Freeborn County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 27 of those read), 1882

Judge Flandrau Arrives With Beinforcements Evacuation Of New Ulm

On the 18th of August, the day of the outbreak, a volunteer recruiting party for the Union army went out from New Ulm. Some eight miles west of that place several dead bodies were found on the road. The party turned back toward the town, and, to the surprise of all, were fired upon by Indians in ambush, killing several of their party. Another paity leaving New Ulm for the Lower Agency, when seven miles above the town some fifty Indians near the road fired upon them, killing three of the.se men. This party returned to town. One of these parties had seen, near the Cottonwood, Indians kUl a man on a stack of grain, and some others in the field. The people of the surrounding country fled for their lives into the town, leiiving, some of them, portions of their families killed at their homes or on the way to some place of safety.

The people had no arms fit for use, and were perfectly panic-stricken and helpless. But the news of the outbreak had reached St. Peter, and at about one o'clock of August 19th, T. B. Thompson, James Hughes, Charles Wetherell, Samuel Coflin, Merrick Dickinson, H. Cay wood, A. M. Bean, James Parker, Andrew Friend, Henry and Frederick Otto, C. A. Stein, E. G. Covey, Frank Kennedy, Thomas and GriiBn Williams, and the Hon. Henry A. Swift, afterwards made Governor of Minnesota, by operation of the organic law, and William G. Hayden, organized themselves into a company, by the election of A. M. BeaU; Captain, and Samuel Coffin, Lieutenant, and took up position at New Ulm, in the defense of that beleaguered place. They at once ad\ auced ujjou the Indians, who were pi.sted behind the houses in the outer portions of the place. By this opportune arrival the savage foe were held in check. These were soon joined by another arrival from St. Peter: L. M. Bordman, J. B. Trogdon, J. K. Moore, Horace Austin (since Governor), P. M. Bean, James Homer, Jacob and Philijj Stetzer, William Wilkinson, Lewis Patch, S. A. Buell, and Henry Snyder, all mounted, as well as a few from the surrounding country.

By the time these several parties had arrived, the savages had retired, after burning five buildings on the outskirts of the town. In the first battle several were killed, one Miss Paula of the place, standing on the sidewalk opposite the Dakota House. The enemy's loss is not known.

Ou the same evening Hon. Charles E. Flandran, at the head of about one hundred and twenty-five men, volunteers from St. Peter and vicinity, entered the town; and reinforcements continued to arrive from Blankato, Le Sueur, and other points, untQ Thursday, the 21st, when about three hundred and twenty-live armed men were in New Ulm, under the command of Judge Flandrau. Captain Bierbauer, at the head of one hundred men, from Mankato, arrived and participated in the defense of the place.

Some rude barricades around a few of the houses in the center of the village, fitted up by means of wagons, boxes and waste lumber, partially protected the volunteer soldiery operating now under a chosen leader.

On Saturday, the 22d, the commandant sent aci'oss the river seventy-five of his men to dislodge some Indians intent on burning buildings and grain and hay stacks. First Lieutenant William Huey, of Traverse des Sioux, commanded this force. This- officer, on reaching the opposite shore, discovered a large body of Indians in advance of him; and in attempting to return was completely intercepted by large bodies of Indians on each side of the river. There was Ijiit one way of escape, and that was to retreat to the company of E. St. Julien Cox, known to be approaching from the direction of St. Peter. This force, thus cut off, returned with the command of Captain E. St. Julien Cox; and with this increased force of one hiuidred and seventy-five. Captain Cox soon after entered the town to the relief of both citizens and soldiers.

The Imlians at the siege of New Ulm, at t' p time <). the princija) attack before the arrival (.: Cupt..in Cox, weie estimated at about five i.un i. ,

"Their advance upon the sloping prairie in the bright sTinlight was a very fine spectacle, and to such inexperienced soldiers as we all were, intensely exciting. When within about one mile of us the mass began to expand like a fan, and increasing in the velocity of its approach, continued this movement until within about double rifle-shot, when it covered our entire front. Then the savages uttered a terrific yell and came down upon us like the' wind. I had stationed myself at a point in the rear where communication could be had with me easily, and awaited the first discharge with great anxiety, as it seemed to me that to yield was certain destruction, as the enemies would rush into the town and drive all before them. The yell unsettled the men a little, and just before the rifles began to crack they fell back along the whole line, and committed the error of passing the outer houses without taking possession of them, a mistake which the Indians immediately took advantage of by themselves occupying them in squads of two, three and up to ten. They poured into us a sharp and rapid fire as we fell back, and opened from the houses in every direction. Several of us rode up to the hill, endeavoring to rally the men, and with good effect, as they gave three cheers and sallied out of the various houses they' had retreated to, and checked the advance effectually. The firing from both sides then became general, sharp and rapid, and it got to be a regular Indian .skirmish, in which every man did his own work after his own fashion. The Indians had now got into the rear of our men, and nearly on all sides of them, and the fire of the enemy was becoming very galling, as they had possession of a large number of buildings."

Fight at the Wind-Mill. - Rev. B. G. Coffin, of Mankato, George B. Stewart, of Le Sueur, and J. B. Trogdon, of Nicollet, and thirteen others, fought their way to the wind-mill. This they held during the battle, their unerring shots tel ing fearfully upon the savages, and finally forcing them to retire. At night these brave men set fire to the buildiDg, and then retreated within the barricades, in the vicinity of the Dakota House. During the firing from this mill a most determined and - btin.ite figlit was kept up from the brick Hi f. where Governor Swift was stationed, d most fatally upon the foe, and from

Captain William B. Dodd. - When the attack was made upon the place the Indians had succeeded in reaching the Lower Town. The wind was favoring them, as tlie smoke of burning buildings was carried into the main portion of the town, behind which they were advancing. "Captain William B. Dodd, of St. Peter, seeing the movement from that quarter, supposed the expected reinforcements were in from that direction. He made at once a superhuman elTort, almost, to encourage the coming troops to force the Indian line and gain admittance into the town. He had gone about seventy-five yards outside the lines, when the Indians from buildings on either side of the street poured a full volley into the horse and rider. The Captain received three balls near his heart, wheeled his horse, and riding within twentyfive yards of our lines fell from his horse, and was, assisted to walk into a house, where in a few moments he died, 'the noblest Roman of them all.' He dictated a short message to his wife, and remarked that he liad discharged his duty and was ready to die. No man fought more courageously, or died more nobly. Let his virtues be forever remembered. He was a hero of the truest type!" - St. Peter Statesman.

At the stage of the battle in which Captain Dodd was killed, several others also were either killed or wounded. Captain Saunders, a Baptist minister of Le Svieur, was wounded, with miiny others. Howell Houghton, an old settler, was killed. The contest was continued until dark, when the enemy began to carry off their dead and wounded. In the morning of the next day (Sunday) a feeble firing was kept up for several hours by the sullen and retiring foe. The battle of New Ulm had been fought, and the whites were masters of the field; but at what a fearful price! The dead and dying and wounded filled the buildings left standing, and this l^eautiful and entoiprising German town, which on Monday morning contained over two hundred buildings, had been laid in ashes, only some twenty-five houses remaining to mark the spot where New Ulm once stood.

On Sunday afternoon, Captain Cox's command, one hundred and fifty volunteers from Nicollet, Sibley and Le Sueur, armed with Austrian rifles, shot-guns and hunting rifles arrived. The Indians retreated, and returned no more to make battle with the forces at New Ulm.

But strange battle field. The Indians deserted it on Sunday, and on Monday the successful defenders also retire from a place they dare uot attempt to hold! The town was evacuated. All the women and children, and wounded men, making one hundred and fifty-three wagon loads, while a considerable number composed the company on /oot. AH these moved with the command of Judge riandrau towards Mankato.

The loss to our forces in this engagement was ten killed, and about fifty wounded. The lots of the enemy is unknown, but must have been heavy, as ten of their dead were found on the field of battle, which they bad been unable to remove.

We might fill volumes with incidents, and miraculous escapes from death, but our limits absolutely forbid their introduction in this abridgement. The reader must consult the larger work for these details. The escape of Governor Swift, riandrau and Bird, and J. B. Trogdon and D. G. Shellaek and others from perilous positions, are among the many exciting incidents of the siege of New Ulm.

Omitting the story of John W. Young, of wonderful interest, we refer briefly to the weightier matters of this sad chapter, and conclude the same by the relation of one short chapter.

During the siege of New Ulm, two expeditions were sent out from that place toward the settlements on the Big Cottonwood, and although not really forming a part of the operations of a defensive character at that place, are yet so connected with them that we give them here.

On Thursday morning, the 21st of August, a party went out on the road to Leavenworth for the purpose of burying the dead, aiding the wounded and bringing them in, should they find any, and to act as a scouting party. They went out some eight miles, found and buried several bodies, and returned to New Ulm, at night, without seeing c'.ny Indians.

On Friday, the 22d, another party of one hundred and forty men, under command of Captain George M. Tousley, started for the purpose of rescuing a party of eleven persons, women and children, who, a refugee informed the commandant, were hiding in a ravine out toward Leavenwortli. Accompanying this party were Drs. A. W. Daniels, of St. Peter, and Ayer, of Le Sueur.

Dr. Daniels, who had resided among the Sioux several years as a physician to the lower bands, had, for the first time, some conception of the extent and magnitude of the outbreak.

As the main object of the expedition had already been accomplished - i. e., the rescue of the women and children - Dr. Daniels urged a return to New Ulm. The question was submitted to the company, and they decided to go on, and proceeded to within four miles of Leavenworth, the design being to go to that place, remain there all night, bury the dead next day, and return.

It was now nearly night; the cannonading at the fort could still be heard; Indian spies were, undoubtedly, watching them; only about one hundred armed men were left in the town, and from his intimate knowledge of the Indian character. Dr. Daniels was convinced that the safety of their force, as well as New "Dim itself, required their immediate return.

A halt was called, and this view of the case was presented to the men by Drs. Daniels, Ayer, and Mayo. A vote was again taken, and it was decided to return. The return march commenced at about sundown, and at one o'clock a. m. they reentered the village.

Ealph Thomas, who resided on the Big Cottonwood, in the county of Brown, had gone with many of his neighbors, on Monday, the 18th of August, into New Ulm tor safety, while William Carroll and some others residing further iip the river, in Leavenworth, had gone to the same place to ascertain whether the rumors they had heard of an uprising among the Sioux were trae. Mr. Thomas makes the following statement of the doings of this little party, and its subsequent fate:

" There were eight of us on horseback, and the balance of the party were in three wagons. We had gone about a mile when we met a German going into New Ubn, who said he saw Indians at my place skinning a heifer, and that they drove him off, chasing him with spears. He had come from near Leavenworth. We kept on to my place, near which we met John Thomas and Almon Parker, who had remained the night before in a grove of timber, one and a half miles from my place. About eight o'clock the evening before, they had seen a party of ten or twelve Indians, mounted on ponies, coming toward them, who chased them into the grove, the savages passing on to the right, leaving them alone. They stated to us that they had seen Indians that morning traveling over the prairie southward. We stopped at my place and fed our horses. While the horses were eating, I called for three or four men to go with me to the nearest houses, to see what had become of the people. We went first to the house of Mr. Mey, where we found him and his family lying around the house, to all appearance dead. We also found here Joseph Emery and a Mr. Heuyer, also apparently dead. We had been here some five minutes viewing the scene, when one of the children, a girl of seven years, rose up from the ground and commenced crying piteously. I took her in my arms, and told the other men to examine the other bodies and see if there were not more of them alive. They found two others, a twin boy and girl about two years old; all the rest were dead.

" We next proceeded to the house of Mr. George Eaeser, and found the bodies of himself and wife lying near the house by a stack of grain. We went into the house and found their child, eighteen months old, ahve, trying to get water out of the pail. We then went back to my place, and sent John Thomas and Mr. Parker with an ox-team to New Ulm with these chOdren. Mr. Mey's three children were wounded with blows of a tomahawk on the head; the other child was uninjured. We then went on toward Leavenworth, seeing neither Indians nor whites, until we arrived at the house of Mr. Seaman, near which we found an old gentleman named Riant concealed in a slough among the tall grass. He stated to us that a party of whites with him had been chased and fired upon by a party of Indians. It consisted of himself, Luther Whiton, George W. Covill and wife, Mrs. Covin's son, Mrs. Hough and child, Mr. Van Guilder and wife and two children, and Mr. Van Guilder's mother. AH these Mr. Eiant said had scattered over the prairie. We remained about two hours, hunting for the party, and not finding them, turned back toward New Ulm, taking Mr. Riant with us. We proceeded down opposite my place, where we separated, eleven going down on one side of the Big Cottonwood, to Mr. Tuttle's place, and seven of us proceeded down on the other, or north side of the stream. The design was to meet again at Mr. Tiitjle's house, and all go back to New Ulm together; but when we arrived at Tuttle's, they had gone on to town without waiting for us, and we followed. When near Mr. Hibbard's place we met Mr. .Takes going west. He said that he had been within a mile of New Ulm, and saw the other men of our jiarty. He

" When -we came to the burning stacks we halted to look for Indians. Our comrades were half an Jiour ahead of us. When they got in sight of the town, one of them, Mr. Hinton, rode up on an elevation, where he could overlook the place, and saw Indians, and the town on fire in several places. He went back and told tliem that the Indians had attacked the town, and that he did not consider it safe for them to try to get in, and proposed crossing the Cottonwood, and going toward the Mankato road, and entering town on that side. His proposition was opposed by several of the party, who thought him frightened at the sight of half a dozen Indians. They asked him how many he had seen. He said some forty. They came up and looked, but could see but three or four Indians. Mr. Carroll told them they had better go on, and, if opposed, out their way through. He told Hinton t« lead, and they would follow. They passed down the hill, and met with no opposition until they came to a slough, half a mile from the town. Here two Indians, standing on a large stone by the side of the road, leveled their double-barreled guns at Mr. Hinton. He drew his revolver, placed it between his horse's ears, and made for them. The balance of the company followed. The Indians retired to cover without firing a shot, and the company kept on iintil they had crossed the slough, when the savages, who were lying in ambush, arose from the grass, and firing upon them, killed five of their number, viz. : William Carroll, Almond Loomis, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Riant, and a Norwegian, and chased the balance into the town.

"We came on about half an hour afterward, and passing down the hill, crossed the same slough, and unconsciims of danger, approached the fatal spot, when about one hundred and fifty savr.ges sprang up out of the grass and fired upon us, killing five horses and six men. My own horse was shot through the body, close to my leg, killing him instantly. My feet were out of the stirrups in a moment, and I sprang to the ground, striking on my hands and feet. I dropped my gun, jumped up, and ran. An Indian, close behind, discharged the contents of both barrels of a shot-gun at me. The charge tore up the ground at my feet, throwing dirt all around me as I ran. I made my way into town on foot as fast as I could go. No other of our party cscajjcd; all the rest were killed. Beinforcements fiom St. Peter came to

On Monday morning, the 18th of August, 1862, at about 9 o'clock, a messenger arrived at Fort Kidgely, from the Lower Sioux Agency, bringing the startling news that the Indians were massacreing the whites at that place. Captain John S. Marsh, of Company B, Fifth Eegiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, then in command, immediately dispatched mefscngers after Lieutenant Shcehan, of Company C, of the same regiment, wl.o had left that post on the morning before, with a detachment of his company, for Fort Eipley, on the Upper Mississipi, and Major T. J. Galbraith, Sioux Agent, who had akso left tl.e fort at the same time with fifty men, afterwards known as the EenvUle Rangers, for Fort Snelling, urging them to return to Fort Eiilgely with all possible dispatch, as there were then in the fort only Company B, numbering about seventy-five or eighty men. Tl.e gallant captain then took a detachment of fortysix men, and accompanied by Interpreter Quinn, immediately started for the scone of blood, distant twelve mOes. Thoy made a very rapid march. When within about four miles of the ferry, opposite the Agency, they met the ferryman, Mr. Martelle, who informed Captain Marsh that the Indians were in considerable force, and wore murdering all the people, and advised hira to return. He replied that he was there to protect and defend the frontier, and he should do so if it was in his power, and gave the order "Forward !" Between this point and the river they passed nine dead bodies on or near the road. Arriving near the ferry the company was halted, and Corporal Ezekiel Rose was sent forward to examine the ferry, and see if all was right. The captain and interpreter were mounted on mules, the men were on foot, and formed in two ranks in the road, near the ferry-house, a few rods from the banks of the river. The corporal had taken a pail with him to the river, and returned, reporting the ferry all right, bringing with him water for the exhausted and thirsty men.

lu the meantime an Indian bad made liis appearance on the opposite bank, and calling to Quiun, urged them to come across, telling him all was right on that side. The suspicions of the captain were at once aroused, and he ordered the men to remain in their places, and not to move on to the boat until he could ascertain whether the Indians were in ajubush in the ravines on the ojiposite shore. The men were in the act of drinking, when the savage on the opposite side, seeing they were not going to cross at once, fired his gun, as a signal, when instantly there arose out of the grass and brush, all around them, some four or five hundred warriors, who i3oured a terrifio volley upon the devoted band. The aged interpreter fell from his mule, pierced by over twenty balls. The captain's mule fell dead, but he himself sprang to the ground unhai med. Several of the men fell at this first fire. The testimony of the survivors of this sanguinary engagement is, that "their brave commander was as cool and collected as if on dress parade. They retreated down the stream about a mile and a half, fighting their way inch by inch, when it was discovered that a body of Indians, taking advantage of the fact that there was a bend in the river, had gone across and gained the bank below them.

The heroic little band was already reduced to about one-half its original number. To cut their way through this large number of Indians was impossible. Their only hope now was to cross the river to the reservation, as there app)eared to be no Indians on that shore, retreat do^vn that side and recross at the fort. The river was supposed to be fordable where they were, and, accordingly, Capt. Marsh gave the order to cross. Taking his sword in one hand and his revolver in the other, accompanied by his men, he waded out into the stream. It was very soon ascertained that they must swim, when these who could not do so returned to the shore and hid in the grass as best they could, while those who could, dropped their arms and struck out for the opposite side. Among these latter was Capt. Marsh. When near the opposite shore he was struck by a ball, and immediately sank, but arose again to the surface, and grasped the shoulder of a man at his side, but the garment gave way in his grasp, and he again sank, this time to i-lse no more.

them who were unable to cross remained in the grass and bushes until night, when they made their way, also, to the fort or settlements. Some of them were badly wounded, and were out two or three days before they got in. Two weeks after ward, Josiah F-. Marsh, brother of the caj.- tain, with a mounted escort of thirty men - l.i.- old neighbors from Fillmore county - made search for his body, but without success. On the day before and the day after this search, as was subsequently ascertained, two hundred Indians were scouting along the river, upon the the very ground over which these thirty men passed, in their fruitless search for the remains of theii- dead brother and friend. Two weeks later another search was made with boats along the river, and this time the search was successful. His body was discovered a mile and a half below where he was killed, under the roots of a tree standing at the water's edge. His remains were borne by his sorrowing companions to Fort Ridgely, and deposited in the military burial-ground at that place.

This gallant uiBoer demands more than a passing notice. When the Southern rebellion broke out, in 1861, John S. Marsh was residing in FUlmore county, Minnesota. A company was recruited in his neighborhood, designed for the gallant 1st Minnesota, of which he was made first lieutenant. Before, however, this company reached Fort Snelling, the place of rendezvous, the regiment was lull, and it was disbanded. The patriotic fire still burned in the soul of young Marsh. Going to La Crosse, he volimteered as a primte in the 2d Wisconsin regiment, and served some ten months in the ranks. In the following winter his brother, J. F. Marsh, assisted in raising a company in Fillmore countj', of which John S. was elected first lieutenant, and he was therefore transferred, by order of the Secretary of War, to his company, and arrived at St. Paul about the 12th of March, 1862. In the meantime. Captain Gere was promoted to major, and on the 2ith Lieutenant Marsh was promoted to the captaincy of his company, and ordered to report at Fort Ridgely and take command of that important frontier post. Captain Marsh at once repaired to his post of duty, where he remained in command imtil the fatal encounter of the 18th terminated both his usefulness and life. He was a brave and accomplished soldier, and a noble man,

Foiled in their attack on New Ulm by the timely arrival of reinforcements under Flandrau, the Indians turned their attention toward Fort Ridgely, eighteen miles north-west. On Wednesday, at three o'clock P. M., the 20th of August, they suddenly appeared in great force at that post, and at once commenced a furious assault upon it. The fort is situated on the edge of the prairie, about half a mile from the Minnesota river, a timbered bottom intervening, and a wooded ravine running up out of the bottom around two sides of the fort, and within about twenty rods of the buildings, affording shelter for an enemy on three sides, within easy rifle or musket range.

The first Icnowledge the garrison had of the presence of the foe was given by a volley from the rapine, which drove in the pickets. The men were instantly formed, by order of Lieutenant Sheehan, in line of battle, on the parade-ground inside the works. Two men, Mark M. Grear, of Company C, and William Goode, of Company B, fell at the first fire of the concealed foe, after the line was formed; the former was instantly killed, the latter badly both being shot in the head. Robert Baker, a citizen, who had escaped from the massacre at the Lower Agency, was shot through the head and instantly killed, while standing at a window in the barracks, at about the same time. The men soon broke for shelter, and from behind boxes, from windows, from the shelter of the buildings, and from every spot where concealment was possible, watched their opportunities, wasted no ammunition, but poured theu' shots with deadly effect upon the wUy and savage foe whenever he suffered himself to be seen.

The forces in the fort at this time were the remnant of Company B, 5th Regiment M. V., Lieutenant Culver, thirty men; about fifty men of Company C, same regiment, Lieutenant T. ,T. Sheehan; the Renville Rangers, Lieutenant James Gorman, numbering fifty men, all under command of Lieutenant T. J. Sheehan.

Sergeant John Jones, of the regular army, a brave and skillful man, was stationed at this fort as post-sergeant, in charge of the ordnance, and took immediate command of the artillery, of which there were in the fort six pieces. Three only, however, were used - two six-pounder howitzers and one twenty-four-pouuder field-piece. A sufficient number of men had been detailed to work these guns, and at the instant of the fi*st alarm were promptly at their posts. One of the guns was placed in charge of a citizen named J. C. Whipple, fm old artillerist, who had seen service in the Mexican war, and in the United States navy, and had made his escape from the massacre at the Lower Agency, and one in charge of Sergeant McGrew, of Company C; the other in charge of Sergeant Jones in person. In this assault there were, probably, not less than five hundred warriors, led by their renowned chief, Little Crow.

So sudden had been the outbreak, and so weak was the garrison that there had been no time to construct any defensive works whatever, or to remove or destroy the wooden structures and haystacks, behind which the enemy could take position and shelter. The magazine was situated some twenty rods outside the main works on the open prairie. Men were at once detailed to take the ammunition into the fort. Theii-s was the post of danger; but they passed through the leaden storm un.scathed.

In the rear of the barracks was a ravine up which the St. Peter road passed. The enemy had posession of this ravine and road, while others were posted in the buildings, at the windows, and in sheltered portions in the sheds in the rear of the officer's quarters. Here they fought from 3 o'clock until dark, the artillery all the while shelling the ravine at short range, and the rifles and muskets of the men dropping the yelling demons like autumn leaves. In the meantime the Indians had got into some of the old out-buildings, and had crawled up behind the hay-stacks, from which they poured heavy volleys into the fort. A few well-directed shells fi'om the howitzers set them on fire, and when night closed over the scene the lurid light of the burnmg buildings shot up with a fitful glare, and served the purpose of revoaUug to the wary sentinel the lurking foe should he again appear.

The Indians retired with the closing day, and were seen in large ni^mbers on their ponies, making their way rapidly toward tJje Agency. The great danger feared by all was,, that, under cover of the darkness, the savages might creep up to the buildings and with fire-arrows ignite the dry roofs of the wooden structures. But about midnight tlic heavens opened and the earth was deluged with rain, effectually preventing the consummation of such a design, if it was intended. As the first great drops fell on the faces upturned to the gathering heavens the glad shout of "Kain! rain! thank God! thank God!" went round the beleaguered garrison. Stout-hearted, strong-armed men breathed free again; and weary, frightened women and children slept once more in comparative safety.

In this engagement there were two men killed, and nine wouuded, and all the government mules were stampeded by the Indians. Jack Frazer, an old resident in the Indian country, volunteered as a bearer of dispatches to Governor Ramsey, and avaiUng himself of the darkness and the furious storm, made his way safely out of the fort, and reached St. Peter, where he met Colonel Sibley and his command on their way to the relief of the fort.

Kain continued to fall until nearly night of Thursday, when it ceased, and that night the stars looked down upon the weary, but still wakeful and vigilant watchers in Fort Eidgely. On that night a large quantity of oats, in sacks, stored in the granary near the stable, and a quantity of cordwood piled near the fort, were disposed about the works in such a manner as to afford protection to the men, in case of another attack. The roof of the commissary building was covered with earth, as a protection against fire-arrows. The water in the fort had given out, and as there was neither well nor cistern in the works, the garrison were dependent upon a spring some sixty rods distant in the ravine, for a supply of that indispensable element. Their only resource now was to dig for water, which they did at another and less exposed point, and by noon had a supply suiBoient for two or three days secured inside the fort.

In the meantime the small arm's ammunition hatdng become nearly exhausted in the battle of Wednesday, the balls were removed from some of the spherical case-shot, and a party of men and wo'Tien made them up into cartridges, which were yr^atly needed. Small parties of Indiana had tyien seen about the fort, out of range, during Thursday and Friday forenoon, watching the fort, to report if reinforcements had reached it. At about 1 o'clock in the afternoon of Friday, the 22d, they appeared again in force, their numbers greatly augmented, and commenced a furious and most determined assault. They came apparently from the Lower Agency, passing down the Minnesota bottom, and round into the ravine surrounding the fort. As they passed near the beautiful residence of B. H. Randall, post sutler, they applied the torch and it was soon wrapped in flames. On came tlie painted savages yelUng like so many demons let loose from the bottomless pit; but the brave men in that sore pressed garrison, knowing fuU well that to be taken alive was certain death to themselves and all within the doomed fort, each man was promptly at his post.

The main attack was directed against that side of the works next to the river, the buildings here being frame structures, and the most vulnerable part of the fort. This side was covered by the stable, granary, and one or two old buildings, besides the sutler's store on the west side, yer standing, as well as the buildings named above. Made bold by their augmented numbers, and the non-arrival of reinforcements to the garrison, the Indians pressed on, seemingly determined to rush at once into the works, but were met as they reached the eud of the timber, and swept roimd up the ravine with such a deadly fire of musketry poured upon them from behind the barracks and the windows of the quarters, and of grape, canister and shell from the guns of the brave and heroic Jones, Whipple, and McGrew, that they beat a hasty retreat to the friendly shelter of the bottom, out of musket range. But the shells continued to scream wildly through the air, and biu-st around and among them. They soon rallied and took possession of the stable and other out-buildings on the south side of the fort, from which they poured terrific. voUeys upon the frail wooden buildings on that side, the bullets actually passing through their sides, and through the j'artitions inside of them. Here Josej^h Vanosse, a citizen, was shot through the body by a ball which came through the side of the building. They were soon driven from these buildings by the artillery, which shelled them out, setting the buildings on fire. The sutler's store was in like manner shelled and set on fire. The scene now became grand and terrific. The Hames and smoke of the burning buildings, the wild and demoniac yells of the savage besiegers, the roaring of cannon, the screaming of shells as they hurtled through the air, the sharp crack of the rifle, and the unceasing rattle of musketry presented an exhibition never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it.

The Indiana retired hastily from the burning buildings, the men in the fort sending a shower of bullets among them as they disappeared over the bkiffs toward the bottom. With wild yells they now circled round into the ravine, and from the tall grass, lying on their faces, and from thn sholter of the timber, continued the battle till ni;.ht, their leader. Little Crow, vainly ordering lb. in to clinrge on the guns. They formed once fv.i' t.icit purpose, about sundown, but a shell and r 1 Hid of canister sent into their midst closed the

11 est, when,with an unearthly yell of rage and dis- ,|),...intment, they left. These shots, as was aftei- . .ir.ls ascertained, killed and wounded seventeen of tlieir number. Jones continued to shell the ravine and timber around the fort until after dark, when the firing ceased, and then, as had been done on each night before, since the investment of the fort, the men all went to tlieir several posts to wait and watch for the coming of the wily foe. The night waned slowly; but they must not sleep; their foe is sleepless, and that wide area of dry shingled roof must be closely scanned, and the approaches be vigilantly guarded, by which he may, under cover of the darkness, creep upon them unawares.

Morning broke at last, the sun rode up a clear and cloudless sky, but the foe came not. The day passed away, and no attack; the night again, and then another day; and yet other days and nights of weary, sleepless watching, but neither friend nor foe approached the fort, until aliout daylight on Wednesday morning, the 27th, when the cry was heard from the look-out on the roof, '-There are horsemen coming on the St. Peter road, across the ravine!" Are they friends or foes? was the question on the tongues of aU. By their cautious movements they were evidently reconnoitering, and it was yet too dark for those in the fort to be able to tell, at that distance, friends from foes. But as daylight advanced, one hundred and fifty mounted men were seen dashing through the ravine; and amidst the wild hurras of the assembled garrison. Colonel Samuel McPhail, at the head of two companies of citizen-cavalry, rode into the fort. In command of a company of tliese men were Anson Northrup, from Minneapolis, aa o!d frontiers-man, and K. H. Chittenden, of the First Wisconsin Cavalry. This force had ridden all night, having left St. Peter, forty-five miles distant, at 6 o'clock the night before. From them the garrison learned that heavy reinforcements were on their way to their relief, under Colonel (now Brigadier-General) H. H.Sibley. The wornout and exhaust d garrison could now sleep with a feeling of comparative security. The number of kOled and wounded of the enemy is not known, but must have been considerable, as, at the close ul each battle, they were seen carrying away their dead and wounded. Our own fallen heroes were buried on the edge of the prairie near the fort; and the injuries of the wounded men were carefully attended to by the skillful and excellent post' surgeon, Dr. Alfred Muller.

We close our account of this protracted siege by a slight tribiite or behalf of the sick and wounded in that garrison, to one whose name will ever be mentioned by them with love and respect. The hospitals of Sebastopol had their Florence Nightingale, and over every blood-stained field of the South, in our own struggle for national life, hovered angels of mercy, cheering and soothing the sick and wounded, smoothing the pillows and (;losing the eyes of our fallen braves. And when, in after years, the brave men who fell, sorely wounded, in the battles of Fort Ridgely, Birch Coolie, and Wood Lake, Cghtuig against tlie savage hordes who overran the borders of our beautiful State, in August and September, 1862, carrying the fiaming torch, the gleaming tomahawk, and bloody sealping-knife to hundreds of peaceful homes, shaU tell to their children and cliildren"s children the story of the "dark and bloody ground" of Minnesota, and shall exhibit to them the scars those wounds have left; they will tell, with moistened cheek and swelling hearts of the noble, womanly deeds of Mrs. Eliza Muller, the "Florence Nightingale" ' of Fort Kidgely. [Mrs. Muller several years since died at the asylum at St. Peter.]

We feel that the truth of history will not be fully vindicated should we fail to besiow upon a brave and gallant officer that meed of praise so justly due. The only officer of experience loft in the fort by the death of its brave commandant was Sergeant John Jones, of the regular artillery; and it is but just to that gallant officer that we should say that but for the cool courage and discretion of Sergeant Jones, Fort Ridgely would, in the firet day's battle have become a funeral pyre for all within its doomed walls. And it gives us more than ordinary pleasure to record the fact, that the services he then rendered the Government, in the d9fense of the frontier were fully recognized and rewarded with the commission of Captain of the Second Minnesota Battery.