USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 87
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After careful and thorough investigation the society decided that the names of but six Indians, four men and two women, were. at that time, entitled to the distinction of a position in the monument's inscription. The claims of scores of others were pre- sented, but in the society's opinion they did not meet the full requirements de- manded. They either were not Indians of full blood, or they were not truly loyal throughout the war, or they did not direct- ly save the life of a white person; indirect service could not be accepted. The names selected were these:
Am-pa-tu To-ki-cha (Other Day) known as John Other Day; Malı-za-koo-te-manne (Iron that Shoots Walking) known as Lit. tle Paul; To-wan-e-ta-ton ( Face of the Vil- lage), known as Lorenzo Lawrence: A- nah-wang-manne (Walks Alongside ), known as Simon; Mah-kalı-ta He-i-ya-win ( Traveling on the Ground ), known as Mary Crooks, and Snahnah (Tinkling), later Mrs. Maggie Brass of Santee Agency. Neb. Snahnah's name was not, however, placed on the monument at that time. After her death her name was added to the others.
The story of the services rendered the whites by these noble Indians is told in full in a pamphlet by Major Return 1. Holcombe, entitled "Monuments and Tab- lets of the Minnesota Valley Historical Society."
The Redwood Ferry Monument. The ground where Captain John Marsh and his company were ambuscaded was at and about the ferry landing on the north side
of the Minnesota river, opposite the Lower Agency. From the landing on the south side two roads had been graded up the steep high bluff to the Agency buildings, and from the north landing the road stretched diagonally across the wide river bottom to the huge corrugated bluffs, two miles or more away, at Faribault's Hill. The hill was no named for David Faribault, a mixed-blood Sioux, and a son of old John Batiste Faribault, and who lived at the base of the hill. He and his family were made prisoners by the Indians and held during the outbreak. At Faribault's Hill the road divided, one fork leading up the hill and over the prairie to the eastward and northeast, running along the crest of the bluff to Fort Ridgely. The other fol- lowed the base of the bluff down the river. There were two or three houses between the ferry landing and the bluff, and at the landing itself was a house. All about the landing on the north side the ground of the main ambush was open; it is now cov- ered with willows and other small growths of the nature of underbrush. A few rods to the northward, however, is a culti- vated field.
To commemorate and identify the scene of the ambush the Minnesota Valley His- torical Society has erected a substantial granite monument at the site of the old- time ferry landing, at the point, as nearly as could be determined, where Captain Marsh and his men were first fired upon. It is located on U. S. lot 3. section 5, south Birch Cooley. The site is now overgrown with small willow and other trees and the monument stands in a thicket. It is of sufficient proportions and so well set that it will endure for a century. The river frequently overflows its banks at this point. but the structure is so well placed on a secure foundation that it can- not be washed away. The inscription reads: "At and near this spot Capt. John Marsh and twenty-four men were an- bushed and killed by Sioux Indians. Aug. 18, 1862. Also Peter Quinn, U. S. Inter- preter."
The Birch Cooley Monument. The legis- lature of 1893 made an appropriation for a monument to commemorate the Battle of Birch Cooley. A commission was ap- pointed, consisting of Charles D. Gilfillan, of Redwood county; Dr. J. W. Daniels, of Northfield, who was surgeon of the Birch Cooley expedition: William H. Grant, a cousin of Captain H. P. Grant, and who as a citizen soldier participated in the battle, and S. C. Arbuckle, who had been a men- ber of Captain Grant's company. Later Dr. A. G. Stoddard. R. B. Henton and Jerry P. Patten, all of Morton, were added to the commission.
The commission spent many days in dis cussing the site. Gradually for many rea- sons the sentiment of the members seemed to favor a site overlooking the village of Morton, the site being a part of the old
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fair grounds. Space does not permit a discussion of these reasons.
Commissioner Jerry P. Patten says:
"The original intention of the commis- sion was to place the monument on the site of the corral where the brave defense was made. But the owner of the site placed a price on his land which the com- mission believed to be too high. Captain H. P. Grant and S. C. Arbuckle, both of whom had taken part in the Battle of Birch Cooley, favored a site on a com- manding crag overlooking Morton, over which the Indians were chased after the battle. This point, a part of the old fair grounds, is visible for miles around, and from its brow can be seen the bottoms and prairies where so many thrilling scenes of the Massacre were enacted. I consulted various survivors of the battle, and all seemed to favor the fair grounds site. State legal authorities declared that a monument under the act of the legis- lature need not be erected exactly on the corral but could be erected on any spot where any part of the battle was waged. The commission, therefore, proceeded to erect the monument. the site being pre- sented by the Fair Grounds Association and the village of Morton agreeing to give the tract perpetual care."
When the commission met to decide upon the final location of the monument, Dr. Daniels and W. H. Grant voted that it should stand on the battle ground: the other five commissioners voted that it be placed on the fair grounds. Upon direct- ing that the name Capt. H. P. Grant be placed on the die as the commander, only Dr. J. W. Daniels, the surgeon of the ex- pedition, voted no. He said he had been directed by Colonel Sibley to report to Major Brown and receive his orders; that he did so from first to last, without any intimation from any one that Captain Grant was the commander.
"Gentlemen," said he to the other mem- bers, "you are falsifying history and doing a cruel injustice to a brave and good man, Major Brown. I dressed the severe wound he received during the battle; I rode with him on the march, and I slept in his tent. and from these circumstances. and Colonel Sibley's express and personal directions, 1 know that Major Brown was the com- mander of all of us. I cannot serve any longer with you." Whereupon he with- drew from the conference and never there- after met with the commissioners of had anything to do with the monument affair.
Even before the dedication of the Birch Cooley monument there was some dissatis- faction among survivors of the battle and other citizens over the selection of its site. They opposed placing the structure any- where else but on the field of the battle which it was to memorialize. It was de- clared that a site two miles distant from where the fight actually occurred was un-
suited to preserve the actual scene of that figlit.
When it became known that the name of Capt. Hiram P. Grant was to be placed on the monument as commander of the white forces in the battle, indignant pro- tests were made against the dedication of the monumental shaft until the alleged error should be corrected. It was asserted that all the authoritative records proved that Maj. Joseph R. Brown was the real commander of the whites; that he was appointed by General (then Colonel) Sib- ley to command the expedition; that he made a report as such commander; that Capt. Joseph Anderson, the captain of one of the two companies composing the white forces, reported to Major Brown; that these reports were printed, along with other official matter, and the fact well established that Major Brown was the com. mander-in-chief of the Birch Cooley expe- dition and Captain Grant was a subordi- nate commander under him. Several years ago Captain Grant, in a printed story of the battle, acknowledged that when he presented his official report after the bat- tle, he was told by Colonel Sibley to pre- sent the report to the commander. Major Brown. and that in his indignation he tore his report up rather than present it to Major Brown.
The people of Morton were much pleased that they were to have the monument as a sort of decoration or embellishment of their fair grounds. On the day of its dedi- cation, September 3, 1894, they gave the visitors an excellent dinner and a cordial welcome to their village, expressing their appreciation of the favor done them by the state in placing the memorial structure in their midst. The village council for- mally agreed to an ordinance (or resolu- tion ) pledging the corporation to maintain it in proper condition so long as it re- mained in the village. A site of about one acre had been deeded to the state.
The services at the dedication were stormy and unpleasant. Such eminent public speakers as ex-Governor William G. Marshall, Capt. Joseph Anderson (who commanded one of the companies in the battle), and Hon. Charles E. Flandrau de- nounced the placing of the monument on the fair grounds instead of on the battle
ground and condemned the placing of Captain Grant's name as the commander as a gross injustice and a falsification of history. Captain Grant mildly defended the action of the commission in both in- stances, saying, among other things, "So help me God, I was the commander, for Joe Brown did not give me any orders."
Unfortunately the monument itself was faulty. In placing the stones composing the die a botch job was done. These stones bore the names of those officers, soldiers and citizen-soldiers that took part in the battle, killed, wounded and survivors. These names were in columns running
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from top to bottom. One stone with its list of survivors was placed over part of a column of the list of the killed. The result was that some of the attendants- Judge James G. Egan, of St. Paul, among them-found themselves listed among the killed! The monument was afterward taken down and put together again and the error corrected. The expense of mak- ing the correction was $300 and was borne by Hon. C. D. Gilfillan, chairman of the commission. Then the names of two citi- zens, Carlton Dickinson and S. R. Hen- derson, who were killed, were left off the inscription, as were the names of two sol- diers that were in the fight. The incident was mortifying and displeasing.
Those who opposed the monument site and the retention of the name of Captain Grant on the monument as the commander continued their protest. Major Brown had died in 1870. and, representing his family and certain ex-soldiers, R. I. Holcombe, of St. Paul, was given charge of a bill pre. sented in the legislature of 1895 to remove the monument from the fair grounds to the battlefield, and to change the inscrip- tion so that it would show the name of Major Brown as in general command of the white forces in the battle, with Cap- tains Grant and Anderson as his subordi- nates.
The bill was thoroughily investigated by a committee of five former Minnesota sol- diers from each house. One of these. Sen- ator Iltis, of Carver county. had been a member of the Sixth Minnesota (Grant's former regiment ), and was present in the battle of Birch Coolie. The committee held meetings and received and considered nich testimony. Finally they reported unanimously in favor of the bill. and it was passed without dissent in the senate and with only two votes against it in the honse. The Grant partisans, with Gen. John B. Sanborn as their attorney. ap- peared betore Governor Clough and asked him to veto the bill. but The governor said : "The monument should stand on the battle- field, where the blood ran and the men were killed, even if it is a mudhole. As for the commander, the committee went thoroughly into that, and I believe their conclusion is correct."
The law is Chapter 376 of the General Laws for 1895 (beginning on page 776), and, briefly stated, prescribes that the monument shall be removed "to a portion of the corral or actual battle ground where- on was fought the battle of Birch Coulie." ( The act of 1893, appropriating $2,500 for the erection of the monument, provided that the structure should stand "on the land on which was fought the battle of Birch Coulie.") The removal act of 1895 also provides that the inscriptions on the monument be changed "so as to conform to and with the truths of history * * * and in particular said inscriptions shall show the established facts that Major Jo-
seph R. Brown, of the state militia, was in general command of the state's forces."
The removal was placed in charge of Adjutant General (then General) llermann Muehlberg, who appointed R. I. Holcombe, who had charge of getting the last law passed, as his agent for the work. The agent decided that six acres should be purchased by the state as a new site for the monument and for a park surrounding. He selected the tract, had it surveyed, and negotiated with the owner. a Mr. Weiss. The owner wanted $100 an acre for the land, which the agent deemed an exorbi- cant price and under the law brought con- Jemnatory proceedings. The jury of award allowed Mr. Weiss $80 per acre and 'he appealed to the district court. Judge Web- ber heard the case at Redwood Falls and rendered judgment sustaining the award. Thereupon the state secured title to the six acres.
The monument was never moved nor the inscriptions changed. The year fol- lowing the passage of the law (1896) was presidential and gubernatorial election year. It was declared that political mo- tives had something to do with the gov- ernor's delay in the matter. So nothing was done about the matter for two years. the appropriation of $1,200 lapsed, and the money was turned back into the state treasury.
Since the erection of the monument va- rious suggestions have offered as to the possibility of making the inscription legi- ble. Owing to the nature of the stone, the quality of its finish, and the method of cutting, the inscription can be read only after long and careful serntiny, and prob- ably not a single person since the day of the dedication has taken the trouble neces- sary to read the names of those men whose deeds the monument perpetnates. Proba- bly in time some method will be discovered by which the inscriptions will be made easier reading to the casual observer, and by that time the correction regarding the commanding officer will doubtless be made.
The Henderson Monument is located on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 14, Beaver. It is a granite shaft on a base of similar material. This is erected in memory of Mrs. R. H. Henderson, her two daughters, Jehiel Wedge and Engene White, who were killed during the Indian Massacre. It marks the spot where the bodies of these people were buried. Some time after the Massacre, Fred Thies accidently shot himself in the Minnesota bottoms. He was buried at the same spot and his name likewise ap- pears on the monument.
The Earl Monument is located on the northwest quarter of the southeast quar- ter of section 12, Beaver. It is erected in honor of Radner Earl, a boy, who gave up his life defending his father, and marks the place where he is buried. Soon after the Massacre the father and other mem-
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bers of the family erected on the spot a monument on which was a lamb, looking in the direction in which the enemy came on that fatal morning in August. After the father died. this monument was moved and placed near the father's burial place in Iowa. The spot then remained un- marked until the present monument was erected. It is worthy of note that the soil above the devoted boy has never been dis- turbed since the day the body was buried. Though it is in a cultivated field, the plow- men had left it untouched. until with the years the drifting dust and annual vegeta- tion has caused a mound to form, on the top of which the monument is located.
The Schwandt Monument was erected August 15. 1915, near the spot where the Schwandt family were murdered in 1862. The story of the wiping out of this family is told elsewhere by the surviving dangh- ter. The monument bears the following in- scription: "Erected by the State of Min- nesota, 1915. in Memory of the Martyrs of Civilization, Johan and Christina Schwandt and their children. Frederick and Chris- tina: John Walz. Karolina Schwandt Walz, John Frass: Murdered by Sioux Indians. Aug. 18, 1862."
The monument was dedicated August 1S. 1915, in the presence of many of the state's most distinguished men. Dr. Warren Up- ham, archæologist of the Minnesota State Historical Society, said:
"In the dedication of this monument tell ing of the awful tragedy of race hatred and massacre which befell a German family of pioneers here fifty-three years ago, let us not forget the bright flower of a life long friendship which blossomed above their graves. gladdening the life of a rescued survivor of that family and the life of the kind Dakota woman, Snahnah. her rescuer.
"The Historical Society of this state, in its published volumes, preserves to all com- inig time the narrations of Mary Emilia Schwandt Schmidt and Snahnah, children of parents and of races who met in mortal conflict, the one a captive German girl and the other a bereaved Dakota mother. They loved each other with affection that may be likened to that of David and Jonathan three thousand years ago.
"Can we learn something from this- does it even shed forth a ray of hope that when the present direful world war shall be ended with treaties of peace, it may be the beginning of trust and helpfulness, of mutual respect and friendship, between the now warring nations?
"'Till the war drum throbs no longer. And the battle flags are furled
In the parliament of men
And the federation of the World.'"
The original move toward erecting the Henderson and Earl monuments was made by the Old Settlers' Association, who ap- pointed William Wichman a committee of one to take the matter in charge. With
the assistance of John A. Dalzell, a bill was put through the legislature in 1907. appropriating $200 for the total expense, and placing the matter in charge of the county commissioners. The county com- missioners delegated the task to Mr. Wich- man. He served entirely without recom- pense. and achieved results which could scarcely have been expected had more than twice the amount appropriated been expended. Mr. Wichman was also the prime mover in the erection of the Schwandt monument. It has been said by prominent officials that never has the state received more for its money than in the case of these three monuments.
The Fort Ridgely Monuments. The large Fort Ridgely monument is described else- where in this work. On the brow of the .hill near the Fort Ridgely cemetery are the Marsh, Muller and Loyal Chippewa monuments, while in the cemetery near by are many gravestones marking the last resting place of many an heroic character.
The Captain Marsh Monument at Fort Ridgely reads as follows: "In Memory of Capt. John Marsh, First Sergeant Russell H. Findley, Serg't Joseph S. Besse: Pri- vates Charles R. Bell, Edwin F. Cole. Charles E. French. John Gardner, Jacob A. Gehring, John Holmes, Christian Joerger. Durs Kanzig, James H. Kerr, Wenzel Kusda, Henry McAllister, Wenzel Norton, Moses P. Parks. John W. Parks. John Pars- ley, Harrison Phillips, Nathaniel Pitcher, Henry A. Shepherd, Nathan Stewart. Charles W. Smith of Co. B, died Aug. 18, 1862. Private Mark M. Greer. Co. C. died Aug. 22. 1862. Fifth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Peter Quinn, U. S. Interpreter, Killed at Redwood Ferry, Aug. 18, 1862." The face of the monument bears the words: "Erected by the State of Min- nesota, 1873."
The men are buried in two trenches. From north to south on the west side the bodies are those of Nathan Stewart, Jacob A. Gehring, Charles E. French, Charles R. Bell. First Sergeant R. H. Findley, Capt. John S. Marsh, Sergeant S. A. Trescott, Corporal J. S. Besse, Edwin F. Cole, John Gardner and Interpreter Peter Quinn. From north to south on the east side the bodies are those of Nathaniel Pitcher, Harrison Phillips, John Parsley. John W. Parks. Moses P. Parks, Wenzel Norton, James H. Kerr, Durs Kanzig, Christian Joerger, John Holes and Charles W. Smith. The bodies of Wenzel Kusda, Henry McAllister and Henry A. Shepherd were never found but their names are on the monument, as is that of Mark M. Greer, of Co. C. killed at the battle of Fort Ridgely.
The Muller Monument. Not far from the Marsh monument at Fort Ridgely is the monument of Mrs. Eliza Muller, whose last request be that she be buried at Fort Ridgely. The inscription reads: "The State of Minnesota to the Memory of Mrs. Eliza Muller. 1877. Her valor and her de-
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votion to the care of the sick and wounded soldiers and refugees during and after the Sioux Indian Outbreak of 1862 will forever be cherished in the hearts of a grateful people .- Mrs. Eliza Muller, wife of Dr. Al- fred Muller, born in Berne, Switzerland, April 21, 1831, died Sept. 26, 1876 .- Thy Mission on Earth was Unbounded Charity, Thy Reward is Eternal Peace."
The Chippewa Monument at Fort Ridgely bears this inscription: "Erected by the State of Minnesota in Recognition of, and to Commemorate the Loyal and Efficient Services Rendered to the State by Chier Mou-Zoo-Mau-Nee, and the Chippewa In- dians During the Sioux Outbreak and the Civil War."
RENVILLE COUNTY MARTYRS.
The following partial list of those killed in Renville county during the Massacre is from the pen of Marion P. Satterlee. who has done much to preserve the facts con- cerning the Indian outbreak. To Mr. Sat- terlee's list have also been added a number of other names by the editor of this his- tory. This list does not include the casual- ties at the battle of Bird Cooley and the ambuscade at Redwood Ferry.
Urins Andermack. Mentioned in Flora church records as one of the Renville county martyrs.
John Boelter. John was massacred at Middle Creek. The wife fled to the woods with two infant daughters; the youngest died of starvation and exposure. Another child was carried to safety by Michael Boelter, a brother-in-law.
Mrs. Michael Boelter and children were killed at Middle Creek. The face of the oldest was shot away, one was shot and thrown into a pit. The youngest was beaten to death by pounding it over something. It is also stated that the parents of Michael, or his wife, were killed, but the accounts are incoherent.
John Buehro. Killed not far from Fort Ridgely. His story is told elsewhere in this work. He had found safety in the fort, but was sent by his wife back to their cabin to get her green silk dress and household goods.
Gottlieb Busse and family were killed at Middle Creek. Gottlieb was shot with baby Bertha in his arms; Wilhelmina, the mother, and two-year-old Caroline were killed the same way; Augusta, five, was shot down alone. Minnie, August and Amelia were taken prisoners and rescued at Camp Release. Minnie is author of "Captured by the Indians." August, it is claimed, was so angered when the Indian who killed his parents was not hung with the others at Mankato, that he afterward made a business of hunting Indians and was probably killed at the Custer massacre. The name is sometimes spelled Buce and frequently in other ways.
Andrew Bahlke was killed near Birch Cooley. He was the brother of Mrs. Marie
Frorip and was shot by the Indians while remonstrating with them about killing his dog.
Charles Blair, captured with the Brown family, escaped to Fort Ridgely, but being in poor health died from the effect of the exposure soon afterward.
Mark Brooks, sixteen years old, was shot by Indians while carrying dinner to his uncle, David McConnell.
William and John Carrothers, sons of David Carrothers, were killed at Beaver Creek while trying to escape with a party of settlers.
Charles Clausen and Frederick, his son, were killed near Birch Cooley. Mrs. Fred- erick and her two infant daughters were captured and were rescued at Camp Re- lease.
Cruer and wife were killed at Beaver Creek G. Crner, aged eleven, and John Cruer, aged nine, boys, escaped to Fort Ridgely .- Fort Ridgely records.
Peter Eindenfeldt (or Inefeldt) was killed near Birch Cooley. He was stabbed with a butcher knife, which was left in his breast. His wife, nee Zitlaff, and child were rescued at Camp Release.
Radnor Earle, son of Jonathan W., aged fifteen years, was killed at. Beaver Creek. Balthasar Eisenrich was killed near Birch Cooley. His wife and five children were at Camp Release.
Benedict Eune was killed near Birch Cooley, on the road to Fort Ridgely. His son was taken captive and rescued at Camp Release.
August Frass and son, John Frass, were killed with the Schwandt party at Beaver Creek.
-Frace, residing near the Brown place, on the Sacred Heart, was killed. His wife and two children were found at Camp Release.
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