Freeborn County, Minnesota - Captain Whitcomb's Aeeivali at St. Paul Passes, 1882

Thkoogh Meeker Ootjnty A Foet Oonsteucted

This chapter will be devoted to the upper portion of the state, and the movements of troops for the relief of the frontier, not immediately connected with the main expedition under Colonel Sibley; and to avoid repetition, the prominent incidents of tlie massacre in this portion of the state will be given in connection with the movements of the troops. We quote from the Adjutant-General's Report:

The 19th day of August the first news of the outbreak at Redwood was received at St. Paul. On the same day a messenger arrived from Meeker county, with news of murders committed in that county by the Indians, and an earnest demand for assistance. The murders were committed at Acton, about twelve miles from Forest City, on Sunday, the 17th day of the month. The ciroumstauces under which these murders were committed are fully detailed in a previous chapter.

George C. Whitcomb, commander of the state forces raised in the county of Meeker, was stationed at Forest City. On the 19th of August, Mr. Whitcomb arrived at St. Paul, and received from the state seventy-five stand of arms and a small quantity of ammimition, for the purpose of enabling the settlers of Meeker county to stand on the defensive, until other assistance could be sent to their aid. With these in his possession, he started on his return, and, on the following day he met Ool. Sibley at Shakopee, by whom he was ordered to raise a company of troops and report with command to the Colonel, at Fort Ridgely. On arriving at Hutchinson, in McLeod county, he found the whole country on a general stampede, and small bands of Indians lurking in the border of Meeker county.

Captain Richard Strout was ordered, under date of August 24, to proceed with a company of men to Forest City, in the county of Meeker, for the protection of that locality.

state, with the exception of those left by him at Hutchinson. Upon his arrival he speedily enlisted, for temporary service, a company of flttythree men, tweuty-five of whom were mounted, and the remainder were to act as infantry.

Captain Whitcomb, with the mounted portion of his company, made a rapid march into the county of Monongalia, to a point about thirty miles from Forest City, where he found the bodies of two men who had been shot by the Indians, who had muti lated the corpses by cutting their throats and scalping them. In the same vicinity he found the ruins of three houses that had been burned, and the carcasses of a large number of cattle that had been wantonly killed and devoted to destruction.

Owing to rumors received at this point, he proceeded in a north-westerly direction, to the distance of ten miles further, and found on the route the remains of five more of the settlers, all of whom had been shot and scalped, and some of them were otherwise mutilated by having their hands cut off and gashes cut in their faces, done ajDparently with hatchets.

On the return to camp at Forest City, when within about four miles of Acton, he came to a point on the road where a train of wagons had been attacked on the 23d.^ He here found two more dead bodies of white men, mutUated in a shocking manner by having their hands cut off, being disemboweled and otherwise disfigured, having knives still remaining in their abdomens, where they had been left by the savages. The road at this place was, for three miles, lined with the carcasses of dead cattle, a great portion of which belonged to the train upon which the attack had been made. On this excursion the company were abont foiir days, during which time they traveled over one hundred miles, and buried the bodies of niae persons who had been murdered.

On the next day after having returned to the camp, being the 28th of the month, the same party made a circuit through the western portion of Meeker coimty, and buried the bodies of three more men that were found mutilated and disfigured in a similar manner to those previously mentioned. In addition to the other services rendered by the company thus far, they had discovered and removed to the camp several persona found wounded and disabled in the vicinity, and two, who had been very severely wounded, had been sent by them to St. Cloud for the purpose of receiving surgical attention.

The company, in addition to their other labors, were employed in the construction of a stockade fort, to be used if necessary for defensive purposes, and for the protection of those who were not capable of bearing arms. It was formed by inserting the ends of pieces of rough timber into the earth to the depth of three feet, and leaving them from ten to twelve feet above the surface of the ground. In this way an area was inclosed of one himdred and forty feet in length and one hundred and thirty in width. Within the fortidcatiou was included one frame dwelling-house and a well of water. At diagonal comers of the inclosure were erected two wings or bastions provided with portboles, from each of which two sides of the main work could be guarded and raked by the rifles of the company.

Information was received by Captain Whitcomb that a family at Green Lake, in M<jnougalia county, near the scenes visited by him in his expedition to that county, had made their e.=eape from, the Indians, and taken refuge upon an island Lu the lake. In attempting to rescue this family Captain Whitcomb had a severe encounter with Indians found in ambush near the line of Meeker county, and after much skirmishing and a brisk engagement, which proved very much to the disadvantage of the Indians, they succeeded in effecting their escape to the thickly-timbered region in the rear of their first position. The members of the company were nearly all experienced marksmen, and the Springfield rifles in their hands proved very galling to the enemy. So anxious was the latter to effect his retreat, that he left tliree of his dead upon the ground. No loss was sustained on the part of our troops, except a flesh-wound in the leg received by one of the company. As it was deemed uuadvisable to pursue the Indians into the heavy timber with the small force at command, the detachment fell back to their camp, arriving the same evening.

On the following day, Captain Whitcomb, taking with him twenty men from his company, and twenty citizens who volunteered for the occasion, proceeded on the same route taken the day previous. With the increase in his forces he expected to be able, without much difficulty, to overcome the Indians previously encountered. After proceeding about ten miles from the camp, their further progress was ag;iin disput^^d by the Indians, who had likewise been reinforced since their last encounter. Owing to the great superiority of the enemy's forces, the Captain withdrew his men. They fell gradually back, fighting steadily on the retreat, and were pursued to within four miles of the encampment. In this contest, one Indian is known to have been killed. On the part of the whites (^ne horee and wagon got mired in a slough, and had to be abandoned. No other injmy was suffered from the enemy ; but two men were wounded by the accidental discharge of a gun in their own ranks.

A fortification was prepared, and the citizens, with their families, were removed within the inclosure. Captain Whitcomb quartered his company in tlie principal hotel of the place, and guards were stationed for the night, while all the men were directed to be prepared for any contingency that might arise, and be in readiness for using their arms at any moment.

Between 2 and 3 o'clock tlie following morning, the guards discovered the approach of Indians, and gave the alarm. As soon as the savages perceived that they were discovered, they uttered the war-whoop, and poured a volley into the hotel where the troops were quartered. The latter immediately retired to the stockade, taking with them all the ammunition and equipments in their possession. They had scarcely effected an entrance when fire was opened upon it from forty or fifty Indian rifles. Owing to the darkness of the morning, no distinct view could be obtained of the enemy, and, in consequence, no very effective fire could be opened upon him.

While one party of the Indians remained to keep up a fire upon the fort and harass the garrison, another portion was engaged in setting fire to buildings and haystacks, while others, at the same time, engaged in colleetiug horses and cattle found in the place, and driving them off. Occasional glimpses could be obtained of those near the fires, but as soon as a shot was fired at them they would disappear in the darkness. Most of the buildings burned, however, were such a distance from the fort as to be out of range of the guns of the garrison. The fire kept up from that point prevented the near approach of the incendiary party, and by that means the principal part of the town was saved from destruction. On one occasion an effort was made to carry the flames into a more central part of ttie town, and the torches in the hands of the party were seen approaching the office of A. C. Smith, Esq. Directed by the hglit of the torches, a volley was poured into their midst from the fort, whereupon the braves hastily abandoned their incendiary implements and retreated from that quarter of the vUlage. From signs of blood afterward found upon the ground, some of the Indians were supposed to have met the fate intended for them, but no dead were left behind.

The fight continued, without other decided results, iintil about daylight, at which time the principal part of the forces retired. As the light increased, so that objects became disceiraible, a small party of savages were observed engaged in driving off a number of cattle. A portion of the garrison, volunteering for the purpose, sallied out to recover the stock, which they accomplished, with the loss of two men wounded, one of them severely.

This comjDany had no further encounters with the Indians, but afterward engaged in securing the grain and other property belonging to the settlers who had abandoned, or been driven from, their farms and homes. Nearly every settlement between Forest City and the western frontier had, by this timei, been deserted, and the whole country was in the hands of the savages. In speaking of his endeavors to save a portion of the property thus abandoned. Captain Whitcomb, on the 7th of September, wrote as follows:

"It ia only in their property that the inhabitants can now be injured; the people have all fled. The country is totally abandoned. Not an inhabitant remains in Meeker county, west of this place. No white person (unless a captive) is now living in Kandiyohi or Monongalia county."

On the 1st of September, Oaijtain Strout, who had previously arrived at Glencoe, made preparations for a fui-ther advance. Owing to the vigorous measures adopted by General John H. Stevens, of the State militia, it was thought unnecessary that any additional forces should be retained at this point. Under his directions no able-bodied man having deserted the country further to the westward, had been permitted to leave the neighborhood, or pass through. All such were required to desist from further flight, and assist in making a stand, in order to check the further advance of the destroyers of their homes. The town of Glencoe had been fortified to a certain extent, and a military company of seventy-three members had been organized, and armed with such guns as were in possession of the settlers.. With Glencoe thus provided for, General Stevens did

The company of the latter, by this time, had been increased by persons, principally from "Wright county, who volunteered their services for the expedition, until it numbered about seventy-five men. With this force he marched, as already stated, on the 1st day of September.

Passing through Hutchinson on his way, no opjiosition was encountered until the moi'ning of the 3d of September. On the night previous, he had arrived at and encam2oed near Acton, on the western border of Meeker county.

At about half-past five o'clock the nest morning his camp was attacked by a force comprising about one hundred and fifty Indians. The onset was made from the direction of Hutchinson, with the design, most probably, of cutting off the retreat of the comj^any, and of precluding the possibility of sending a messenger after reinforcements. They fought with a spirit and zeal that seemed determined to annihilate our little force, at whatever cost it might require.

For the first half hour Captain Strout formed his company into four sections, in open order, and pressed against them as skirmishers. Finding their forces so much superior to his own, he concentrated the force of his company, and hurled them against the main body of the enemy. In this manner the fight was kept up for another hour and a half, the Indians falling slowly back as they were pressed, in the direction of Hutchinson, but maintaining all the while their order and line of battle. At length the force in front of the company gave way, and falling upon the rear, continued to harrass it in its retreat.

About one-half of the savages were mounted, partly on large, fine horses, of which they had plundered the settlements, and partly on regular Indian ponies. These latter were so well trained for the business in which they were now engaged, that their riders would drive them at a rapid rate to within any desirable distance of our men, when pony and rider would both instantly lie down in the tall grass, and thus become concealed from the aim of the shai-p-shooters of the company.

With the intention, most likely, of creating a panic in our ranks, and causing the force to scatter, and become separately an easy prey to the pursuers, the Indians would at times, uttering the most terrific and unearthly yells of which their lungs and skill were capable, charge in a mass upon the little band. On none of these occasions, however, did a single man falter or attempt a flight; and, after approaching within one hundred yards of the retreating force, and perceiving that they still remained firm, the Indians would halt the charge, and seek concealment in the grass or elsewhere, from which places they would continue their fire.

After having thus hitng upon and harrassed the rear of the retreating force for about half an hour, at the end of which time the column had arrived mthin a short distance of Cedar City, in the extreme north-west corner of McLeod county, the pursuit was given up, and the company continued the retreat without further opposition to Hutchinson, at which place it arrived at an early hoiu- in the same afternoon.

The loss of the company in the encounter was three men killed and fifteen wounded, some of them severely. AH were, however, brought from the field.

In addition to this they lost most of their rations, cooking utensils, tents, and a portion of their ammunition and arms. Some of their horses became unmanageable and ran away. Some were mired and abandoned, making, with those killed by the enemy, an aggregate loss of nine. The loss inflicted upon the enemy could not be determined with any degree of certainty, but Caj)- tain Strout was of the opinion that thoir killed and wovmded were two or three times as great as ours.

At Hutchinson a military company, consisting of about sixty members, had been organized for the purpose of defending the place against any attacks from the Indians. Of this company Lewis Harrington was elected captain. On the first apprehension of danger a house was barricaded as a last retreat in case of necessity. The members of the company, aided by the citizens, afterward constructed a small stockade fort of one hundred feet square. It was built after the same style as that at Forest City, with bastions in the same position, and a wall composed of double timbers rising to the height of eight feet alwva the gn)und. The work was provided with loop-holes, from which a musketry fire could be kept up, and was of sufficient strength to resist any projectiles that the savages had the means of throwing. At tliis place Captain Strout lialtcd his company, to await further developments.

4th of September, the Indians approached the town thus garrisoned and commenced the attack. They were repUed to from the fortification; but. as they were careful not to come within close range, and used every means to conceal their persons, but little punishment was inflicted upon them. They bent their energies more in attempts to burn the town than to inflict any serious injury upon the military. In these endeavors they were so far successful as to burn all the buildings situated on the bluff in the rear of the town, including the college building, which was here located. They at one time succeeded in reaching almost the heart of the village, and applying the incendiary torch to two of the dwelling-houses there situated, which were consumed.

Our forces marched out of the fort and engaged them in the open field; but, owing to the superior numbers of the enemy, and their scattered and hidden positions, it was thought that no advantage could be gained in this way, and, after driving them out of the town, the soldiers were recalled to the fort. The day was spent in this manner, the Indians making a succession of skirmishes, but at the same time endeavoring to maintain a sufficient distance between them and the soldiers to insure an almost certain impunity from the fire of their muskets. At about five o'clock in the evening their forces were withdrawn, and our troops rested on their arms, in expectation of a renewal of the fight in a more desperate form.

As soon as General Stevens was informed of the attack made upon Captain Strout, near Acton, and his being compelled to fall back to Hutchinson, he directed Captain Davis to proceed to the command of Lieutenant Weinmann, then stationed near Lake Addie, in the same county, to form a jimction of the two commands, and proceed to Hutchinson and reinforce the command of Captain Strout.

On the morning of the 4th of September the pickets belonging to Lieutenant Weinmann's command reported having heard firing in the direction of Hutchinson. The Lieutenant immediately ascended an eminence in the vicinity of his camp, ' and from that point could disliuguish the smoke from six different fires in the same direction. Being satisfied from these indications that an attack had been made upon Hutchinson, he determined at once to march to the assistance of the place. Leaving behind him sis men to collect the teams and follow with the wagons, he started with

More Savage Barbarities

Upon learning the state of affairs, the mounted company followed in the same direction, and, in a short time, came up with Lieutenant Weinmann. A junction of their forces was immediately effected, and they proceeded in a body to Hutchinson, at which place they arrived about 6 o'clock in the evening. No Indians had been encountered on the march, and the battle, so long and so diligently kept up during most of the day, had just been terminated, and the assailing forces withdrawn. A reconnoissance, in the immediate vicinity, was made from the fort on the same evening, but none of the Indians, who, a few hours before, seemed to be everywhere, could be seen; but the bodies of three of their victims, being those of one woman and two children, were found and brought to the village.

On the following morning, six persons arrived at the fortification, who had been in the midst of and surrounded by the Indians during the greater part of the day before, and had succeeded in concealing themselves until they retired from before the town, and finally effected their escape to the place.

The companies of Captain Davis and Lieutenant Weinmann made a tour of examination in the direction that the Indians were supposed to have taken. All signs discovered seemed to indicate that they had left the vicinity. Their trail, indicating that a large force had passed, and that a number of horses and cattle had been taken along, was discovered, leading in the direction of Eedwood. As the battle of Birch Coolie had been fought two or three days previous, at which time the Indians first learned the great strength of the colmnn threatening them in that quarter, it is most likely that the party attacking Hutchinson had been called in to assist in the endeavor to repel the forces under Colonel Sibley.

On the 23d of Seistember the Indians suddenly reappeared in the neighborhood. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon a messenger arrived, with dispatches from Lieutenant Weinmann, informing Captain Strout that Samuel White and family, residing at Lake Addie, had that day been brutally murdered by savages.

direction of Cedar City came in, having been attacked near Greenleaf, and one of their number, a member of Captain Harrington's company, killed and left ujJon the ground. They reported having seen about twenty Indians, having killed one, and their belief that more were in the party. The scouts from nearly every direction reported having seen Indians, some of them in considerable numbers, and the country all around seemed at once to have become infested with them.

On the 5th of September, Lieutenant William Byrnes, of the Tenth Eegiment Minnesota Volunteers, with a command of forty-seven men, started from Minneapolis, where his men were recruited, for service in Meeker and McLeod counties. Upon his arrival in the country designated, he was finally stationed at Kingston, in the county of Meeker, for the purpose of affording protection to that place and vicinity. He quartered his men in the storehouse of Hall & Co., which had been previously put in a state of defense by the citizens of the place. He afterward strengthened the place by means of earth-works, and made daily examinations of the surrounding country by means of scouts.

Capt. Pettit, of the Eighth Regiment Minnesota Volimteers, was, about the same time, sent to reinforce Captain Whitcomb, of Forest City, at which place he was stationed at the time of the sudden reappearance of the Indians in the country. On the 22d of September word was brought to Forest City that the Indians were committing depredations at Lake Kipley, a point some twelve miles to the westward of that place. Captain Pettit thereupon sent a messenger to Lieutenant Byrnes, requesting his co-operation, mth as many of his command as could leave their post in safety, for the purpose of marching into the invaded neighborhood.

In pursuance of orders. Lieutenant Byrnes, with thirty -six men, joined the command of Capt Pettit on the same evening. On the next morning, the 23d of September, the same day that Captain Strout's scouting party was attacked at Greenleaf, Captain Pettit, with the command of Lieutenant Byrnes and eighty-seven men, from the post at Forest City, marched in the direction in which the Indians had been reported as committing depredations on the previous day. Four mounted men of Captain Whitcomb's force accompanied the party as guides.

tions, they found the mutilated corpse of a citizen by the name of Oleson. He had received three shots through the body and one through the hand. Not even satisfied with the death thus inflicted, the savages had removed his scalp, beaten out his brains, cut his throat from ear to ear, and cut out his tongue by the roots. Leaving a detachment to bury the dead, the main body of expedition continued the march by way of Long Lake, and encamped near Acton, where Captain Strout's command was first attacked, and at no great distance from the place where his scouts were attacked.

Scouts were sent out by Captain Pettit, all of whom returned without having seen any Indians. Two dwelling-houses had been visited that had been sot on fire by the Indians, but the ilaraes had made so little progress as to be capable of being extinguished by the scouts, which was done accordingly. Three other houses on the east side of Long Lake had been fired and consumed during the same day. Three women were found, who bad been lying in the woods for a number of days, seeking concealment from the savages. They were sent to Forest City for safety. During the early part of the night, Imlians were heard driving or collecting cattle, on the opposite side of Long Lake from tlie encampment.

During the 24th of September the march was continued to Diamond Lake, in Monongalia county. All the houses on the route were found to be tenantless, all the farms were deserted, and every thing of value, of a destructible nature, belonging to the settlers, had been destroyed by the savages. Only one Indian was seen during the day, and be being mounted, soon made his escape into the big woods. The carcasses of cattle, belonging to the citizens, were found in all directions upon the prairie, where they had been wantonly slaughtered and their tiesh abandoned to the natural process of decomposition.

At break of day, on the morning of the an Indian was seen by one of the sentinels to rise from the grass and attempt to take a sui-vey of the encampment. He was immediately fired upon when he uttered a yell and disappeared. Captain Pettit thereupon formed his command in order of battle and sent out skirmishers to reconnoiter; but the Indians had decamped, and nothing further could be ascertained concerning them.

followed in the outward march. About ten o'clock the expedition came upon a herd, comprising sixtyfive head of cattle, which the Indians had collected, and were in the act of driving off, when they were surprised by the near approach of volunteers. As the latter could be seen advancing at a distance of three miles, the Indians had no dilKculty in making their escape to the timber, and in this way eluding pursuit from the expedition by abandoning their plunder. The cattle were driven by the party to Forest City, w-here a great portion of the herd was found to belong to persons who were then doing military duty, or taking refuge from their enemies.

At Rockford, on the Crow river, a considerable force of citizens congregated for the purpose of mutual protection, and making a stand against the savages in case they should advance thus far. A substantial fortification was erected at the place, aflfording ample means of shelter and protection to those there collected; but we are not aware that it ever became necessary as a place of last resort to the people, nor are we aware that the Indians committed any act of hostilities within tlie county of Wright.

On the 24th of August rumors reached St. Cloud that murders and other depredations had ^ been commi'.ted by the Indians near Paynesville, on the border of Stearns county, and near the dividing line between Meeker and Monongalia counties. A public meeting of the citizens was called at four o'clock in the afternoon, at which, among other measures adopted, a squad, well armed and equipped, was instructed to proceed to Paynesville, and ascertain whether danger was to be apprehended in that direction. This party immediately entered upon the discharge of their duty, and started to Paynesville the same evening.

On the evening of the following day they returned, and reported that they met at Paynesnlle the fugitives from Norway Lake, which latter place is situated in Monongalia county, and about seventeen miles in a south-west direction from the former. That, on Wednesday, the 20tli day of August, as a family of Swedes, by the name of Lomberg, were returning from church, they were attacked by a party of Indians, and three brothers killed, and another one, a boy, wounded. The father had fourteen shots fired at him, but succeeded in making his escape. One of his sons, John, succeeded in bearing off his wounded brother, and making their escape to Paynesville.

Company Formed At St. Oloud

On the 24tli, a party went out from Paynesville for the purpose of burying the dead at Norway Lake, where they found, in addition to those of the Lomberg faruily, two other entire families murdered - not a member of either left to tell the tale. The clothes had all been burned from their bodies, while from each had been cut either the nose, an ear or a finger, or some other act of mutilation had been committed upon it.

The party, having buried the dead, thirteen in number, were met by a Httle boy, who informed them that his father had that day been killed by the savages while engaged in cutting hay in a swamp. They proceeded with the intention of burying the body, but discovered the Indians to be in considerable force around the marsh, and they were compelled to abandon the design.

The party beheld the savages in the act of driving off forty -four head of cattle, a sj)an of horses, and two wagons ; but the paucity of their numbers compelled them to refrain from any attempt to recover the property, or to inflict any punishment upon the robbers and murderers having it in their possession. A scouting party had been sent to Johanna Lake, about ten miles from Norway Lake, where about twenty persons had been living. Not a single person, dead or alive, could there be found. Whether they had been killed, escaped by hasty flight, or been carried off ag* prisoners, could not be determined from the surrounding circumstances. As the party were returning, they observed a man making earnest endeavors to escape their notice, and avoid them by flight, under the impression that they were Indians, refusing to be convinced to the contrary by any demonstrations they could make. Upon their attempting to overtake him, he plunged into a lake and swam to an island, from which he could not be induced to return. His family were discovered and brought to Paynesville, but no information could be derived from them respecting the fate of their neighbors.

When this report had been made to the citizens of St. Cloud by the returned party, a mounted company, consisting of twenty-five members, was immediately formed, for the purpose of co-opering with any forces from Paynesville in efforts to recover and rescue any citizens of the ravaged district. Of this company Ambrose Freeman was elected captain, and they proceeded in the direction of Paynesville the next morning at 8 o'clock.

St. Cloud, and about fifteen miles distant from that place, a determined band of farmers united together with a determination never to leave until driven, and not to be driven by an inferior force. Their locahty was a small prairie, entirely surrounded by timber and dense thickets, a circumstance that seemed to favor the near approach of the stealthy savage.

By concerted action they soon erected a substantial fortification, constructed of a double row of timbers, set vertically, and inserted firmly in the ground. The building was made two stories in height. The upiser story was fitted up for the women and children, and the lower was intended for purposes of a more strictly military character. Some of their number were dispatched to the State Capital to obtain such arms and supplies as could be furnished them. Provisions were laid in, and they soon expressed their confidence to hold the place against five hundred savages, and to stand a siege, if necessary. Their determination was not to be thus tested, however. The Indians came into their neighborhood, and committed some small depredations, but, so far as reported, never exhibited themselves within gunshot of the fort.

At Paynesville, the citizens and such others as sought refuge in the town constructed a fortification for the purpose of protecting themselves and defending the village; but no description of the work has ever been received at this office, and, I beUeve, it was soon abandoned.

At St. Joseph, in the Watab Valley, the citizens there collected erected three substantial fortifications. These block-houses were built of solid green timber, of one foot in thickness. The structure was a pentagon, and each side was fifty feet in length. They were located at diS'erent l^oints of the town, and comjjletely commanded the entrance in all directions. In case the savages had attacked the town, they must have suffered a very heavy loss before a passage could be effected, and even after an entry had been made, they would have become fair targets for the riflemen of the forts. Beyond them, to the westward, every house is said to have become deserted, and a great portion of the country ravaged, thus placing them upon the extreme frontier in that dh-ection; but, owing, no doubt, to their activity in preparing the means for effective resistance, they were permitted to remain almost undisturbed.

the county, and situated on the head- waters of the Sauk river, is, perhaps, the most extreme point in this direction at which a stand was made by the settlers. Early measures were taken to perfect a military organization, which was effected on the 25th of August, by the election of Sylvester Ramsdell as captain. The company consisted of over fifty members, and labored under discouraging circumstances at the outset. The affrighted and panic-stricken settlers, from all places located still further to the north and west, came pouring past the settlement, almost commimicating the same feeling to the inhabitants. From Holmes City, Chippewa Lake, Alexandria, Osakis, and West Union, the trains of settlers swept by, seeking safety only in flight, and apparently willing to receive it in no other manner.

A small stockade fort was constructed, and within it were crowded the women and children. The haste with which it was constructed, and the necessity for its early completion, prevented its either being so extensive or so strongly built as the interest and comfort of the people seemed to require.

Upon being informed of the exposed situation of the place, and the determination of the settlers to make a imited eiTort to repel the destroyers from their homes, orders were, on the 30th day of August, issued to the conmiandant at Fort SnelUng, directing him, with all due speed, to detail from his command two companies of troops, with instructions to proceed to Sauk Center, for the purpose of protecting the inhabitants of the Sauk Valley from any attack of hostile Indians, and to co-operate as far as pussible with the troops stationed at Fcrt Abercrombie.

In obedience to these orders, the companies under command respectively of Captains George G. McCoy, of the Eighth Eegiment Minnesota Volunteers, and Theodore H. Barrett, of the Ninth Regiment, were sent forward. Their arrival at the stockade created a thrill of joy in the place, especially among the women and children, and all, even the most timid, took courage and rejoiced in their security. Captain Barrett was, shortly afterward, sent with his command in the expedition for the relief of Fort Abercombie, and a short time afterward Captain McCoy, in obedience to orders from General Pope, fell back to St. Cloud.

Upon the departure of these troops, many of the more timid were again almost on the verge of despair, and would willingly have retreated from the position they so long held. More courageous councils prevailed, and the same spirit of firmness that refused safety by flight in the first instance, was still unbroken, and prompted the company to further action, and to the performance of other duties in behalf of themselves and those who had accepted their proffers of protection. Disease was beginning to make its appearance within the stockade, where no other enemy had attcmjited to penetrate, and this fact admonished the company that more extensive and better quarters were required in order to maintain the health of the people.

Several plans were submitted for a new stockade, from which one was selected, as calculated to secure the best means of defense, and at the same time, to afford the most ample and comfortable quarters for the women, chUdreu, and invalids, besides permitting the horses and cattle to be secured within the works. In a few days the new tort was completed, inclosing an area of about one acre in extent, the walls of which were constructed of a double row of timljers, principally tamarack poles, inserted firmly in the ground, and rising eleven feet above the surface. These were properly prepared with loopholes and other means of protection to tbose within, and for the repulsion of an attacking party.

When the people had removed their stock and other property within the new fortification, and had been assigned to their new quarters, they for the first time felt really secure and at ease in mind. Had any vigorous attack been made upon the party in their old stockade, they might have saved the lives of the people, but their horses and cattle would most certainly have been driven off or destroyed. Now they felt that there was a chance of safety for their property as well as themselves.

A short time after this work had been completed Captain McCoy, after having rendered services in other parts of the country, was ordered back to Sauk Center. A company from the Twentyfifth Wisconsin Regiment was sent to the same place upon its arrival in the state, and remained there until about the first of December.

Two days after the citizens from Grove Lake - a point some twelve miles to the south-west of Sauk Center - had cast their lot with the people of the latter place, the night-sentinels of Captain Kamsdell's company discovered fires to tlie southwest. Fearing that all was not right in the vicinity of Grove Lake, a party was sent out the next morning to reconnoiter in that neighborhood. They found one dwelling-house burned, and others plundered of such things as had attracted the fancy of the savages, while all furniture was left broken and destroyed. A number of the cattle which had not been taken with the settlers when they left, were found killed.

A Mr. Van Eaton, who resided at that place, about the same time, started from Sauk Center, with the intention of reraiting his farm. He is BupjJosed to have fallen into the hands of the savages, as he never returned to the fort. Several parties were sent in search of him, but no positive trace could ever be found.

At St. Cloud, in the upper part of the town, a small but substantial fortification was erected, and "Broker's Block" of buildings was surrounded with a breastwork, to be used in case the citizens should be compelled to seek safety in this manner. In Lower Town a small work was constructed, called Fort Holes. It was located upon a ridge overlooking the "flat" and the lower landing on the river. It was circular in form, and was fortvfive feet in diameter. The walls were formed by two rows of posts, deeply and firmly set in the groimd, with a space of four feet between the rows. Boards were then nailed upon the sides of the posts facing the opposite row, and the interspace filled and packed with earth, thus forming an earthen wall of four feet in thickness. The structure was then covered with two-inch plank, supported by heavy timbers, and this again with sods, in order to render it fire-proof. In the center, and above all, was erected a bullet-proof tower, of the "monitor" style, but without the means of causing it to revolve, prepared with loop-holes for twelve sharp-shooters. This entire structure was inclosed with a breastwork or wall similar to that of the main building, two feet in thickness and ten in height, with a projection outward so as to render it difficult to be scaled. It was pierced for loop-holes at the distance of every five feet. "Within this fortification it was intended that the inhabitants of Lower Town should take refuge in case the Indians should make an attack in anv considerable force, and where they expected to be able to stand a siege until reinforcements would be able to reach them. They were not put to this test, however; but the construction of the fort served to give confidence to the citizens, and prevented some fi-om leaving the place that otherwise would have gone, and were engaged in the preparation at the time the work was commenced.

On the 22d of September a messenger arrived at St. Cloud from Richmond, m the same county, who reported that, at four o'clock the same morning, the Indians had appeared within a mde of the last-mentioned town, and had attacked the house of one of the settlers, killing two children and wounding one woman. Upon the receipt of this intelligence Captain McCoy, who was then stationed at St. Cloud with forty men of his command, got under way for the reported scene of disturbance at ten o'clock a. m., and was followed early in the afternoon by a mounted company of home-guards, under command of Captain Cramer. Upon arriving at Richmond the troops took the trail of the Indians in the direction of Paynesville, and all along the road found the dwellings of the settlers in smouldering ruins, and the stock of their farms, even to the poultry, killed and lying in all directions. Seven of the farm-houses between these two towns were entirely consumed, and one or two others had been fired, but were reached before the flames had made such progress as to be incapable of being extinguished, and these were saved, in a damaged condition, through the exertions of the troops. On arriving at Paynasville they found eight dwelling-houses either consumed or so far advanced in burning as to preclude the hope of saving them, and all the outbuildings of every description had been committed to the flames and reduced to ruins. Only two dwelling-houses were left standing in the village. At Clear Water, on the Mississippi river, bcliw Si Cloud, and in the county of Wright, the citizens formed a home guard and budt a fortification for their own protection, which is said to have been a good, substantial structure, but no report has been received in regard either to their military force or preparations for defense.

Morrison county, which occupies the extreme frontier in this direction, tliere being no organized coimty beyond it, we believe, was deserted by but few of its inhabitants. They collected, however, from the various portions of the county, and took position in the town of Little Falls, its capital, where they fortified the court-house, by strengthening its walls and digging entrenchments around it. During the uight the women and children occupied the inside of the building, while the men remained in quarters or on guard on the outside. In the morning the citizens of the town would return to their habitiitions, taking with them such of their neighbors as they could accommodate, and detachments of the men would proceed to the farms of some of the settlers and exert themselves in securing the produce of the soil. Indians were seen on several occasions, and some of the people were fired upon by them, but so far as information has been communicated, no lives were lost among the settlers of the county.

Howitzer Return Of Captain Freeman To St

On the 23d of August the Indians commenced hostilities in the valley of the Red Eiver of the North. This region of country was protected by the post of Fort Abercrombie, situated on the west bank of the river, in Dakota Territory. The troops that had formerly garrisoned the forts had been removed, and sent to aid in suppressing the Southern rebellion, and their place Was supplied, as were all the posts within our state, by a detachment from the Fiftli Rogimeut Minnesota Volunteers. But one company had been assigned to this point, which was under the command of Captain John Van der Horck. About one-half of the company was stationed at Georgetown, some fifty miles below, for the purpose of overawing the Indians in that vicinity, who had threatened some opposition to the navigation of the river, and to destroy the property of the Transportation Company. The force was thus divided at the commencement of the outbreak.

The interpreter at the post, who had gone to Yellow Medicine for the purpose of attending the Indian payment, returned about the 20th of August, and reported that the Indians were becoming exasperated and that he expected hostilities to be immediately commenced. Upon the receipt of this intelligence the guards were doubled, and every method adopted that was likely to insure protection against surprises.

Tlie Congress of the United States had authorized a treaty to be made with the Red Lake Indians, (Chippewas,) and the officers were already on their way for the purpose of consummating such treaty. A train of some thirty wagons, loaded with goods, and a herd of some two hundred head of cattle, to be used at the treaty by the United States Agent, was likewise on the way, and was then at no great distance from the fort.

Early in the morning of the 2^(1 a messenger arrived, and informed the commandant that a band of nearly five hundred Indians had already crossed the Otter Tail river, with the iutentiou of cutting off and capturing the train of goods and cattle intended for the treaty. Word was immediately sent to those having the goods in charge, and requesting them to take refuge in the fort, which was speedily complied with. Messengers were likewise sent to Breckenridge, Old Crossing, Graham's Point, and all the principal settlements, urging the inhabitants to flee to the fort for safety, as from the weakness of the garrison, it was not possible that protection could be afforded them elsewhere.

The great majority of the people from the settlements arrived in safety on the same day, and were assigned to quarters within the fortification. Three men, however, upon arriving at Breckenridge, refused to go any further, and took possession of the hotel of the place, where they declared they would defend themselves and their property without aid from any source. On the evening of the same day a detachment of six men was sent out in that direction, in order to learn, if possible, the movements of the Indians. Upon their arriving in sight of Breckenridge they discovered the place to be occupied by a large force of the savages. They were likewise seen by the latter, who attempted to surround them, but being mounted, and the Indians on foot, they were enabled to make their escape, and returned to the fort.

The division of the company at Georgetown was immediately ordered in; and, on the morning of the - 24th, a detachment was sent to Breckenridge, when tliey found the place deserted by the Indians, but discovered the bodies of the three men who had there determined to brave the violence of the war party by themselves. They had lieen brutally murdered, and, when found, had cLiains bound around their ankles, by which it appeared, from signs upon the floor of the hotel, their bodies at least had been dragged around in t'le savage war-dance of their murderers, and, perli:i, s, in that very mode of torture they had suffered a lingering death. The mail-coach for St. Paul, which left the fort on the evening of the 2"2d. had fallen into the hands of the Indians, the di'ver lolled, and the contents of the mail scattered over the prairie, as was discovered by the detachment on the 24th.

Over fifty citizens capable of bearing arms had taken refuge the garrison, and willingly became soldiers for the time being; but many of them were destitute of arms, and none could be furnished them from the number in the possession of the commandant. There was need, however, to strengthen the position with outside intrenchments, and all that could be spared from other duties were employed in labor of that character.

On the morning of the 25th of August, messengers were dispatched ftrom the post to head-quarters, stating the circumstances Tinder which the garrison was placed, and the danger of a severe attack; but, as all troops that could be raised, and were not indispensable at other points, had been sent to Colonel Sibley, then on the march for the relief of Fort Kidgely, it was impossible at once to reinforce Fort Abercrombie with any troops already reported ready for the field. Authority had been given, and it was expected that a considerable force of mounted infantry for the State service had been raised, or soon would be, at St. Cloud.

As the place was directly upon the route to Abercrombie, it was deemed advisable to send any troops that could be raised there to the assistance of Captain Van der Horck, relying upon our ability to have their places shortly filled with troops, then being raised in other parts of the State. Accordingly, Captain Freeman, with his company, of about sixty in number, started upon the march; but upon arriving at Sauk Center, he became convinced, from information there received, that it would be extremely dangerous, if not utterly impossible, to make the march to the fort with so small a number of men. He then requested Captain Kamsdell, in command of the troops at Sauk Center, to detail thirty men fi-om his command, to be united with his own company, and, with his force so strengthened, he proposed to make the attempt to reach the fort. Captain Kamsdell thought that, by complying with this request, he would so weaken his own force that he would be unable to hold position at Sauk Center, and that the region of country around would become overrun by the enemy, and he refused his consent. Captain Freeman then deemed it necessary to await reinforcements before proceeding any further on his perilous journey.

On the same day that orders were issued to the mounted men then assembling at St. Cloud, similar orders were issued to those likewise assembling in Goodhue coimty, under the command of Captain David L. Davis, directing them to complete their organization with all speed, and then to proceed forthwith to the town of Carver, on the Minnesota river, and thence through the counties of McLeod, Meeker, and Stearns, until an intersection was made with the stage-route from St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie, and thence along such stageroute to the fort, unless the officers in command became convinced that their services were more greatly needed in some other quarter, in which case they had authority to use discretionary powers. This company, likewise, marched pursuant to orders; but, in consequence of the attacks then being made upon Forest City, Acton, and Hutchinson, they deemed it their duty to render assistance to the forces then acting in that part of the country.

The first efforts to reinforce the garrison on the Red River had failed. Upon the fact becoming known at this office, there were strong hopes that two more companies of infantry could be put into the field in a very short time, and, therefore, on the 30th day of August, orders were issued to the commandant of Fort Snelling, directing him to detail two companies, as soon as they could be had, to proceed to Sauk Center, and thence to proceed to Fort Abercrombie, in case their services were not urgently demanded in the Sauk Valley. These companies were, soon after, dispatched accordingly, and it was hoped that, by means of this increased force on the north-western frontier, a sufficiently strong expedition might be formed to effect the reinforcement of Abercrombie.

Upon the arrival of these troops at the rendezvous, however, they still considered the forces in that vicinity inadequate to the execution of the task proposed. Of this fact we first had notice on the 6th day of September. Two days previously, the effective forces of the state had been strength- ened by the arrival of the Third Regiment Minnesota Volunteers, without any coramissionod officers and being but a wreck of that once noble regiment. Three hundred of the men had already been ordered to the field, under the command of Major Welch. It was now determined to send forward the remaining available force of the regiment, to endeavor to effect the project so long delayed, of reinforcing the command of Captain Van der Horck, on the Red River of the North. Orders were accordingly issued to the commandant at Fort SneUing, on the 6th day of September, directing him to fit out an expedition for that purpose, to be composed, as far as possible, of the troops belonging to the Third Regiment; and Colonel S nith, the commandant at the post, immediately entered upon the discharge of the duties assigned him in the order.

Daring the time that these efforts had been making for their relief, the garrison at Port Aborcrombie was kept in a state of siege by the savages, who had taken possession of the surrounding country in large niimbers. On the 25th ot August, tho same day that the first messengers were sent from that post. Captain Van der Horck detailed a squad, composed of six men from his company and six of the citizens then in the fort, to proceed to Breckenridge anil recover the bodies of the men who had there been murdered. They proceeded, without meeting with any opposition, to the point designated, where they found the bodies, and consigned them to boxes or rough coffins, prepared for the purpose, and were about starting on the return, when they observed what they supposed to be an Indian in the saw-mill, at that place. A further examination revealed the fact that the object mistaken tor an Indian was an old lady by the name of Scott, from Old Crossing, on the Otter Tail, a point distant fifteen miles from Breckenridge.

When discovered, she had three wounds on the breast, which she had received from the Indians, at her residence, on the morning of the previous day. Notwithstanding the severity of her wounds, and the fact that she was sixty-five years of age, she made her way on foot and alone, by walking or crawling along the banks of the river, until she arrived, in a worn-out, exhausted, and almost dying condition, at the place where she was found. She stated that, on tho 24:th of August, a party of Indians came to her residence, where they were met by her son, a young man, whom they instantly shot dead, and immediately fired upon her, inflicting the wounds upon her person which she still bore. That tlien a teamster in the employment of Burbank & Co. appeared in sight, driving a wagon loaded with oats, and they went to attack him, taking with them her grandchild, a boy about eight years of age. That they fired upon the teamster, wounding nim in the arm, after which he succeeded in making his escape for that time, and they left her, no doubt believing her to be dead, or, at least, in a dying condition. She was conveyed to the fort, wliere her wounds were dressed, after which she gradually recovered. A party was sent out, on the 27th of August, to the Old Crossing, for the purpose of burying the body of her son, which was accomplished, and on their way to that point they discovered the body of another man who had been murdered, as was supposed, on the 24th.

On Saturday, the 3l)th of August, another small party were sent out, with the intention of going to the Old Crossing for reconnoitering purposes, and to collect and drive to the fort such cattle and other live stock as could there be found. They had proceeded ten miles on their way, when they canie upon a party of Indians, in ambush, by whom they were fired upon, and one of their party killed. The remainder of the sqund made their escape unhurt, but with the loss of their baggage wagon, five mules, and their camp equipage.

At about two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, the Indians appeared in large numbers in sight of the fort. At this time nearly all the live stock belonging to the post, as well as that belonging to the citizens then quartered within the work, together with the cattle that had been intended for the treaty in contemplation with the Red Lake Indians, were all grazing upon the prairie in rear of the fort, over a range extending from about one-half mile to three miles from it. The Indians approached boldly within this distance, and drove off the entire herd, about fifty head of which afterward escaped. They succeeded, however, in taking between one hundi-ed and seventy and two hundred head of cattle, and about one hundred horses .and mules. They made no demonstration against the fort, except their apparently bold acts of defiance; but, from the weakness ot the garrison in men and arms, no force was sent out to dispute with them the possession of the property. It was mortifying in tho extreme, especially to the citizens, to , be compelled to look thus quietly on, while they were being robbed of their property, and dare not attempt its rescue, lest the fort should be filled with their enemies in their absence.

On the 2d day of September, another reconnoitering party of eight were sent out in the direction of Breckenridge, who returned, at four o'clock p. m. without having encountered any ojjposition from the Indians, or without having even seen any ; but brought with them the cattle above spoken of as having escaped from their captors, which were found running at large during their march.

At daybreak on the following morning, the 3d of September, the garrison was suddenly called to arms by the report of alarm-shots fired by the sentinels in the vicinity of the stook-yard belonging to the post. The firing soon became sharp and rapid in that direction, showing that the enemy were advancing upon that point with considerable force. The command was shortly after given for aU those stationed outside to fall back within the fortification. About the same time, tivo of the haystacks were discovered to be on fire, which greatly emboldened and inflamed the spirits of the citizens, whose remaining stock they considered to be in extreme jeopardy. They rushed with great eagerness and hardihood to the stables, and as the first two of them entered on one side, two of the savages had just entered from the other. The foremost of these men killed one of the Indians and captured his gun. The other Indian fired upon the second man, wounding him severely in the shoulder, notwithstanding which, he afterward shot the Indian and finished him with the bayonet. By this time two of the horses had been taken away and two killed.

The fight was kept up for about two hours and a half, during which time three of the inmates of the fort were seriously wounded (one of whom afterward died from the wound) by shots from the enemy; and the commandant received a severe wound in the right arm from an accidental shot, fired by one of his own men. The Indians then retired without having been able to effect an entrance into the fort, and without having been able to succeed in capturing the stock of horses and cattle, which, most probably, had been the jirincipal object of thek attack.

Active measures were taken to strengthen the outworks of the fort. The principal materials at hand were cord-wood and hewn timber, but of this there was a considerable abundance. By means of these the barracks were surrounded with a breastwork of cord- wood, well filled in with earth to the height of eight feet, and this capped with hewn oak timbers, eight inches square, and having port-holes between them, from which a fire could be opened on the advancing foe. This was designed both as a means of protection, in case of attack, and a place of final retreat in case the main fort should by any means be burned or destroyed, or the garrison should in any manner be driven from it.

On Saturday, the 6th day of September, the same day that an expedition to that point was ordered from the Third Regunent, the fort was a second time attacked. Immediately after daybreak on that morning, the Indians, to the number of about fifty, mounted on horseback, made their appearance on the open prairie in the rear of the fort. Their intention evidently was, by this bold and defiant challenge, with so small a force, to induce the garrison to leave their fortifications and advance against them, to punish their audacity.

In becoming satisfied that our troops could not be seduced from their intreuchmcntg, the Indians soon displayed themselves in different directions, and in large numbers. Their principal object of attack in this instance, as on the former occasion, seemed to be the Government stables, seeming determined to get possession of the remaining horses and cattle at almost any sacrifice, even if they should make no other acquisition.

The stables were upon the edge of the prairie, with a grove of heavy timber lymg between them and the river. The savages were not slow in perceiving the advantage of making their approach upon that point fi-om this latter direction. The shores of the river, on both sides, were lined with Indians for a considerable -distance, as their warwhoops, when they concluded to commence the onset, soon gave evidence. They seemed determined to frighten the garrison into a cowardly submission, or, at least, to drive them from the outposts, by the amount and unearthliness of their whoops and yells. They, in turn, however, were saluted and partially quieted by the opening upon them of a six-pounder, and the explosion of a shell in the midst of their ranks.

A large force was led by one of their chiefs from the river through the timber until they had gained a close proximity to the stables, still under cover of large trees in the grove. When no nearer position could be gained presenting them- selves in the open ground, they were urged by their leader to make a charge upon the point thus sought to be gained, and take the place by storm. They appeared slow in rendering obedience to his command, whereby they were to expose themselves in an open space intervening between them and the stables. When at length he succeeded in creating a stir among them (for it assuredly did not approach the grandeur of a charge), they were met by such a volley from the direction in which they were desired to march that they suddenly reversed their advance, and each sought the body of a tree, behind which to screen himself from the threatened storm of flying bullets.

As an instance of the manner in which the fight was now conducted, we would mention a part of the personal adventures of Mr. Walter P. HUls, a citizen, who three times came as a messenger from the fort during the time it was in a state of siege. He had just returned to the post with dispatches the evening before the attack was made. He took part in the engagement, and killed his Indian in the early portion of tlie fight before the enemy was driven across the river.

He afterward took position at one of the portholes, where he paired off with a particular Sious warrior, posted behind a tree of his own selection. He, being acquainted with the language to a considerable extent, saluted and conversed with his antagonist, and as the opportunity was presented, each would fire at the other. This was kept up for about an hour without damage to either party, when the Indian attempted to change his position, so as to open fire from the opposite side of his tree from that which he had been using hitherto. In this maneuver he made an unfortunate exposure of his person in the direction of the upper bastion of the fort. The report of a rifle from that point was heard, and the Indian was seen to make a sudden start backward, when a second and third shot followed in rapid succession, and Mr. Hills beheld his polite opponent stretched a corj)se upon the ground. He expressed himself as experiencuig a feeling of di.ssatisfaction at beholding the death of his enemy thus inflicted by other hands than his jwn, after he had endeavored so long to accomplish the same object.

Several of the enemy at this point were killed while in the, act of skulking from one tree to another. The artillery of the ])ust was used with considerable efl'ect during the engagement. At one time a number of the euemv's liorscnien were observed collecting upon a knoU on the prairie, at the distance of about half a mile from the fort, with the apparent intention of making a charge. A howitzer was brought to bear upon them, and a shell was planted in their midst, which immediately afterward exploded, filling the air with dust, sand, and other fragments. When this had sufficiently cleared away to permit the knoll to be again seen, the whole troop, horses and riders, had vanished, and could nowhere be discovered.

The fight lasted until near noon, when the enemy withdrew, taking with him nearly all his dead. The loss which he sustained could not be fully ascertained, but from the number killed in plain view of the works, and the marks of blood, broken guns, old rags, and other signs discovered where the men had fallen or been dragged away by their companions, it must have been very severe. Our loss was one man killed and two wounded, one of them mortally.

Mr. Hills left the fort the same evening as bearer of dispatches to headquarters at St. Paul, where he arrived in safety on the evening of the 8th of September.

Captain Emil A. Buerger was appointed, by special order from headquarters, to take command of the exjjodition for the relief of Fort Abercrombie. He had .served with some distinction in the Prussian army for a period of ten years. He afterward emigrated to the United States, and became a resident of the state of Minnesota, taking the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States, and making a declaration of his intention to become a citizen. He enlisted in the second company of Minnesota Sharp-Shooters, and was with the company in the battle of Fair Oaks, in Virginia, where he was severely wounded and loft upon the field. He was there found by the enemy, and carried to Eichmond as a prisoner of war. After having in a great measure recovered from his wounds, he was paroled and sent to Benton Barracks, in the state of Missouri, where he was sojourning at the time the 3d Regiment was ordered to this state. As the regiment at that time was utterly destitute of commissioned ofiicers, Captain Buerger was designated to take charge and command during the passage from St. Louis, and to report the command at headquarters in this state.

From his kno\vn experience and bravery, he was selected to lead the expedition to the Red River of the North, for the rehef of the garrison at

Fort Abercrombie. On the 9th of September he was informed, by the commandant at Fort Snelling, that the companies commanded respectively by Captains George Atkinson and Rolla Banks, together \\dth about sixty men of the Third Kegiment, under command of Sergeant Dearborne, had been assigned to bis command, constituting an aggregate force of about 250 men.

The next day (September 10) arms and accoutrements were issued to the men, and, before noon of the 11th of September, Captam Atkinson's company and the company formed from the members of the Third Kegiment were ready for the march. With these Captain Buerger at once set out, leaving Captain Bank's company to receive their clothing, but with orders to follow after and overtake the others as soon as possible, which they did, arriving at camp and reporting about 3 o'clock the nest morning.

It was also deemed expedient to send the only remaining field-piece belonging to the state along with the expedition, and Lieutenant Eobert J. McHenry was, accordingly, appointed to take command of the piece, and was sent after the expedition, which he succeeded in overtaking, near Clear Water, on the 13th of September, and immediately repoited for further orders to the captain commanding the expedition.

Being detained by heavy rains and muddy roads, the expedition was considerably delayed upon its march, but arrived at Richmond, in Steams county, on the 16th of September, and encamped in a fortification erected at tliat point by the citizens of the place. Upon his arrival. Captain Buerger was informed that the night previous an attack had been made upon the neighboring village of Paynesville, and a church and schoolhouse had been burned, and that, on the day of his arrival, a party of thirty Sioux warriors, well mounted, had been seen by some of the Eichmond home-guards, about three miles beyond the Sauk river at that point.

Captain Buerger thereupon detailed a party of twenty men to proceed to Eichmond, to patrol up and down the bank of the river as far as the town site extended, and, in case of an attack being made, to render all possible or necessary assistance and aid to the home militia; at the same time he held the remainder of his command in readiness to meet any emergency that might arise. No Indians appeared during the night, and, on the morning following, the march was resumed.

On the 19th of September the expedition reached Wyman's Station, at the point where the road enters the "Alexandria Woods." At the setting out of the expedition it was next to impossible to obtain means of transportation for the baggage and supplies necessary for the force. The fitting out of so many other exjieditions and detachments about the same time had drawn so heavily upon the resom-ces of the country, that scarcely a horse or wagon could be obtained, either by contract or impressment. Although Mr. Kimball, the quartermaster of the expedition, had been assiduously epgaged from the 8th of September in endeavoring to obtain such transportation, yet, on the 11th, he had but partially succeeded in liis endeavors.

Captain Buerger had refused longer to delay, and started at once with the means then at hand, leaving directions for others to be sent forward as rapidly as circumstances would allow. The march was much less rapid, for want of this part of the - train. These, fortunately, arrived while the command was encamped at Wyman's Station, just before the commencement of what was considered the dangerous part of the march.

On the 14th of September, Captains Barrett and Freeman, having united their commands, determined to make the attempt to relieve Fort Abercrombie, in obedience to jirevious orders. They broke up camp on the evening of that day, and by evening of the 15th, had reached Lake AmeUa, near the old trail to Eed Eiver, where they encamped. During the night a messenger arrived at their camp, bearing dispatches from Captain McCoy, advising them of the advance of the expedition under command of Captain Buerger, by whom they were directed to await further orders.

On the 18th they received orders directly from Captain Buerger, directing them to proceed to Wyman's Station, on the Alexandria road, and join his command at that point on the 19tb, which was promptly executed. Captain Buerger expressed himself as bemg highly pleased with these companies, both officers and men. He had been directed to assume command over these companies, and believing the country in his rear to be then sufficiently guarded, and being so well jaleased with both companies that he disliked to part with either, he ordered them to join the expedition during the remainder of the march.

By the accession of these companies the strength of the expedition was increased to something over four hundred effective men. This whole force.

with the entire train, marched on the 20tli of September, and passed through the "Alexandria Woods" without seeing any Indians. After passing Sauk Center, however, there was not an inhabitant to be seen, and the whole coxmtry had been laid waste. The houses were generally burned, and those that remained had been plundered of their contents and broken up, until they were mere wrecks, while the stock and produce of the farms had been all carried off or destroyed.

On the 21st they passed the spot where a Mr. Andrew Austin had been murdered by the Indian's a short time previous. His body was found, terdribly mutilated, the head having been severed from the body, and lying about forty rods distant from it, with the scalp torn ofiF. It was buried by the expedition in the best style that circumstances would admit. Pomme de Terre river was reached in the evening.

On the 22J they arrived at the Old Crossing, on the Otter Tail river, between Dayton and Breckenridge, about fifteen miles from the latter place. On the 2.3d the march was resumed, and nothing woi'ihy of remark occurred until the espodition had approached within about a mile of the P.eJ River, and almost within sight of Fort Abercronibie. At this point a dense smoke was observed in the direction of tlie fort, and the impression created among the troops was, that the post had already fallen, and was now being reduced to ash^s by the victorious savages, through the means of their favorite element of war.

Upon ascending an eminence where a bettor view could be obtained, a much better state of affairs was discovered to be existing. There stood the little fort, yet monarch of the prairie, and the flag of the Union was still waving above its battlements. The fire from which the smoke wr.s arising was between the command and the post, and was occasioned by the burning of the praiiie, which had been set on fire by the Indians, with the evident design of cutting off the expedition from the crossing of the river. After they had advanced a short distance further toward the river, a party of thirteen Indians appeared on the opposite bank, rushing in wild haste from a piece of woods. They hastily fired a few shots at our men from a distance of about fifteen hundred yards, inflictiLg no injuries on any one of the command, after which tliey disappeared in great trepidation, behind some bushes on the river shore.

of Captain Freeman's company, under command of Lieutenant Taylor, and twenty from the members of the Third Kegiment, the latter to act as skirmishers in the woods, was directed to cross the river with all possible celerity, and follow the retreating enemy. The men entered upon the duty assigned them with the greatest zeal, crossed the river, and follov.ed in the direction taken by the Indians.

Captain Buerger took with him the remaining force of the Third Kegiment and the field-piece, and jjrcceeded up the river to a point where he suspected the Indians would pass in their retreat, and where he was able to conceal his men from their sight until within a very short distance.

He soon discovered, however, that the savag. s were retreating, under cover of the woods, across the prairie, in the direction of the Wild Eice river. The whole expedition was then ordered to cross the river, which was effected in less than an hour, the men not awaiting to be carried over in wagons, but plunging into the water, breast-deep, and wading to the opposite shore.

By this time the savages had retreated some three miles, and were about entering the heavy timber beyond the prairie, and further pursuit was considered useless. The march was continued to the fort, at which place the expedition arrived about 4 o'clock of the same daj-, to the great joy of the imprisoned garrison and citizens, who welcomed their deliverers with unbounded cheers and demonstrations of delight.

When the moving columns of the expedition were first descried from tlie ramparts of the fort, they were taken to be Indians advancing to another attack. All was excitement and alarm. The following description of the after-part of the scene is from the pen of a lady who was an inmate of the fort during the long weeks that they were besieged, and could not dare to venture beyond half cannon-shot from the post without being in imminent peril of her life:

"About ."5 o'clock the rejjort came to quarters t'.iat the Indians were again coming from up toward Bridges. With a telescope we soon discovered tour white men, our messengers, riding at full speed, who, upon reaching here informed us that in one half hour we would be reinforced by three hundred and fifty men. Language can never express the delight of all. Some wept, some laughed, others hallooed and cheered. Tlie soli diers and citizens here formed in a line and went out to meet them. It was quite dark before all got in. Wc aU cheered so that the nest day more than half of us could hardly speak iiloud. The ladies all went out, and as they passed, cheered them. They were so dusty I did not kuow one of them."

On the same day that the expedition reached the fort, but at an early hour, it had been determined to dispatch a messenger to St. Paul, with reports of the situation of the garrison, and a request for assistance. The messenger was escorted a considerable distance by a force of twenty men, composed of soldiers and partly of the citizens quartered at the post. When returning, and within about a mile of the fort, they were fired upon by Indians in ambush, and two of the number, one citizen and one soldier, were killed, and fell into the hands of the enemy. The others, by extraordinary exertions, succeeded in making their escape, and returned to the garrison.

The next morning, about two-thirda of the mounted company, under command of Captain Freeman, escorted by a strong infantry force, went out to search for the bodies of those slain on the day before. After scouring the woods for a considerable distance, the bodies were found upon the prairie, some sixty or eighty rods apart, mangled and mutilated to such a degree as to be almost deprived of human form. The body of the citizen was found ripped open from the center of the abdomen to the throat. The heart and liver were entirely removed, while the lungs were torn out and left upon the outside of the chest. The head was cut off, scalped, and thrust within the cavity of the abdomen, with the face toward the feet. The hands were cut off and laid side by side, with the palms downward, a short distance from the main portion of the body. The body of the soldier had been pierced by two balls, one of which must have occasioned almost instant death. When found, it was lying upon the face, with the ujiper part of tlie head completely smashed and beaten in with clubs while the brains were scattered around upon the grass. It exhibited eighteen bayonet wounds in the back, and one of the legs had received a gash almost, or quite, to the bone, extending fiom the calf to the junction with the body.

The citizen had lived in the vicinity for years. The Indians had been in the habit of visiting his father's house, shariug the hospitahties of the dwelling, and receiving alms of the family. He must have been well known to the savages who in- flicted such barbarities upon his lifeless form; neither could they have had aught against him, except his belonging to a different race, and his being found in a coimtry over which they wished to re-establish their supremacy.

That his body had been treated with stiU greater indignity and cruelty than that of the soldier was in accordance with feeKngs previously expressed to some of the garrison. In conversation with some of the Sioux, previous to the commencement of hostihties, they declared a very strong hatred against the settlers in the country, as they frightened away the game, and thus interfered with their hunting. They objected, in similar terms, to having United States troojjs quartered so near them, but said they did not blame the soldiers, as they had to obey orders, and go wherever they were directed, but the settlers had encroached upon them, of their own free will, and as a matter of choice; for this reason the citizens should be severely dealt with.

No more Indians were seen around the fort until the 26th of September. At about 7 o'clock of that day, as Captain Freeman's company were watering their horses at the river, a volley was fired upon them by a party of Sioux, who had placed themselves in ambush for the purpose. One man, who had gone as teamster with the expedition, was mortally wounded, so that he died the succeeding night; the others were unarmed. From behind the log-buildings and breastworks the fire was soon ^-eturned with considerable effect, as a number of the enemy were seen to fall and be carried off by their comrades. At one time two Indians were observed skulking near the river. They were fired upon by three men from the fortification, and both fell, when they were dragged away by their companions.

On another occasion, during the fight, one of the enemy was discovered perched on a tree, where he had stationed himself, either for the purjjose of obtaining a view of the movements inside of the fort, or to gain a more favorable position for firing upon our men. He was fired upou by a member of Captain Barrel's company, when he released Iris hold upon the tree and fell heavily into a fork near the ground, from which he was removed and borne off by his Comrades. In a very short time a howitzer was brought into position, and a few shells (which the Indians designate as rotten bullets) were thrown among them, silencing their fire and causing them to withdraw.

A detacliment, comprising Captain Freeman's company, fifty men of the 3J Eegiment, and a squad in charge of a howitzer, were ordered in pursuit, and started over the prairie, up the river. At the distance of about two miles they came upon the Sioux camp, but the warriors fled in the greatest liaste and consternation upon their approach. A few shots were fired at them in their iiight, to which they replied by yells, but were in too great haste to return the fire. The howitzer was again opened upon them, whereupon their yelling suddenly ceased, and they rushed, if possible, with stUl greater celerity through the brush and across the river.

Their camp was taken possession of, and was found to contain a considerable quantity of plunder, compo.sed of a variety of articles, a stock of liquors being part of the assortment. Everything of value was carried to the fort, and the remainder was burned upon the ground.

On the evening of September 29th a light skirmish was had with a small party of Sioux, who attempted to gain an ambush in order to fire upon the troops while watering their horses, as on a previous occcasion. Fire was first opened upon them, which they returned, wovuiding one man. They were immediately routed and driven off, but with what loss, if any, was unknown.

On the 30th of September Captain Freeman's company and the members of the 3d Kegiment, together with a number of citizens and families, started on their return from Fort Abercrombie to St. Cloud. They passed by where the town of Dayton had formerly stood, scarcely a vestige of which was then found remaining. The dead body of one of the citizens, who had been murdered, was there found, and buried in the best manner possible under the circumstances. The whole train arrived in safety at St. Cloud, on the 5th of October, without having experienced any considerable adventures on the journey.