USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > Personal recollections of Minnesota and its people : and early history of Minneapolis > Part 32
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of friendship and protection, turned back. When near their home they were suddenly surrounded by fourteen Indians, who instantly fired upon them. All of the eleven white men were killed. Only two of the women and a few of the children escaped death. Over forty bodies were afterwards found and buried on that field of slaughter.
BATTLE AT THE LOWER AGENCY FERRY.
On Monday morning, the 18th of August, 1862, at about 9 o'clock, a messenger arrived at Fort Ridgely, from the Lower Sioux Agency, with news that the Indians were massacring the whites at that place. Captain John S. Marsh, of Com- pany B, Fifth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers, then in com- mand, took a detachment of forty-six men (there were then in the Fort only seventy-five or eighty men), and accompa- nied by Interpreter Quinn, immediately started for the agency, distant twelve miles. They made a very rapid march. When within about four miles of the ferry, opposite the Agency, they met the ferryman, Mr. Martelle, who informed Captain Marsh that the Indians were in considerable force, and were murdering all the people, and advised him to return. He replied that he was there to protect and defend the frontier, and he should do so if it was in his power, and gave the order "Forward !" Between this point and the river they passed nine dead bodies on or near the road. Arriving near the ferry, the company halted, and Corporal Ezekiel Rose was sent forward to examine the ferry, and see if it was all right. The captain and interpreter were mounted on mules, the men were on foot, and formed in two ranks in the road, near the ferry-house, a few rods from the banks of the river. The corporal had taken a pail with him to the river, and returned, reporting the ferry all right, bringing with him water for the exhausted and thirsty men.
In the meantime an Indian had made his appearance on the opposite bank, and calling to Quinn, urged them to come across, telling him all was right on that side. The suspicions of the captain were at once aroused, and he ordered the men to remain in their places, until he could ascertain whether the Indians were in ambush in the ravines on the opposite shore. The men were in the act of drinking, when the savage on the opposite side, seeing they were not going to cross at once,
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fired his gun, as a signal, when instantly there arose out of the grass and brush, all around them, some four or five hun- dred warriors, who poured a terrific volley upon the devoted band. The aged interpreter fell from his mule, pierced by more than twenty balls. The captain's mule fell dead, but he himself sprang to the ground unharmed. Several of the men fell at this first fire. The testimony of the survivors of this sanguinary engagement is, that their brave commander was as cool and collected as if on dress parade. They retreated down the stream about a mile and a half, fighting their way inch by inch, when it was discovered that a body of Indians, taking advantage of a bend in the river, had gone across and gained the bank below them.
The heroic little band was already reduced to about half its original number. To cut their way through this large num- ber of Indians was impossible. Their only hope now was to cross the river to the reservation, as there appeared to be no Indians on that shore, retreat down that side and recross to the fort. The river was supposed to be fordable where they were and, accordingly, Captain Marsh gave the order to cross. Taking his sword in one hand and his revolver in the other, accompanied by his men, he waded out into the stream. It was very soon ascertained that they must swim, when those who could not do so returned to the shore and hid in the grass as best they could, while those who could dropped their arms and struck out for the opposite side. Among these latter was Captain Marsh. When near the opposite shore he was struck ยท by a ball, and immediately sank, but arose again to the sur- face, and grasped the shoulder of a man at his side, but the garment gave way in his grasp, and he again sank, this time to rise no more. Thirteen of the men reached the bank in safety, and returned to the fort that night. Those who were unable to cross remained in the grass and bushes until night, when they made their way to the fort or settlements.
These are only a few of the incidents of this terrible mas- sacre near the Lower Sioux Agency. The horrible details of mutilation, and worse crimes than murder, are here unre- corded out of respect for the victims, living and dead. Turn we now to tragedies of the same day enacted elsewhere.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
EVENTS AT THE UPPER OR YELLOW MEDICINE AGENCY.
During all that fatal 18th of August, the people at the Upper Agency pursued their usual avocations. As night approached, however, an unusual gathering of Indians was observed on the hill just west of the Agency, and between it and the house of John Other Day. Judge Givens and Charles Crawford, then acting as interpreters in the absence of Freniere, went out to them, and sought to learn why they were there in council, but could get no satisfactory reply. Soon after this, Other Day came to them with the news of the outbreak below, as did also Joseph Laframboise, a half-breed Sioux. The families there were soon all gathered together in the warehouse and dwelling of the agent, who resided in the same building, and with the guns they had, prepared themselves as best they could, and awaited the attack, determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible. There were gathered here sixty-two persons, men, women, and children.
Other Day, and several other Indians, who came to them, told them they would stand by them to the last. These men visited the council outside several times during the night ; but when they were most needed, one only, the noble and heroic Other Day, remained faithful. All the others disap- peared, one after another, during the night.
About 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning, Stewart B. Garvie, connected with the traders' store, known as Myrick's, came to the warehouse, and was admitted, badly wounded, a charge of buckshot having entered his bowels. Garvie was standing in the doorway of his store when he was fired upon. At about
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this time Joseph Laframboise went to the store of Daily & Pratt, and told the two men in charge there, Duncan R. Ken- nedy and J. D. Boardman, to flee for their lives. They had not gone ten rods when they saw in the path before them three Indians. They stepped down from the path, which ran along the edge of a rise in the ground of some feet, and crouching in the grass, the Indians passed within eight feet of them. Kennedy escaped to Fort Ridgely, and Boardman went to the warehouse.
WONDERFUL ESCAPE OF YOUNG PATOILE.
At the store of Wm. H. Forbes, Constans, book-keeper, a native of France, was killed. At the store of Patoile, Peter Patoile, a nephew of the proprieter, was shot just outside the store, the ball entering at the back and coming out near the nipple, passing through his lungs. An Indian came to him after he fell, turned him over, and saying, "He is dead," left him. The clerks in the store of Louis Roberts had effected their escape. When the Indians became absorbed in the work of plunder, Patoile crawled off into the bushes, on the banks of the Yellow Medicine, and secreted himself. Here he remained all day. After dark he ascended the bluff out of the Yellow Medicine bottom, and dragged himself a mile and a half further, to the Minnesota, at the mouth of the Yellow Medicine. Wading the Minnesota, he entered the house of Louis Labelle, on the opposite side, at the ford. It was deserted. He lay down upon a bed and slept until morning. Joseph Laframboise, Narces Freniere, and an Indian, Maka- cago, found him there and awoke him, telling him there were hostile Indians about, and he must hide. They gave him a blanket to disguise himself, and going with him to a ravine, concealed him in the grass and left him, promising to return as soon as it was safe to do so, to bring him food, and guide him to the prairie. He lay in this ravine until near night, when his friends, true to their promise, returned, bringing him some crackers, tripe, and onions. They went with him some distance out on the prairie, and enjoined upon him not to attempt to go to Fort Ridgely, and giving him the best directions that they could as to the course he should take, shook hands with him and left him. Their names should be inscribed upon tablets more enduring than brass.
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'Over an unknown region without an inhabitant, sleeping on the prairie and in deserted houses, wounded, without food for days after his scanty supply was exhausted, young Patoile wandered, traveling some two hundred miles in twelve days, when he came to some white men who had returned to the homes they had deserted to look after their crops and cattle. He was in the Sauk Valley, forty miles above St. Cloud. He was taken in a wagon by these men to St. Cloud. His wounds were dressed, his recovery was rapid, and he enlisted in the Minnesota Mounted Rangers and served in the campaign of 1863, against the Indians.
OTHER DAY, A FULL-BLOODED INDIAN, SAVES A LARGE PARTY.
We now return to the warehouse at Yellow Medicine, which we left to follow the strange fortunes of young Patoile. Other Day was constantly on the watch outside, and reported the progress of affairs to those within. Toward daylight the yells of the savages came distinctly to their ears from the trading- post, half a mile distant. The Indians were absorbed in the work of plunder. The chances of escape were sadly against the whites, yet they decided to make the attempt. Other Day knew every foot of the country over which they must pass, and would be their guide.
The wagons were driven to the door. A bed was placed in one of them, and Garvie was laid upon it. The women pro- vided a few loaves of bread, and just as day dawned, they started on their perilous way. How their hearts did beat ! This party consisted of the family of Major Galbraith, wife and three children ; Nelson Givens, wife, and wife's mother, and three children ; Noah Sinks, wife, and two children ; Henry Eschelle, wife, and five children ; John Fadden, wife, and three children ; Mr. German and wife ; Frederick Patoile, wife, and two children ; Mrs. Jane K. Murch, Miss Mary Charles, Miss Lizzie Sawyer, Miss Mary Daly, Miss Mary Hays, Mrs. Eleanor Warner, Mrs. John 'Other Day and one child, Mrs. Haurahan, N. A. Miller, Edward Cramsie, Z. Hawkins, Oscar Canfil ; Mr. Hill, an artist from St. Paul ; J. D. Boardman, Parker Pierce, Dr. J. S. Wakefield, and several others.
They crossed the Minnesota, and escaped by way of the Kandiyohi lakes and Glencoe. Garvie died and was buried
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on the way. Major Galbraith writes : "Led by the noble Other Day, they struck out on the naked prairie, literally placing their lives in this faithful creatures hands, and guided by him, and him alone. After intense suffering and privation, they reached Shakopee on Friday the 22d of August, Other Day never leaving them for an instant ; and this Other Day is a pure, full-blooded Indian, and was, not long since, one of the wildest and fiercest of his race."
Government gave John Other Day a farm in Minnesota. He died several years since. His wife was a pure white.
Early in the evening of Monday, two civilized Indians, Chaskada and Tankanxaceye, went to the house of Dr. Wil- liamson, a few miles above the Agency, and warned them of their danger ; and two half-breeds, Michael and Gabriel Renville, and two Christian Indians, Paul Maxacuta Mani and Simon Anaga Mani, went to the house of Mr. Riggs, the mis- sionary at Hazelwood, and gave them warning of their danger. There were at this place, at that time, the family of Rev. S. R. Riggs, Mr. H. D. Cunningham and family, Mr. D. W. Moore and his wife, and Jonas Pettijohn and family. Mr. Pettijohn and wife were in charge of the government school at Red Iron's village, and were now at Mr. Riggs'. These friendly Indians went with them to an island in the Minne- sota, about three miles from the mission. Here they remained until Tuesday evening. In the afternoon of Tuesday, Andrew Hunter, a son-in-law of Dr. Williamson, came to him with the information that the family of himself and the Doctor were secreted below. The families at the saw-mills had been informed by the Renvilles, and were with the party of Dr. Williamson. At night they formed a junction and commenced their perilous journey. A thunder-storm effectually obliter- ated their tracks, so that the savages could not follow them, and they escaped. On the way they were joined by three Germans who had escaped from Yellow Medicine, who after- wards left them, with a young man named Gilligan, and were killed. All the others, reached the settlements unharmed.
The news of the murders below reached Leopold Wohler, three miles below Yellow Medicine, on Monday afternoon. Taking his wife, he crossed the Minnesota river, to the house of Major Joseph R. Brown. Major Brown's family consisted
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of his wife and nine children ; Angus Brown and wife, and Charles Blair, a son-in-law, his wife and two children. The Major was away from home. Including Wohler and his wife there were then at their house, on the evening of the 18th of August, eighteen persons. They started early on the morn- ing of the 19th to make their escape, with one or two of their neighbors, Charles Holmes, a single man, being of the party. They were overtaken near Beaver Creek by Indians, and all of the Browns, Mr. Blair and family, and Mrs. Wohler, were captured, and taken at once to Little Crow's village. Messrs. Wohler and Holmes escaped. Major Brown's family were of mixed Indian blood. This fact probably accounts for their saving the life of Blair, who was a white man. Crow told him to go away, as his young men were going to kill him ; and he escaped, being out five days and nights without food. The sufferings he endured caused his death soon after.
J. H. Ingalls, a Scotchman, who resided in the neighbor- hood, and his wife, were killed, and their four children cap- tured. Two of them, young girls, of twelve and fourteen years, were rescued at Camp Release. The two little boys were taken away by Little Crow, and their fate is shrouded in mystery. A Mr. Frace, residing near Brown's place, was also killed, and his wife and children captured.
At the town of Leavenworth, on the Cottonwood, in Brown county, the family of Mr. Blum were all, except a small boy, killed while endeavoring to escape. On Tuesday morning, Philetus Jackson was killed while on the way to town with his wife and son. Mrs. Jackson and the young man escaped. Mr. Henshaw and Mr. Whiton were also killed.
Early in the forenoon of Monday, August 18th, Indians appeared in large numbers at the town of Milford, adjoining New Ulm. The first house visited was that of Wilson Massi- post, a widower. Mr. Massipost had two daughters, intelli- gent and accomplished. These the savages brutally murdered. His son, a young man of twenty, was also killed. Mr. Massi- post and a son of eight years escaped. Mr. Mesmer, his wife, son, and daughter, were instantly shot. At the house of Agrenatz Hanley all the children were killed. The parents escaped. Bastian Mey, wife, and two children, were killed in their house, and three children terribly mutilated who recov-
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ered. Adolph Shilling and his daughter were killed. Two families, those of Mr. Zeller and Mr. Zettle, were completely annihilated : not one left to tell the tale of their sudden des- truction. Mr. Brown, and son, and daughter, were killed.
ONLY A GLIMPSE OF THE SITUATION.
Thirty thousand panic-stricken inhabitants at once deserted their homes, and were destitute of the necessaries of life. As the panic-stricken fugitives poured along the various roads leading to the towns below, on Monday night and Tuesday, indescribable terror seized the inhabitants ; and the rapidly-accumulating tide, gathering force and numbers as it moved across the prairie, rolled an overwhelming flood into the towns along the river. As no wisdom could direct it, no force resist it, so no pen can describe it. It was gloomy, chaotic, terrific. This record, incomplete, inadequate, seems insignificant, when we consider that it covers but a small por- tion of the territory involved, and extends over scarcely more than two days time, during which some eight hundred whites were foully murdered, and a large number of the fairest women and girls of the land, bereft of their kindred and pro- tectors, were dragged into a loathsome captivity by savages whose crimes would make murder by contrast a mercy.
SOME OF THE RESULTS ACHIEVED.
Of the prompt action of the authorities in taking measures for the protection of the frontier, and the heroic conduct of those engaged therein, I will not here write. The military history of the Sioux war is now being written by participants. Some of the results achieved were, the release of all the white captives, about the first of October, 1862, to the number of about one hundred, and half-breeds to the number of about one hundred and fifty, at Camp Release. Our forces also had about two thousand Indian prisoners. A military commission recommended some three hundred of them for capital punish- ment, but President Lincoln allowed only thirty-eight to be hung.
GENERAL SIBLEY'S ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTIVES AT CAMP RELEASE.
"I entered with my officers to the center of the circle formed "by the numerous lodges, and seeing the old savage whom I " knew personally as the individual with stentorian lungs, who "promulgated the orders of the chiefs and head men to the
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"multitude, I beckoned him to me and, in a peremptory tone, " ordered him to go through the camp and notify the tenants "that I demanded all the female captives to be brought to me " instanter. And now was presented a scene which no one who " witnessed it can ever forget. From the lodges there issued "more than one hundred comely young girls and women, most "of whom were so scantily clad as scarcely to conceal their "nakedness. On the persons of some hung only a single gar- "ment, while pitying half-breeds and Indian women had pro- "vided others with scraps of clothing from their own little "wardrobes, answering, indeed, a mere temporary purpose. "But a worse accoutered or more distressed group of civilized "beings imagination would fail to picture. Some seemed "stolid, as if their minds had been strained to madness and " reaction had brought vacant gloom, indifference, and despair. " They gazed with a sad stare. Others acted differently. The "great body of the poor creatures rushed wildly to the spot "where I was standing with my brave officers, pressing as " close to us as possible, grasping our hands and clinging to "our limbs, as if fearful that the red devils might yet reclaim " their victims. I did all I could to reassure them, by telling " them they were now to be released from their horrible suffer- "ings, and freed from their bondage. Many were hysterical, " bordering on convulsions, laughter and tears commingling, "incredulous that they were in the hands of their preservers. "A few of the more attractive had been offered the alternative "of becoming the temporary wives of select warriors and so, " helpless and powerless, yet escaping the promiscuous atten- "tions of a horde of savages bent on brutal insult revolting to " conceive, and impossible to be described. The majority of " these outraged girls and young women were of a superior " class. Some were school teachers who, accompanied by their " girl pupils, had gone to pass their summer vacation with rel- "atives or friends in the border counties of the state. The "settlers, both native and foreign were, for the most part, "respectable, prosperous, and educated citizens whose wives " and daughters had been afforded the privileges of a good "common school education. Such were the delicate young "girls and women who had been subjected for weeks to the "inhuman embraces of hundreds of filthy savages, utterly
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"devoid of all compassion for the sufferers. Escorting the " captives to the outside of the camp, they were placed under " the protection of the troops and taken to our own encamp- "ment, where I had ordered tents to be pitched for their " accommodation. Officers and men, affected even to tears by " the scene, denuded themselves of their entire underclothing, " blankets, coats, and whatever they could give, or could be " converted into raiment for these heart-broken and abused " victims of savage lust and rage. The only white man found " alive when we reached the Indian encampment was George "H. Spencer, who was saved from death by the heroic devo- "tion of his Indian comrade, but yet badly wounded. He "said to me, 'It is God's mercy, that you did not march here " on the night after the battle. A plan was formed, had you " done so, to murder the captives, then scatter to the prairies,' " thus verifying my prediction of the course they would pur- "sue. I bless God for the wisdom he gave me, and whereby, " with the aid of my brave men, in spite of all slander and " abuse, I was enabled to win a victory so decisive, and redeem "from their thraldom those unfortunate sufferers who were a " burden on my heart from the first moment of my campaign."
Some two thousand Indians were taken from the state and removed far from the borders of Minnesota. The expe- dition of 1863 against the scattered bands of Sioux that still remained on the borders of the state, or were still further removed into Dakota, gave some assurance of protection and security against further disturbance from the Sioux.
On the 16th of February, 1863, the treaties before that time existing between the United States and these annuity Indians were abrogated and annulled, and all lands and rights of occupancy within the State of Minnesota, and all annuities and claims then existing in favor of said Indians, were declared forfeited to the United States.
DEATH OF LITTLE CROW-KILLED BY MR. LAMPSON.
On Friday evening, July 3, 1863, Mr. Lampson and his son Chauncey, while traveling along the road, about six miles north of Hutchinson, discovered two Indians in a prairie opening in the woods, interspersed with clumps of bushes and vines and a few scattered poplars, picking berries. These two Indians were Little Crow and his son Wowinapa.
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STATEMENT BY THE SON OF LITTLE CROW.
" I am the son of Little Crow. My name is Wowinapa. I am sixteen years old. My father had two wives before he took my mother ; the first one had one son ; the second one son and daughter ; the third wife was my mother. After taking my mother he put away the first two. He had seven children by my mother-six are dead ; I am the only one living now. The fourth wife had four children born ; do not know whether any died or not ; two were boys and two were girls. The fifth wife had five children-three of them are dead, and two are living. The sixth wife had three children ; all of them are dead ; the oldest was a boy, the other two were girls. The last four wives were sisters.
Father went to St. Joseph last spring. When we were coming back he said he could not fight the white men, but would go below and steal horses from them, and give them to his children, so that they could be comfortable, and then he would go away off.
Father also told me that he was getting old, and wanted me to go with him to carry his bundles. He left his wives and his other children behind. There were sixteen men and one squaw in the party that went below with us. We had no horses, but walked all the way down to the settlements. Father and I were picking red-berries, near Scattered Lake, at the time he was shot. It was near night. He was hit the first time in the side, just above the hip. His gun and mine were lying on the ground. He took up my gun and fired it first, and then fired his own. He was shot the second time when he was firing his own gun. The ball struck the stock of his gun, and then hit him in the side, near the shoulder. This was the shot that killed him. He told me that he was killed, and asked me for water, which I gave him. He died immediately after. When I heard the first shot fired I laid down, and the man did not see me before father was killed.
A short time before father was killed an Indian named Hiuka, who married the daughter of my father's second wife, came to him. He had a horse with him-also a gray-colored coat that he had taken from a man that he had killed to the north of where father was killed. He gave the coat to father, telling him he might need it when it rained, as he had no
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coat with him. Hiuka said he had a horse now, and was going back to the Indian country.
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