USA > Minnesota > Goodhue County > History of Goodhue county, including a sketch of the territory and state of Minnesota > Part 18
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"Two of the principal objects of the campaign, the defeat of the savages and the release of the captives, having now been consummated, there remained but to punish the guilty. Many of these, with Little Crow, had made their escape and could not be overtaken, but some of the small camps of the refugees were surrounded and their inmates brought back. The locality where these events transpired was appropriately called Camp Release, and the name should be perpetuated.
"At the proper time, the Indian camp was surrounded by a cordon of troops, and four hundred of the warriors were arrested, chained together in pairs, and placed in an inclosure of logs made by the troops, under strong guard. Others, who were known to be innocent, were not interfered with. Colonel Sibley constituted a military commis- sion, with Colonel Crooks, commanding Sixth Regiment, as president, for the trial of the prisoners. A fair and impartial hearing was accorded to each, and the result was the finding of three hundred and three guilty of participation in the murder of the whites, and the sentence of death by hanging was passed upon them. Others were convicted of robbery and pillage, and condemned to various terms of imprisonment. The witnesses were composed of the released captives, including mixed bloods, and Christian Indians, who had refused to join Little Crow in the war. A full record was kept of each case tried.
" The preparations for the execution of the guilty Indians were brought to a summary close by an order from President Lincoln prohibiting the hanging of any of the convicted men without his previous sanction. The people of the State were highly indignant at this suspension, and an energetic protest was made by their Senators and Representa- tives in Washington. Finally, after much delay, Colonel Sibley was directed to carry out the sentence of the commission in certain cases specified; and on December 26th, 1862, thirty-eight of the criminals were executed accordingly, at Mankato, on the same scaffold, under the direction of Colonel Miller, commanding that post. The remainder of the condemned were sent to Davenport, Iowa, early in the spring, where they were kept in confinement more than a year, a large number dying of disease in the meantime. Those that remained were eventually dispatched to a reservation on the Upper Mis- souri, where the larger number of prisoners taken by Colonel Sibley, principally women and children, had already been placed.
" The President testified his appreciation of the conduct of Colonel Sibley, by conferr- ing upon him, unasked, the commission of brigadier general of volunteers, and the appointment was subsequently confirmed by the Senate.
" Thus happily terminated the Indian campaign of 1862, entered upon without due
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preparation, against an enemy formidable in numbers, completely armed and equipped, and withal confident of their own powers and strength. It was a critical period in the history of the State, for it was then suspected, and has since been confirmed, that if the column of troops under Colonel Sibley, had met with a reverse, there would have been a rising of the Chippewas and Winnebagoes, against the whites, and many of the counties west of the Mississippi would have been entirely depopulated. Indeed, in a speech to his warriors the night previous to the battle of Wood Lake, Little Crow stated the programme to be, first, the defeat and destruction of the old men and boys composing, as he said, the command of Colonel Sibley ; and second, the immediate descent there- after of himself and his people, to St. Paul, there to dispose summarily of the whites, and then establish themselves comfortably in winter quarters. That the people of Minnesota succeeded, without extraneous aid, in speedily ending an Indian war of such threatening and formidable proportions, while they continued to bear their share of the burdens imposed on the northern States in the suppression of the rebellion, constitutes an epoch in their history of which they may be justly proud."
CONCLUSION.
An extra session of the Legislature was convened on the 9th of Sep- tember, 1862, to consider certain exigencies occasioned by the Sioux outbreak. In his message to that session, Governor Ramsey took strong grounds in favor of prompt and severe measures to subdue the savages and render the country a safe abiding place for the hardy pioneers and tillers of the soil. He reasonably maintained that so long as there was danger of such scenes as the Sioux had inaugurated, the tide of emi- gration would grow less and less, and in time cease altogether, and that every interest of the State would suffer. Happily, however, Colonel Sibley's expedition against the Sioux, and his defeat of them at Wood Lake, ended all apprehensions of further Indian troubles. Since then and the close of the War of the Rebellion, in 1865, the State has steadily grown in population and wealth; the material interests of the com- monwealth have been rapidly developed, and no State in the American Union enjoys a higher position in all that goes to make a people proud, prosperous, progressive and great, than the State of Minnesota.
OFFICERS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA-
GOVERNORS.
Henry H. Sibley, May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860. Alexander Ramsey, January 2, 1860, to July 10, 1863. Henry A. Swift,* July 10, 1863, to January 11, 1864. Stephen Miller, January 11, 1864, to January 8, 1866. William R. Marshall, January 8, 1866, to January 7, 1870. Horace Austin, January 7, 1870, to January 9, 1874.
* Deceased.
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Cushman K. Davis, January 9, 1874, to January, 1876. John S. Pillsbury, the present incumbent was inaugurated in Janu- ary, 1876.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS.
William Holcombe,* May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860. Ignatius Donnelly, January 2, 1860, to March 3, 1863. Henry A. Swift, March 4, 1863, to July 10, 1863. Charles D. Sherwood, January 11, 1864, to January 8, 1866. Thomas H. Armstrong, January 8, 1866, to January 7, 1870. William H. Yale, January 7, 1870, to January 9, 1874. Alphonso Barto, January 9, 1874, to January, 1876. James B. Wakefield, January, 1876.
SECRETARIES OF STATE.
Francis Baasen, May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860. James H. Baker, January 2, 1860, to November 17, 1862. David Blakeley, November 17, 1862, to January 8, 1866. Henry C. Rogers,* January 8, 1866, to January 7, 1870. Hans Mattson, January 7, 1870, to January 2, 1872. S. P. Jennison, January 5, 1872, to January, 1876. John S. Irgens, January, 1876.
TREASURERS.
George W. Armstrong, May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860. Charles Sheffer,* January 1, 1860, to January 10, 1868. Emil Munch, January 10, 1868, to January 5, 1872. William Seeger, January 5, 1872, to February 7, 1873. Edwin W. Dyke, February 7, 1873, to January, 1876. William Pfænder, January, 1876.
AUDITORS.
W. F. Dunbar, May 24, 1858, to January 1, 1861. Charles McIlrath, January 1, 1861, to January 13, 1873. O. P. Whitcomb, January 13, 1873.
ATTORNEYS GENERAL.
Charles H. Berry, May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860. Gordon E. Cole, January 4, 1860, to January 8, 1866.
* Deceased.
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William Colville, January 8, 1866, to January 10, 1868. F. R. E. Cornell, January 10, 1868, to January 9, 1874. George P. Wilson, January 9, 1874.
JUDGES OF SUPREME COURT.
Lafayette Emmet, O. J., May 24, 1858, to January 10, 1865. Thomas Wilson, C. J., January 10, 1865, to July 14, 1869. James Gilfillan, C. J., July 14, 1869, to January 7, 1870. Christopher G. Ripley, C. J., January 7, 1870, to April 7, 1874. S. J. R. McMillan, C. J., April 7, 1874, to March 10, 1875. James Gilfillan, C. J., March 10, 1875.
Charles E. Flandrau, J., May 24, 1858, to July 5, 1864. Isaac Atwater, J., May 24, 1858, to July 6, 1864. S. J. R. McMillan, J., July 5, 1864, to April 7, 1874. Thomas Wilson, J., July 6, 1864, to January 10, 1865. John M. Berry, J., January 10, 1865.
George B. Young, J., April 16, 1874, to January 11, 1875. F. R. E. Cornell, J., January 11, 1875.
CLERKS OF SUPREME COURT.
Jacob J. Noah, May 24, 1858, to January 15, 1861. A. J. Voorhees,* January 15, 1861, to January 13, 1864. George F. Potter, January 13, 1864, to January 14, 1867. Sherwood Hough, January 14, 1867, to January, 1876. S. H. Nichols, January, 1876.
REPORTERS OF SUPREME COURT.
Harvey Officer, May 24, 1858, to January 30, 1865. William A. Spencer, January 30, 1865, to June 15, 1875. George B. Young, June 15, 1875.
VISIT OF PRESIDENT HAYES TO THE NORTH STAR STATE.
MINNESOTA'S GALA DAY.
In closing this brief history of the Territory and State of Minnesota, it is but proper that mention should be made of the visit of President Hayes and party to St. Paul, Minneapolis, and other parts of the North Star State, while this work was in course of preparation. The
* Deceased.
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visit was made during the week of the State Fair at St. Paul, which commenced on Monday, the second day of September, 1878. On the morning of the 5th, the St. Paul " Pioneer Press" contained the follow- ing well-expressed editorial reference to that interesting event :
Not less than one hundred thousand citizens of Minnesota will be assembled at St. Paul to-day, to tender the enthusiastic welcome of the whole people of Minnesota, without distinction of party, to Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States, the first of the long line of the chief magistrates of the Union who has ever visited this young State. We do not, however, reproach the shades of Washington and his successors for thus slighting the greatest wheat State of the Union, for, in reality it has sprung into existence and taken its place among the States since the middle of the term of James Buchanan. Its whole political history is spanned by five presidential terms, and five presi- dents have approved the acts of Congress since Minnesota was repre- sented in its chambers. Of these, Buchanan was too old and feeble, Lincoln too busy, Johnson too distracted, and Grant too heavily bur- dened with the important events that were transpiring around him, to include Minnesota in the narrow circle of their summer journeyings. It was reserved for President Hayes to initiate a new line of presiden- tial policy in this regard, to mingle familiarly with people of all the great country of which he is the chief ruler, and to make the circle of his rare and brief excursions from the heats and toils of the White House as broad as his patriotism, embracing the whole country to the farthest South, and to this farthest State of the Northwest. The entire people of Minnesota will be his hosts in person or by proxy while he remains upon our soil, and in the cordial and enthusiastic greetings he will everywhere receive, he will not fail to recognize something more than the honors due his office, or even the respect to which he is entitled by virtue of his patriotism and exalted position.
The presidential party consisted of the following named distinguished gentlemen and ladies :
President and Mrs. Hayes, Webb, Rutherford B., Jr., and Burchard Hayes, accompanied by two servants.
Gen. L. E. Loomax and wife, of Georgia.
Gen. Tyler and wife, postmaster at Baltimore.
Hon. James Calder, president of Pennsylvania State College.
Hon. B. C. Yancey, of Georgia.
Hon. Josiah Dent, one of three Commissioners of the District of Columbia.
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Judge Jones and wife, of Ohio.
Hon. Albert J. Myer (Old Probs.) and daughter, of Washington. United States Senator M. C. Butler and son, of South Carolina.
Pay Director Looker, of the United States Navy.
Hon. L. F. Watson, M. C., Pennsylvania.
Gen. W. G. LeDuc, United States Commissioner of Agriculture.
O. D. LaDaw, Esq., Gen. LeDuc's private secretary.
A. V. Gardiner, Esq., New York, son-in-law of Gen. LeDuc. Attorney General Devens, of Washington.
Miss F. G. LeDuc and sister, of Washington.
Wm. Henry Smith, Esq., agent of the Western Associated Press.
The party were met at the depot by a reception committee, consisting of ex-Governor and ex-Senator Ramsey, ex-Governor Davis, ex-Gover- nor Marshall, Gen. Gibbon, Gen. McLaren, and President Finch, of the State Agricultural Society. The presidential party, which had been met at the State line by ex-Governor Sibley, were by him introduced, when Governor Pillsbury welcomed the President in these well-chosen words :
" MR. PRESIDENT : Our State is to-day honored for the first time by the presence of the chief magistrate of the nation. I am proud in behalf of the people of Minnesota to extend to the President of the United States, and to the distinguished party accompanying him, a most cordial welcome to the commonwealth of Minnesota and to the hospitalities of her people. It is an inspiring thought and the pardonable boast of our rescued nation, that throughout her extended domain-stretching from ocean to ocean, and from zone to zone-are found a people speaking one language, now animated by the same sentiment of national fraternity and seeking the good of one common country. Be assured, Mr. President, that the citizens of the North Star State, one of the youngest of the Union, warmly share in the patriotic feelings; and I sincerely hope for myself, and for our whole people, that your stay here may be in every respect agreeable, and that you may carry with you pleasing recollections of this visit among us."
The President responded in becoming terms, after which the several members of the party were conveyed by carriages in waiting to the places assigned them. The President and Mrs. Hayes, with Gov. Pills- bury, were rapidly driven to ex-Gov. Ramsey's residence, and the others, with the exception of Attorney General Devens, were conducted to the Metropolitan Hotel. The Attorney General was driven to Gen. Mc- Laren's residence, where he breakfasted, with Senator and Mrs. Windom.
A little after nine o'clock, a procession was formed and headed for the fair grounds, the procession being formed in the following order:
Platoon of Police. Great Western Band. Minnesota Veterans. President of the United States and party in carriages.
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State Officers and Officers of the United States in carriages. County and City Officers in carriages. Germania Band. Troops from Fort Snelling. Faribault Military Cadets. Odd Fellows, United Workmen, Druids, and Civic Organizations. Citizens in carriages.
The procession was under the charge of Gen. H. P. Van Cleve, who had appointed as aids Col. C. S. Uline, Capt. Macy, Capt. A. R. Kiefer, W. D. Rogers, R. O. Strong, W. E. McLean, Capt. Otto Dreher, Capt. M. J. O'Connor, Jacob Miller and Chief of Police Weber. The procession opened ranks, through which the President and guests in carriages rode, and as the President passed the companies fell into line and followed, until a point a short distance above the Metropolitan was reached, when the President's carriage and others stopped. The procession continued till the position designated for the illustrious guests was reached, which they took, and the column continued down Third street in the order above given. From the start till the arrival at the depot, it was a continued ovation. Ladies and little children clapped their hands and waved their handkerchiefs, while the men kept up one continuous cheering. When the President's carriage stopped on upper Third street, the scene was one of wild enthusiasm. Here, as elsewhere, the President was cheered and cheered, and many rushed up to the carriage to take him by the hand. The first one to do this was a little fellow, perhaps fourteen years of age, ragged and dirty, but as much, if not more, consideration was shown by the President to this lad than to the best dressed gentleman who shook his hands. It showed that the President has a big heart, and he was heartily applauded. At this point many ladies rushed up with their little ones to be greeted by President Hayes, who took pains to notice all of them. This was con- tinued till he moved on. During the march down Third street, the President remained standing in his carriage, lifting his hat and bowing right and left in answer to the repeated salutes and cheers.
President Hayes and wife, and Governor Pillsbury and wife, occupied an open carriage, and as the President passed through the closely packed streets, he stood up with head uncovered and acknowledged the hearty cheers that went up from the crowds that surged around him. The reception of the President was hearty and general, and the spontaneous expressions of the good-will of his fellow citizens of St. Paul and the State of Minnesota, must have been gratifying to President Hayes, grand and great as have been the ovations tendered to him in larger cities.
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At eleven o'clock, the special train consisting of three cars drew out for the fair grounds. Two of the cars contained the presidential party, and in the third were the Faribault cadets, and their band, as an escort. This military company had the honor of being the only escort, which was due to their fine appearance and soldierly bearing. After a quick run the train reached the fair grounds.
Immediately after the President was on board of the train, the vast crowd in St. Paul made a grand rush for teams, and by the time that he reached the fair grounds and was ready to alight, a large number were also ready to receive him. The train steamed into the enclosure, and a detachment of police formed, through the ranks of which the Faribault band and guards headed the line, followed by the presidential party. They marched at once to the President's pavilion, and the visitors took seats on the platform, while the Faribault Guards filed in front of this building. President Hayes' reception on the fair grounds was another grand ovation, the vast crowd swinging their hats and cheering, extending such a greeting as beggars description. When on the pavilion, the crowd again tremendously applauded President Hayes. President Finch, of the State Fair Association, stepped forward and introduced the President, who spoke to the assembled thousands that had gathered to see and hear him.
The President's speech lasted about an hour. It was of a congratu- latory character, local, state and national, and abounded in many well put phrases. The body of the speech was devoted to the financial problems of the country which so vitally concern our people, and have been stirring the national heart with intense zeal for the last decade.
At its conclusion, Genl. Myer was introduced and made a few remarks, then Atty. Genl. Devins delivered a pretty little speech, fol- lowed by Senator Butler of South Carolina.
When the speeches were concluded, and the audience had seen and heard their authors, some one shouted, " Mrs. Hayes," and like wildfire the cry spread all over the crowd, which continued until the demand was so universal, that these people would not be satisfied or quieted till Mrs. Hayes appeared before them. Senator Ramsey appeared with Mrs. Hayes leaning on his arm, and introduced her to the vast assem- blage. Mrs. Hayes bowed pleasantly several times, and for some time after she sat down, the immense applause continued from the voices of fifty thousand people, with whom this sensible woman was a great favorite, as she is everywhere. Indeed, it seemed as if the welcome in many instances was even more enthusiastic, if it could be, than the President received.
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At 10 o'clock on Thursday night (the 5th) the President and party left St. Paul via the Northern Pacific Railroad for Fargo and the Red River Valley of the North, arriving at Fargo at 8:30 o'clock the next morning. A little after ten o'clock the presidential train started to. visit the great Dalrymple farm. Upon their arrival there one hundred farm hands were found drawn up in line, who cheered the President as he stepped from the car and bowed to them. The party were immedi- ately hurried into vehicles of all sorts, which were in readiness for them. Oliver Dalrymple, the manager of the farms, took the President in a single-seated buggy, and took the lead. Next came Mrs. Hayes in a two-seated wagon, accompanied by Gen. Sibley. A party of ladies and gentlemen got aboard of. a hay-rack drawn by six mules, and enjoyed rare sport while taking the rounds of the grain fields in the line of the procession. The President being human, could not restrain his admiration and wonder at these extensive fields, which but a week or two ago where covered with a rich growth of golden grain, and but five years ago were crossed by the fresh war path of the Sioux. Brigades of men and horses were exhibited to the party, plowing furrows miles in length. Others were threshing out the newly-harvested wheat at the rate of several thousand bushels per day. After riding rapidly over a portion of these grain fields, the President, Mrs. Hayes and others accompanying them around the fields, were regaled by Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple at their cottage with refreshments.
After these honors by the wheat-growing king of the Northwest, the party returned to their special train, re-entered their palace coaches, and steamed away towards Minneapolis, where they arrived at 7:30 o'clock on Saturday morning. They were met at the depot of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad by a deputation of citizens, consisting of Mayor Rand, Hon. W. 'D. Washburn, R. B. Langdon, Dr. Keith, Col. McCrary and other distinguished citizens of that city, and conveyed to vthe Nicollet House, where they were sumptuously entertained. The Nicollet register shows the following names, from which it will be seen that the party was augmented after leaving St. Paul :
President R. B. Hayes and wife. Burchard Hayes, Washington.
Webb C. Hayes, Washington.
Rutherford B. Hayes, Jr., Washington.
Hon. H. B. Strait, M. C., Shakopee.
Hon. Wm. Windom, U. S. Senator, Winona.
Hon. Alexander Ramsey, St. Paul.
M. C. Butler, U. S. Senator, and son, South Carolina.
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Gen. Albert J. Meyer and daughter, U. S. A.
E. B. Tyler and wife, postmaster, Baltimore.
Judge T. C. Jones and wife, Ohio.
Wm. H. Mills and daughter, Ohio.
Gen. T. R. Looker, pay director, U. S. N.
Hon. Andrew Shuman, Journal, Chicago.
Jos. Calder, Pennsylvania State College.
O. D. LaDaw, Washington.
Gov. W. A. Howard, Dakota.
C. B. Wright, Philadelphia.
B. C. Yancey, Athens, Ga.
Wm. Henry Smith, wife, daughter and son, Chicago.
C. B. Farwell, wife and son, Chicago.
John V. Farwell and wife, Chicago.
John N. Jewett and wife, Chicago.
Wm. H. Ferry and wife, Chicago.
0. W. Nixon, Inter-Ocean, Chicago.
A little after twelve o'clock conveyances were in readiness, and the party were taken out to visit the exposition of the Minneapolis Agri- cultural and Mechanical Association, where the party was welcomed, and the President introduced to the assembled multitude by Mayor Rand in the following aptly-chosen words :
"FELLOW CITIZENS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :- Our city is especially honored to-day by the presence of one whose person is a stranger to us, but whose name has long been a household word; one who has plowed deep furrows in the political soil of this country, the harvest of which will be garnered into the treasuries of the land when absolute genuine peace shall be firmly established all over the Union, and particularly in the great councils of the nation.
The policy of peace on earth and good will to his fellow men, as exercised in the earliest days of his administration, was inaugurated nearly two thousand years ago by a poor and lowly Nazarene; that outlived all dynasties, and will continue to live and expand until the purpling dawn of the millenium. If the soil in which it was planted was not ready for its reception, it ought not to depreciate one jot or title your estimate of the kindly instincts of the courageous hearts that dared follow so illustrious an example.
I have the honor to introduce His Excellency, Rutherford B. Hayes, the President of the United States."
President Hayes responded in a speech of some length, covering nearly the same subjects as those already quoted from his speech at St. Paul.
Some incidents transpired during the visit of the party to the Minne- apolis fair that are worthy of mention, for an account of which we are indebted to the " Pioneer Press."
When President Hayes concluded his speech and had taken his seat, says the "Pioneer Press," the broad-brimmed hat of William Terrel,
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an expressman, of Minneapolis, was seen to rise above the edge of the judge's stand. " Bill " touched the President gently on the shoulder, and the latter turning around, a most hearty greeting and handshaking followed-honest Bill closing the salutation by wiping tears from his eyes. He was presented to Mrs. Hayes, who greeted him with warm- hearted cordiality, creating one of the interesting incidents of the day. The explanation for the demonstration is, that William Terrel was a member of President Hayes' regiment during the war, and the affec- tionate greeting was simply that of an old soldier to his honored commander, and the noble " mother of the regiment," to which the two men belonged as officer and private soldier. To-day William Terrel feels elevated above the average run of his fellow men.
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