Houston County, Minnesota - Chapter 40, 1882

Dered To Go To The Relief Of Abercrombie Cloud

INDIANS APPEAR NEAR THE FORT IN LARGE NUMBERS - THE ATTACK - INDIANS RETIRE - SECOND ATTACK ON THE FORT - UNION OP FORCES - ANOTHER ATTACK UPON THE PORT - EFFECT OF THE HOWITZER - RETURN OF CAPTAIN FREEMAN TO ST. CLOUD.

On the 23d of August the Indians commenced hostilities in the valley of the Red River 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 oar state, by a detachment from the Fifth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers. But one company had bean 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.

The 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 23d a messenger arrived, and informed the commandant that a band of nearly five hundred Indians had already crossed the Otter Tail river, with the intention 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 oc?cupied 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 they 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 been brutally murdered, and, when found, had chains 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 the savage war-dance of their murderers, and, perhaps, 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 22d, had fallen into the hands of the Indians, the driver killed, 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 with 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 intrenchnients, 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 from the post to head-quarters, stating the circumstances under which the garrison was placed, and the danger of a severe atta?k; 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 Ridgely, 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 Horok, relying upon our ability to have their places shortly filled with troops, then being raised in other parts of the State. Ac- .cordingly, 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 Ramsdell, in command of the troops at Sauk Center, to detail thirty men from 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 Ramsdell 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 county, 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.

Our 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- enoJ by the arrival or the Third Kegiment Minnesota Volunteers, without any commissioned 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 Snelling, 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 uith, the commandant at the post, immediately entered upon the discharge of the duties assigned him in the order.

During the time that these efforts had been making for their relief, the garrison at Fort Abercrombie were kept in a state of siege by the savages, who had taken possession of the surrounding country in large numbers. On the 25th of 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 and 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 for 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 the 24th 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 then 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 him 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, where 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 30th 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 livd stock as could there be found. They had proceeded ten miles on their way, when they ca^ie upon a party of Indians, in ambush, by whom they were fired upon, and one of their party killed. The remainder of the squad 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 hundred 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 of 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 opposition 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 stock-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 all those stationed outside to fall back within the . fortification. About the same time, two 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 ;he second man, wounding him severely in the '.houider, notwithstanding which, he afterward .hot the Indian and finished him with the bayonet. By this time two of the horses had been taken iway and two killed.

The fight was kept up for about two hours and 4 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 principal object of their attack.

Active measures were taken to strengthen the outworks of the fort. The principal materials at jand 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 Regiment, 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 intrenchments, 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 lying between them and the river. The savages were not slow in perceiving the advantage of making their approach upon that point from 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 without presenting therv 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. Hills, 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 the 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 Sioux 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 corpse upon the ground. He expressed himself as experiencing a feeling of dissatisfaction at beholding the death of his enemy thus inflicted by other hands than his own, 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 post was used with considerable effect during the engagement. At one time a number of the enemy's horsemen were observed collecting upon a knoll 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 expedition 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 left upon the field. He was there found by the enemy, and carried to Richmond 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 officers, 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 known experience and bravery, he was selected to lead the expedition to the Red River of the North, for the relief 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 Bella Banks, together with about sixty men of the Third Begiment, under command of Sergeant Dearborne, had been assigned to his 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, Captain Atkinson's company and the company formed from the members of the Third Regiment were ready for the march. With these Captain Buerger at once set out, leaving Captain Bank's company to receive their clothiDg, 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 next morning.

It was also deemed expedient to send the only remaining field-piece belonging to the stat3 along with the expedition, and Lieutenant Robert J. McHenry was, accordingly, appointed to take command of the piece, and was sent after the expeditioD, which he succeeded in overtaking, near Clear Water, on the 13th of September, and immediately reported 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 Stearns county, on the 16th of September, and encamped in a fortification erected at that 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 Richmond home- guards, about three miles beyond the Sauk river at that point #

Captain Buerger thereupon detailed a party of twenty men to proceed to Richmond, 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 expeditions and detachments about the same time had drawn so heavily upon the resources 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 engaged from the 8th of September in endeavoring to obtain such transportation, yet, on the 11th, he had but partially succeeded in his 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 previous orders. They broke up camp on the evening of that day, and by evening of the 15th, had reached Lake Amelia, near the did trail to Red River, where they encamped. During the night a messenger arrived at their oamp, 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 being highly pleased with these companies, both officers and men. He had been directed to assume command over thorn companies, and believing the country in his rear to be then sufficiently guarded, and being so well pleased 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 20th 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 country 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 Indiana a short time previous. His body was found, terriribly mutilated, the head having been severed from the body, and lying about forty rods distant from it, with the scalp torn off. 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 22d they arrived at the Old Crossing, on the Otter Tail river, between Dayton and Breckenridge, about fifteen miles from the latter place.

On the 23d the march was resumed, and nothing worthy of remark occurred until the expedition had approached within about a mile of the Red River, and almost within sight of Fort Abercrombie. At this point a dense smoke was observed in the direction of the fort, and the impression created among the troops was, that the post had already fallen, and was now being reduced to ashes by the victorious savages, through the means of their favorite element of war.

Upon ascending an eminence where a better 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 was arising was between the command and the post, and was occasioned by the burning of the prairie, 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, inflicting no injuries on any one of the command, after which they 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 Regiment, 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 followed in the direction taken by the Indians.

Captain Buerger took with him the remaining force of the Third Regiment and the field -piece, and proceeded 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 savages were retreating, under cover of the woods, across the prairie, in the direction of the Wild Rice 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 day, 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 the 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 report came to quarters that the Indians were again coming from up toward Bridges. With a telescope we soon discovered four 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 laugUed, others hallooed and cheered. The soldiers and citizens here formed in a line and went out to meet tbem. It was quite dark before all got in. We all cheered so that the next day more than half of us could hardly speak aloud. The ladies all went out, and as they passed, cheered them. They were so dusty I did not know 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 eDemy. The others, by extraordinary exertions, succeeded in making their escape, and returned to the garrison.

The next morning, about two-thirds 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 upper part of the 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 from 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, sharing the hospitalities of the dwelling, and receiving alms of the family. He must have been well known to the savages who in- flioted 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 country over which they wished to re-establish their supremacy.

That his body had been treated with still greater indignity and cruelty than that of the soldier was in accordance with feelings previously expressed to some of the garrison. In conversation with some of the Sioux, previous to the commencement of hostilities, 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 troops 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 returned 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 purpose 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 upon by a member of Captain Barret's company, when he released his 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 detachment, comprising Captain Freeman's company, fifty men of the 3d Regiment, 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 haste and consternation upon their approach. A few shots were fired at them in their flight, 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 still 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, composed 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 ooccasion. Fire was first opened upon them, which they returned, wounding 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 Regiment, together with a number of citizens and families, started on their return from Fort Aberorombie 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.