History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 28

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

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Gov. Davis addressed a circular to the com- missioners of the counties not ravaged by the lo- custs, asking them to advance money propor- tioned to their property. for a relief fund. Con- tributions were also solicited from the people of the state. By the latter, $18,959 was raised, to- gether with very large quantities of clothing and provisions, and forwarded to the sufferers. Even with this aid, there was much suffering the next winter.

The legislature of 1875, immediately on as- sembling, appropriated $20,000 for immediate relief, and later in the session, $75,000 for the purchase of seed grain. Only $49,000 of this was used. The farmers again planted their crops, in hope, but early in the summer they were, for a third time, destroyed. The situation now became serious. All the state was beginning to feel the effects of this calamity, though the portions yet unharmed kept up an active collection and for-

warding of supplies for the destitute. Without this benevolent work, the suffering would have been severe.

By the state census this year, the population of Minnesota was found to be 597,407. At the state election, John S. Pillsbury was elected Gov- ernor, by a vote of 47,073, over D. L. Buell, who had 35,275.

The season of 1876 saw the grasshopper devas- tations repeated, and over a larger area than be- fore. The crops were more or less a failure, and again an appeal was made to the benevolent people of the rest of the State for aid, which was liberally and cheerfully responded to.

On September 6th, a daring crime was perpe- trated at Northfield. A band of eight outlaws from Missouri, attacked the National Bank in that town, with the intention of robbing it. The cashier and another citizen were shot dead, and two of the robbers killed by persons who hastily armed themselves. The rest of the desperadoes fled, and, after a chase of several days, four of them were surrounded in a thicket in Watonwan county, where one was killed, and three taken prisoners. The latter, who were brothers named Younger, plead guilty of murder, and were sent to the State's Prison for life.

The legislature of 1877 prepared an amend- ment to the constitution, providing for biennial sessions of that body, and the amendment was adopted by the people at the fall election.

Five acts were passed at the same session, re- lating to the grasshopper scourge. One of these appropriated $100,000 for bounties to pay for the destruction of grasshoppers and their eggs. [This was never put into effect.] A State loan, to raise the money therefor, was also authorized. In ad- dition, townships or villages were authorized to levy a tax to pay similar bounties. The sum of $75,000 was also appropriated to purchase seed grain for those who had lost their crops, andl $5,000 was voted for a special relief fund.

At the same session was passed an act provid- ing for the redemption of the State railroad bonds, by giving for each outstanding bond sur- rendered, a new bond for $1,750, at 6 per cent. interest. The amendment was defeated at an election held on June 12th .. . .

Early in the summer [1877] the grasshoppers appeared in myriads again, and began devouring

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OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.

the crops. The farmers endeavored to destroy them by fires, ditching, and catching them in pans smeared with tar. A day of fasting and prayer for riddance from the calamity, was ap- pointed by the Governor, and generally observed throughout the State. Soon after this, the grass- hoppers disappeared, and a partial harvest was secured in the region formerly afflicted by them. For five successive seasons, the farmers in that district had lost their crops, more or less entirely.

In the fall of 1877, Gov. Pillsbury was re- elected Governor, receiving 57,071 votes, over Wm. L. Banning, who received 39,147.

The legislature of 1878, appropriated $150,000 to purchase seed grain for destitute settlers, the amounts issued, to such, to be repaid by them. Over six thousand persons, in thirty-four counties, received loans under this act, enough to plant 223,727 acres. Most of these loans were repaid.

At the same session an act was passed, propo- sing a constitutional amendment, offering to the holders of State railroad bonds, Internal Improve- ment Lands, in exchange for such bonds. The

amendment was rejected by the people at the next election.

During the year 1878, railroad extension, which had been almost suspended for four years, was renewed again with much vigor, and the mate- rial progress of the State was very marked, the western counties, especially, developing rapidly.

At the election in 1879, John S. Pillsbury was re-elected Governor for a third term, by a vote of 57,471, over Edmund Rice, who had 42,444, and other candidates, who received 6,401.

On November 15th, 1880, the Hospital for the Insane, at St. Peter, was partially destroyed by fire, and twenty-seven of the patients lost their lives, by burning, or in consequence of exposure and fright.

The census of 1880, showed a population in Minnesota, of 780,082. The assessors' returns give a valuation of real and personal property, of $268,277,874. These figures show a proud and gratifying condition of growth and prosperity in the short space of thirty-one years, since Minne- sota began its political existence.

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FORT SNELLING.

CHAPTER XXX.

A PLAIN POST-SITUATION-RECENT IMPROVE- MENTS-DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA-DEPART- MENT HEADQUARTERS-LIEUTENANT DOUG- LAS' REPORT-HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION- MISSIONARY LABORS -- S. W. AND GIDEON H. POND - MISSION OF A. B. C. F. M .- FIRST CHURCH-OLD GOVERNMENT MILL.

If a visitor expects to see a stone fortification, bristling with cannon and prepared for defense against intruders by land or water, he will be dis- appointed in Fort Snelling. If, on the other hand, he anticipates a pile of ruins overgrown with ivy, the remains of former greatness and strength, he will find himself as much deceived in that direction. No mark of cannon-ball or even musket shot exists. The fort has never sustained an attack. Some old buildings, it is true, are dis- used and look sadly forsaken, their places being supplied by new and more modern structures, still it would require some stretch of the imagina- tion to construe them into ruins. One of the officers, however, jokingly suggested that ivy be planted around the tower that in old time guarded the main entrance, pierced for two tiers of mus- ketry, and a ruin be made of it. This was a valuable suggestion, as in its present condition it performs no useful purpose, and is an eye-sore to the visitor. Thus we see that the fort fails to at- tract, either by its military freshness or by a ruin- ous condition. It is simply a plain military post without display. It has, however, served a pur- pose, and it is now the historical landmark for the state and the north-west. Here was the first settlement, the first birth, first marriage and first death. Here was organized the first church, here was the first farming, first milling and first enter- prise of every kind. Around Fort Snelling clus- ter all the early associations of the state. What 11

matters it, if it has been a means of fraud on the national resources and a continual charge to the government? Had the paltry dollars been kept back, much would have been lost and the country made poorer not richer. As the skilful general in the hour of battle wastes ammunition, pro- perty of all kinds and even lives of men that in a less critical hour he would cherish, to accom- plish a result superior in importance to money or lives, so the government is often compelled to submit to much waste to achieve great ends. The fort stands on the bluffs of the Mississippi, whose pure white sandstone affords a strong con- trast to the dark waters below, as well as to the green banks above. The wide gorge through which the Father of Waters brings down the floods of the north is here greatly increased in width, after receiving the waters of its confluent, the Minnesota. Geologists tell us that once the Minnesota was the larger river, and that the Mis- sissippi was its tributary. They tell us, too, that the Mississippi once traversed a different course, leaving its present channel at the mouth of Bas- sett's Creek, and, taking a route through the Lakes Harriet and Calhoun, flowed into the Min- nesota at some point between Shakopee and the fort. No historian, however, can confirm the testimony of the rocks, and the old fort cannot reach back far enough to aid in the research.

We are indebted to the politeness of Colonel John Gibbon, the officer in command, and to Adjutant Harding for the following history of the fort, prepared by S. R. Douglas, 2nd Lieut., Seventh Infantry. This will give the facts of the fort as it was, and as it is, except the improve- ments of the past year. The improvements con- sist of a bakery, a commissary store house and a stable, added at a cost of about $9,000. It will be necessary for us, however, to notice some im- provements lately made in the reservation, in consequence of the establishment of the head- (161)

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quarters of the "Department of Dakota " at this point.

The "Department of Dakota" was created Aug. 11th, 1866, out of the departments of the Missouri and Platte, and Brevet Major General Alfred H. Terry assigned to command. May 18th, 1869, General Terry was succeeded by Major General Winfield S. Hancock. December 3d, 1872, the latter was succeeded by Brevet Major General, now Brigadier General, Alfred H. Terry.

The Department of Dakota now includes the territories of Montana and Dakota and the state of Minnesota. The object of the department is to facilitate the movement of troops, the distribution of supplies, etc., etc. The troops in this depart- ment are the Second and Seventh cavalry. Third, Fifth, Seventh, Eleventh, Seventeenth, Eigh- teenth and Twenty-fifth infantry. The head- quarters have been located at St. Paul since the creation of the department, with the exception of a short time when they were located at Fort Snelling. During the past year, extensive build- ings have been erected on the Fort Snelling res- ervation with a view to the establishment of the headquarters of this department there, near the military post. These improvements are still in progress, and, when complete, will add greatly to the beauty and usefulness of the reservation, Fourteen buildings, built of cream-colored brick, are nearly complete, and present a fine appear- ance. They differ in architecture and are large and elaborate. The headquarters building is a handsome structure.

So much has been said, and is still to be said, in this history in reference to Fort Snelling, that it has been thought best to insert the following report of the fort:

FORT SNELLING, MINN., December 4th, 1879.

To the Post Adjutant. Fort Snelling, Minn .:

SIR: Pursuant to instructions from the com- manding officer, Fort Snelling, Minn., I have the honor to submit the following report. viz .: In 1805, Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike, U. S. Army, was sent out to explore the upper Missis- sippi river, to expel British traders who might be found violating United States laws, and to make treaties with the Indians.

On the 21st of September, 1805, he encamped on what is now known as Pike Island, at the

junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota, then St. Peters, rivers. Two days after, he obtained by treaty with the Sioux nation, a tract of land for a military reservation, which was described as follows: "From below the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Peter, up the Mississippi to include the Falls of St. Anthony, extending nine miles on each side of the river." By this treaty, as ratified by the senate, the United States stipu- lated to pay two thousand dollars for the lands thus ceded.

The reserve, thus purchased by Lieutenant Pike, was not used for military purposes until February 10th, 1819, at which time, to cause the power of the United States government to be fully acknowledged by the Indians and settlers of the northwest, to prevent Lord Selkirk, the Hudson Bay Company and others, from establish- ing trading posts on United States territory, to better the condition of the Indians. and to de- velop the resources of the country, it was thought expedient to establish a military post near the junction of the Mississippi and the St. Peters. Accordingly part of the Fifth United States In- fantry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Leavenworth, was despatched to select a site and erect a post. They arrived at the St. Peters in September 1819, and went into cantoment on the south side of it, near where the town of Mendota now stands.

The first monthly report was rendered for Sep- tember, 1819. During the ensuing winter (1819-20) scurvy raged amongst the troops, referring to which. General H. H. Sibley. in his address before the Minnesota Historical Society, says: " So sud- den was the attack, that soldiers apparently in good health when they retired at night, were found dead in the morning. One man who was relieved from his tour of sentinel duty, and stretched himself upon a bench, when he was called four hours after, to resume his duties, was found lifeless." In May, 1820, the command left their cantonment, crossed the St. Peters, and went into summer camp, at a spring near the old Baker trading house, and about two miles above the present site of Fort Snelling. This was called "Camp Cold Water." During the summer the men were busily engaged in procur- ing logs and other necessary materials for the work. All preparations were being made to com-

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mence building the new post, which was called "Fort St. Anthony;" the site selected being that of the present military cemetery. But in August, 1820, Colonel Josiah Snelling, 5th U. S. Infantry, having arrived and assumed command, selected the site where Fort Snelling now stands.

Work steadily progressed, the troops perform- ing the labor, and on September 10th, 1820, the corner stone of Fort St. Anthony was laid with due ceremony.

During the following winter 1820-'21, the buildings of the new post not being habitable, the troops were quartered in the cantonment of the preceeding winter.

The first measured distance between Fort St. Anthony and Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, was taken in February, 1822, and was given as two hundred and four miles.

. Work on the post was pushed forward with all possible speed. The buildings were made of logs, and first occupied in October, 1822.

The first steamboat, the Virginia, arrived at the post in 1823.

A saw-mill was built, the first in Minnesota. by troops from the post, in 1822, and the first lumber ever sawed on Rum river, was for use in the construction of the fort. Minneapolis now includes the mill-site.

The post continued to be called Fort St. An- thony until 1824, when, upon the recommendation of General Scott, U. S. A., who inspected the fort, it was named Fort Snelling, in honor of its founder.

In 1830 stone buildings were erected for a four company infantry post, also a stone hospital and a stone wall nine feet high surrounding the post. These buildings were not actually completed, however, until after the Mexican War.

Notwithstanding the treaty made by Lieuten- ant Pike, the Indian title to the Fort Snelling reservation, did not cease until the treaty of 1837, which was ratified by the senate in 1838, and by which the Indian claim to all lands east of the Mississippi. including said reservation, ceased.

In 1836, before the Indian title ceased, many settlers located on the reservation, on the left bank of the Mississippi.

On October 21st, 1839, the president of the United States issued an order, by virtue of the act of March 3d, 1807, "An act to prevent settle-

ments being made on lands ceded to the United States, until authorized by law," directing the United States marshal to remove squatters from the Fort Snelling reserve, and if necessary, to call on the commanding officer at Fort Snelling for troops to assist him in executing his order. Ac- cordingly, on the 6th of May, 1840, a few of these settlers, having received the necessary notice, were forcibly removed by the marshal, assisted by U. S. troops from the fort.

In 1837, Mr. Faribault presented a claim for Pike Island, part of the reservation purchased by Lieutenant Pike in 1805. This claim was based on a treaty made by him with the Dakotas in 1820.

A military reservation of seven thousand acres, at Fort Snelling. Minnesota, was set aside by the president, on May 25th, 1853. In November fol- lowing, the president amended his act of May 25th, and reduced the reservation to about six thousand acres.

The first map of the Fort Snelling reserve was made by 1st Lieutenant James W. Abert, corps engineer, in October, 1853.

Pursuant to the act of March, 3d, 1857, which extended the provisions of the act of March 19th, 1819, authorizing the sale of certain military sites, the secretary of war sold the Fort Snelling reserve, excepting two small tracts, to Mr. Frank- lin Steele.

The articles of agreement between the board appointed for the purpose on the part of the United States, and Mr. Steele, were dated June 6th, 1857, and were approved on the second day of July, following. The reservation and build- ings thereon were sold for ninety thousand dol- lars, one-third to be paid on July 10th, 1857, and the balance in two equal yearly installments. The first payment, $30,000, was actually made, July 25th, 1857, on which date Mr. Steele, in pur- suance of military authority, took possession of said property. The troops were withdrawn from the post previous to Mr. Steele's occupancy there- of. Mr. Steele having made default in the two remaining payments, the United States entered into possession and occupancy of the reservation and post, on April 23d, 1861.

By act of August 26th, 1862, the Fort Snelling reservation was reduced and defined as follows: "Beginning at the middle of the channel of the

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Mississippi river below Pike's Island; thence ascending along the channel of said river in such direction as to include all the islands of the river to the mouth of Brown's creek, thence up said creek to Rice lake; thence through the mid- dle of Rice lake to the outlet of Lake Amelia: thence through said outlet and the middle of Lake Amelia to the outlet of Mother lake; thence through said outlet and the middle of Mother lake to the outlet of Duck lake; thence through said outlet and the middle of Duck lake to the southern extremity of Duck lake; thence in a line due south to the middle of the channel of the St. Peter's river; thence down said river so as to include all the islands to the middle of the channel of the Mississippi river; reserving further, for military purposes, a quarter section on the right bank of the St. Peter's river, at the present ferry, and also a quarter section on the left bank of the Mississippi river, at the present ferry across that stream."

Mr. Steele presented, on February 6th, 1868, a claim against the United States government for the possession and occupancy by United States troops, of said post and reservation; which claim exceeded in amount the original purchase with interest.

By act of May 7th, 1870, the secretary of war was authorized "to select and set apart for a per- manent military post, so much of the military reservation of Fort Snelling, not less than one thousand acres, as the public interest may require for that purpose, and to quiet the title to said reservation, and to settle all claims in relation thereto, and for the use and occupation thereof, upon principles of equity." In pursuance of which act, the secretary of war set apart for a permanent military reservation, fifteen hundred and thirty-one and twenty hundredths acres, de- fined as follows:

"Beginning at a point where the south line of the north-east quarter of the north-east quarter of section thirty-two, township twenty-eight north, of range twenty-three west of the fourth principal meridian, intersects the middle of the main chan- nel of the Minnesota river; thence west to the south-west corner of the north-west quarter of sec- tion thirty-two, town and range aforesaid; thence north to the north-west corner of section twenty, town and range aforesaid; thence east to middle

of the main channel of the Mississippi river ; thence along the main channel of the Mississippi river and the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers at the head of Pike Island and the middle of the Minnesota River, to the place of beginning, including the officers' quarters, bar- racks, &c."

A reserve of ten acres granted by the United States to the Catholic Church at Mendota for a cemetery. was also reserved. Mr. Steele executed full release of all claim whatsoever to this prop- erty, and for the use or occupation of all property sold to him per agreement dated June 6th, 1857; in consideration of which, the United States re- leased Mr. Steele from all indebtedness on the purchase made by him, and granted and con- veyed to him the remainder of the so-called Fort Snelling reservation excepting one small tract, which is defined as follows:

"All of section nineteen, thirty and thirty- one, and all that part of section eighteen lying south of Minnehaha creek, and all that part of section seventeen lying south of Minnehaha creek and west of the Mississippi river; all that portion of section twenty, lying east of the main channel of the Mississippi river, including the islands east of said main channel, and the south- west quarter of the northwest quarter, and all that portion of the southwest quarter and of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of sec- tion twenty-one which lies east or northeast of the main channel of the Mississippi river, and all those portions of sections twenty-one, twenty- two and twenty-eight lying on Pike's Island so- called, being the entire island, and all that other portion of section twenty-eight which lies east and south of the Minnesota river, except twenty acres, being the south half of the southeast quar- ter of the northeast quarter of said section, the same being reserved for a Catholic Church and burial ground, where the church and burial ground now are; all that portion of the south half and of the south half of the north half of section thirty-two which lies west or north- west of the Minnesota river; all the above described lands being in township twenty-eight north, of range twenty-three west of the fourth principal meridian. Also all that portion of sec- tion thirteen, lying south of Minnehaha and Rice Lake and east of the creek running between said

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PRESENT DESCRIPTION.

Rice Lake and Lake Amelia and east of said Lake Amelia, and all land in section twelve that may be included in said boundaries. All of sec- tion twenty-four lying east of the western bound- ary of said reservation ("reserve selected") and any portion of section twenty-three that lies east of the creek joining Mother Lake and Lake Ame- lia, and the east half of section twenty-five and the east half of section thirty-six, all in township twenty-eight north, of range twenty-four west of the fourth meridan. Also all that portion of sec- tion five which lies west or northwest of the Min- nesota river; all of section six ; all that portion of section seven which lies north of the Minneso- to river, and all those portions of sections eight and eighteen which lie west and north of the Min- nesota river ; all in township twenty-seven north, of range twenty-three west.

Also the east half of section one, and the east half of section twelve, and all that portion of the east half of section thirteen which lies north and east of the Minnesota river ; all in township twen- ty-seven north, of range twenty-four west.

The action of the secretary of war in selecting said reservation and buildings and conveying the above specified lands to Mr. Steele, was approved by the president on January 4th, 1871.

A stone prison was erected during the war of the rebellion, which is now used as a commissary storehouse.

The old stone hospital is now used for offices and laundress' quarters. The new hospital is just completed.

Fort Snelling is situated on a high bluff on the right bank of the Mississippi, in latitude 44 deg. 52 min. 46 sec. north, and longitude 93 deg. 4 min. 54 sec. west. It is an irregular shaped bastioned redoubt.

A wagon road runs entirely around the post, and is eight feet below the parade at the gorge. but gradually arives on the same level at the shoulder angle.

The old post is almost enclosed by five build- ings, and in form is nearly a rhombus, with a tower at each angle.

A new two-story barracks for six companies of infantry and sixteen sets of officers' quarters was built during 1878. The east tower, stone wall, and old guard house, have been torn down.

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History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 28

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

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