Anoka County, Minnesota - The Last Indian Battles, 1905

The Last Indian Battles

About 1851 Henry C. Miller JDined Pierre Bottineau and other hunters in the region stretching out along Coon and Rice creeks and over toward the St. Croix valley. In this border land between the two great Indian tribes game was very abundant, even after the white people had built considerable towns within an easy day's walk. About 1856 ^fr. jNIiller one day secured a four-ox team from U. W. Hank and hauled forty buck deer into St. Paul in one load. It was a marvelous sight even for those days, and a great shout went up from the residents of the capital city when the load appeared in the market. It sold for $400.

It was perhaps a little later than this that a party of half a dozen squaws from a Chippeway camp near by appeared at the home of Mr. Powell on Coon creek and wanted to trade pumpkins for hay for their ponies. The squaws had the pumpkins in sacks which they carried on their backs and, when the lot was deposited it made quite a pile of pumpkins. !\Ir. Powell told them they might take what hay they could carry in exchange. But he had forgotten that the squaw is the Indian's beast of burden. The delegation proceeded to the stack to which thev had been directed, and when each in turn had b<='en buried under a horse load of hay and been lifted upon her feet by the others, they staggered oil single file with pretty nearly the whole stack. Mr.

Powell presently discovered that he had the bad end of the bargain, and started after them shouting: "Come back ! you've got too much !" But the only answer was, "Kaw-win," and a protestation in forcible Chippeway idiom that a trade is a trade.

At one time Mr. Miller, in company with two young men named Walker, pitched his tent in what is now Ham Lake at the fork of Coon creek. A party of a score or so of Sioux appeared in the neighborhood and offered to pay liberally in venison for permission to stay in the camp and hunt. The white men were at first somewhat afraid of their guests, and took turns keeping watch at night, but later they grew accustomed to their presence, and took their accustomed sleep. After about three weeks the Indians hung up their venison and said they did not want to hunt any more. One of them told Miller he could have the venison and they would take the hides to tan. He then asked if there were any Chippeways near, and Miller told him there were some near Coon lake. Two of the Sioux jumped on ponies and rode north at full speed, and in about an hour and a half came back, saying that they had killed a Chippeway. There '| were twenty or twenty-five Sioux, and they became much excited and soon rode away, shouting the war whoop. A large company of Chippeways soon appeared and made inquiries. On being told that the Sioux had gone south, they immediately started in pursuit, but the Sioux got across the Mississippi just below St. Anthony Falls, and after firing some shots across the river at each other, the Chippeways returned, not daring to cross, as it was Sioux territory on the other side, and they did not know how many there might be there. The dead

A fight between Sioux and Chippeways took place in the fall of 1857 just over the line of Bethel in Isanti county. There were some forty or fifty warriors on each side, and the Chippeways were the victors. For a number of years thereafter the Chippeways used to assemble on th.e spot and celebrate their victory by hanging up a white flag, to which were attached some knickknacks made of cedar wood and painted with blood. Around this they performed their ceremonies, and then went away, leaving the flag to flutter imtil it should be destroyed by the wind and the little cedar blocks be blown away or abstracted by relic-huntin<^- white boys.

In the spring of 1858 occurred the last battle in Minnesota between the Sioux and Chippeway tribes. The aggressors were the Millc Lacs Chippeways, who were still smarting under the defeat of 1854. About 150' of them came down Rum river to Anoka. Here they held a war dance on the east bank of Rum river at about the foot of Harrison street. The white boys turned out in large numbers to view the spectacle as if it had been a circus performance, little thinking in what deadly earnest the Indians were.

The next day the red men went their way, and no more was thought about the matter until it was learned that there had been a battle. Early on Thursday morning, .May 27, 1858, the Chippeways appeared opposite the Sioux vilage, not far from the town of Shakopee, on the Minnesota river. A Sioux was sitting on the bank of the stream fishing. Presently a Chippeway was seen skulking in the brush, and creeping - creeping slowly toward the lone fishcrmaiL Suddenly a shut was fired.

the war whoop sounded, there was a moment's struggle, the body of the Sioux tumbled into the river, and a bloody scalp was waved defiantly in the air. The Sioux warriors gathered in haste and m.ade a rush for the ferry boat for the purpose of crossing to avenge their dead comrade. They surrounded the ferryman, and he obeyed their commands in terror. The Chippeways lay in ambush, but feared to fire on the boat for fear of killing the white man. The instant the boat touched the bank the Sioux scattered into the brush and the battle began. About ten o'clock the Chippeways withdrew. Three Chippeways were killed in the fight and one died near Lake Minnetonka. Seven of the wounded arrived at St. Anthony that night, where their wounds were dressed by white physicians, and the next afternoon they were placed on board the steamboat Enterprise for transportation to Anoka. Meanwhile those uninjured arrived on foot and held another war dance on the spot where the previous dance had been held. The chief explained the particulars of the battle, and vaunted the prowess of himself and his followers, in his own tongue, and an interpreter explained the purport of the speech to the assembled crowd. Only a few words of his speech have been remembered.

The next day the Chippeways took up their march for Mille Lacs, accompanied by all the wounded who were able to walk. They procured dinner from M. S. Seelye, and Mrs. Seelye made gruel for one of them who had had the greater part of his tongue shot away.

Political

One of the early acts of the first territorial legislature, which convened in 1849. ^^'^^^ ^^^c organization of eight counties, viz. : Ramsey, l>enton. Washington, Itasca, Wabasha, Wahnata, ]\lahkahto. and Pembina. Rum river was the dividing line between Ramsey and Benton counties, and hence the territor\- now embraced in Anoka county was partly in each. In 1856 Sherburne county was detached from Benton, and that portion of territory lying east of Sherburne county and west of Rum river was also detached and became a part of Ramsey county. By an act of the Territorial Assembly passed May 23, 1857. so much of Ramsey county a« is embraced within the following described limits, was organized into a separate county, to be called Anoka county :

"Beginning at the southeast corner of section thirtysix, township thirty-one, range twenty-two west ; thence west on the township line between townships thirty and thirty-one, to the middle of the Alississippi river ; thence up said river to the township line between ranges twentyfive and twenty-six ; thence north along the ttbundary line between the counties of Ramsey and Sherburne to the south boundary Hue of the county of Isanti ; thence east along the boundary line between the counties of Isanti arid Ramsey, to the boundary line betweeen the counties of Chisago and Ramsey; and thence south along the boundary line between the counties of Ramsey, Chisago and Washington, to the place of beginning." The seat of justice was fixed at Anoka.

The governor appointed as the first board of commissioners of Anoka county, E. H. Davis, J. P. Austin and Silas O. Lum. These commissioners met at Anoka June 30, 1857, and appointed the following county officers : Sheriff, James C. Frost ; treasurer, James M. McGlauflin ; coroner, Joseph C. Varney. At another meeting July 6, 1857, Daniel Robbins was appointed assessor for district number one, Francis Peteler for district number two, and S. L. Guice for district number three. The county contained but three election precincts : St. Francis, Columbus and Anoka. Eight townships were created : Anoka, Watertown, Round Lake, Bethel, Columbus, St. Francis, Oak Grove and Centreville. The name of Watertown was soon after changed to Dover and a little later to Ramsey.

A Tilt With King Alcohol

Temperance sentiment Was very strong in Minnesota in territorial days. The first territorial legislature (1849) passed a prohibitory liquor law, but this act was nullified by the supreme court on the somewhat extraordinary ground that it had been submitted to the people, and that congress had vested the law-making power in the legislature and not in the voters of the territory. After this decision was promulgated public drinking saloons began to manifest their existence in various parts of the territory. When the sherifif of Nicollet county seized a quantity of liquor, and was arrested and put upon trial for this act, public sentiment showed itself very strongty in his favor. At Faribault two barrels of whiskey were destroyed by citizens in April, 1855. A saloon was wrecked at Winona, and two others destroyed at Mankato during the same year, by residents of those places.

The indignation which greeted the estabhshment of the "Empire Saloon" in Anoka by Daniel D. Dudley in the spring of 1858 can readily be imagined. It was located on west Main street on the lot west of the "Shuler building." A public meeting was called to meet In the school house on the 5th of April to discuss measures for ridding the town of the intruder. Speeches were made by various citizens, some advocating moral suasion, and others advising a resort to force, m case of the failure of milder means. A committee of seven was appointed to wait on the saloon keeper and learn whether he could be induced to close his establishment. This embassy failed to produce any result, and a month later resort was had to heroic measures. A vigilance committee with faces disguised broke in the door with a heavy timber (or a tamarac pole as some say) on the night of May 6th and seized, gagged and bound Dudley as he lay asleep en a sofa. They then proceeded to break open casks and bottles, and very soon the liquor merchant's stock in trade had all been spilled in the street.

Dudley swore out warrants for the arrest of James McCann, A. P. Lane, Benjamin Shuler and eight or ten others, charging them with the destruction of his property. His attorneys were J. B. Sanborn of St. Paul for trial before R. M. Johnson, justice of the peace. The prisoners had been allowed to go on their own recognizance, and great diflficulty had been experienced in getting them all together again at one time, causing numerous delays and postponements. When the trial finally began A. P. Lane made a vigorous plea against reopening the case, and the proceedings dragged intolerably. Finally Benjamin Shuler got on his feet and made a motion to adjourn, which motion lie proceeded to put to a vote of the spectators. The astonished justice rapped for order, but Shuler declared the motion carried, and the crowd, including the prisoners, filed out of the court room. Attorney Lawrence looked 'stern and Attorney Sanborn was convulsed with laughter, but the proceedings had been efifectually broken up and do not appear to have been resumed.

Dudley cautiously recommenced business at the old stand and continued to serve his patrons until May ii, 1859, when his saloon caught fire and was burned to the ground. John S. McGlauflin's house which stood twelve feet wes;t had the siding all burned off on the exposed side and was only saved by extraordinary efforts on the part of the citizens. The site of the burned saloon remains vacant to this day. No one doubted that the fire had been set purposely. Dudley's wrath was terrible. He is said to have sworn that he v/ould burn the town. Two months later, on the 14th of July, the Methodist church, then nearing completion and awaiting its steeple and some inside furnishings, was totally destroyed bv fire. Many members of the Methodist denomination had been active in their opposition to Dudley, and some of his associates were believed to have set fire to the church in retaliation.

But the war was not yet over. Dudley moved into the barn on the rear end oi his lot, and began selling whiskey in jugs. Some time later he was arrested on a charge of stealing from Thomas Dailey a hog which had just been butchered, and stayed in jail several months awaiting the next session of the district court. At* the trial his attorney, Mr. Sanborn, made the plea that he had already served a sui^cient sentence even

Beginning Ok The Civil War

Notwithstanding these interruptions Dudley resumed operations again. Then his uncle died, and Dudlev put in a claim against the estate in the shape of a note ostensibly signed by the deceased. Instead of having his claim, allowed, Dudley was placed under arrest, charged with forging the note. With public opinion at white hpqt. the chances were all against the prisoner. What the character of the evidence was does not fully appear, but he was bundled off to state's prison without much delay. After his release he visited the town, apparently with the intention of again taking up his residence therein ; but friends pointed out to him the hostile reception he would certainly receive, and recommended other fields of labor. He finally took their advice and gave up the contest.

For a considerable time thereafter any traffic in intoxicants which may have gone on was conducted with a good deal of secrecy, and it was a number of years before any one had the temerity to open a public saloon in Anoka.

Beginning Of The Civil War

Immediately after his inauguration President Lincoln called a conference of the governors of loyal states to consult upon the measures to be taken for the preservation of the Union, and when the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter was received Governor Ramsey was in Washington. The president decided to issue a call for 75,000 troops. Gov. Ramsey immediately offered a regiment of Minnesota men, which was promptly accepted, and he telegraphed to Lieutenant Governor Ignatius

Donnelley and also to Ex-Governor Willis A. Gorman the substance of his offer. Gorman, who was a Mexican War veteran, was in Anoka attending the session of the district court, which was being held in the "Shuler building." When the telegram reached St. Anthony it was placed in the hands of a messenger who carried it on horseback with all speed to Anoka. A recess of the court was taken, Gorman addressed the assembled people, and called for volunteers. Aaron Greenwald was the first to- record his name, and in all probability he was the first man in America to volunteer for the defense of the Union under the president's call. James W. Groat and five others were enrolled at the same time. Josias R. King and others signed a similar paper agreeing to enlist at a meeting- in St. Paul on the evening of the same day.

Marcus O. Butterfield, an Anoka attorney, made an attempt to organize the volunters at Anoka and vicinity into a company. He secured the services of Francis Peteler, a Mexican War veteran then living at Round lake, as drill master, and the men were drilled in the St. Lawrence Hotel. The company was not accepted, but Aaron Greenwald, James W. Groat, Thomas D. Henderson, Alonzo C. Ha}-den, William E. Cundy, Matthew F. Taylor, Charles Leathers, James Mahoney and others joined other companies of the First Regiment.

Soon after the departure of the First Regiment Mr. Peteler obtained permission from the Secretary of War to organize a company of sharpshooters from among the Minnesota frontiersmen. The test of membership was five shots oft'-hand at 125 yards. Captain Peteler chose as his first lieutenant Benedict Hippler, of Dayton, who had served several years in the German army. The men were drawn from all over the state. Owen Evans from the Quaker settlement in Bethel went into the company as a corporal and became its captain before the close of the war. James A. Kerr, and his two brothers, William S. and John, Henry C. McGaffey, David P. Craig and Joseph Pierce were also members.

Lieutenant Colonhi. Francis Peteler

This company was expected to form Company F of the First U. S. Sharpshooters, but having reached Washington Oct. lo, 1 86 1, the commanding officers were so greatly pleased with them that they were mustered in as Company A of a Second Regiment, of which Captain Peteler became Lieutenant Colonel.

In Aug'ust, 1862, came the news of a terrible massacre by Sioux Indians in the frontier counties of Minnesota. August 19 an attack was made on New Ulm, btit the Indians were beaten back. The same night Judge Flandrau arrived in the .town with over a hundred armed volunteers, and vigorous preparations were made for the defence of the place.

On the 20th, 2ist and 22d of August furious attacks were made on Fort Ridgeley, but the Indians were repulsed. By this time Little Crow, who was in command of the hostile Sioux, had augmented his force to about one thousand warriors, and on the 23d made a second attack on New Ulm, but was agam repulsed.

Meanwhile the whole population of southwestern Minnesota had been murdered or had fled to the larger settlements eastward. Bands of Sioux too small or lacking the desire to kill, penetrated a? far east as Wright and Hennepin counties, helping themselves to goods and provisions abandoned by panic stricken settlers.

Little Crow had dispatched embassies to the Sioux bands of the far west and even to his old time enemies, the Mille Lacs Chippeways, with the word that now or never was the time to strike for the recovery of their lost hunting grounds. What the response of the Chippeways might have been, had New LTlm fallen, no man can say. At all events the younger Chippeways were excited and quarrelsome, and it was from this direction that Anoka county was principally exposed to attack.

removed their families to Anoka and Minneapolis. Imagination hid a hostile savage behind every tree and thicket, and many ludicrous spectacles were presented in the precipitate flight. One settlement in Grow was forgotten, and its people only heard of the ()utl)reak after the greater part of the county had been depopulated. The news reached them while a hunting party of Chippeways were in the vicinity, and they beat a hasty retreat to Anoka. At Dayton the people crowded upon a flat boat in such numbers that it could not be pushed off, which was probably a fortunate circumstance, as it would doubtless have sunk, if it had ever reached deep water with such a load.

After the first fright was over the people began to return to their homes, but in most communities they assembled nightly in the strongest log house, and posted guards while they slept.

The Eighth Regiment

In the fall of 1862, John S. Cady, a man who had greatly endeared himself to the people of Anoka county, began to organize a company of volunteers in response to a fresh call from the government. This company was destined to become Company A of the Eighth Regiment. Major Hippler, of Colonel Peteler's Sharpshooters, was secured as drill-master, and rapid progress was made in putting the company in condition for service. Before the regiment had been mustered in, its several companies were hastily sent to the frontier to protect the settlers against the Sioux, and were occupied in patrolling the western counties until the spring of 1864. In this service the captain of Company A lost his life.

At the time of his death Captam Cady was accompanied by Edward S. Clinch and Elias W. Pratt. The Indians had stolen some horses at Silver Creek in Wright county, and a detachment of Company A had followed their trail to Kandiyohi lake. Here several of them were overtaken by Captain Cady and his two companions. In an effort to escape, one of them galloped through an exposed spot clinging to the further side of his horse. As he passed, the Sioux fired under the horse's neck, killing Captain Cady instantly. A return fire hit the horse in the jaw and made him unmanageable, but the Indian escaped by jumping into the brush. Clinch and the Sioux. The regiment marched to the Missouri river, where it joined General Sully's command. A severe battle took place at Killdeer Mountain, and then the Indians v^^ere pursued through the Bad Lands and into Montana and Wyoming, and thoroughly whipped and demoralized. In October tlie regiment was ordered south, and saw a great deal of severe service before the close of the war.

Captain Cady S Resignation

CAPTAIN CADY S RESIGNATION. Capt. Cady resigned the office of school district treasurer upon taUng coininand of his company. This document in Capt. Cady's hand writing was discovered in a rubbish heap in 1904. The original is now in the possession of J. S. Cady Post, G. A. R. (Reduced to abouthalf size.)

1863. McLaughlin, Charles E. McClellan, Acton. McKenzie, Benjamin. Merrill, Abraham A., sergeant. Morton, Thurman W. Moses, Charles A. Mountain Benjamin. Murphy. James ±<\, corporal. Nutter, Jarvis. Parker, Henry L. Payne, John. Pemberton, Henry A.