Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 8, 1896

Chapter 8

"I by thee have watched, And heard the murmer tales of iron wars: And thou has talked of sallies and returns, of trenches, tents. Of palisados, frontiers, parapets. Of basilisks, of cannon, Culverine Of prisoners ransomed and of soldiers slain."

The Lawgivers

The fourth State Legislature met .Tan. 7th and adjourmed March 7th. The only acts passed specially relating to this county were first, "An act to provide for the location and construction of a State road from Blue Earth City, in Faribault county, to Mankato in Blue Earth county."

Second. "An act to construct a State I'oad from a point on the road leading from Mankato to Mapleton in Blue Earth county, to Winnebago City, in Faribault county." «-

The legislature assembled in extra session, September 9th, of this year, and had a session of twenty days, and enacted some laws of great importance, but none having any special reference to this county. We were represented in these several sessions, by Guy K. Cleveland in the Senate and B. O. Kempfer in the House.

The Local Legislature

The commissioners met January 7th and had a session of two days. Thomas Blair was elected chairman. They had another meeting April 3d. but the business done was only of a i-outine character, and we shall hasten on to more interesting events.

The Last Of The News

About the 8th of February, Mr. Blackmer, partner of Mr. Hyatt in the publication of the Neu-.t. retired, and Mr. A. Bonwell entered into partnership with Mr. Hyatt, the latter remaining the active editor.

Mr. Blackmer, following the lead of Mr. Botsford, his former confrere, enlisted ia the military service of the United States and not many months after did gallant service in the defense of Port Ridgley, against an attack by the Indians, on the breaking out of the Sioux war. During the fight he was wounded, being shot through the face, but survived. In April following, Mr. Bonwell leased his interest in the News to J. L. Cristie, who had previously been working in the ofBce, and he and Mr. Hyatt became partners in the publication of the paper. On the 19th day of July the name of the paper was changed to The South- West Minnesotian. During the Indian disturbance, about one hundred pounds of the type were melted and run into bullets, as there was a scarcity of lead in that great emergency. It was designed that these tyjae, theretofore speaking to civilized people, through the columns of the paper, should now do ' good service in speaking to savages from the muzzles of well-loaded guns. The paper ceased to be issued for a short time in August, but the publication was resumed and a few more numbers appeared, when in October it ceased finally - its course was run - editors and workmen having all gone, or proposing to go, into the military service.

Mr. Cristie enlisted in a company of thirty-day men, organized in Fillmore county, of this State, and after his discharge therefrom he joined Companj^ H, Minnesota Mounted Rangers, and went with the Sibley expedition, to the Missouri river.

Mr. Hyatt, in December of this year, also enlisted in the military service and became the captain of his company. Our first editors, not only taught, but practiced the duties of patriotism.

During February and March, a memorable revival of religion occurred at Blue Earth City and in the town of Elmore. At Blue Earth City the meetings were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Vaughan, of the United Brethren Church, and in Elmore, by the Rev. Mr. Barnard, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Toward the close of the meetings, the Rev. Mr. Conrad, of the Presbyterian Church, assisted, and other ministers of the gospel took part occasionally during the meetings. Very many at these several places determined to Ifead a new life and became members of the various religious denominations existing here at that time.

This was the first general and important religious awakening which had yet occurred in the county. Large and valuable accessions were made to the several religious bodies, and their future permanence secured. It is gratifying to say that many, who at that time became church members, still, afttir the lapse of many years, continue to fight the good fight and have "kept the faith." And it is for those and those only who continue faithful until the course is finished, that there is laid up a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give in that day.

The district court this year had a session of only one day. The preceding year a session of but one daj' was held. The little business i-eciuired to be done by the courts in this county, during many of the first years, while it might not indicate that this county was a very favorable locality for lawyers, did indicate the non-litigious character of the people and that they were a quiet, orderly class of inhabitants, disposed to do justice toward each other, voluntarily, which was the fact and which was certainly a high recommendation to them. During manj- of the earlier years of the county, the lawyers as a rule, discouraged litigation, and often put themselves to considerable trouble, without fee or reward, to assist their neighbors in settling their disputes amicably if possible and this was very creditable to the lawyers.

-'It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy Upon him who, in hot blood, Hath stepp'd into the law. which is past depth To those that, without heed, plunge into it." -

The Farmer'S Society

An adjourned meeting of the agricultural society was held at Blue Earth City. April 3rd. at which J. A. Latimer was elected president. .1. H. Dunham recording secretary, and Geo. B. Kingsley, treasurer, and various other oftices tilled.

Twenty-one new members were added at this time and it would appear that they gave their notes for the membership fee of one dollar, for a resolution was adopted by the meeting, to the effect, that notes given for membership fees be paid on or before the first da\' of the annual fair.

Another meeting was held at Blue Earth City. July 2d, at which time A. Bon well appears as treasurer. He reports on hand: cash, eleven dollars; notes of 1660. fourteen dollars, and notes of 1862. eighteen dollars.

The fourth annual fair was held at Winnebago City. October 1st and 2d. The premium list was quite a long one. but the premiums awarded appear to have been mainly "diplomas."

The 4th of July was celebrated at Blue Earth City with considerable interest. The Rev. Mr. Paine, of Garden City, delivered the oration. The day was commemorated at Winnebago City also, by a large social gathering in the evening.

On the first day of July President Lincoln called for 600.000 more volunteers for a more vigorous prosecution of the war. and on the 4th day of August a draft was ordered of 300.000 men to serve nine months. The events of the war. the call of the president, the draft ordered, created immense activity and enthusiasm in enlistments and military organization throughout the whole North.

In consequence of the above call for troops and the draft, the board of county commissioners were called together in extra session, on the 12th of August, for the purpose of taking some action on behalf of the county to encourage enlistments in the military service. Many citizens had alifeady enlisted, and every encouragement was given by the people generally, but it was thought on this call for troops that the county, in its corporate capacity, should take some action in this respect. A commendable ambition existed among the people, that our county should furnish its quotas of men without their being drafted, and an earnest effort was made all along, to secure this honor.

The board adopted the following among other resolutions : '-Now. therefore, be it resolved that there be and there is hereby appropriated by the County of Faribault, the sum of one thousand doUars. payable at the rate of twenty dollars as a bounty to each and every resident of said county who shall, after the date hereof enlist in the aforesaid military service of the United States, upon presentation to the board of satisfactory evidence of enlistment, together with proof of residence at the time of enlistment." It was then farther resolved, that in the event that the sum of one thousand dollars should be insufficient to cover aU enlistments, a further sum would be appropriated. This was the first action taken by the county, and in the light of subsequent events this little bounty looks very s.mall, but it was but the first small indication of greater things to be done in the future, noble, generous action in which, we are proud to record the fact, our county never failed or faltered.

On the evening of the 13th of August, a greafwar meeting was held at Blue Earth City, which was attended by people from all parts of the county. Strong resolutions wei-e adopted in favor of the earnest prosecution of the war, eloquent speeches were made, and a committee was appointed to solicit donations of money, grain and provisions, to be distributed among the families of enlisted soldiers. A similar meeting was held about the same time at Winnebago City and everywhere in the county the spirit of the people was aroused to enthusiasm, and recruitinj; and mustering into the service was the business of the day. Those were the times when men and boys and little childi'en sang

Another Comet

"Another comet has made its appearance in our hemisphere and is lieginninj; to attract attention. At present it is near the pole star, but alas! it has no tail. Only think of a comet without a caudal appendagel It reduces the character of a comet in pulilic estimation full fifty per cent at once to be minus that essential attachment, for surely there is no end. What is its object? Comets to be respectable must have all their usual and si>;niflcaut characteristics. We are not to be huinbut'ged with such halfway llnishing up of the cometic properties. We are not going to put up with any half a comet. We want a whole one or none. This one may ac(|uire a tail as it approaches the sun and thus give us an opportunity to relate a tale about it, but at present, it is a miserable, sneaking-looking celestial object, and we shall have little to say about it."

The Golden Reward

The harvest commenced the first of August, and it was a successful one. The crops of wheat, oats and barley were excellent, and all rejoiced that the tiller of the soil had received for«his labors such an abundant reward.

The Great Massacre

A largo harvest had now been mainly secured, immigrants had been pouring into the county, prices of farm produce had gone up, provisions were plenty, many improvements were being made and business had greatly i-evived, when suddenly, while the people were engaged in their pursuits and local military interests with their attention directed to the South, watching the progress of the war, there came to them from the North and West the dreadful tidings of the Sioux Indian outbreak on the Minnesota frontier - a massacre attended with such fiendish murders, outrages and cruelties as the faltering tongue told the story, as were never known before. The people were horrified, confounded. The stoutest hearts failed

The terrible news reached this county on the 19th of August. The slaughter of the frontier settlers, began the daj- before, at the Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies, and at Acton on the 17th. We cannot here enter into an extended account of the massacre. A few extracts from the standard histories of this atrocious and appalling event, will suftice to show its extent and character and attendant incidents. We quote from the History of the Great Mas-

massacre in Minnesota by the Annuity Sioux Indians in August, 1862, marks an epoch in the history of savage races. In their western march across the American continent, in the van of a higher civilization, the native red men have at different times given sad and fearful evidences of their enmity to the dominant white race, but from the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, on the rockbound coast of New England in the winter of 1620, until their descendants had passed the center of the continent and reached the lovely prairies of Minnesota, no exhibition of Indian character had so afflicted and appalled the soul of humanity, as the fearful and deliberate massacre perpetrated by them in August, 1862."

"The scene of butchery and burning, extended all along the settled frontier of Minnesota from the north line of Iowa to the northern part of the State. It was the preconcerted and carefully arranged plan of the savages, to kill all the whites and desolate the whole state to the Mississippi river, and the plan was concocted in profound secrecy."'

"The blow fell like a storm of thunderbolts from the clear bright heavens. Once begun the storm of fierce savage murder in its most horrid and frightful forms, rolled on until night came."

'Down sank the sun, nor ceased the carnage then- Tumultuous horrors rent the midnight air.' And still rolled on from day to day, until the sad catalogue reached the fearful number of two thousand human victims, from the gray haired sire, to the helpless infant of a day, wlio lay mangled or dead on the ensanguined field."

"All we have read of Indian warfare, in the early history of this country is tame in contrast with the atrocities of this massacre. Without warning, in cold blood, beginning with the murder of their best friends, the whole body of the Annuity Sioux commenced a deliberate scheme to exterminate every white person upon the land once occupied by them and by them long since sold to the United States. In carrying out the bloody scheme, they spared neither age nor sex, only reserving for the gratification of their brutal lusts, the few white women, whom the rifle, the tomahawk and the scalping knife spared. Nor did their fiendish barbarities cease with death, as the mutilated corpses of their victims disemboweled, cut limb from limb, or chopped in fragments testified." 'All died - the wailing babe - the shrieking maid, And in the fiood of fire that scathed the glade The roofs went down. While on the billowy bosom of the air Eolled the dread notes of anguish and despair.' "Some idea may be formed of the mass of refugees moving before their savage pursuers. Thirty thousand panic stricken inhabitants at once deserted their homes in the midst of an indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children. All this distracted multitude, on foot, on horseback, with teams of oxen and horses,from the wide area of eighteen counties, were .on the highways and byways, hiding now in sloughs and now in the grass of the open prairies, some famishing for water and some dying for want of food, some barefooted, some in torn garments and some entirely denuded of clothing, some, by reason of wounds, crawling on their hands and dragging their torn limbs after them, were all making their way over a country in which no white man could offer succor or administer consolation."

"Over the entire border of the State and even near the populous towns on the rivers an eye looking' down from above could have feen this human avalanche of thousands of all at,'es and in all possible plights, the rear ranl<s niaiUK'd ami tileedln^' and faint from starvation and loss of blood, continually falling into the hands of iuluiman savajjes l<een and llerce on the trail of the white man."'

It must bo romemembered also, that this portion (Faribault county) of the Minnesota frontier, was peculiarly situated and in extreme danger. All along and but a few miles distant from the north line of the county, lay the Winnebago Indian reservation, and west of the county, a day or two after the outbreak, the country was deserted and open without hinderance to the advance of the Sioux.

And it was rumored that a league had been formed between the Sioux and the Winnebagoes, that the latter should join theformer,if they should succeed in taking New Ulm. And there is but little doubt that had New Ulm fallen. Mankato and St. Peter would have shared the same fate, and that both the Winnebagoes and Chippewas would have joined the Sioux.

On the receipt of the news in this county the most intense excitement was created. What hour the Indians might make a descent on the county was not known. The settlers west of the Blue Earth river began to pour into the villages and hundreds passed on without stopping, eastward, until the whole county west of th^ river was deserted. The inhabitants in their haste and terror gathered up a few things, very few too, and deserting their homes, crops and almost everything, tied for their lives from all parts of the county, and in a very short time after the exodus had began, a majority of the people of the county had left. Some went into the eastern part of the State, some into Iowa. In fact a perfect panic prevailed over the whole country and extended across the Mississippi river into Wisconsin. Our county which numbered about 2, 500 population, was reduced before the exodus ceased, to about one hundred souls. At one time the whole population of the county comprised about forty persons at Blue Earth City, about the same number at Winnebago City and a very fcAv at other points. Those at Blue Earth City who had decided to remain went immediately to work to fortify the old log tavern - the Metropolitan - which had done good service in a like case some years before. It was fitted up by building a palisade of logs around the house at a distance of about two rods. The logs were set on end close together and about two feet in the ground and planked on the inside. Port holes were cut through and the whole fortification made as strong as possible with the limited means at hand. This work was soon done, as there were many willing hands and it was the means of inducing many settlers, especially ([uite a number from the town of Verona and some from Martin county to stop awhile and await events. At the next alarm, however, most of these moved on.

Arms and ammunition were gotten together hastily.some of the type of the printing office, as we have seen above, furnished lead for bullets. After a few days a temporary company, under command of Capt. R. R. Poster, was formed, for defence, and to give character and force to the organization the members were solemnly sworn to stand true and defend the country to the last. This company drilled occasionally and posted out guards at night, but tlie organization was not a strong one and was, as we shall see, soon superceded. While out drilling one day, without arms, soon after the excitement began, the company being drawn up in such line as the military skill of the drill sergeant could produce, the command had just been given "eyes right" when one Jos. Landis. residing a few miles east of the village, drove up with a half load of grain on his wagon, at full speed, right in front of the company and in a very frightened manner announced that the Indians were coming over the prairie northeast of the village. His wife was on the wagon with him terror stricken and crying and confirmed his story. They asserted that they had seen the Indians advancing in long lines, on horse back, about two miles distance on the prairie. Tlaen came another terrorstricken woman, who resided a mile nprtheast of the village, leading her blind daughter by the hand and she also confirmed Mr. Landis' story.

And now alas for military discipline and control! The company broke and fled for their guns, every one determining to fight on his own hook. And the people became panic stricken, wild, running to and fro, women crying, children screaming and the confusion was indescribable. Teams were hitched up in the greatest haste and the wagons filled, pell mell, with men, women and children, and in twenty minutes the x'oad to Albert Lea was lined with flying fugitives. Order could not be restored. Terror had dethroned reason. But all did not attempt to go. Some had presence of mind enough to know that if the report proved true, to scatter in this manner was but to exjiose themselves unprotected on the roads to almost certain death. Happily the alarm proved false. A long line of cattle, belonging to people who were leaving the country, going along on the high prairie, about three miles to the northeast, presented the appearance to the excited imaginations of these people of a troop of advancing Indians.

Quiet after a few hours was restored, and a considerable number of those who had fled, after going a few miles, returned, but some went on their way.

Iq order to learn the slate of the country, there was about this time, August 23d, a small detachment of men sent west. Some going only as far as East Chain Lakes, in Martin county, but U. G. Davis and H. Chesley proceeded to Jackson, in Jackson county and finding that some of the settlers had just left, followed them in the direction of Esiherville, Iowa, and overtook them. They were the last of the residents of that county, and had barely made their escape, with their lives. One of their company - a boy of ten years - had his elbow cap shot off by the Indians. Some thirteen people had been killed in Jackson county by the savages.

It was now determined to send the women and children who yet remained, to places of greater security in the eastern part of the State, and the greater part of them about Blue Earth City were started on the 26lh of August. It was indeed a sad time. Most of them wont without a cent of money. Few had as much as five dollars. They were going among strangers. When they should return, if ever, to their homes, or again see their husbands who remained to protect the country, their homes and their little accumulations of propert}', were questions which the future, which then looked gloomy enough, only could tell. In other parts of the county most of the women and children had previously left. In fact at this time almost all the residents on Coon Creek and the west branch of the Blue Earth and most of those west of the river had left, deserting everything. The region about Chain Lakes, in Martin county and the towns of Elmore, Pilot Grove. Jo Daviess and Verona in this county, were wholly deserted, and the county east of the Blue Earth river was almost as nearly depopulated. Those who remained were along the line of the river, but mainly, at the villages of Blue Earth City and Winnebago City.

"At Winnebago City on the 23d of August, a company was organized under command of Capt. H. W. HoUey, comprising fiftynine members in all. Twenty of the members were mounted and were kept constantly on scouting duty west of the Blue Earth river, in the counties of Faribault. Martin and Watonwan. The other members of the company remained generally on picket duty in guarding the town and country in the immediate vicinity. The company made one expedition into Watonwan county, passing through Madelia and thence westwardly to the Little Cottonwood river. They also made, one expedition to Fir Lake on the border of Jackson county, and two expeditions to Chain Lakes in Martin countj-."

During these exciting times, a question arose with the county officers, as to what should be done with the public records, then principally the auditor's and register's books, in the event of the certain advance of the Indians on thi.s locality. It was determined that, instead of an attemjit to carry them out of the county, the best arrangement would be to bury them, and this was decided upon. It was concluded to provide a large, substantial box, bury it in the ground, on a certain hill side, and in this deposit the books and papers, and cover the box over with earth in such a way as to escape observation. The secret of the locality was to be confided only to a few certain individuals, largely interested in the safety of the books. But this act of prudence did not, as we shall see, become necessary.

On the seventh of September, the Fillmore County Rangers, under command of Captain N. P. Colburn, arrived at Winnebago City, and by direction of Col. Flandrau, who had command of this portion of the State, established their headquarters at that point, after which the Winnebago City guards, under command of Captain Holley, believing their services no longer needed, disbanded. A strong stockade was erected at Winnebago City.

Before the close of August, the erection of a large fort was commenced at Blue Earth City. This was a necessity, not only for better protection,but to restore confidence to the people many of those remaining, saying that they would leave unless this was done. The work was rapidly performed. The fort was eight rods square and built of sod and earth thrown up six feet high, and having a ditch all around three feet deep. On the top of the earthwork was a defence, three feet high, of two inch hardwood plank, spiked to upright pieces, set strongly in the earthwork, both on the inside and outside. Port holes were cut through at short distances. At two corners of the fort were strong bastions, built of hewn logs, set close together on end, and having port holes from which the ditches, on two sides, could be raked. Houses were erected on the inside and a well duf,'. and all obstructions surrounding the fort, behind which an enemy could hide, were demolished. When this fort was completed it was certainly a strong work, and it had the desired effect, with other things, in restoring some feeling of security and encouraged quite a number to i-emain who would otherwise have left.

And now, as a little episode, we must record the fact in the order of time, that amid all this turmoil, excitement and apprehended danger, politics were not neglected.

On the :29th day of August, in pursuance of a previous call, the republican district convention met at Blue Earth City. It was but a small and thinly attended meeting, there being only a few delegates present from Blue Earth City and vicinity, and several from Winnebago City. D. G. Shillock, Esq., of Brown County, then disabled from a wound received in the defense of New Ulm against an attack by the Indians, was nominated for senator, and J. B. Wakefield, Esq., of Blue Earth City, was nominated for representative.

But to resume the narrative. On or about the 30th of August a party of .some twenty men under command of H. J. Neal, proceeded one night to Center Chain lakes in Martin county to relieve a lone settler, who it was reported was besieged by Indians. The report proved untrue.

At the close of August, the fort being nearly completed, and strong bodies of troops entering upon the frontier to the north and west of the county, and the confidence of the people in their security from attack, being now somewhat restored, it was thought expedient at a meeting held at Blue Earth City, to send a messenger in pursuit of the fugitives from this county, to try to induce them to return to their homes. .1. A. Kiester, of Blue Earth City, was delegated for this purpose, and being furnished with a "pass" from the .sheriff, which was then necessary, he soon started on his mission. He found the people scattered in many directions. Some were at Rice lake on their way out of the country. Others at Albert Lea, and along the road for eighteen miles east of that place. Some were at Geneva; others at Oak Glen and at Wasioja, Mantorville, Ovvatonna. Wilton and at intermediate points. Some were induced to I'eturu. others would hear to nothing, and either remained where they were, or pursued their way to Wisconsin or Iowa.

Most of these refugees had a hard time of it, as they were compelled to subsist on the country through which thej" passed. Thej' had found many farms and houses deserted, and they helped themselves to green corn, potatoes, chickens and other eatables, and stopped in the deserted houses at night. The people they met appreciated their condition and helped them all they could, and at the places where most of them concluded to stop to await events provided kindly for them.

Quite a large number of the fugitives, especially those from Blue Earth City and vicinity stopped at Wasioja, in Dodge county, where the good 'people provided a house for them and paid them every attention. The landlord of the place, Jacob Kelsey, a largesized, generous, open-handed man, a man whose body had to be large to cover his great heart, supplied the wayfarers with many things for their comfort, and utterly refused to i-eceive pay when it was tendered him, saying that "what little he had was free at such times, even his whisky." In the meantime, under the call of the governor, a new cavalry company of forty-two members was formed at Blue Earth City. J. B. Wakefield was elected captain.

"The company was organized on the 5th of Septembei-, and immediatly reported to Col. Plandrau and was by him ordered to remain at Blue Earth City and to erect fortifications and adopt means for subsisting the men, during the term of service."

The term of enlistment was thirty days and they were paid and furnished with arms and ammunition by the State. Martial law was declared and Henry J. Neal Avas appointed provost marshal. P. C. Seely, the sheriff of the county acted from the beginning of the excitement as chief of police in keeping order and enforcing regulations. The sheriff at that time, in view of the impending draft, was invested by law, with peculiar powers. No man was allowed to leave the county without a "pass" from him. Under the authority of the provost marshal, some thirty horses were "pressed" for the use of the company, forage supplied, considerable px'ovisions and other necessaries taken, during the thirty days, all of which was duly appraised and an account thereof kept. Saloons were closed by his authority and persons going out of the county with arms and ammunition, were stopped by the sheriff and required to deliver up their arms and ammunition, as they were needed here.

"Under this organization daily communication was kept up by means of couriers, both with the colonel's headquarters at South Bend, and the Iowa forces located at Iowa Lake, near the southern boundary of the State."

Guards were kept out during the day, eight and ten miles west of the Blue Earth river, and at night pickets were placed out around the village. Scouting parties of six to ten well-mounted men were sent to the west and northwest and it was their duty- to range the country and report any signs of Indians.

Soon after the organization of the company another expedition of five or six well armed and well-mounted men, under Lieut. Davy scoured the country as far west as Estherville and Spirit Lake, in Iowa, at both of. which places they assisted the people, who yet remained there, in forming companies for home defense. In a few days this squad returned and reported the country, in Minnesota, through which they passed, deserted and silent.

The company at Blue Earth City, after doing good service in man}' ways, disbanded on the "ith day of October, tlie term of enlistment having expired.

Rosteij Of The Blue Earth City Cavalry

"From the desposition now within the boundaries commanded by Colonel Fkindrau. they held the entire frontier from New Ulm down the Minnesota to South Bend and thence up the Blue Earth river to the Iowa line with two advanced posts on the Watonwan and at Lake Martin. No substantial change was made on this line during the period of active hostilities." In addition to these precautions, scouting parties were patrolling the countrj' in all directions and comparative security was again established. , Government troops, too. were soon on the frontier and advancing into the Indian country and the savages were driven far west, but of these military operations, we cannot write here, except to give the following brief summary. As was stated above, the outbreak at the Sioux Agencies, began on the 18th of August. An attack was made by the savages on New Ulm. on the 19th. Oa the 20th they attacked and besieged Fort Ridgley and on the 25th they made a second attack on New Ulm. On the 30th they began the siege of Fort Abercrombie. The bloody affair at Birch Coolie, occurred on the 2d of September. On the 23d of September the battle of Wood Lake was fought and the savages defeated. Some of the Indains now began to ask terms of peace. About the 26th of September thej' surrendered many captives at Camp Release. Many Indians about this time surrendered themselves and others were brought in. while many others still hostile retreated to the west and north. Soon after a military commission was instituted which sat until about the 5th of November, before whom many of these wretches were tried for murder, rape and other crimes. Three hundred and twenty-one Indians and there allies, were found guilty, three hundred and three of whom were condemned to death, thirty-eight only however were finally executed, as will be seen hereafter.

Faribault Gocnty, Minnesota

Most of the settlers of this county who had left, gradually returned to their homes, and business revived somewhat, and affairs settled down in their ordinary channels. But yet the people were timid, and the country full of rumors, and there were still prowling Indians on the frontier.

Fortunately no attack was made on this county, no murders committed, and no property destroyed directly by the Indians, but the damage to the county, in consequence of the outbreak, was immense. A vast amount of property, because of neglect and abandonment, was lost and destroyed, immigration entii-ely stopped, improvements ended for the year, and years were required to regain the lost ground.

We may conclude this reference to the great massacre by the remark that while no excuse is possible for this Indian outbreak and the diabolical outrages perpetrated by the savages, and while their atrocious deeds deserved immediate and certain death, very much on the same grounds that a ferocious wild beast should be exterminated, yet there were many who thought and some who said, that the coldblooded, calculating frauds, personal insults and the public and private wrongs constantly j^racticed upon this ignorant people for many years by some white men in the capacity of Indian agents, traders and their subordinates, would come as near an excuse as anything possibly could, and some even expressed the view that the excuse would have been sufficient if the retribution had fallen only upon those whose villanies. greed and lusts added a principal cause to others which already existed, for this uprising upon the jjart of the savages.

The commissioners met on the second day of September, and after making several appointments immediately adjourned to the twenty- third, the record stating that "owing to the disturbed state of the country, occasioned by the the recent outbreak of the Sioux Indians and the general apprehensions of danger on the frontier, it was thought best to postpone the business before the board." On the twenty-third, they assembled again, and for the last time this year. They transacted a large amount of business, among which we find the issuing of the first bounty orders of twenty dollars each, to some thirty-six citizens who had just enlisted in Capt. Skaro's Company, of the Ninth Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers.

The Verdict Of The Ballot

Wm. Windom was the republican and Andrew G. Chatfield the democratic candidate for congi-ess in this, the First district, and we have alreadj' seen that the nominees for legislative honors were D. G. Shillock for the Senate and J. B. Wakefield for the House.

On the 23tl day of September, a Union Republican County Convention was held at Blue Earth City, when the following nominations for county offices were made:

The Democratic party made no nominations for county offices. The election was held on the fourth day of November and the following was the result: For Senator. D. G. Shillockhad 260 votes, and for Representative. J. B. Wakefield 231. They had also a majority throughout the legislative district, and were elected.

For Auditor. A. Bonwell had 259 votes. For Register of Deeds, F. M. Pierce had 12-t votes and J. A. Kiester 136 votes. For Judge of Probate. A. Preston had 253, and for Surveyor. W. W. Seely had 251 votes. George D. McArthur had 242 votes for Court Commissioner, and David Pratt 190, I. S. Mead 43, and S. Shroeder 13 votes for Coroner, and E. M. Ellis was elected County Commissioner for district No. One.

The Bloody Record

The year was one of very great activity in military and naval affairs in the United States. Many terriffic battles were fought, and the skirmishes and smaller conflicts were almost innumerable. The Union armies were attended with many victories, as well as with many strange and unaccountable reverses. The following is a partial summary of the principle battles and events of the year.

January 2d, battle Port Royal Island, S. C. Jan. 8th. battle Silver Creek. Mo. Jan. lyth. battle Mill Springs, Ky. Feb 6th, Ft. Henry captured. Feb. 8th, great battle on Roanoke Island. Feb. 16th, Ft. Donaldson taken. Feb. 19th, Jeff Davis and A. H. Stevens elected permanent president and vice-president of "'Confederate States." Feb. 23d, Nashville, Tenn.. occupied by Union forces. March 6-8th, battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. March 9th, great fight between the iron clads Monitor and Merrimack. March 14th. battle of Newburn, N. C. March 23d, battle Winchester, Va. April 6-7th, battle Pittsburg landing. 11th, Ft. Pulaski taken. 16th. slavery abolished in District of Columbia bj' Congress. 25th, Com. Farragut captured New Orleans. May 5th, battle Williamsburg, Va. 24th. battle Bottoms Bridge. 25th, battle Winchester. Va. 31st. battle Fair Oaks, Va. June 8th. battle Cross Keys. Va. ]4th, battle James Island, S. C. 19th, Congress prohibits slavery in the territories. 25th, battle Fair Oaks, Va. again. 26th, battle Mech- anicsville, Va. 28th, battle before Richmond. 30th, battles White Oak Swamp and Charles City Cross roads, Va. July 1st, battle Malvern Hill, Va. 18th, Southern raid into Indiana. Aug. 5th, battle Baton Rouge. 9th, battle Cedar Mountain, Va. 28th, battle Centerville, Va. 29th. battle Groveton, Va. 30th, battle Richmond, Ky. 31st, battle Weldon, Va. Sept. 1st, three battles, Chantilla. Va. , Britton's Lane, Tenn . and Jackson, Tenn. 14th, battle South Mountain, Md. 16-17th, battle Antietam, Md. 20th, battle luka, Miss. 22d, preliminary proclamation issued by President Lincoln in relation to emancipation of slaves. Oct. 3d, battle Corinth, Miss. 8 9th, battle Perryville, Ky. loth, battle near Richmond, Ky. 19th, battle near Gallatin, Tex. 22d, battle Maysville, Ark. Nov. 28th, battle Cane Hill, Ark. Dec. 5th, battle Coffeeville, Miss. 7th, battle Prairie Grove, Ark. 13th, battle Fredericksburg, Va. 31st, battle Murfeesboro commenced. The several fights with the Indians, in our own State are mentioned elsewhere.

The close of the year was signalized by the hanging on the twenty-sixth day of December, at Mankato, of thirty- eight (38) Indians and half breeds who had been engaged in the massacre of August, and had been tried by the commission and sentenced to death.

Many of them were ]*eaders of the Indians in the massacre, and ' all of them were proved guilty of crimes perpetrated during the outbreak too atrocious to name in a printed book or even speak of except in whispers. Their execution was approved by almost the universal judgment of the world. They were all hung upon the same immense scaffold at the same time. The drop was so arranged as to fall from iinder all of Jhem at the same instance. This was the most extensive execution of the kind known in history.

The year was called the ''dark hour" of the rebellion. It was certainly the darkest and most memorable in the history of the State, characterized as it was by the slaughter of its citizens, in the most bloody massaci'e ever known. And it was a memorable year in the history of our county which had just recovered from years of discouragement, to be thrown back again to more years of illrequited labor, and waiting for long deferred prosperity.