Blue Earth County, Minnesota - Chapter 15: Legislative Aid Foe Settleesevents Op 1863 and 1864, 1901

Immediately after the great massacre the gov- of the districts held their elections, but some negcrnor convened the State Legislature in extra lected so to do.

f^ession. On September 26th, 1862, a bill was The roster of the Shelby company has been passed appropriating $25,000.00 for the relief preserved. The captain received his commission of the refugees, hundreds of whom were widows on Febr. 7th, 1863, but the company was not and orphans, and others, who had lost their mustered in until the forenoon of June 8th, all, were also, wholly destitute. On the 29th 1863, when a big dinner was served in the door of September 1862, a Militia Act was passed by yard of Nathaniel Stevens to all the members, the same Legislature, which required every able According to the roster there were seven lumberbodied male between the ages of 18 years and men, one artist, one mechanic and forty-three 45 years, with certain necessary exceptions, to farmers in the company. The muster roll with be listed in military companies for the defence age and rank was as follows : of the frontier. These lists were to be filed with ^S<^

The rosters of the other companies are lost. Falls to Ft. Randall Dakota Territory. A list of the officers has been kept in a few About January 1, 1863, a secert society called eases. The principal ofEicers were for instance "Knights of the Forest" was organized at a at Vernon Center: Lucius Terry, Capt., Theodore law office in Block 14 of Mankato. Its pur- Sowers, 1st Lieut., F. C. Mickerson, 2nd Lieut.; pose was to have both Sioux and Winnebago at Sterling, H. Miller, Captain; at South Bend, Indians removed from Minnesota. Sublodges Capt., B. Y. Coffin, 1st Lieut. D. D. Evans, were organized at Garden City and Meridan 2nd Lieut. Edward Jones;, at Butternut Valley, and perhaps elsewhere. Through the work of Captain, Jenkins Williams, 1st Lieut. David J. this society and the persistant clamor of the Williams, 2nd Lieut. David J. Davis, Jr. at Man- people all over the state, congress was finally krtto there were two companies, one composed induced during February and March 1863, to wholly of Germans of which Wm. Bierbauer was at pass acts for the removal of both tribes from first Captain, but in June, when Mr. Bierbauer was Minnesota to Nebraska and South Dakota. We promoted to be major of the Regiment, J. C. have already detailed the circumstances of the Haupt became captain, Phillip Hodapp, 1st departure of the Sioux. A number of the Lieut, and J. Wm. Hoerr 2nd Lieutenant. The friendly Sioux, though, were permitted to locate officers of the other Mankato company were: upon claims in the vicinity of the present vill- Captain, J. W. Batchelder, 1st Lieut. B. F. age of Morton. On April 25, 1863, two days Hotaling, 2nd Lieutenant Daniel Haire. The after the departure of the Sioux, the Winne- Danville and east Mapleton company did not bagoes were officially notified by their agent, elect officers until the fall, when Nelson Gray in a council convened for the purpose, of the was made captain. decision of the government, to remove them to a every few days and there were one or two drills and that it was cold and barren, without timof the whole regiment at Mankato. In Sep- ber and not fit for habitation. They blamed old holding a term of court, and applied for Naturalization papers, with intent to file on claims. The judge refused their application and the people had Moore arrested. Chief Winneshiek with 200 to 300 followers concluded to rebel, and retiring to Lake Elj'sian defied the authorities. This old chief was a strong character and the leader of the conservation party in the tribe, who were bitterly opposed to every innovation of civilized life, unless it may be whiskey. He always went clothed in Indian garb and generally carried an old spear rather than a gun. Because of his opposition to everything pertaining to civilization he had been deposed from the head chieftainship.

The dishonesty of the whites, both in the distribution of government annuities and in sale of goods by traders, had much to do with fostering this ugly feeling among the Indians. It seems that in the distribution of the last goods sent by the government to this county for -the Winnebagoes, 1,420 blankets had been sent, but only 500 were delivered to the Indians; 1150 yards of blue cloth sent, only 275 yards delivered; 990 yards of gray cloth sent, only 330 yards delivered; 2756 yards of plaid linsey sent, none delivered; 28601^ yards of cloth sent, none delivered; foiir dozen plaid wool shawls sent, none delivered; three dozen extra blanket shawls sent, none delivered. The goods not delivered were estimated as worth $10,000. A citizen of Mankato told the writer of finding a line bolt of blue cloth above mentioned in an attic or shed and running a knife through it, so the thief might not profit by his theft. The authorities were not the only ones to blame, but many of the employees and others thought it no sin to steal from Indians. This is but a sample of what was being done at every Agency and at most every payment.

Justus C. Eamsey, brother of governor Eamsey, was appointed by the government as agent for the removal of the Winnebagoes. A camp was formed to receive them on the river bank, just back of the Hubbard Mill in Mankato, which was designated "Camp Porter," in honor of John J. Porter, who had been most active m their removal. The first installment of these Indians arrived on' May 5, and numbered about 100.

The next day (ila}- 6) the 'Winnebagoes under Chief Winneshiek, killed two tSioux spies, who had come to visit them at Lake Elysian, and mutilated their bodies in a shocking manner. Another Sioux, who had married a A\'innebago squaw and had lived with the tribe all winter, left them saying he was going to tell the Sioux. They followed him to the Agency and Idlled him, also, and dismembered his body in a most horrible manner. They cut out his tongue and hung it on a pole, because he had said he would tell the Sioux. Another took his scalp and stretched it on a hoop attached to a pole, another took his head, another an arm. etc. The chief Little Priest cut off his finger nails with strips of skin attached and tied them about his ov/n wrists. A party of about twenty young bucks decked in paint and feathers, with virreaths of weeds and grass on their heads, brought the two Sioux scalps and the tongue, adorned with gay ribbons and fastened on poles, to JIankato with them and paraded along main and Front streets yelling and hooting to the accompaniment of half a dozen Indian drums. This was done to curry favor with the M'hites and make them think they were the enemies of the Sioux.

By May 9 the number of the Winnebagoes at Camp Porter had increased to over 800. On this date a company of soldiers were sent after chief Winneshiek and his party. On this date, also, the first detachment of the Indians took their departure from Mankato; 405 embarking on the steamer Pomeroy and 355 on the Eolian. On the first boat the war party with the two Sioux scalps embarked. They sat in a circle on the upper deck with the two scalps hung on poles in the center, pounding on their tomtoms and chanting a wild war song, their half naked bodies besmeared with mud and paint and their long unkempt hair full of grease and long feathers, a very picture of savagery, and thus they passed down the river. A great contrast were they to the conduct of the con- Terted Sioux.

On May 10, 1863, 338 more Winnebagoes departed on the Pomeroy, and on the 14 of May about three hundred of Winneshiek's band left on the same boat. The balance of the tribe left in wagons on May 17 for St. Peter, where they took a boat. At Mankato there was much

Thus the last Indian left Blue Earth county and a new era dawned upon its history. Heretofore with six- townships and a half of its Tery best territory in the hands of the Indians the county's growth had been seriously stunted, but now that this great hampering stone of savagery was removed its progress and prosperity were assured. Settlers began rushing into this rich vacant land at once, even before the government had time to bring it to market.

During the fall and winter of 1862-3 ^ companies of soldiers were stationed over the county. At Mankato a number of companies were maintained, because of the Sioux prisoners. At South Bend one or two companies were kept. At Tivoli Company B of the 7th Minn., Capt. Curtis was stationed as protection against the Winnebagoes. At Judson village was Captain Dane's company (E of the 9th). At Garden City a company of the 10th, at Vernon another company of the 10th, and at Horeb church, in the present town of Cambria a portion of Company K of 9th Minn. Early in April company B of the 9th was sent from Judson to St. Peter and thence to. Hutchinson, while company D of the 9th took their place at Judson. This company was noted for its skill in fort building. At Judson they constructed a very vmique sod fort the remains of which may still be seen about eighty rods northeast of the Railway station, tiudge Lorin Cray was a member of this company. About midsummer the fort was aban- . doned, and the company sent to Martin County. Captain Sullivan's company, also constructed an excellent pallisade fort* at Vernon.

In the spring of 1863 Gen. Sibley began concentrating the troops at Camp Pope, about twenty-five miles west of Ft. Ridgely, preparatory to a campaign against the hostile Sioux in Dakota, and during April and May most of the soldiers in Blue Earth County were sent hither. Mankato was made the base of military supplies and several hundred wagon loads of goods were brought there at once from the various military depots in the valley. The summer was spent by Gen. Sibley in a formidable expedition against the hostile Sioux through Dakota to tlie Missouri River. Other than impressing the Indian with the thought of how big a war party the paleface could get up, it did not accomplish much.

Marauding bands of Indians made their appearance throughout the settlements, very early in the spring. On April 16, 1863, a small Scandinavian settlement on the south branch of the Watonwan, twenty-one miles beyond Madelia, was raided by them, and Ole Erickson, a member of Co. E, ^th, Minn., Christopher Gilbrantson (a boy twelve years old), Gilbrand Palmer, Gabriel Erlingren and Ole Palmerson were killed; and Jas. Small of Co. E, 7th Minn., Mrs. Torgeson, Simeon Roland, wife and a child were wounded. All summer long Indians would be seen every other day, here and there along the frontier, and every little while some settler would be killed or his horses stolen, and the whole country was kept in , a ferment of fear and excitement continually, A line of military posts were maintained along the frontier from Ft. Ridgely to the Iowa line, and scouts kept daily going back and forth between the posts. But all did not avail, for the skulking savages would crawl easily through these lini's, hiding in the brush and tall grass. Every day or two some one saw, or thought ho saw, (which was just as good), Indians here and there in Blue Earth County. In Lime town, Jamestown, at the mouth of the Blue Earth, in LeEay, in Ceresco, at Vernon, in Cambria, South Bend, Shelby and elsewhere Indians were reported during the summer and the militia were kept busy. So unsettled were matters that very little farming was done in the County.

When on one of these raids Little Crow was shot and killed on July 3, 1863, near HuiJiinson, but this did not effect the raids, for the Indians are not dependent upon chiefs. It wa? a squad of Blue Earth County boys belonging to Co. E, 9th Minn., stationed at Hutchinson, who went after the body of Little Crow.

About the middle of June 1863 E. P. Evans of Garden City, C. A. Warner of Chaska anS jMr. Thomas of Washington were appointed appraisers of the Winnebago lands. By the fwvisions of Law, 179 of the 334 sections in ir county were to be sold on bids, leavingfty-five sections for preemption. The em-.- rants continued to pour into the hmd froiu II sides. Some had houses ready built on leir wagons, which they occupied, while Ijreakig the land. The houses, which had been left t the Agency, were all quickly taken possession f, as were, also, the log cabins, which had been acated by the chiefs and halfbreeds. The settlers of Medo, at a picnic held in a rove on the banks of the Little Cobb, on July. , 1863, began to take steps to organize a 3wn. It was decided at first to call the town Oak Grove," but it was discovered that there fas a town of that name already in the State. )n August 21, this name was changed to "Camridge." Again it was discovered that this lame, also, had been appropriated, and hence, fhen on Sept. 2, 1863, the County Commisioners came to formally organize the town, its Id Indian name of "Medo" (small potatoes) ras again adopted. On the same date the old own of Eice Lake was organized imder the [ame of MeClellan (after Gen. i^IcClellan). The first election in Medo was held Sept. 19, ,863, at the cabin of Hiram Stratton, when the ollowing persons were chosen its first superisors: A. W. Barron, Chairman, S. B. Stebbins nd A. Bagley with Hiram Stratton as Clerk, ^he first election for the town of MeClellan was leld on the same date at the residence of Lucius )yer, when the following persons -n-ere elected : Supervisors, Asa White, J. Y. Colwell and jucius Dyer; Clerk, Henry Foster; Treasurer, I. 0. Bartlett; Assessor, Chas. Manaige; Jusices J. L. Alexander and J. W. Colwell, Contables Aaron Foyles and Alexander Payer. At he same time the two towns were made the 3th Militia District and each a separate school listrict. At the general election held ?s^ovember 3, 'ledo cast 10 votes, 8 Eepublican and two Demoratic; and ^MeClellan 28 votes, 15 Democratic nd 13 Eepublican. The total vote of the ounty was 1,139. Our County went Eepublican y about 250 majority, but the great fight was n the Legislative candidates. Blue Earth and je Sueur Counties being then united as one -legislative District. The Democrats won, J. J. 'orter defeating B. Y. Coffin for the senate,

The Commissioners appointed by the government to pass on the claims for damages by reason of the Sioux massacre met at ilankato from the 16th to the 24tli of July, 186:5. In all 2940 claims were filed, amounting to $2,600,- 000 and of these $1,3:)0,000 were allowed. As the appropriation was only $200,000, and all expenses had to be paid out of this, including a salary of $2500 to each Commissioner, and the friendly Indians had to be given quite a slice from it, the percentage paid to the claimants was quite small, and from fifteen to twenty-five per cent of this had to be paid to attorneys for collecting it. The great bulk of tiie settlers who were real sufferers, i-eceivcd but small compensation for their losses. Some few doubtless, whose claims were overstrong, may have gotten more than they desen-ed, but not so with the great majority. For while the meek may inherit the earth, they are not always so sure of getting their share of government bounties of political preferments.

Fourth of July celebrations were held this year at Shelbyville, Crystal Lake and elsewhere. The Shelbyville one was most prominent with Judge ^Yilcox, J. S. Bachckler, Eev. J. C. Conrad and Eev. Eichardson as speech makers.

An open winter and dry summer were not favorable to a good stage of water in the river, and navigation was not as good as the year before. The Jcnnette Eoberts was the first boat on April 3, and she was met at the Mankato levee by over 1,000 soldiers anrl citizens, who gvivc her a royal welcome, their cheers ei'hoing far among the hills. The main traffic was the transportation of troops and military supplies. Over 60,000 bushels of wheat were carried from Mankato alone. The Flora was a new boat in the trade this year.

Since the death of ~SIt. Hensley in December, 1S62, the Independent had been without an editor. ^Ir. Gunning was a good printer, but not adapted for editorial work. John IST. Hall, who was then a very prominent and active leader in the Eepublican party, did most of the work. In July, 1863 the paper was sold to Chas. H. Slocum, who changed its name to

The last of May of this same year Mr. Wise of the "Record" purchased of the Baptist Society a frame building they had been using as a church in block twelve, Mankato, which he occupied with his paper about the first of June. This location has ever since been the home of "The Eecord" and its successor "The Review."

In the spring of 1863, the Catholic people of Mankato and vicinity began agitating the establishment - of a parochial school, and a society was organized, which by midsummer, had a membership of nmety. The initiation fee was $2.00 and the tuition price fixed at $3.50 a year. Through the untiring efforts of Father Sommereisen the Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee, Wis., were induced to open a school that fall at Mankato. A portion of the church was fitted up for the purpose.

So far the Protestants had no regular church building in Mankato. This year the Presbyterians began to urge earnestly the building cf a church edifice, and purchased the lot now occupied by the Security Flats for the purpose.

This year Bierbauer and Eockey purchased the South Bend Flour mill and also the large sawmill on the Bhie Earth in West Mankato, the machineries of which they removed to buildings they had erected for the purpose on the corner of Front and Eock streets, in Mankato, where they conducted an extensive milling business for years.

On June 24th, 1863, the Mapleton steam saw mill of Middlebrook Bros, was burned, leaving that section of the county destitute of all mill privileges. On Aug. 1st, 1863, Wm. H. Blackmer of Shelljyville was appointed deputy Provost Marshall for Blue Earth County and on his enlisting in the army a month later J. T. Williams was made his successor.

At this time the great civil war was calling for every efl'ort to save the Union. On the return of Gen. Sibley in September, 1863, the government ordered the 7th, 9th, and 10th, Jlinn., Eegiments South. There was gloom and sorrow in many a home over the parting and, not only because of the danger of southern battlefields to which the boys were going, but also, because of the danger to helpless wife and children, and aged parents left at home, exposed to the raids of the hundreds of skulking savages, still on the war path.

On Sept. 30th, the ladies of Mankato prepared a big banquet for the soldiers before their departure. But the government was not satisfied with sending these regiments into the smoke of the great conflict but more men were called for, and the dread specter of those days, the draft, was hovering over every home, where there was a man or boy left. War meetings were held again this fall in every neighborhood through the county, and the towns whose quotas of enlisted men were not full, were making every effort to fill them and escape the draft. Doctors and lawyers agreed to give their services free, merchants offered barrels of flour to the families of such as would enlist. High School boys banded themselves to saw wood for the soldiers families. There were many enlistments made over the county, most of whom went into the second Eeg. Minn., Cavalry.

Until late in the fall the government had sent no supplies to the new Winnebago and Sioux reservations, far out on the Missouri, and they had no food for the winter. James B. Hubbell of Mankato took the contract, and about the first of November, 1863, he started with a long train of supplies. The perils of winter storms and hostile Indians was so great, that many belonging to the military escort and teamsters furnished by the governraent. mutinied near Crystal Lake. The burrs were, taken off the wagon wheels at night and hid, and many men deserted. Mr. Hubbell, with his wonted push and energy, got a number of Blue Earth County farmers to help him and in spite of every obstacle delivered the supplies at their destination, an almost incredible feat. The adventures of this expedition read like a romance, but are outside this history. It is said the contractor received nine cents a pound for the transportation, amounting to about $54,000.00. The expedition made the distance of 280 miles in eighteen days.

In February, 1864, J. A. Wiswell had a bill enacted by the Legislature changing the name of the town of Watonwan to "Garden City.'^ A bill was, also, passed authorizing Blue Earth County to vote on the proposition to issue bonds to build the following bridges: $6,000.00 over Blue Earth at Mankato, $1,300.00 at Garden City, $1,200.00 at Vernon, $1,500.00 over the Le Sueur on Agency road. At the special election in April the measure was defeated by a vote of 382 to 306.

The Legislature had, also, authorized Mankato to issue $10,000.00 in bonds to build a new school house and the bonds were voted on April 2nd, 1864. During the winter of 1863-4 there was much excitement over the alleged discovery of coal on the Big Cottonwood by Prof. Eames, a geologist from Indiana. Th's in the summer of 18'64, brought on an epidemic of coal discoveries in Blue Earth County.

There was, also, much talk in our county, and especially in Mankato, regarding the "St. Paul and Sioux City," and the "Winona and St. Peter" railways. During the summer surveying parties of these railways were at work in the county.

In March, 1864, the County Commissioners attached the south tier of sections in Town lOS, Range twenty-five to LoEay and the south tier of sections in town 108, range twenty-six to Mankato, and in May the South tier of sections in Town 108, Eange twenty-seven were attached to South Bend and Mankato. On May 2nd, 1864, David Wilcox was appointed county Superintendent of schools at a salary of $200.00 a year.

The winter of 1863-4, after a few weeks of severe weather during the holidays broke up early and some seeding was done in February. A? there was but little snow or rain the river was rather low. The first boat at Mankato was the Jeanette Eoberts on April 16th. A new boat called "Mankato" was put on the Jlinnesota late this year. The citizens of the county seat were so pleased with the compliment done them in the matter of name, that they presented the boat next spring with a new $30.00 flag. The Eockey and Bierbauer new steam fiour mill began operations in April.

On January 15th, 1864, J. T. WilHams resigned as County Treasurer and E. D. B. Porter was appointed in his stead, and on March 2fith J. J. Lewis of Sterling was appointed County Commissioner in place of Xelson Gray, who resigned. During May and June there was a great immigration into the Winnebago lands.

In June, 1864, occurred the disastrous battle of Guntown, Miss., in which the 9th Minnesota suffered severelj^, causing great gloom and sorrow in many a Blue Earth County home as two or three of its companies had been largely recruited there.

With the opening of spring in 1864, the Indians began their raids into the settlements, mostl)' for the purpose of stealing horses. The friendly Indians laid much of the blame of these continued hostilities to false reports circulated among the Warring bands by a certain Indian named Enoch, to the effect that the whites had hung all the Indian prisoners. That the woods in the vicinity of Mankato were full of their skeletons. This so exasperated their relatives among the hostiles that they made these raids in quest of revenge. On May 18th, 1864, a hostile band raided a Settlement near Madelia and killed a boy named Jorgenson, and wounded a soldier. On May 31st a man named Dodge discovered an Indian in the woods near his home in South Bend, and with half a dozen soldiers of Company M. 2nd Cav., then stationed at South Bend village, he went in search and found him seated on a log smoking and one of the soldiers (a half breed Chippeway) shot and killed him. Almost ever\' week during the whole summer Indians were seen here and there along the frontier and a number of whites and Indians were killed.

About four o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, August 11th, 1864, ISToble G. Eoot, with his two sons, Edward, aged 13 years, and Isaac S., 11 years years old, was in his field in section four of Shelby stacking some oats. Two Indians suddendly emerged from the timber near by and were upon him before he was aware of their presence. The main purpose of the Indians was to steal his horses, hnt Mr. Eoot was a brave man and faced the foe in defence of his property. One of the Indians immediately shot him in the breast inflicting a mortal wound. Seeing their father fall, the two boys slipped down from the load and ran for the brush. One of the Indians fired after them and hit Edward in tlie shoulder making a painful, but not very serious wound. The savages then cut the horses loose from the wagon and mounting them hurried off to the west. Edward now came back to his father, whom he found still alive and conscious, procured water for him and watched beside him for an hour or two, until he died. Other members of the family rushed off to the neighbors for help. In the meantime the two Indians crossed to the west side of the Blue Earth and were joined by five or six others. On the knoll of the old cemetery near the center of section six of Shelby they found some horses grazing, and, by means of a long rope held at either end by the two mounted Indians, they drove them toward a fence to coral them. On the forty acres just west of the cemetery Jesse Mack, James H. Hindman and Cornelius Pox were loading some loose grain, the former on the load and the two latter on the ground pitching. The Indians discovering they had a span of horses, started for them at once. The whites saw them coming and Hindman climbed upon the load, but before Fox could do so. Mack had prodded the team to a gallop, so he clung to the rear. It was a mad race across the field toward Willow Creek. In crossing a dead furrow Mr. Hindman was thrown clear off the load. He picked himself up quickly still clinging to his pitchfork and started to run, but when he got the dirt out of . his eyes, he saw that he was going towards the Indians. It did not take him- long to change his direction, but the Indians paid no attention to him, as they were after the horses. Mr. Mack finally won the race and hid his horses in a grove by Oliver Mather's house. He procured there Wm. McQueen's gun, with which to defend himself and team. The Indians in their chase after Jesse Mack discovered some- horses tied around the house of Gustavus McCollum on the south of northwest quarter of section 13 of Pleasaiit' Mound, on west side of Willow Creek. A number of neighbors were gathered there for a social time and a supper. When the Indians apl)eared on the scene there was a great scattering. Jesse Thomas got hold of an old rusty rifle, which would not go off, and by flourishing it managed to scare away the Indians, while he and his wife mounted their own horses and rode away. The In- ' dians managed to secure two or three horses here and hurried off to the south. About a mile up Willow Creek they spied Chas. C. Mack, usually called "Squire Mack," the father of Jesse Mack, cutting hay along the west bank of a small branch of the creek, near the west line of section 23, with a span of horses and a mower. Before he was aware the foe were upon him and shot him dead. The Hindman children, who witnessed the tragedy from a distance, said the Squire had quite a quarrel with the Indians before he was shot. The horses ran a few rods until the mower was broken and then were captured by the Indians. Each Indian being now supplied, with a horse they galloped off to the west. When they reached Mr. Hindman's house on the northeast corner of section 27 of Pleasant Mound, they stopped and broke into it just as the children escaped by a back door and hid in a slough near by. Mrs. Hindman had not returned from the McCollum quilting party. The Indians ransacked the house from cellar to garret ; carried out the feather beds and emptied them in the yard; the flour they threw out with the feathers. They took the works out of the clock and carried them off as jewelry. They also appropriated whatever suited their fancy, and destroyed most of what they left.

Mr. Hindman, whom we left making rapid progress from the Mack field after being thrown from the load am'ong the blood thirsty savages,' fled into the brush of Willow Creek. After following the head of the stream in the direction of his home about half a mile he ventured up on the bank, where there was a little clearing. There looking straight at him and only a few rods away were those same Indians. Hindman was too much astonished and out of breath to run so he and the Indians stood facing each other. One of the savages drew a big knife- and came straight towards him. He still had his pitchfork and promptly brought it to a charging position. When within a few feet of the fork tines the Indian halted and he and Hindman looked each other in the eye for a few moments. The Indian did not like the looks of the pitchfork and concluded to retreat and Hindman came to the same conclusion and after he had gotten an opportunity to start it did not take him long to leave that neighborhood. He lied down the creek to the home of Mr. Mack, where he found his own pony, which he had ridden there that morning. Mounting him he made all speed to his home which he reached after sundown. He found the house deserted and plundered. Eemounting his pony he started full speed down the road for the McCollum home. When he had gone a little ways his pony looked sharply to one side and neighed. Hindman peered in the direction indicated through the twilight and there not over 300 feet away were those Indians again. It is needless to say tha.4 the pony did not have time to either neigh or look sideways again for many miles.

Proceeding westward they next broke into the home of Esv. tsaac Gardiner, a preacher of the United- Brethren church, who lived on the northeast quarter of section 20. Gardiner and his family fled from the house on the approach of the Indians and escaped southward. The Indians carried off with them a lot of good clothing they found here and continued their retreat westward.

The excitement in Shelby, Pleasant Mound and Vernon that night was intense. The settlers everywhere deserted their homes. Some fled to Shelbyville; others to "Vernon, where there was a good stockade built around the Smith Hotel, while others still gathered at Mr. Harriman's log house midway between the two villages. Early next morning the Shelby militia under Capt. Phineas Lattin, mounted and armed with condemned government muskets, started in pursuit of the Indians. They found the body of Squire Mack and sent it back to Vernon. They, also, found the Hindman children, hiding in the slough hack of their pillaged home, where they had passed the night. From here westward by Eev. Gardiner's house and beyond the west line of the county, it was easy to follow the trail, as it was strewn with pillows, quilts and articles of clothing, which the savages had dropped by the way. But far out in Watonwan County the trail was lost and, after continuing the pursuit beyond where St. James now stands, the militia returned. This same day messengers were sent to Mankato and to Fort Eidgely with news of the outrage. Capt. Smith with a squad of eight men of Second cavalry were dispatched from the fort at once. It is claimed Capt. Smith came up with the Indians late in the afternoon and had a brush with them; but they hid in the tall grass of a lake. As there were eight of them, the captain concluded that discretion was the best part of valor, so let them go.

Friday evening B. D. Pay was dispatched to St. Paul as a special envoy to Gov. Miller for military aid. This same Friday evening Major Ed. Bradley left Mankato with a company of mounted militia, who pursued after the Indians about 125 miles, but failed to overtake them. In response to Mr. Pay's appeal Gov. Miller dispatched twenty men of Company K, second Cavalry and twenty men of Brackett's Battalion from Fort Snelling to aid in the pursuit, but the Indians had made good their escape into the Dakota plains long before their arrival.

Immediately after this raid companies of minute men were organized all over the county. At Mankato A. M. Collins was made captain, .1. C Haupt first lieutenant and W. J. Duly, second lieutenant of such a company. At Vernon a company of twenty-two men was organized with A. D. Mason second lieutenant. At Shelbyville a lilce company was formed and at Garden City. Major Evans suggested the idea of getting twenty-five negro hounds to hunt the Indians with.

On the 38th of August, 1864, the men who had enlisted from Blue Earth County in Company C, 11th Minn., Vol., rendezvoused at Mankato preparatory to their departure for Ft. Snelling to enlist. T. E. Potter of Garden City was made their Captain and James Cannon of Mankato- second Lieutenant.