USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 25
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In the attack on New Ulm, ten whites were killed and about fifty wounded. The few build- ings left standing in the place, were almost filled with the dead and wounded, and with sick people ; for disease had by this time commenced to do its work. The provisions were nearly exhausted, and it seemed impossible to hold the place any longer. There were no houses adequate to shel- ter the two thousand people now crowded within . the fortifications. Hundreds had been for several days huddled in cellars and other unsuitable pla- ces. On Sunday afternoon, one hundred and fifty more volunteers from St. Peter and vicinity, arrived, in command of E. St. Julien Cox, well armed and equipped. A council of war was held, and it was resolved to evacuate the town. Ac- cordingly, on Monday, August 25th, every inhab- itant, some two thousand in number, with a train of one hundred and fifty-three wagons bearing the sick, wounded and feeble, commenced the march to Mankato. " It was a melancholy spec- tacle (says Colonel Flandran, in his report) to see two thousand people, who a week before had been prosperous and happy, reduced to utter beggary, starting on a journey of thirty miles through a hostile country." The volunteer troops guarded the train through safely
One week had now elapsed since the cruel mas- sacre began. It was a "week of blood." Over seven hundred persons had been murdered (many think the number exceeds one thousand); two hundred had been taken captive; nearly two thousand houses burned ; thousands of horses and cattle stolen, and a fertile region some two hundred miles long and one hundred wide, laid waste and depopulated. Eighteen counties were ravaged, thirty thousand people (one-tenth of the population of the State) homeless, their crops and property going to ruin. Claims were subsequently filed by nearly three thousand persons, who lost property valued at $2,500,000. But this does not represent the total loss to our State, while no sum can represent the sorrow and suffering caused by the massacre.
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DEFEAT AND PUNISHMENT OF THE HOSTILE INDIANS.
CHAPTER XXVII.
DEFEAT AND PUNISHMENT OF THE HOSTILE INDIANS.
Military Measures to Defend the Frontier .- Want of any Organized Force .- H. H. Sibley Appointed to Command an Expedition .- Great Lack of Arms and Ain- munition .- Volunteers Hurry to the Rescue in Large Force .- Col. Sibley Gath. ers a Column at St. Peter-And Relieves Fort Ridgely .- Great Want of Ammu- nition, Transportation, and Supplies -- Danger of a Chippewa Outbreak .-- Ac- count of Indian Raids in Kandiyohi, Meeker, and other Counties .- Siege of Hutchinson .- Siege of Fort Abercrombie .- A Mounted Force Provided .- The Battle of Birch Coolie .- Relief Measures for the Refugees. - The State Apro- priates $25,000 .- Col. Sibley Opens Negotiations for the Release of Prisoners .- They Prove Successful .- Extra Session of the Legislature .- Battle of Wood Lake .- The Savages Defeated .- Release of the Captives, ... Arrest and Trial of the Guilty Murderers. ... Three hundred and Three Convicted and Sentenced to be Hung .... Close of the Indian War .--- Departure of more Regiments for the War .--- Hard Fighting by our Troops in the South. --- Execution of Thirty-eight Indian Murderers at Mankato.
While these exciting events were occurring along the frontier, the State authorities had been acting with great energy and promptness in or- ganizing and equipping a military force to pro- ceed against the savages. The suddenness of the outbreak found them totally unprepared for any such emergency. The Sixth Regiment was in barracks at Fort Snelling, nearly full and par- tially organized, but its field officers had not yet been appointed, nor had the men received their arms. The Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Regiments were also partially recruited but not mustered in. Skeleton companies were at Fort Snelling, but none had been organized, and the men were undisciplined. Large numbers had been let off on furlough, to complete harvesting their crops. All the arms due the State had been drawn and issued to the old regi- ments. The general government was so hard pushed that even blankets and tents could not be furnished to the new troops.
Immediately on receiving the news, Governor Ramsey appointed Hon. H. H. Sibley, of Men- dota, to the command of such forces at Fort Snelling as the commandant there, Colonel B. F. Smith, could organize on the instant. Colonel Sibley was admirably qualified for such a respon- sible duty. His long and intimate acquaintance with the Indian character and habits, and espe- cially with the bands now in rebellion, together with his knowledge of military matters, and his 10
familiarity with the topography of the country, enabled him to either meet the savages in the field successfully, or to treat with them to advantage.
Four companies of troops, about three hundred in all, armed with Belgian rifles and 19,000 cart- ridges, were furnished to him; and they at once started on a small steamer for Shakopee, arriving there on the 20th. From thence they marched to St. Peter. On the 21st, the six remaining compa- nies of the Sixth Regiment were filled by consol- idation and transfers, and sent forward as rapidly as possible. On the 21st, Governor Ramsey is- sued a proclamation, reciting the news of the out- break, and calling on such citizens as had horses and arms, to start at once and join the expedition moving up the river. Considerable numbers did so. Companies of horsemen were formed in St. Paul, and several other places, and rode forward night and day. Small companies of infantry also organized in various towns in the central and east- ern portion of the State, and made forced marches to the relief of the frontier. By the end of the first " week of blood " (a very short period, con- sidering how unprepared the State was for such a war) several thousand armed men were pressing forward on different routes to meet and drive back the savages. These companies were mostly distributed at stockades and garrisoned towns along the frontier, where they remained for sev- eral weeks, until the worst danger was over. On September 9th, Governor Ramsey's message re- ports, there were twenty-two militia companies, with 2800 men under arms, and volunteer troops enough to make 5500 men in all.
On Friday, the 22d, Col. Sibley arrived at St. Peter, and remained there some three days, get- ting his troops in hand and properly armed. The latter was a work of difficulty. Most of the Sixth Regiment were armed with Belgian rifles, many of them almost worthless, and none of them very reliable. But a small part of the cartridges fur-
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nished were of the right calibre, and much time was lost " swedging " bullets. Gov. Ramsey had, on the 20th, telegraphed to the governor of Wis- consin to "borrow " 100,000 cartridges. They were promptly sent, and reached Col. Sibley at Fort Ridgely. Provisions had to be collected, and transportation secured. Meantime the peo- ple of the State were nervous with anxiety, and blamed the commander and State authorities for not throwing his half-armed and unorganized troops at once on the several hundred well armed and desperate savages at New Ulm or Fort Ridgely. Had this been done, a " Custer massa- cre " would have resulted, and another rout and panic ensued, many fold worse than that of the week previous.
By the 24th, nine companies of the sixth reg- iment (of which Wm. Crooks had just been ap- pointed colonel) were concentrated at St. Peter. There were also some three hundred mounted men, and several companies of militia infantry. On the morning of August 26th, Col. Sibley, with his entire force, about 1400 men, commenced the march to Fort Ridgely. Col. McPhaill, with one hundred and eighty mounted men, was sent on in advance. These arrived at the Fort at dark, to the great joy of its beleaguered inmates. The main force arrived on August 28th. No Indians were encountered on the way. The expedition was halted at this post for several days, until nec- essary reinforcements and ammunition (which he called for from the executive) should arrive, and enable him to pursue and successfully act against the Indians, who had retreated some distance up the river, where it was reported they had a number of prisoners.
On August 25th, Col. B. F. Smith was ordered to organize a force of 1000 men, out of detach- ments of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth regiments, at Fort Snelling, and dispatch said force at once to join Col. Sibley. This force was put under command of Lt. Col. Wm. R. Marshall, of the seventh regiment, and moved forward as soon as it could be properly equipped, reaching the expedition on September 1st.
The difficulty of securing transportation for these expeditions, was a serious drawback to ce- lerity of movements. Finally, a general order was issued.by the adjutant general. authorizing the commanding officers of detachments in act-
ual service, to seize and impress citizens teams whenever needed. This was done, and enough transportation secured in that way, resulting in many cases of individual hardship, but this is one of the inexorable "necessities of war." Another great need which bothered the state au- thorities, was the scarcity of serviceable arms.
Good rifles were few. Many of the troops were very poorly armed, and even of these inferi- or guns, enough could not be had. The general government was telegraphed to, but could supply none, in season to do any good. The authori- ties then seized all the gun-shops in the states and confiscated their serviceable rifles and mus- kets, and ammunition. All the powder and lead in the hands of dealers everywhere was seized, yielding 3,175 pounds of powder and 1,200 pounds of lead. Even this was insufficient. A lead pipe, some 3,000 feet long, which had been laid in one of the streets o St. Paul, but was just then unused, was dug up and melted into bullets. A force of young women were working day and night making cartridges. Finally, however, all the troops were wel supplied and equipped, and no further trouble was felt. It must be remem- bered that there were then no railroads in the state (except one ten-mile section between St. Paul and Minneapolis,) and no telegraph but one from St. Paul to La Crosse. All military messages and dispatches to the frontier, had to be sent by special couriers.
DANGER OF A CHIPPEWA WAR.
Meantime, a new danger threatened the people of the state. In addition to the powerful Sioux nation, there were in Minnesota the Winnebagoes, with 400 warriors, and in the northern half of the state, the Chippewas, who could muster 2,500 or 3,000 warriors. There were good grounds for be- lieving that these tribes had been in consultation with the Sioux, and that if the latter were suc- cessful they would also rise It has been proved that several Winnebagoes participated in the earlier murders near the Upper and Lower Agen- cies, while on the same day as the outbreak at Redwood, the Chippewas commenced plundering their agency at Crow Wing on the Upper Miss- issippi, and assembling armed warriors. They acted very turbulent and defiant, and an out- break between them and the whites was immi-
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DEFEAT AND PUNISHMENT OF THE HOSTILE INDIANS.
ment. Indeed, on one occasion, shots were act- ually exchanged. The possibility of an outbreak by them so weighed on the mind of Maj. L. C. Walker, their agent, that he committed suicide near Monticello, on Aug. 23d. Companies of cavalry were authorized by the state authorities to protect the country north of St. Paul, and per- formed patrol duty for some days. Had the Chippewas risen also, nearly the whole state would have been laid waste. Even the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, etc., would have been captured, as there were not arms in those places enougli to have defended them. A company of Home Guards was organized in St. Paul as a precau- tionary measure. For some days the situation was very critical, and full of danger. Finally, Hon. Wm. P. Dole, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Hon. H. M. Rice, Major E. A. C. Hatch, Clark W. Thompson, and other men who had influence with the Ojibways, calmed them down, and averted what might have proved an awful disaster.
THE WAR IN MEEKER, KANDIYOHI STEARNS COUNTIES.
AND
The counties along the Minnesota River were not the only ones ravaged by the red devils during that week of blood. McLeod, Monongalia, Kandi- yohi, Stearns, Meeker, Otter Tail, Douglas, Sib- ley, etc., were all overrun in whole or in part, and the inhabitants either butchered or driven away. The first blood of the outbreak had been shed at Acton, Meeker county. A messenger was sent post haste by the citizens there to inform Gov. Ramsey. He arrived at the capitol just at the same time that the courier from St. Peter bore the news from Redwood. The Governor issued to Capt. Geo. C. Whitcomb, of Forest City, seventy-five guns and a small amount of ammunition, to en- able them to make a stand. Capt. W. returned with these at once, via Hutchinson, where he left some of the guns. On arriving at Forest City he found the wholeregion in a state of panic, the inhabitants fleeing, and the Indians killing and ravaging the country. A company was at once organized and armed, and marched over into Monongalia county (since a part of Kandiyohi), where they found the bodies of a number of slain, and also of hundreds of cattle killed in mere wan- tonness. They also rescued several persons who
had been wounded and were hiding. The militia, aided by citizens at Forest City, at once began erecting a large stockade for defence, in the cen- ter of town, in which the inhabitants and refugees could take shelter. Hearing that a family at Green Lake were in great danger, Capt. Whit- comb went to their relief. Near that spot his men had a hard skirmish with the Indians, in which three of the redskins were left dead on the ground, and only one of his own men slightly wounded. He returned to the stockade that night, but next day, with a larger party, again attempted to reach Green Lake. The Indians again attacked him, and after a sharp battle he returned without loss to Forest City. That night the savages made a fierce attack on the town, burned several buildings, and fired on the stock- ade, but fortunately hurting no one. The troops returned the fire. About daylight the 'Indians were seen trying to drive off a number of horses and cattle in a corral. The troops sallied out and drove them off, killing two, and having two of their own number badly wounded. By this time Meeker county west of Forest City, and all of Kandiyohi and Monongalia counties, were entirely deserted by the whites.
On August 26th, Captain Richard Strout of the Tenth Regiment, was ordered to proceed to Glen- coe and the region adjacent, to protect it. He reached that place about September 1st, and found the town had been well fortified and de- fended by the militia under command of General John H. Stevens, of the state militia, and was safe from any immediate danger. He therefore marched, with about seventy-five men, towards Acton. On the morning of September 3d, he was attacked near that place by about one hundred and fifty Indians, and a sharp battle ensued. The troops were driven back towards Hutchinson, fighting all the way, until afternoon, when they reached that place. Captain Strout lost three men killed and fifteen wounded, all of whom were brought off the field, and lost most of their equi- page, rations, &c., and several horses and wagons abandoned and mired. The Indians must,have lost several killed.
At Hutchinson, a large stockade had been built, and a company of about sixty militia commanded by Captain Harrington, were defending the town. About nine the next morning, September 4th, the
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Indians attacked the post. They burned all the houses on the edge of the town and one or two more centrally located. Our troops sallied out and routed them, however, and a succession of skirmishes ensued, which lasted all day.
Meantime, General Stevens had heard of the engagement near Acton, and at once sent the companies of Captain Davis and Lieutenant Weinmann to the relief of Hutchinson. They arrived about six o'clock on the evening of the fight, but the Indians had withdrawn. Several persons in the neighborhood were killed by them, and others escaped into the stockade. All the signs indicated that the Indians had retreated towards the upper Minnesota, taking a large drove of stolen horses and cattle with them. The Indians were not seen again in this vicinity until September 23d, when a band of about fifty inva- ded Meeker and Kandiyohi counties. They killed two or three settlers who had returned to their farms, but seemed more intent on stealing cattle than on killing whites. They were pursued by the troops, and sixty-five head of cattle rescued from them.
Wright county does not seem to have been in- vaded by the Indians. Fortifications were erect- ed by the inhabitants at various points, but no depredations were made in that locality, so far as known.
Western and southern Stearns county, how- ever, suffered severely from the depredations of the red foe. About August 23d, they committed murders and other crimes near Paynesville. The people of that town erected a strong stockade, and the citizens and refugees from points further west, sheltered themselves therein. A part of the town was burned, but no attack was made on the post. At Maine Prairie, St. Joseph's, Sauk Centre, Clear Water, Little Falls, and other pla- ces, similar stockades were built, and held by a few determined citizens. At St. Cloud, which was filled with refugees, strong fortifications were built, and preparations made to defend the place to the utmost, but no foe ever appeared, fortu- nately. A number of persons were murdered in the western and southern part of Stearns county, and houses burned.
The southwestern portion of the State was also overrun, and a number of murders committed. This district was soon after placed in command
of Colonel Flandrau, and about five hundred militia garrisoned at different points, who soon rid the country of Indians.
The Third Regiment, which had been paroled, after its surrender, at Murfreesboro, was now at Benton Barracks, Mo. Gov. Ramsey telegraphed on Aug. 22d to have them sent to this state at once, for service against the Indians. The re- quest was complied with. The regiment received its exchange on Aug.24th, and they arrived in St. Paul on Sept. 4th. All their officers were still prisoners in the hands of the rebels, and the companies were commanded by non-commissioned officers. Maj. Welch, who was not with the regi- ment at its surrender, (having been taken pris- oner at Bull Run) was in command of the regi- ment. Three hundred men were at once sent to the frontier, where they did good service, being the only veteran troops engaged during the war.
On Aug. 23d, Gov. Ramsey, in response to many petitions, called an extra session of the legislature, to meet on Sept. 9th.
SIEGE OF FORT ABERCROMBIE.
On Aug. 23d the Indians commenced hostili- ties in the valley of the Red River. Fort Aber- crombie was then garrisoned by Co. D., Fifth Regiment, Capt. J. Van der Horck, but about half the company was stationed at Georgetown, protecting the Transportation Company's goods at that place. Early on the 23d a band of 500 Sissetons and Yanktons crossed the Otter Tail River, with the intention of capturing a train of goods and cattle en route for Red Lake, where a treaty was to be made with the Chippewas. The train was at once ordered to take refuge in Fort Abercrombie, and did so. Most of the citizens in the surrounding region also repaired to that post, for safety, but many were killed, or taken prisoners. The town of Dayton was destroyed.
Reinforcements were ordered to Fort Aber- crombie as soon as its danger was learned, but the troops sent out were detained en route, to protect and aid threatened places in Stearns and Meeker Counties, and did not reach the fort. Meantime it was in great danger, and was quite surrounded by the enemy. Skirmishes near by had taken place between detachments of the troops and the Indians. On Aug. 30th the latter appeared in large numbers before the fort. A
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large herd of the treaty cattle (172 head) and about 100 horses and mules were grazing on the prairie near by. The Indians drove these off, and the small garrison could make no resistance. On Sept. 3d, at daybreak, the Indians attacked the post. A fight was kept up for two or three hours, but they were repulsed, with some loss on both sides. Active measures were then taken to strengthen the post by a stockade of timber. On Sept. 6th, a second attack was made, and a sharp battle raged until nearly noon. A number of the Indians were killed and wounded, but only one of our force was killed, and one mortally wounded. The Indians hung around the fort, occasionally attacking a messenger, or a water- ing party, until Sept. 23d, when reinforcements arrived via St. Cloud to the great joy of the be- leaguered garrison, who had now been besieged over three weeks. No farther demonstrations, of any force, were made by the Indians. But for the brave resistance made by a mere handful of soldiers, aided by a few citizens, the post must have fallen.
A REGIMENT OF MOUNTED RANGERS RAISED.
The want of a mounted force to pursue the In- dians was severely felt by Col. Sibley. His small number of irregular mounted militiamen were leaving for their homes. He several times urged Gov. Ramsey to provide cavalry, and that official in turn asked of the War Department the proper authority. This was granted on Sept. 1st, and a regiment of mounted rangers at once called for, for three months service, which was subsequently changed to one year. The regiment was soon recruited, and Col. S. McPhaill appointed colonel.
BATTLE OF BIRCH COOLIE.
While waiting at Fort Ridgely for proper sup- plies and equipments, and before undertaking any offensive campaign against the Indians, Col. Sibley sent out, on August 31st, a detachment to bury dead bodies, rescue any fugitives that might be found, and make reconnoissances. This de- tachment consisted of part of Co. A, sixth regi- ment, Capt. H. P. Grant, about seventy mounted men under Capt. Jos. Anderson, and a fatigue party-about one hundred and fifty men in all, accompanied by seventeen teams. The whole force was in command of Maj. Joseph R. Brown, who was perfectly familiar with the country and
with Indian warfare. On the first day's march sixteen dead bodies were found and buried. The next day (Sept. 1) the force separated into two detachments. During this day fifty-five mutil- ated bodies were buried. In the evening the whole force went into camp at Birch Coolie (or Coulee) in a spot selected by Maj. Brown. No Indians had been seen that day.
Just before daybreak on the 2d, the camp was aroused by a volley of firearms and the yells of Indians, who had crawled unperceived within a few yards of the encampment. For a few min- nutes terrific volleys were poured into the tents, cutting them into shreds and wounding or killing a number of men and horses. As soon as they could seize their arms, those who were unhurt crawled out, and sheltering themselves as well as they could behind wagons, dead horses, etc., re -. 1 turned the fire. Shortly after daylight the men? began excavating, with such implements as they could get, a line of rifle-pits, and in a short time had about two hundred feet dug.
The firing in the still of the morning was heard. by the sentinels at Fort Ridgely, fifteen miles away, and a detachment of troops under Colonel McPhaill, at once pushed off to their relief. When within three miles of Birch Coolie, they were met by such a large force of Indians they could not advance, and sent a courier back for reinforce- ments. Meantime, the troops of Major Brown's command lay all day in their rifle-pits, keeping the savages at bay. The wounded were cared for as well as possible, but some died during the day.
As soon as McPhaill's courier reached Fort Ridgely, a large force, with some artillery, was sent to the relief of his and Brown's troops. They came up about daylight, and the whole col- umn then pushed on to Birch Coolie, dislodging and driving the Indians from their position, after keeping our men under fire for thirty hours, with- out food or drink.
The camp was an awful scene, when relieved. Twenty-three men had been killed outright or mortally wounded, forty-five badly wounded, and seventy horses killed. The dead were buried on the spot, and the wounded carried back to Fort Ridgely in wagons. Thus terminated the most bloody battle of the war, and one which spread gloom over the State. It is not creditable to
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Minnesota that this battle ground should have been allowed to pass into private hands, and be plowed over. It should have been reserved by the State as a historic spot, and marked with a suit- able monument. All the bodies, however, were subsequently removed, and properly interred else- where.
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