USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 41
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Scouts were sent out by Captain Pettit, all of whom returned without having seen any Indians. Two dwelling-honses had been visited that had been set on fire by the Indians, but the flames had made so little progress as to be capable of being extinguished by the scouts, which was done ac- cordingly. Three other houses on the cast side of Long Lake had been fired and consumed during the same day. Three women were found, who had been lying in the woods for a number of days, seeking concealment from the savages. They were sent to Forest City for safety. During the early part of the night, Indians were heard driving or collecting cattle, on the opposite side of Long Lake from the encampment.
During the 24th of September the march was continued to Diamond Lake, in Monongalia county. All the houses on the route were found to be tel- antless, all the farms were deserted, and every thing of value, of a destructible nature, belonging to the settlers, had been destroyed by the savages. Only one Indian was seen during the day, and he being mounted, soon made his eseape into the big woods. The carcasses of cattle, belonging to the citizens, were found in all directions upon the prairie, where they had been wantonly slanghtered and their flesh abandoned to the natural process of decom- position.
At break of day, on the morning of the 25th, an Indian was seen by one of the sentinels to rise from the grass and attempt to take a survey of the encampment. He was immediately fired upon when he uttered a yell and disappeared. Captain Pettit thercupon formed his command in order of battle and sent out skirmishers to reeonnoiter; but the Indians had decamped, and nothing further could be ascertained concerning them.
At seven o'clock the return march to Forest City was commenced, by a route different from that
followed in the outward march. About ten o'clock the expedition came upon a herd, comprising sixty- five head of cattle, which the Indians had colle ted, and were in the act of driving off, when they were surprised by the near approach of volunteers. As the latter could be seen advancing at a distance of three miles, the Indians had no difficulty in making their eseape to the timber, and in this way eluding pursuit from the expedition by abandon- ing their plunder. The cattle were driven by the party to Forest City, where a great portion of the herd was found to belong to persons who were then doing military duty, or taking refuge from their enemies.
At Rockford, on the Crow river, a considerable force of citizens congregated for the purpose of mutual protection, and making a stand against the savages in case they should advance thus far. A substantial fortification was erected at the place, affording ample means of shelter and protection to those there collected; but we are not aware that it ever became necessary as a place of last resort to the people, nor are we aware that the Indians committed any act of hostilities within the county of Wright.
On the 24th of August rumors reached St. Cloud that murders and other depredations had been committed by the Indians near Paynesville, on the border of Stearns county, and near the di- viding line between Mecker and Monongalia coun- ties. A public meeting of the citizens was called at four o'clock in the afternoon, at which, among other measures adopted, a squad, well armed and equipped. was instructed to proceed to Paynes- ville, and ascertain whether danger was to be ap- preliended in that direction. This party immedi- ately entered npon the discharge of their duty, and started to Paynesville the same evening.
On the evening of the following day they re- turned, and reported that they met at Paynesville the fugitives from Norway Lake, which latter place is situated in Monongalia connty, and about seventeen miles in a south-west direction from the former. That, on Wednesday, the 20th day of August, as a family of Swedes, by the name of Lomberg, were returning from church, they were attacked by a party of Indians, and three brothers killed, and another one, a boy, wounded. The father had fourteen shots fired at him, but suc- ceeded in making his escape. One of liis sons, John, succeeded in bearing off his wounded brother. and making their escape to Paynesville.
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COMPANY FORMED AT ST. CLOUD.
On the 24th, a party went out from Paynesville for the purpose of burying the dead at Norway Lake, where they found, in addition to those of the Lomberg family, two other entire families murdered-not a member of either left to tell tlie tale. The clothes had all been burned from their bodies, while from each had been cut either the nose, an ear or a finger, or some other act of innti- lation had been committed upon it.
The party, having buried the dead, thirteen in number, were met by a little boy, who informed them that his father had that day been killed by the savages while engaged in cutting hay in a swamp. They proceeded with the intention of burying the body, but discovered the Indians to be in considerable force around the marsh, and they were compelled to abandon the design.
The party beheld the savages in the act of driv- ing off forty-four head of cattle, a span of horses, and two wagons; bnt the paucity of their num- bers compelled them to refrain from any attempt to recover the property, or to inflict any punishi- ment upon the robbers and murderers having it in their possession. A scouting party had been sent to Johanna Lake, about ten miles from Nor- way Lake, where about twenty persons had been living. Not a single person, dead or alive, could there be found. Whether they had been killed, escaped by hasty flight, or been carried off as prisoners, could not be determined from the sur- rounding circumstances. As the party were re- turning, they observed a man making earnest en- deavors to escape their notice, and avoid them by flight, under the impression that they were Indi- ans, refusing to be convinced to the contrary by any demonstrations they conld make. Upon their attempting to overtake him, he plunged into a lake and swam to an island, from which he could not be indneed to return. His family were dis- covered and brought to Paynesville, but no infor- mation could be derived from them respecting the fate of their neighbors.
When this report had been made to the citizens of St. Cloud by the returned party, a mounted company, consisting of twenty-five members, was immediately formed, for the purpose of co-oper- ing with any forces from Paynesville in efforts to recover and reseue any citizens of the ravaged district. Of this company Ambrose Freeman was elected captain, and they proceeded in the direc- tion of Paynesville the next morning at 8 o'clock.
At Maine Prairie, a point to the south-west of
St. Cloud, and about fifteen miles distant from that place, a determined band of farmers united together with a determination never to leave until driven, and not to be driven by an inferior force. Their locality was a small prairie, entirely sur- rounded by timber and deuse thickets, a circum- stance that seemed to favor the near approach of the stealthy savage.
By concerted action they soon erected a sub- stantial fortification, constructed of a double row of timbers, set vertically, and inserted firmly in the ground. The building was made two stories in height. The upper story was fitted up for the women and children, and the lower was intended for purposes of a more strictly military character. Some of their number were dispatched to the State Capital to obtain such arms and supplies as could be furnished them. Provisions were laid in, and they soon expressed their confidence to hold the place against five hundred savages, and to stand a siege, if necessary. Their determination was not to be thus tested, however. The Indians came into their neighborhood, and committed some small depredations, but, so far as reported, never exhibited themselves within gunshot of the fort.
At Paynesville, the citizens and such others as sought refuge in the town constructed a fortifica- tion for the purpose of protecting themselves and defending the village; but no description of the work has ever been received at this office, and, I believe, it was soon abandoned.
At St. Joseph, in the Watab Valley, the citizens there collected erected three substantial fortifica- tions. These block-houses were built of solid green timber, of one foot in thickness. The structure was a pentagon, and each side was fifty feet in length. They were located at different points of the town, and completely commanded the entrance in all directions. In case the savages had attacked the town, they must have suffered a very heavy loss before a passage could be effected, and even after an entry had been made, they would have become fair targets for the riflemen of the forts. Beyond them, to the westward, every house is said to have become deserted, and a great por- tion of the country ravaged, thus placing them upon the extreme frontier in that direction; but, owing, no doubt, to their activity in preparing the means for effective resistance, they were permitted to remain almost undisturbed.
Sauk Center, near the north-western corner of
232
HISTORY OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE.
the county, and situated on the head-waters of the Sauk river, is, perhaps, the most extreme point in this direction at which a stand was made by the settlers. Early measures were taken to perfect a military organization, which was effected on the 25th of August, by the election of Sylvester Ramsdell as captain. The company consisted of over fifty members, and labored under discourag- ing circumstances at the outset. The affrighted and panic-stricken settlers, from all places located still further to the north and west, came pouring past the settlement, almost communicating tlie samue feeling to the inhabitants. From Holmes City, Chippewa Lake, Alexandria, Osakis, and West Union, the trains of settlers swept by, secking safety only in flight, and apparently willing to re- ceive it in no other manner.
Assistance was received from the valley of the Ashley river, from Grove Lake, and from West- port, in l'ope county.
A small stockade fort was constructed, and within it were crowded the women and children. The haste with which it was constructed, and the necessity for its carly completion, prevented its either being so extensive or so strongly built as the interest and comfort of the people seemed to require.
Upon being informed of the exposed situation of the place, and the determination of the settlers to make a united effort to repel the destroyers from their homes, orders were, on the 30th day of Au- gust, issued to the commandant at Fort Snelling, directing him, with all due speed, to detail from his command two companies of troops, with in- structions to proceed to Sauk Center, for the pur- pose of protecting the inhabitants of the Sauk Valley from any attack of hostile Indians, and to co-operate as far as possible with the troops sta- tioned at Fort Abercrombie.
In obedience to these orders, the companies under command respectively of Captains George G. McCoy, of the Eighth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers, and Theodore H. Barrett, of the Ninth Regiment, were sent forward. Their arrival at the stockade created a thrill of joy in the place, espe- cially among the women and children, and all, even the most timid, took courage and rejoiced in their security. Captain Barrett was, shortly afterward, sent with his command in the expedition for the relief of Fort Abercombie, and a short time after- ward Captain McCoy, in obedience to orders from General Pope, fell back to St. Cloud.
Upon the departure of these troops, many of the more timid were again almost on the verge of despair, and would willingly have retreated from the position they so long held. More courageous councils prevailed, and the same spirit of firmness that refused safety by flight in the first instance, was still unbroken, and prompted the company to further action, and to the performance of other duties in behalf of themselves and those who had accepted their proffers of protection. Disease was beginning to make its appearance within the stock- ade. where no other enemy had attempted to penetrate, and this fact admonished the company that more extensive and better quarters were required in order to maintain the health of the people.
Several plans were submitted for a new stock- ade, from which one was selected, as calculated to secure the best means of defense, and at the same time, to afford the most ample and comfortable quarters for the women, children, and invalids, besides permitting the horses and cattle to be secured within the works. In a few days the new fort was completed, inclosing an area of about one acre in extent, the walls of which were constructed of a double row of timbers, principally tamarack poles, inserted firmly in the ground, and rising eleven feet above the surface. These were prop- erly prepared with loopholes and other means of protection to those within, and for the repulsion of an attacking party.
When the people had removed their stock and other property within the new fortification, and had been assigned to their new quarters, they for the first time felt really secure and at case in mind. Had any vigorons attack been made upon the party in their old stockade, they might have saved the lives of the people, but their horses and cattle would most certainly have been driven off or destroyed. Now they felt that there was a chance of safety for their property as well as themselves.
A short time after this work had been completed Captain McCoy, after having rendered services in other parts of the country, was ordered back to Sauk Center. A company from the Twenty- fifth Wisconsin Regiment was sent to the same place upon its arrival in the state, and remained there until about the first of December.
Two days after the citizens from Grove Lake- a point some twelve miles to the south-west of Sauk Center-had cast their lot with the people
233
PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE.
of the latter place, the night sentinels of Captain Ramsdell's company discovered fires to the south- west. Fearing that all was not right in the vicinity of Grove Lake, a party was sent out the next morning to reconneiter in that neighborhood. They found one dwelling-house burned, and others plundered of such things as had attracted the fancy of the savages, while all furniture was left broken and destroyed. A number of the cattle which had not been taken with the settlers when they left, were found killed.
A Mr. Van Eaton, who resided at that place, about the same time, started from Sauk Center, with the intention of revisiting his farm. He is supposed to have fallen into the hands of the sav- ages, as he never returned to the fort. Several parties were sent in search of him, but no positive trace could ever be found.
At St. Cloud, in the upper part of the town, a small but substantial fortification was erected, and "Broker's Block" of buildings was surrounded with a breastwork, to be used in case the citizens should be compelled to seek safety in this manner. In Lower Town a small work was constructed, called Fort Holes. It was located upon a ridge overlooking the "flat" and the lower landing on the river. It was circular in form, and was forty- five feet in diameter. The walls were formed by two rows of posts, deeply and firmly set in the ground, with a space of four feet between the rows. Boards were then nailed upon the sides of the posts facing the opposite row, and the inter- space filled and packed with earth, thus forming an earthen wall of four feet in thickness. The structure was then 'covered with two-inch plank, supported by heavy timbers, and this again with sods, in order to render it fire-proof. In the cen- ter, and above all, was erected a bullet-proof tower, of the "monitor" style, but without the means of causing it to revolve, prepared with loop-holes for twelve sharp-shooters. This entire structure was inclosed with a breastwork or wall similar to that of the main building, two feet in thickness and ten in height, with a projection outward so as to ren- der it difficult to be scaled. It was pierced for loop-holes at the distance of every five feet. Within this fortification it was intended that the inhabitants of Lower Town should take refuge in case the Indians should make an attack in any considerable force, and where they expected to be able to stand a siege until reinforcements would be able to reach them. They were not put to
this test, however; but the construction of the fort served to give confidence to the citizens, and prevented some from leaving the place that otherwise would have gone, and were engaged in the preparation at the time the work was com- menced.
On the 22d of September a messenger arrived at St. Cloud from Richmond, in the same county, who reported that, at four o'clock the same morn- ing, the Indians had appeared within a mile of the last-mentioned town, and had attacked the house of one of the settlers, killing two children and wounding one woman. Upon the receipt of this intelligence Captain McCoy, who was then sta- tioned at St. Cloud with forty men of his com- mand, got under way for the reported scene of dis- turbance at ten o'clock A. M., and was followed carly in the afternoon hy a mounted company of home-guards, under command of Captain Cramer. Upon arriving at Richmond the troops took the trail of the Indians in the direction of Paynes- ville, and all along the road found the dwellings of the settlers in smouldering ruins, and the stock of their farms, even to the poultry, killed and lying in all directions. Seven of the farm-houses between these two towns were entirely consumed, and one or two others had been fired, but were reached before the flames had made such progress as to be incapable of being extinguished, and these were saved, in a damaged condition, through the exertions of the troops. On arriving at Paynes- ville they found eight dwelling-houses either con- sumed or so far advanced in burning as to pre- clude the hope of saving them, and all the out- buildings of every description had been commit- ted to the flames and reduced to ruins. Only two dwelling-lionses were left standing in the village.
At Clear Water, on the Mississippi river, below St. Cloud, and in the county of Wright, the citizens formed a home guard and built a fortification for their own protection, which is said to have been a good, substantial structure, but no report has been received in regard eitlier to their military force or preparations for defense.
Morrison county, which occupies the extreme frontier in this direction, there being no organized county beyond it, we believe, was deserted by but few of its inhabitants. They collected, however, from the various portions of the county, and took position in the town of Little Falls, its capital, where they fortified the court-house, by strength- ening its walls and digging entrenchments around
1
234
HISTORY OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE.
it. During the night the women and children occupied the inside of the building, while the men remained in quarters or on guard on the outside. In the morning the citizens of the town would return to their habitations, taking with them such of their neighbors as they could aecommo- date, and detachments of tho men would proceed to the farms of some of the settlers and exert them- selves in securing the produce of the soil. In- dians were seen on several occasions, and some of the people were fired upon by them, but so far as information has been communicated, no lives were lost among the settlers of the county.
CHAPTER XL.
HOSTILITIES IN THE VALLEY OF THE RED RIVER OF TIIE NORTH-CAPTAINS FREEMAN AND DAVIS OR- DERED TO GO TO THE RELIEF OF ABERCROMBIE -- INDIANS APPEAR NEAR THE FORT IN LARGE NUM- BERS-THE ATTACK -INDIANS RETIRE-SECOND ATTACK ON THE FORT-UNION OF FORCES-AN- OTHER ATTACK UPON THE FORT. EFFECT OF THE HOWITZER-RETURN OF CAPTAIN FREEMAN TO ST. CLOUD.
On the 23d of August the Indians commenced hostilities in the valley of the Red River of the North. This region of country was protected by the post of Fort Abererombie, situated on the west bank of the river, in Dakota Territory. The troops that had formerly garrisoned the forts had been removod, and sent to aid in suppressing the Southern rebellion, and their place was supplied, as were all the posts within our state, by a de- tachment from the Fifth Regiment Minnesota Vol- unteers. But one company had been assigned to this point, which was under the command of Cap- tain John Van der Horck. Abont one-half of the company was stationed at Georgetown, some fifty miles below, for the purpose of overawing the In- dians in that vicinity, who had threatened some opposition to the navigation of the river, and to de- stroy the property of the Transportation Company. The force was thus divided at the commencement of the outbreak.
The interpreter at the post, who had gone to Yellow Medicine for the purpose of attending the Indian payment, returned about the 20th of Au- gust, and reported that the Indians were becoming exasperated and that he expected hostilities to be
immediately commenced. Upon the receipt of this intelligenco the guards were doubled, and every method adopted that was likely to insure protec- tion against surprises.
The Congress of the United States had author- ized a treaty to be made with the Red Lake In- dians, (Chippewas,) and the officers were already on their way for the purpose of consummating such treaty. A train of some thirty wagons, loaded with goods, and a herd of some two hundred head of cattle, to be used at the treaty by the United States Agent, was likewise on the way, and was then at no great distance from the fort.
Early in the morning of the 23d a messenger arrived, and informed the commandant that a band of nearly five hundred Indians had already crossed the Otter Tail river, with the intention of eutting off and capturing the train of goods and cattle in- tended for the treaty. Word was immediately sent to those having the goods in charge, and request- ing them to take refuge in the fort, which was speedily complied with. Messengers were like- wise sent to Breckenridge, Old Crossing, Graham's Point, and all the principal settlements, urging the inhabitants to flee to the fort for safety, as from the weakness of the garrison, it was not pos- sible that protection could be afforded them else- where.
The great majority of the people from the set- tlements arrived in safety on the same day, and were assigned to quarters within the fortifieation. Three men, however, upon arriving at Brecken- ridge, refused to go any further, and took posses- sion of the hotel of the place, where they declared they wouldl defend themselves and their property without aid from any source. On the evening of the same day a detachment of six men was sent out in that direction, in order to learn, if possible, the movements of the Indians. Upon their arriv- ing in sight of Breckenridge they discovered the place to be occupied by a large force of the sav- ages. They were likewise seen by the latter, who attempted to surround them, but being mounted, and the Indians on foot, they were enabled to make their escape, and returned to the fort.
Tho division of the company at Georgetown was immediately ordered in; and, on the morning of the 24th, a detachment was sent to Brecken- ridge, when they found the place deserted by the Indians, but discovered the bodies of the three men who had there determined to brave the vio- lenee of the war party by themselves. They bad
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FORT ABERCROMBIE.
bern brutally murdered, and, when found, had chains bound around their ankles, by which it ap- peared, from signs upon the floor of the hotel, their hodics at least had been dragged around in t'ie savage war-dance of their murderers, and, per- .1&t. s, in that very mode of torture they had suf- fered a lingering death. The mail-coach for St. Paul. which left the fort on the evening of the 22.1. had fallen into the hands of the Indians, the hi ver killed, and the contents of the mail scat- tered over the prairie, as was discovered by the detachment on the 24th.
Over fifty citizens capable of bearing arms had taken refuge with the garrison, and willingly be- came soldiers for the time being; but many of them were destitute of arms, and none could be furnished them from the number in the possession of the commandant. There was need, however, to strengthen the position with outside intrench- ments, and all that could be spared from other duties were employed in labor of that character.
On the morning of the 25th of August, messen- gers were dispatched from the post to head-quar- ters, stating the circumstances under which the garrison was placed, and the danger of a severe attack; but, as all troops that could be raised, and were not indispensable at other points, had been sent to Colonel Sibley, then on the march for the relief of Fort Ridgely, it was impossible at once to reinforce Fort Abercrombie with any troops al- ready reported ready for the field. Authority had been given, and it was expected that a considera- ble force of mounted infantry for the State ser- vice had been raised, or soon would be, at St. Cloud.
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