th, a second attack was made, and a sharp battle raged until nearly noon. A number of the Indians were killed and wounded, but only one of our force was killed, and one mortally wounded. The Indians hung around the fort, occasionally attacking a messenger, or a water- ing party, until Sept. 23d, when reinforcements arrived via St. Cloud to the great joy of the be- leaguered garrison, who had now been besieged over three weeks. No farther demonstrations, of any force, were made by the Indians. But for the brave resistance made by a mere handful of soldiers, aided by a few citizens, the post must have fallen.

A REGIMENT OF MOUNTED RANGERS RAISED.

The want of a mounted force to pursue the In- dians was severely felt by Col. Sibley. His small number of irregular mounted militiamen were leaving for their homes. He several times urged Gov. Ramsey to provide cavalry, and that official in turn asked of the War Department the proper authority. This was granted on Sept. 1st, and a regiment of mounted rangers at once called for, for three months service, which was subsequently changed to one year. The regiment was soon recruited, and Col. S. McPhaill appointed colonel.

BATTLE OF BIRCH COOLIE.

While waiting at Fort Ridgely for proper sup- plies and equipments, and before undertaking any offensive campaign against the Indians, Col. Sibley sent out, on August 31st, a detachment to bury dead bodies, rescue any fugitives that might be found, and make reconnoissances. This de- tachment consisted of part of Co. A, sixth regi- ment, Capt. H. P. Grant, about seventy mounted men under Capt. Jos. Anderson, and a fatigue party-about one hundred and fifty men in all, accompanied by seventeen teams. The whole force was in command of Maj. Joseph R. Brown, who was perfectly familiar with the country and

with Indian warfare. On the first day's march sixteen dead bodies were found and buried. The next day (Sept. 1) the force separated into two detachments. During this day fifty-five mutil- ated bodies were buried. In the evening the whole force went into camp at Birch Coolie (or Coulee) in a spot selected by Maj. Brown. No Indians had been seen that day.

Just before daybreak on the 2d, the camp was aroused by a volley of firearms and the yells of Indians, who had crawled unperceived within a few yards of the encampment. For a few min- nutes terrific volleys were poured into the tents, cutting them into shreds and wounding or killing a number of men and horses. As soon as they could seize their arms, those who were unhurt crawled out, and sheltering themselves as well as they could behind wagons, dead horses, etc., re-' turned the fire. Shortly after daylight the men' began excavating, with such implements as they could get, a line of rifle-pits, and in a short time had about two hundred feet dug.

The firing in the still of the morning was heard by the sentinels at Fort Ridgely, fifteen miles away, and a detachment of troops under Colonel McPhaill, at once pushed off to their relief. When within three miles of Birch Coolie, they were met by such a large force of Indians they could not advance, and sent a courier back for reinforce- ments. Meantime, the troops of Major Brown's command lay all day in their rifle-pits, keeping the savages at bay. The wounded were cared for as well as possible, but some died during the day.

As soon as McPhaill's courier reached Fort Ridgely, a large force, with some artillery, was sent to the relief of his and Brown's troops. They came up about daylight, and the whole col- umn then pushed on to Birch Coolie, dislodging and driving the Indians from their position, after keeping our men under fire for thirty hours, with- out food or drink.

The camp was an awful scene, when relieved. Twenty-three men had been killed outright or mortally wounded, forty-five badly wounded, and seventy horses killed. The dead were buried on the spot, and the wounded carried back to Fort Ridgely in wagons. Thus terminated the most bloody battle of the war, and one which spread gloom over the State. It is not creditable to

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Minnesota that this battle ground should have been allowed to pass into private hands, and be plowed over. It should have been reserved by the State as a historic spot, and marked with a suit- able monument. All the bodies, however, were subsequently removed, and properly interred else- where.

RELIEF MEASURES FOR THE REFUGEES.

The condition of the poor refugees from the ravaged districts, was deplorable in the extreme. In St Peter alone, there were in September, as many as 6,000 or 7,000 for some days, and at one time 8,000. In St. Paul there were 1,000, and at Minneapolis an equal number, and all the towns had more or less. They were all destitute of money, clothing, employment, &c., and many were sick, while not a few were actually insane from trouble and grief. The active exertions of citizens of St. Peter alone prevented great suffer- ing there, but their means were soon exhausted. They then appealed through the papers for aid, and Governor Ramsey appointed commissioners to receive and disburse supplies. About $20,000 in money was contributed, half of which came from eastern cities, while large quantities of cloth- ing were collected by local relief committees, in St. Paul and other places. The Legislature, when it met, voted $25,000 more. These amounts relieved the worst cases of need. In October, most of those whose homes had not been des- troyed returned to them, and the number of des- titute rapidly decreased. Several hundred, how- ever, were supported all winter. Fortunately, laborers had now become scarce, and wages en- hanced, so that all could get employment. The building of railroads went along unchecked in the midst of all the panic. The Winona and St. Peter Railroad completed about ten miles of road this fall.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR RELEASE OF THE PRIS- ONERS ..

Before leaving the battle-field of Birch Coolie, Col. Sibley left the following note attached to a stake:

" If Little Crow has any proposition to make to me, let him send a half-breed to me, and he shall be protected in and out of camp.

"H. H. SIBLEY,

" Col. Com'g Mil. Exped'n."

Col. Sibley had reason to believe that their re- peated defeats had discouraged the foe, and ne- gotiations could be made with the disaffected Indians. and those tired of fighting, for the re- lease of the prisoners. This note bore good fruit very soon.

It was now evident that all the marauding bands from the interior had been called in, and that the Indians would oppose the column on its march with all their combined forces.

Col. Sibley ordered the Third regiment, then at Glencoe, to join his command, and it reached Fort Ridgely on Sept. 13th.

Meantime Col. Sibley's note had been shown Little Crow on his return from the raid on the Big Woods settlers, and A. J. Campbell, a half- breed who acted as his secretary, read it to him. Crow at once dictated a reply, blaming Galbraith and the traders for wronging them, and enumer- ating some grievances which caused the war. He requested an answer. This note reached Col. Sibley at Fort Ridgely on Sept. 7th. Col. S. at once replied demanding that Little Crow should release the prisoners, and he would then treat with him. On Sept. 12th a reply was received from Crow, saying that the Mdewakantons had 150 prisoners, and other bands some more. He said: "I want to know from you, as a friend, what way I can make peace for my people." Col. Sibley at once replied, urging Crow to give up the prisoners. and complaining that he had allowed his young men to kill nine more whites since he sent the first letter. The same courier who brought Little Crow's letter also brought one pri- vately from the chief Wabasha, and Taopi, a Christian Indian. They asserted that they were forced into the war, and were now anxious to make peace, and if a chance offered they would come in and give themselves up, with all their prisoners. Col. Sibley replied to this message urging them to do so, and promising them pro- tection, adding that he was now strong enough to crush all the Indians who held out.

When this letter was received by Wabasha and his friends who wished to separate from the other Indians, a great dispute arose among all the bands. Indeed, disaffection and jealousy had been brewing ever since the outbreak. The pris- oners were in great peril and might have been murdered. But at last all worked out well, and

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the friendly and repentant Indians carried the day.

The War Department had meantime created Minnesota and Dakota into a military depart- ment, and appointed Gen. John Pope to the com- mand. He reached St. Paul on Sept. 12th, and established his headquarters there. The

EXTRA SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE,

called by the Governor, met on September 9th, and adjourned on September 29th. The legisla- t'on was mostly in regard to matters growing out of the Indian war. A Board of Auditors was created to adjust claims growing out of the mas- sacre, and $75,000 was appropriated to settle them. Congress was memorialized to reimburse the State for this outlay. A Board of Commis- sioners was authorized to collect names of slain, and the facts of their death, &c. [This was never done.] The sum of $25,000 was voted for the relief of indigent refugees. Congress was also memorialized for the removal of the Winneba- goes from the State.

THE NEW REGIMENTS,

(the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th) which had been hurried off to the frontier, half organized, were, by this time, completely organized and mustered in. The Colonels were appointed as follows : Sixth, Wm. Crooks; Seventh, Stephen Miller; Eighth, Minor T. Thomas; Ninth, Alex. Wilkin ; Tenth, James H. Baker.

BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE.

Col. Sibley, after the arrival of the Third Regi- ment and the supplies and ammunition he had needed, broke camp. on Sept. 18th, and started in pursuit of the Indians at or near Yellow Medi- cine. On the morning of Sept. 23d, while en- camped near Wood Lake, the Indians suddenly attacked the force. The Renville Rangers were thrown out, and met the enemy bravely. Maj. Welch soon had the Third Regiment in line, and they poured steady volleys into the advancing line of Indians, as did also the Sixth Regiment, under Maj. McLaren. The fight then became general. Lieutenant Colonel Marshall charged the enemy with three companies of the Seventh and A of the Sixth, and put them to rout. The bat- tle had lasted an hour and a half. Our loss was four killed and fifty wounded; among the latter,

Maj. Welch. The Indians lost quite a number- thirty, it is said-fifteen being found dead on the field. After burying the dead, Col. Sibley marched toward Lac qui Parle, near which place Wabasha had notified him he would meet him and deliver up the prisoners.

RELEASE OF THE CAPTIVES.

On September 26th the column arrived at the camp where the friendly Indians had the prison- ers, and made their own near by. It was oppo- site the mouth of the Chippewa River, and was named by our men "Camp Release." Col. Sibley without delay visited the Indians and demanded the captives. They were at once produced, nearly two hundred and fifty in number. Many wept with joy at their release ; others had grown almost indifferent. These poor people-mostly women and children-were sent as soon as possi- ble to their friends, if the latter were still living.

The Indians who had given themselves up were at once placed under guard nntil they could be examined as to their guilt. During the next few days a number came in and gave themselves up, and some smaller parties were captured soon after by our troops under Lt. Col. Marshall, so that soon our force had over 2,000 Indian war- riors in their hands. Col. Sibley at once organized a military commission, composed of Col. Crooks, Lt. Col. Marshall, and Capt. Grant, with I. V. D. Heard as judge advocate, to examine all evi- dence against the Indians, and indicate the guilty ones. Another comrision of five officers was appointed to try the accused.

These commissions continued at work until November 5th, by which time they had found three hundred and twenty-one Indians guilty of murder, ravishing, and other crimes, and sen- tenced three hundred and three to death. These were at once removed to South Bend, there to await the orders of the president. The other Indians and their familis were taken to Fort Snelling and confined all winter in a stockade.

CLOSE OF THE INDIAN WAR.

Meantime Little Crow and the still hostile In- dians had retreated into Dakota, and before win- ter reached Devil's Lake, where they remained until the next season. As the war in this State was now practically over, most of the settlers whose homes had not been destroyed returned to

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them. The Third Minnesota regiment, and the Twenty-fifth Wis. and Twenty-seventh Iowa, were sent south before winter, but the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Minn., with the Mounted Rangers, were retained for home service, and were stationed in detachments in a cordon of posts reaching from the south line of the State across the frontier to St. Cloud. The country between the garrisons was carefully scouted and patrolled, so that no hostile Indians could pass the line. On November 25th, Gen. Pope removed his headquarters to Milwaukee, and Brig. Gen. Sibley (for such he was made after the battle of Wood Lake) remained in command at St. Paul. The winter passed without any hostilities.

OUR REGIMENTS IN THE SOUTH

had not been idle meantime. On Sept. 4th the Fifth Regiment was in the battle at Corinth, and under fire some time. One account says: " The ground in front of us was covered with killed and wounded rebels." The Fifth suffered a loss of six killed, eighteen wounded and three missing. The Fourth Regiment was also in the same fight, and lost, during two days' fighting, three killed and nine wounded. The Fourth Regiment was also hotly engaged at the battle of Iuka, on Sept. 19th. It lost three killed, four wounded, two missing.

At Corinth, Oct. 8d and 4th, the Fourth also bore an active share, losing three killed and five wounded. "The regiment bore itself most gal- lantly," says an official report. In the same en- gagements the Fifth Minnesota also shared, ex- pending about fifty rounds of ammunition, with which they made deadly work among the enemy, losing six killed, sixteen wounded, and four miss- ing. The First Battery were also in this en-

gagement, and did good work, having only one man wounded.

THE FIRST REGIMENT

also bore its share during this period. At the Battle of Antietam, on Sept. 17th, it was closely engaged, and left ninety men dead or mor- tally wounded on the field. Their bodies now rest in the national cemetery there.

The First also participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, on December 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th, during which it lost nine wounded and one missing.

EXECUTION OF THE INDIAN MURDERERS.

The three hundred and three Indian murderers were kept at South Bend a short time and then removed to Mankato, where they were confined in a stone warehouse strongly guarded. Mean- time, some (so called) "philanthropists," princi- pally Quakers, at Philadelphia and other eastern cities, interfered in the matter, and got up a strong pressure on President Lincoln to pardon the guilty wretches. This was resisted by the prominent men and officials of Minnesota, the people of the State almost unanimously demand- ing their execution, and threatening, if it were not done, to apply lynch law to them. President Lincoln selected thirty - nine of the murderers, and (on December 6th) ordered General Sibley to execute them. This was carried into effect on December 26th, at Mankato, (one, meantime, dying of disease). Thirty-eight of the savages were swung off of one scaffold, in the presence of a large concourse of people. The rest of the mur- derers were imprisoned until spring, then taken to Davenport, Iowa, where they were confined a few months, after which they were removed to a reservation on the Missouri river, and set at liberty.

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CLOSE OF THE INDIAN WAR AND THE WAR OF SECESSION.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

CLOSE OF THE INDIAN WAR AND THE WAR OF SECESSION.

Events of the Year 1863 .- Scattering Raids on the Frontier .- A Scalp Bounty Ofered .- Removal of the Siouz and Winnebagoes .- Gen. Sibley's Expedition of 1863 .- Brave Conduct of the Third, Fourth and Fifth Regiments .- The First at Gettysburg .- Death of Little Crow .- Gen. Sibley's Column Attacked by the Sioux .- Remarkable Drought in 1863-64 .- Three More Regiments sent South. -Return of the First Regiment .- Gen. Sibley's Expedition in 1864 .- Heavy Drafts for Men .- Inflation and High Prices .- Battles in which Minnesota Troops Took Part .- Union Victories .- Close of the War .- Return of our Troops. -. The State's Share in the Conflict. --- A new Ers of Material Prosperity Begun.

The winter of 1862-'63 was spent by Gen. Sib- ley in making preparations for an expedition to the Missouri River, to pursue and punish the hostile Sioux. A third battery of light artillery was recruited for this purpose, and John Jones, the gallant defender of Fort Ridgely, appointed captain. At the session of the legislature, Gov. Ramsey was elected U. S. Senator, but did not vacate the gubernatorial chair until June 80th.

Early in the spring, small parties of Sioux be- gan to make predatory incursions into the state, and these raids continued all summer. Some twenty persons were killed, in all, and a num- ber of horses stolen. The Indians were pur- sued by troops in every case, and a number of them killed. A reward of $25 was offered by the Adjutant General for Sioux scalps, and afterwards raised to $200.

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History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 26

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

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