USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 60
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"MARSHAL'S NOTICE .- We call attention to the notice of Capt. See, Provost Marshal for this Con-
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WAR RECORD.
gressional District, which is published in to-day's paper, by which it will be seen that the time for hearing claims for exemption from military duty is extended to the 5th of January next. All wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity can now proceed to the 'Captain's office' at Roch- ester and have their cases duly passed upon; none need be bashful who have proper cause; the sooner such names are stricken from the rolls the better it will be for all concerned."
"MILITARY APPOINTMENTS .- Col. A. D. Nelson resigned his commission yesterday as Colonel of the Sixth Regiment."
"Lieutenant Colonel Crooks, of the Seventh Regiment, was appointed Colonel of the Sixth, vice Nelson, resigned."
"Captain Samuel McPhail, of Houston county, was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Seventh Regiment, vice Crooks, promoted. Lieutenant Colonel McPhail joins the Indian expedition as commander of the irregular cavalry."
"Lieutenant Colonel Averill, of the Sixth Reg- iment, reported for duty yesterday. He left for Lake City, and will take a volunteer cavalry force to the Indian country from that locality."
"HARDEE REVISED .- Captain Saunders has re- ceived a copy of Hardee's Tactics revised and amended, which can be seen and examined by military men on calling at his office. All officers should have a copy before entering the field. Capt. S. is a perfect military scholar, and is willing to give all the necessary instructions concerning the new work to all officers who have had no exper- ience in military matters."
"HELP FROM WISCONSIN .- A dispatch was re- ceived yesterday from Governor Solomon, stating that he had shipped several hundred thousand rounds of cartridges to Minnesota, in answer to the request of Governor Ramsey."
"MORE CAVALRY NEEDED .- More mounted men are wanted on the frontier.
Let every man that can obtain a horse, arm's and equipments, hasten to the assistance of the settlers on the frontier. There will be work for all to do.
Our people must not think the emergency is past."
"THIRD REGIMENT COMING HOME .- Governor Ramsey has telegraphed to the War Department, asking that the Third Regiment might be sent to Minnesota for the protection of the frontier. Yes-
terday the Governor received a dispatch from General Halleck, stating that his request would be granted. This regiment may be expected home this week, when it will be reorganized and sent to the frontier."
These items are copied at random from the newspapers of the day, and the war news so filled them that there is no wonder that the little girl should ask her mother after the close of the war what they would fill the papers with now ?
With the war came a new form of taxation. Excise duty, or any form of government control of manufacturing or industrial interests were be- fore unknown. Now most kinds of business and professional men were subject to a special tax in the form of a license, and personal incomes be- yond a certain sum had to contribute a certain per cent, and notices like this were common.
"INTERNAL REVENUE .- Attention is again call- ed to the notice of the Collector of Internal Rev- enue, which is published in to-day's paper, all as- sessments for the current year are requested to be paid before the 31st day of December. If not so paid 2 per cent per month will be added thereto."
On the 15th of April, 1861, President Lincoln called for 75,000 troops, and to keep up the delu- sion which was generally entertained by the South as to the superiority of Southern over Northern men, Jefferson Davis the next day called for 32,000.
On the 10th of July, 1861, President Lincoln called for 500,000 volunteers, and, according to the Adjutant General's report, the whole number enlisted before the close of the war, including officers, was 2,157,047 white men, and 178,895 colored.
In the winter of 1863-64 it became evident that the war could not be brought to a close before the term of enlistment of the great bulk of the army would expire, and so inducements of an extraordinary character were held out for the members of the various regiments in the field to re-enlist, including bounties of several hundred dollars and a promise of a visit home, and where whole regiments or companies re-enlisted, they came home with their officers in an organized form, and as they returned they were handsomely received.
On the 31st of March, 1864, the members of Co. F, of the 4th Minnesota Regiment Veteran Volun- teers were tendered a reception by the citizens of Albert Lea. The affair was a cordial outgrowth
22
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
of the feeling of gratitude which filled all hearts toward the noble men who had stood between them and desolation. Among the veterans present are remembered: J. Fredenburg, B. J. House, John Cottrell, F. E. Drake, George C. Snyder, Alfred Taylor, Henry McGraw, Phineas Taylor, William Fenholt, Henry Woodruff, A. Wishman, Henry House, O. Perkins, Turner Shaw, Alfred J. Knapp, Jacob Frost, Ira Lovell, Andrew Anderson, W. Peterson, Harrison Bullock, and others. There was a dinner at the Webber House, with 68 plates. Speeches were made by A. Armstrong, J. L. Gibbs, George W. Skinner, and E. C. Stacy. In the evening the festivities were closed by a grand ball.
When this Fourth regiment returned South it stopped several days in La Crosse to consolidate and secure transportation, and the officers and men were highly commended for their soldierly bearing and gentlemanly deportment.
Dr. Wedge, Dr. Burnham, and Captain Ruble used to keep the home papers well supplied with papers from the South when they could get hold of them.
On the 5th of January, 1864, when the draft in the State was ordered, Freeborn county had sent 302 men into the army, and there were seventeen more wanted. The total requisition upon the State had been 2,939; of these, 1,515 belonged to the First Congressional Distriet, and 1,424 to the Second. The draft was to be made up in this way; all the men of military age in each town were enrolled, and each one could appear before a medical board connected with the Provost Mar- shal's office, and if he could show a disability his name would be stricken from the roll, and the prizes in this lottery, where the blanks were so distressingly few, would be drawn from the redneed list. But the malingering in various parts of the district became so extensive that the exemptions were set aside by a general order from the depart- ment.
In May, 1864, the district being behind in its quota, the draft was ordered for certain; but few, however, were required to be taken from the county, as the quota was well nigh filled.
On the 21st of June, 1864, the amount paid in the first congressional district for commutation was by 341 men, who contributed an aggregate of $102,300.
The operation of the draft called forth consid-
erable feeling, as with improper exemptions and various causes. there were great inequalities. Any man who had drawn a prize from the conseription list couhl hire a substitute, as many did, or pay a commutation of $300.
The Sanitary and Christian commission must not be omitted, but on account of the burning of the Standard office with the tiles of papers, in the spring of 1882, we are unable to furnish full ac- counts of the Ladies' Aid Societies and other auxiliaries that were engaged in this work.
Most of the regiments in which were Freeborn men, re-enlisted in the winter of 1864, with a view of seeing the end of the rebellion, and of course receiving the large bounties which were offered. The privilege of wearing chevrons on their arms as veteran badges also might have had some in- fluence.
The Freeborn county men who were in the Fifth Regiment were in the following battles: Fort Ridgely; Jackson, Miss .; Vicksburg; Rich- mond, La .: Fort DeRussy: Henderson Hill, Campti, La .; Pleasant Hill; Cloutersville, La .; Mansura Bayou; De Glaize; Lake Chicott, Tup- elo, Abbeyville; Nashville.
INDIAN OUTBREAK OF 1862.
Although there is a good history of the terri- ble scenes oonnected with the Indian outbreak of Angust, 1862, in the earlier pages of this work. yet, as many of the chief actors, particularly those who defended Fort Ridgely, were and still are residents of Freeborn county. It is deemed proper to present some facts not recorded there, and to indicate the special part taken by these heroic men.
Lieutenant Timothy J. Sheehan, the present Sheritl' of Freeborn county, was in command of Company C, Fifth Regiment Minnesota Volun- teers, and kept a record of each day's doings, of all the orders received and issued, and from these notes we here present a resume of the movements of this Company from the time when it left Fort Ripley, where it was stationed at the time of the outbreak.
"SPECIAL ORDER NO. 30.
H. D., FT. RIDGELY, June 18, 1862.
First Lient. T. J. Sheehan, of Co. C. Fiftlı Reg., Minn. Vols., will proceed with 50 men to Fort Ridgely, and there report to Capt. Marsh, commanding post, for further orders.
CAPT. FRANCIS HALL, COMD'a POST."
.
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WAR RECORD.
"The detachment started promptly on the 19th, and marched 18 miles; on the 20th, marched 20 miles; on the 21st, camped at Clear Lake after a march of 18 miles. Reached Elk River on the 22d, after a march of 21 miles, and attended preaching. Marched 21 miles on the 23d, and camped at Industriana. On the 24th, marched 20 miles and camped on the prairie; made 20 miles on the 25th; day warm; all the boys feel- ing wall, and so on to the 28th, when they ar- rived at Fort Ridgely and were warmly welcomed."
The next day, the 29th of June, Lieut. Sheehan was ordered by Captain Marsh, to take fifty men of Co. C, and 51 men of Co. B, and proceed by the most expeditious route to the Yellow Medicine Agency, and report to Maj. Thomas Galbraith, the Sioux agent, to protect the United States prop- erty during the annuity payments.
"Arrived on the 2d of July and went into camp on a knoll about 25 rods from the Government warehouse. On the 4th of July they had a cele- bration ; used up a keg of powder in practice on a howitzer. There were thousands of Indians about, including the Yanktons and Cutheads, who were not entitled to pay, but it was feared would make trouble. They had hideous be gging and buffalo dances. On the 14th of July I estimated that there were 6,700 Indians camped near there ; they were in a starving con- dition, and were constantly prowling around, beg- ging. Went with Lieut. Gere to talk with the agent about issuing provisions to the Indians. He said that he would soon count them and issue ratious, and send them back to look after their crops, to stay until he could send for them to receive their pay."
"On the 23d of July some Chippewas killed two Sioux belonging to Red Iron's band, within eighteen miles of the whole Sioux Nation. In scalping them their heads were completely skinned. The next day, the Sioux, about 1,500 strong, started for the Chippewas, mounted and on foot, with guns and ammunition, bows and arrows, all in full war paint. About four o'clock in the afternoon they returned, dejected and irritable."
"On the 26th the men were counted and furn- ished crackers by the barrel, which would be emp- tied on the ground by the soldiers, and there was a grand scramble for them, men tumbling over each other, but the soldiers kept them within due bounds. It took forty barrels of water to go
round, and when their stomachs had become dis- tended, they sat down on the grass in groups, and smoked and enjoyed themselves. The Indians not entitled to rations, were kept out of the ring."
On the 27th of July, Lient. Sheehan was requested to take a small detachment of his men and go toward the source of the Yellow Medicine, in pursuit of Inkpaduta and his followers, and to capture and bring them in, alive if possible.
On the 28th they started with a party of relia- ble citizens to assist in the enterprise, and a single Indian guide, Wausne, who was a civilized mem- ber of Mr. Riggs' church. Traveled 40 miles that day, as they were all well mounted. On the 29th they made 35 miles and encamped at Ash Creek. The march on the 30th was due west and then north, and they saw "Medicine Sticks" planted along , showing that they were on the trail. The next day, being fatigned and the horses tired, they laid over in camp.
On the 1st of August the commmand moved toward "Hole in the mountain." On the 2d started on the return march and arrived on the 3d.
On the 4th were the first hostile demonstrations. At seven o'clock in the morning about 1,500 red men surrounded the camp and commenced firing their guns, and a party broke open the warehouse and began take out flour, being protected by about 400 braves. Lient. Sheehan took 25 sol- diers and got into the warehouse, marching through a large body of Indian warriors. Gor- man and Fadden, two of the agent's employes came out to assist in quelling the riot.
When quiet was restored, Sheehan got permis- sion of the agent to council with the Indians, and the government interpreter was sent out for that purpose. The leader of the band made this speech : "We are the braves, we have sold our land to the Great Father, and we think he intends to give us what he has promised us, but we can't get it ; we are starving, and must have something to eat."
They were told that they should have asked the agent for food before breaking open the store- house. That if the Great Father knew what they had done, he would he very angry.
The red man answered, "Almost every day we have asked him, but he gives us nothing. Last night at our council fire we all said, we must have bread. We want you to ask him for us for some-
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
thing to eat. We know that our Great Father would be mad if we kill the soldiers."
They were asked. "if they got a good issne of provisions to- morrow, if they would at ouee retire ?" to which they eonsented.
Major Galbraith then issued an order to Lient. Sheehan to direct the interpreter to order the Indians to meet him in council on the morrow, and to aeeept the food he would distribute. Major Galbraith also ordered the Hour to be re-conveyed into the warehouse, but the immense horde of savages prevented this, and a liberal issue was made under the urgent advice of Lieut. Sheehan, and they retired fully satisfied that they had car- ried their point.
On Tuesday, August 5th, two Indians who were identified as being concerned in the acts of vio- lenee the day before, were arrested and locked up by order of the Agent, who started a team off with his family, which was driven bael, and the threat made that they could not go off until the men were released, which he direeted to be done. Word was sent to Capt. Marsh at Fort Ridgely as to the trouble at Yellow Medieine, and the Captain promptly ordered the provisions and elothing to be issued at onee, eoming himself on the 6th, and the issne was made the next day.
On the 10th of August, as there was no prospect of an immediate payment of the annuities, the command prepared to return to the Fort, and took up the line of March the next day, going 25 miles and bivouacking at Redwood.
The next day they arrived at Fort Ridgely: halting near the Fort, they were met by musie. and marched inside in good order.
They spent a few days in preparation. and on the 17th of August received orders to proceed to Fort Ripley. Started at 7 o'clock in the morning, and marched 23 miles, and went into bivouac at Cumming's Farm. The next day they got as far as a point between New Auburn and Glencoe, and after being in eamp half an hour, Corporal MeLean of Co. B, dashed into their midst with the following order:
"HEADQUARTERS FORT RIDGELY, ? Angust 18th, 1862.
Lieut. Sheehan;
It is absolutely necessary that you should return with your command immediately to this post. The Indians are raising hell at the lower agency. Return as soon as possible.
JOHN S. MARSH,
Captain Commanding Post."
Lieut. Sheehan started to return at once, and on the way met a second dispateh, urging haste: kept up the march and arrived the next morning, having made a forced march of 42 miles in nine and one-half hours. On the way. they eame aeross families tleeing from the mur- derous tomahawk and scalping knife.
On August 19th, the day of arrival, Lieut. Shechan took command, Capt. Marsh having been shot, and all the available men who had Hocked in from the country around were armed and placed under discipline. The Indians who were seen approaching were shelled and kept from advane- ing. The siege actually commenced on the 20th. and an account of it will not be repeated here, as it appears in the history of the Sioux Massaere. Among the eivilians who were present were Mr. G. C. Wyekotľ, Clark W. Thompson's Secretary, who was Superintendent of Indian Affairs at the time: J. C. Ramsey, brother of the Governor; A. J. Van Vorles, editor of the " Stillwater Messenger;" and Maj. E.A.C. Hatch. This party brought $108,- 000 in gold, and eame in to assist in its payment, and they rendered valuable assistance. It may be mentioned that the gold was turned over to Lieut. Sheehan, and buried within the inclosure, and a dispatch sent to Mr. Thompson, indieating where it was, that in case of the massacre of the inmates of the fort, it eould afterward be found. In dne time it was turned over to Mr. Thompson and a receipt taken.
·
On the 20 of September a detachment was sent to reinforee Capt. Grant, under command of Colonel MePhail. About 16 miles from eamp they met a large foree of Indians, and Lient. Sheehan was ordered to return to Fort Ridgely to report to Col. Sibley. The Indians saw him start and ebased him about seven miles, firing sevres of shots, but he got through safely.
Lieut. Sheehau's report continues until the 31st of October, when the companies of the 5th, were ordered to join the regiment. There was rejoic- ing as these men who had been baptized with blood in the Indian war, were anxions to try their hands in fighting Rebels.
On the 26th of September, 1862, Lieut. Shee- han was promoted to Captain of the company he so gallantly led in the terrible seven days of peril at Fort Ridgely.
To furnish an idea of how completely the pub- lie mind was absorbed by these blood-curdling
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WAR RECORD.
events, an extract from the "Pioneer Democrat" of St. Paul of the 24th of August, 1862, is presen- ted, including the head lines which were display- ed in "Chicago Times" style.
"THE INDIAN WAR.
THE LATEST NEWS-DISPATCH FROM LIEUT. SHEE- HAN-FORT ATTACKED EVERY HOUR --- .
CANNOT HOLD OUT MUCH LONGER.
THE LITTLE BAND ALMOST EXHAUSTED-INTEREST- ING ACCOUNT OF THE INDIAN ATTACK ON THE FORT.
GALLANTRY OF LT. SHEEHAN-THE RED SKINS RE- PULSED -- NAMES OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
LATER FROM NEW ULM-DISPATCH FROM JUDGE FLANDRAU-LETTER FROM MR. MYRICK- FROM GOV. SIBLEY'S COMMAND.
LIEUT. SHEEHAN'S DISPATCH.
FORT RIDGLEY, Aug. 21, 2 P. M. Gov. ALEXANDER RAMSEY :
We can hold this place but little longer, unless reinforced. We are being attacked almost every honr, and unless assistance is rendered we cannot hold out much longer. Our little band is becom- ing exhausted and decimated. We had hoped to be reinforced to-day, but as yet can hear of none coming.
T. J. SHEEHAN, Co. C., Fifth Regiment Minnesota Vols., Commanding Post.
LETTER FROM A. J. VAN VORHES, ESQ.
FORT RIDGELY, Aug, 21, 1862, A. M.
To the Editors of the Pioneer and Democrat:
On yesterday I sent you by messenger, a full ac- count of affairs at this place and vicinity; but fearing the messenger was cut off, who also bore important dispatches to headquarters, I will brief- ly recapitulate before proceeding to detail the im- portant events of yesterday afternoon.
I need not detail the horrible butcheries at the Upper and Lower Sionx Agencies, at New Ulm, and throughout this entire region, as you have al- ready been advised of the terrible details. *
* *
*
*
By his energy, Lient. Sheehan inspired all with hope and confidence that the possition could be held until reinforced from Fort Snelling. Every thing the hurry and exigencies of the time could suggest, seemed to have been done to meet the emergency. Small squads of Indians contin- ued to prowl about in the distance, but were usu- ally shelled away by the accurate shots of Sergeant Jones, the old and experienced artillerist at this post."
Mr. Van Vorhes describes the events of the siege up to that time. The letters alluded to from Judge Flandran and others were from the seat of war and of absorbing interest at that time.
In order to obtain a list of the men who were under Col. Sheehan's command, and who are the the heroes of that obstinately defended fort, a let- ter was sent to him by the compilers of this work, to which he replied as follows:
"ALBERT LEA, MINN., August 4, 1882.
Gentlemen :- Your kind note is received and I at once hasten to comply with your request, and en- close the roster of the men who were in the fort with me on that memorable occasion, and to whom the country is indebted for a successful resist- ance to the murderous, inhuman savages, who were thirsting for the heart's blood of every in- mate of that devoted post.
I have often thought that the difficulties at- tending the defence of that agency were unappre- ciated, because calling it a fort was a misnomer. The idea usually conveyed by this word involves a rampart, breastworks, a stockade, with perhaps a ditch, and a chevaux de frise, or at least an en- closure, but here there was a mere group of build- ings, which, of course, afforded shelter to a cer- tain extent, and it is a fact that if the unnumber- ed hordes of assailants had displayed one half the courage exhibited by the fearless defenders of the place, they could have carried it at any time dur- ing; the fight. On one side was a level platean, on the other sides were deep ravines, most admir- ably adapted to the skulking habits of the blood- thirsty foe, and when about to make a rush to carry the place, they would mass a lot of war- riors on the plain, who, with demoniac yells and
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
frantic gestures, would make a feint of charging from that side, while the real attacking party would skulk up through the ravines and make a desperate rush to get inside of the temporary ob- structions we had piled up in the form of forage and provisions. They confidently expected to set the buildings on fire by arrows armed with ig- nited punk. To prevent this we cut senttles through the roofs, and with water would extin- guish each arrow as it fell, but as the supply of water was sixty rods away, and was cut off by the the wily savages, we foresaw that unless relief came sooner than we had reason to expect, we would be out of water. So at night pieces of scantling were placed on the roofs at suitable in- tervals, in a longitudinal way, and buckets of sand drawn up and spread to present an ineom- bustible covering.
There was plenty of ammunition for the field pieces, but that for the musketry ran short, and we broke up the ease-shot and used the pow- der to make cartridges, which was done by Mrs. Dr. Muller, Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs. Cummings and others, who worked night and day. It should be stated as a remarkable fact, that among all the sick and wounded who sought shelter in the fort, and who were under Dr. Muller's care, that only died, and that among the other skillful surgical operations, the Doctor disarticulated a rib and re- moved an arrow from a man's lung, and he recov- ered.
There were not arms enough to put in the hands of all the able-bodied citizens, but when a man fell his weapon was given to another.
On arriving at the post after that fatigning march of forty-two hours, which was accomplish - ed by the men taking off their stockings and shoes, and depositing everything except their gun and twenty rounds of ammunition, in the sin- gle mule team we had along, and then, to use an unmilitary phrase, striking a "dog trot," over hill and vale with the briefest breathing spells. We found the little garrison surrounded with five hundred men, women, and children, in an alarm- ing condition of panic, weeping and howling as though the scalping-knife was actually in their hair.
The soldiers and citizens saw the necessity for strict subordination, and their co-operation was etlicient beyond all praise, and I wish you wouhl particulariy emphasize the value of the services
rendered by Mr. C. G. Wyckoff, Mr. A. J. Van Vorhes, Mr. J. C. Ramsey, and Major Hatch, whose counsel, advice, and support in that trying time has led me to regard them as God's noblemen.
I should have mentioned above that when it rained, as it did in a copious way during the siege, every available barrel and vessel was used to catch water, and so we were thus providentially saved from perishing of thirst.
The six half-breeds who deserted the night before the principal first attack, had stuffed the cannon with rags, which was not discovered until the attempt was made to discharge them, and this well nigh created a panie which would have been immediately fatal, but prompt and energetie measures soon drew the obstructing charges, and their belching forth of shot and shell was the sweetest kind of music to us, but it was death and dismay to the dastardly devils who were after our scalps.
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