Rice County, Minnesota - Chapter 22: Smraesota from Its Oltciaxrzatk.x As a Territory, A. D. 1s40, to A. D. 1854, 1882

Chapter 22: Smraesota from Its Oltciaxrzatk.x As a Territory, A. D. 1s40, to A. D. 1854

Appearance of the Country, A. D. lS-19 - Avrivul of liist liiUtor - (iovernur Ramsey arrives - Gufst nf H. H. Sibli-y -- Proclamation issued - Governor Ramsey and H. M, Bice move to Saint Paul - Fourth of July Cel«?hr.it ion - First election - Early Bowspapers - First Courts - First Legislature - Pioneer News CaiTicr"s Addi-ess - Wedding at Fort Snellini,' - Tcrritori;il Seal - Sc;ilp Dance at Stillwatrr - First Stcamlioat at Falls of Saint Anthony - Pr05l.yti.-nan Chapel burned - Indian count-il .it Fort Snetling - First Steainlioat above Saint Anthony - First boat at the Blue Earth River - Congressional election - Visit.of Fredrika Bremer - Indian newspaper - Otlusr newspapers - Second Legislature - ^University of Minnesota - Teamster killed by Indians - Sioux Treaties - Third Legislature - Land slide at Stillwat'^r - Death of first Editor - Fourth Legislature Baldwin School, now Mat^alester College - Indian fislit in Saint Paul.

On the third of March, 1S40, the bill was passed by Congress for orgciniziiis,' the teri'itory of Mmnesota, whose bonudary on the west, extended to the Jlissoiiri River. At this time, the region was little more than a wilderness. Tire west bank of the jMississippi, from the Iowa line to Lake Itasca, was iniceded by the Indians.

At the foot of Lake Pepin was a store honse kept by JNtr. F. S. Richards. On the west shore of the lake lived the eccentric Wells, whose wife was a bois brule, a daughter of the deceased trader, Duncan Graham.

Tlie two imfiiiished buildings of stone, on the beautifid bank opposite the renowned Maiden's Rock, and tlie siuTounding skin lodges of his wife's relatives and friends, presented a nide but pictiu-esque scene. Above the lake was a cluster of bark wigwams, the Dahkotah village of Raymneeclia, now Red Wing, at wliich was a Presbyterian mission house.

Tlie next settlement was Kaposia, also an Indian village, and the residence of a Presl)yteriau missionary, the Rev. T. S, Williamson, M. D. On the east side of the ilississippi, the first settlement, at the mouth of the St. Croix, was Point Douglas, then as now, a small hamlet.

At Red Rock, the site of a former Methodist mission station, there were a few farmers. Saint Paul was just emerging from a collection of Indian whisky shops and bircli roofed cabins of half-breed voyageurs. Here and tliere a frame tenement was erected, and, under the auspices of the Hon. II. M. Rice, who had obtained an interest in the towii, some were constructed, and the foundations of the American House, a frame hold, which stood at Third and Exchange street, were laid. In 1849, the jiopulatiou had increased to two hundred and lifty or three hundred inhabitants, for rumors had gone abroad that it might be mentioned in the act, creating the territory, as tlie capital of ^Minnesota. ]More than a month after the adjoununent of Congress, just at eve, on the ninth of ^\pril, amid territic peals of thunder and torrents of rain, the weekly steam packet, the first to force its way through the icy barrier of Lake Pepin, rounded the rocky point whistling k)ud and long, as if the bearer of glad tidings. Refore siie was safely moored to the landing, the shouts of the excited villagers were lieard announcing that there was a territory of :Miuiiesota, and that Saint Paul \\as the seat of government.

Every successive steamboat arrival poured out on the landing men big with hope, and anxious to do something to mould the future of the new stale.

Nine days after the news of the existence of the territory of Mimiesota was received, there arrived James M. Goodhue with press, type, and printing apparatus. A grachiate of Amherst college, and a lawyer by profession, he wielded a sharp pen and wrote ecUtorials, which, more than anything else, perhaps, induced immigration. Though a man of some faults, one of the counties properly bears his name. On the twenty-eighth of April, he issued from his press the first number of the Pioneer.

lie houses, immediately proceeded in the steamer to the estahlislimeiit of the Fiir Company, known as Ivleudotii, at the junction of the ]\Iinuesota and ilississippi, and became the guest of the Hon. H. H. Sibley.

On the first of June, Governor Ramsey, by proclamation, declared the territory duly organized, Willi the follo\Ying officers: Alexander llamsey, of Pennsylvania, Governor ; C. K. Smith, of Ohio, Secretary ; A. Goodrich, of Tennessee, Cliief Justice ; D. Cooper, of Pennsylvania, and J>. B. Meeker, of Kentucky, Associate Judges; Joshua L. Taylor, Marshal ; II. L. iloss, attorney of the United States.

On the eleventh of June, a second proclamation was issued, dividing the territory into three temporary judicial districts. The first comprised the county of St. Croix ; tlie county of La Pointe and the region north and west of tlie Mississippi, and north of the Mimiesota and of a line runnmg due west from the headwaters of the Minnesota to the Missouri river, constituted the second ; and the country west of tlie Mississippi and south of the Mmnesota, formed the third district. Judge Goodrich was assigned to the first. Meeker to the second, and Cooper to the third. A court was ordered to beheld at Stillwater on the second Monday, at the Falls of St. Anthony on the third, and at Mendota on the fourth Monday of August.

Until the twenty -sixth of June, Governor Ramsey and family had been guests of Hon. H. II. Sibley, at Mendota. On the afternoon of that day they arrived at St. Paul, in a birch-bark canoe, and became permanent residents at the capital. The house first occupied as a gubernatorial mansion, was a small frame building tliat stood on Tliird, between Robert and Jackson streets, formerly kno\«i as the New England House.

A few days after, the Hon. H. M. Rice and family moved from Mendota to St. Paid, and occupied the house he had erected on St. Anthony street, near the corner of ^larket.

The anniversary of oiir .National Indepenaence was celebrated in a becoming manner at the capital. The place selected for the address, was a grove that stood on the sites of the City Hall and

On the seventh of Jrdy, a proclamation was issued, dividing the territory into seven council districts, and ordering an election to be held on the first day of August, for one delegate to represent the people in the House of Representatives of the United States, for nine councillors and eighteen representatives, to constitute the Legislative Assembly of Minnesota.

In this month, the Hon. II. M. Rice despatched a boat laded with Indian goods from the the Falls of St. Anthony to Crow Wing, which was towed by horses after the maimer of a canal boat.

The election on the first of August, passed off with Uttle excitement, lion. H, II. Sibley bemg elected delegate to Congress without opposition. David Lambert, on what might, perhaps, be termed the old settlers' ticket, was defeated in St. Paul, by James M. Boal. The latter, on the night of the election, was honored with a ride through to^^^l on the axle and fore-wheels of an old wagon, which was drawn by his admiring but somewhat undisciplined friends.

J. L. Taylor ha\'ing declined the office of United States Marshal; A. il. :Mitchell, of Ohio, a giaduate of West Pouit, and colonel of a regiment of Ohio volunteers in the Mexican war, was appomted and arrived at the capital early in August.

There were three papers published in the territory soon after its organization. The first was the Pioneer, issued on April twenty-eighth, 1S49, imder most discouraging circumstances. It Vi'as at first tlie intention of the ^rttty and reckless editor to have called his paper " The Epistle of St. Paul." About the same time there was issued in Cuicinnati, under the auspices of the late Dr. A. Randall, of California, the first number of the Register. The second number of the paper was printed at St. Paul, in .July, and the office was on St. Anthony, between AV^ashington and Market Streets, About the first of June, James Hughes, afterward of Hudson, Wisconsin, arrived with a press and materials, and established the Minnesota Chronicle. After an existence of s. few weeks two papers were discontinued ; and, iu their place, was issued the " Chronicle and

The lirst conrls, pursuant to proclamation of, tbe governor, were held In the month of August. At Slilhvater, the co\irt was organized ou the thirteentli of the month, Judge Goodrich presiding, and Judge Cooper by coui-tesy, sitting on the bench. On tlie twentieth-, t!vc second judiciiil district hehl a court. The room useil was the old govenmient mill at JMinneapolis. The presiding judge was B. M. Meeker; the foreman of the grand jiu-y, Franklin Steele. On the hist Monday t>f the montli, tlie court for the third judicial district was organized in the large stone v."arehouse of the fur company at ilendota. The presiding judge was David Cooper. Governor Ramsey sat on tlie right, and Judge Goodrich on tiie left. Hon. II. II. Sibley was the foreman of the grand jury. As some of the jurors could not speak the English language, W. H. Forbes acted as interpreter. The cliarge of Judge Cooper was lucid, scho'arly, and dignified. At the request of the grand jury it was afterwards publislied.

On ^londay, the thii'd of September, the first Legisl^itive Assembly convened m the " Central House,'"in Saint Paul, a building at the corner of ilinnesota and Bench streets, facing the Mississippi river which answered the double purpose of eapitol and hotel. On the first floor of the main building was the Secretary's office and Tlepresentative eliamber, and in the second story was the library and Council chamber. As the flag was rui\ up the staff in fi'ont of tlie house, a number of Indians sat on a rocky bluff in the vicinity, and gazed at what to them was a novel and perhaps saddenuig scene ; for if the tide of immigration sweeps in fi-om t!ie Pacific as it has from the Atlantic coast, they must soon dwindle.

The legislature having organized, elected the follo-niug permanent ofiicers: Da^id Olmsted, President of Council ; Joseph K. Brown, Secreary ; II. A. Lambert, Assistant. In the House of Kepresentatives, Joseph W. Furber was elected Speaker: ^\'. I). PhiUiits, Clerk: L. B. Vfait, Assistant.

On Tuesday afternoon, both houses assembled in the dining hall of the hotel, and after prayer was offered by Eev. E. D. Xeill, Governor Ramsey delivered his message. The message was ablv

The first session of tlie legislatui'i? adjomncd on the first of November. Among other proceedings of interest, was the creation of the following counties: Itasca, Wapashaw, Dahkotah, "\Vahnahtah. Mahkahto, Pembina AVashington, Eamsev and Benton. The tb^ree latter counties comprised the country that up to that time had been ceded by the Indians on the east side of the Mssissippi, Stil." water was deiligfcl the county .seat of Waslungtou, Saint Paul, of IJamsey, and the seat of justice of the comity of Benton was to be witlun one-quarter of a mile of a point on the east side of the Mississippi, directly opposite the moutb of Sauk river."

By the active exertions of the secretary of the> territory, C. K. Smith, Esq., the Historical Society of Minnesota was incorporated at tlie first session of the legislature. The opening annual addi-ess was delivered in the tiien Methodist (now Swedenborgi'iii) church at Saint Paul, on the first of January, 1830.

Tlie following account of the proceedings is from the Clironicle and Register. "The first public exercises of tlie ^linncsota Historical Society, took place at the Jlethodist church. Saint I'aul, on the first inst., and passed off liiglily creditable to all concerned. The day was pleasant and the attendance large. At the appointed hour, the President and both Vice-Presidents of the society being absent ; on motion of Hon. C. K. Smith, Hon. Cliief Justice Goodrich was called to the chair. The same gentleman then moved that a committee, consisting of ilessrs. Pai-sous K. Jolinson, John A. 'Wakefield, and B. W. Branson, be appointed to wait upon tlie Orator of the day, Rev. Jlr. Xeill, and infonn him that the audience was waiting to hear his addr(!,ss.

" Mr. A'fill was shorily conducted to the pulpit; and after an eloquent and approriate prayer by the Rev. Mr. Pai-sons, and music by the band, he liroceeded to deliver his discourse upon the early French missionaries and Voyageurs into ilinnesota. We hope the society will provide for its publication at an early day.

Hobart, upon the objects and ends of Mstory, the ceremonies were conchided with a prayer by that gentleman. The audience dispersed liighly deUghted with all that oeciured.'

At this early period the Minnesota Pioneer issued a Gamer's New Year's Address, which was amusing doggerel. The reference to the future greatness and ignoble origin of the capital of Minnesota was as follows : -

The cities on this river must be three, Two that are built and one that is to be. One, is the mart of all the tropics yield, The cane, the orange, and the cotton-field, And sends her ships abroad and boasts Her trade extended to a thousand coasts ; The other, central for the temperate zone. Gamers the stores that on the plains are gro'rni, A place where steamboats from all quarters.

range, To meet and speculate, as 'twere on 'change. The third loill he, where rivers confluent flow From the wide spreading north through plauis of snow ; The mart of all that boundless forests give To make mankind more comfortably Uve, The land of manufacturing industry, The workshop of the nation it shall be. Propelled by this wide sti'eam, you'll see A thousand factories at Saint Anthony : And the Saint Croix a hundred mills shall drive. And all its smiling villages shall thrive ; But then 7ny town - remember that high bench "With cabins scattered over it, of French ? A man named Hem-y Jackson's livmg there. Also a man - why every one knows L. liobair, Below Fort Snelling, seven miles or so. And three above the village of Old Crow ? Pig's Eye ? Yes ; Pig's Eye ! That's the spot 1 A very funny name ; is't not "i' Pig's Eye's the spot, to plant my city on. To be remembered by, when I am gone. Pig's Eye converted thou shall be, like Saul : Thy name henceforth shall be Siiint Paul.

On the evenhig of New Year's day, at Fort SneUtng, there was an assemblage which is only seen on the outposts of civiUzation. In one of the stone edifices, outside of the wall, belonguig to the United States, there resided a gentleman who had dwelt in Mumcsota since the year lyPJ, and for many years had been in the employ of the govermneut, as Indian interpreter. In youth he had been a member of the Columbia Fur Company, and conforming to the habits of traders, had purchased a Dahkotah wife who was wholly ignorant of the English language. As a family of children gathered around him he recognised the relation of husband and father, and conscientiously discharged his duties as a parent. His daughter at a proper age was sent to a boarding school of some celebrity, and on the night referred to was married to an intelligent young American farmer. Among the guests present were the officers of the garrison m full uniform, with their \\-ives, the United States Agent for the Dalikotahs, and family, the bois brules of the neighborhood, and the Indian relatives of the mother. The mother did not make lier appearance, but, as the muiister proceeded v.'ith the ceremony, the Dahkotah relatives, wrapped in their blankets, gathered in the hall and looked in throngh the door.

The marriage feast was worthy of the occasion. In consequence of the numbers, the ofhcers and those of European extraction partook first ; then the bois brules of Ojibway and Dahkotah descent; and, finally, the native Americans, who did ample justice to the pleutifid supply spread before them.

Governor Ramsey, Hon. H. H. Sibley, and the delegate to Congress devised at Washington, this winter, the territorial seal. The design was Falls of St. Anthony in the distance. An immigrant ploughing the land on the borders of the Indian country, full of hope, and looking forn'ard to the possession of the hunting grounds beyond. An Indian, amazed at the sight of the plough, and fleeing on horseback towards the setting sun.

Tlie -motto of the Earl of Dnnraven, "Quae sursuni volo videre" (I wish to see what is above) was most appropriately selected by IMr. Sibley, but by the blunder of an engraver it appeared on the territorial seal, "Quo sursum velo videre," which no scholar could tianslate. At length was substituted, "L' Etoile du Nord," "Star of the North," while the device of the setting sun remained, and this is objectionable, a.: the State of Maine had already placed the North Star on her escutcheon, with the motto "Dirigo," "I !;uide." Perhaps some future legislature may

In the mourn of April, there was a renewal of hostilities hetween the Dalikotahs and (Jjiljwuys, on lands that had 1 leen ceded to the ITnited States. A war prophet at Red Wing, dreamed that he ought to raise a war party. Announcing the fact, a number expressed their willingness to go on such an expedition. Several from the Kaposia village also joined the party, under the leadership of a worthless Indian, who had been confined in the guard-house at Fort Snelling, the year pre\'ious, for scalping his wife.

Passing up the valley of the St. Croix, a Tew miles above Stillwater the party discovered on the snow the marks of a keg and footprints. These told them that a man and woman of the Ojibways had been to some whisky dealer's, and were returning. Following their trail, tliey found on Apple river, about twenty miles from Stillwater, a band of Ojibways encamped in one lodge. Waiting till daybreak of Wednesday, April second, the Dahkotahs commenced firing on the unsuspecting inmates, some of whom were drinking from the contents of the whisky keg. The camp was composed of fifteen, and all were murdered and scalped, with the exception of a lad, who was made a captive.

On Thursday, the victors came to Stillwater, and danced the scalp dance around the captive l)oy, in the heat of excitement, striking him in the face with the scarcely cold and bloody scalps of liis relatives. The child was then taken to Kaposia. and adopted b>' the chief. Governor Ramsey immediately took measures to send the boy to his friends. At a conference held at the Governor's mansion, the boy was delivered up, and, on being led out to the kitchen by a Utile son of the Governor, since deceased, to receive refreshments, he cried bitterly, seemingly more alarmed at being left with the whites than he had been while a captive at Kaposia.

From the first of April the waters of the Mississippi began to rise, and on the thirteenth, the lower floor of the warehouse, then occupied by AMlliam Constans, at the foot of Jackson street, St. Paul, was submerged. Taking advantage of the freshet, the steamboat Anthony Wayne, for a purse of two hundred doUar.s, ventured through the swift current above i^'ort Snelling, and readied the Falls of St. Anthony. The boat loft the fort after dinner, with Governor Ramsey and other guests, also the band of tlie Sixtli Regiment on board, and reached the falls between three and four o'clock in the afternoon. The whole town, men, women and children, lined the shore as the boat approached, and welcomed this first aiTival, with shouts and waving handkerchiefs.

On the afternoon of May fifteenth, there might have lieen seen, hurrying through the streets of Saint Paul, a number of naked and pauited braves of the Kajiosia band of Dahkotahs, ornamented with all the attire of war, and panting for the scalps of their enemies. A few hours before, the warlike head chief of the Ojibways. young IIolcin-the-Day , having secreted his eaiioe in the retired gorge which leads to the cave in the upper suburbs, with two or three associates had crossed the river, and, almost in sight of the citizens of tli,> town, had attacked a small party of Dahkotahs. and murdered and scalped one man. On receipt of the news. Governor Ramsey granted a parole to the thirteen Dahkotahs contiued in Fort Snelling, for participating in the Apple river massacre.

On the morning of the sixteenth of May, the fii'st Protestant church edifice coniijleted in the white settlements, a small frame building, built for the Presbyterian clmrch, at Saiut Paul, was destroyed by fire, it being the first conflagration tliat had occurred since the organization of the territory.

One of the most interesting events of the year IS.jO, was the Indian council, at Fort Snelling. (iovernor Ramsey had sent ruiniers to the different bands of the Ojibways and Dahkotahs, to meet him at the fort, for the piu'pose of endeavouring to adjust their difficulties.

On Wednesday, the twelfth of June, after much talking, as is customary at Indian councils, the two tribes agreed as they had frequently done before, to be friendly, anil (iovernor Ramsey presenting to each party an ox. the cotnicil was dissolved.

On Thursday, the Ojibways visited St. Paul for the first time, youn.g IIole-in-the-Day being dressed in a coat of a captain of United States infantry, which lia<l been presented to him at tlie foi-t. On Friday, they left in the steamer Governor Ramsey, which had been built at St. Anthony, and ji'st commenced running between

The summer of 1850 was the commencement of the navigation of tlie Minnesota River by steamboats. With the exception of a steamer tliat made a pleasure excursion as far as Shokpay, In 1841, no large vessels had ever disturbed the waters of this stream. In June, the " Anthony Wayne," v/hich a few weeks before had ascended to the Falls of St. Anthony, made a trip. On tlie eighteenth of July she made a second trip, going almost to Mabkahto. The " Nominee " also navigated the stream for some distance.

Ou the twenty-second of July the officers of llie "Yankee," taking advantage of the high water, determined to navigate the stream as far ;'.s possible. The boat ascended to near the Cotlouwood river.

As the time for the general election in September approached, considerable excitement was manifested. As there were no political issues before the people, parties Vv'ere formed based on p&rsonal preferences. Among those nominated for delegate to Congress, by various meetings, \, ere 11. II. Sibley, the former delegate to Congress, David Olmsted, at that time engaged in | the Indian trade, ami A.-M. Mitchell, the United States marshal. ilr. Olmsted withdrew his name before election day, and the contest was between those interested in Sibley and Jlitchell. The friends of each betrayed the greatest zeal, and neither pains nor money were spared to insure success. Mr. Sibley was elected by a small majority. For the first time in the territory, soldiers at the garrisons voted at !liis election, and there was considerable discussion as to the propriety of such a course.

During November, the Dahkotah Tawaxitku Kin, or the Dahkotah Friend, a monthly paper, was commenced, one-half in the Dahkotah and one-half in the English language. Its editor was tlie Rev. Gideon 11. Pond, a Presbyterian missionary, and its place of publication at Saint Paul. It was published for nearly two years, and, though it failed to attract the attention of the Indian mind, it conveyed to the English reader much

On the tenth of December, anew paper, owned and edited by Daniel A. Robertson, late United States marshal, of Ohio, and called the Minnesota Democrat, made its appearance.

Dm^mg the summer there had been changes in ihe editorial supervision of the " Chronicle and Register." For a brief period it was edited by L. A. Babcock, Esq., who was succeeded by \V. G. Le Due.

About the time of the issuhig of the Democrat, C. J. Hemiiss, formerly reporter for the United States Gazette, Philadelpliia, became the editor of tiie Chronicle.

Tlie first proclamation for a thanksgiving day was issued in 1850 by the governor, and the twenty-sixth of December was the time appomted and it was generally observed.

On Wednesday, January first, 1851, the second Legislative Assembly assembled in a three-story lirick building, since destroyed by fire, that stood on St. Anthony street, between Washington and FrankUn. D. B. Loomis was chosen Speaker of the Council, and M. E. Ames Speaker of the House. This assembly was characterized by more bitterness of feeling than any that has since convened. The precedhig delegate election liad been based- on personal preferences, and cliques and factions manifested themselves at an early period of the session.

The locating of the penitentiary at Stillwater, and the capitol building at St. Paul gave some dissatisfaction. By the efforts of J. W. North, Esq., a bill creating the University of Mimiesota at or near the Falls of St. Anthony, was passed, and signed by the Governor. This institution, by the State Constitution, is now the State University.

About the middle of ]May,a war i)arty of Dahkotahs disi'overed near Swan River, an Ojibway with a keg of wliisky. The latter escaped, with the loss of his keg. The war party, dtinking the contents, became intoxicated, and, firing upon some teamrters they met driving their wagons with goods to the Indian Agency, killed one of them, Andrew Swiirtz, a rcsidt'iit of St. I'.-iul. Tlio uews waa conveyed to Fort Ripley, and a party of soldiers, with Hole-in-the-day as a guide, started in piirsiiit of the murderers, but did not succeed in capturing theni. Through the inilu- i ence of Little Six, the Daiikotah chief, whose village was at (and named after him) Shok- j pay, five of the offenders were arrested and placed in the guard house at Fort Suelluig. On Monday, June ninth, they left the fort iti a wagon, guarded by twenty-five dragoons, destined for Hauk Bapids for trial. As they dejjarted they all sang their death song, and the coarse soldiers amused themselves by making signs that they v.ere going to be hung. On the first evening of the journey the five culprits encamped with the twenty-five dragoons. Handcutl'ed, they were placed in the tent, and yet at midnight they all escaped, only one being wounded by tlie guaril- What was more remarkable, the wounded man was the first to bring the news to St. Paul. Proceeding to Koposia, his wound was examined by the missionary and physician, Dr. Williamson; and then, fearing an arrest, he took a canoe and paddled np the Minnesota. The excuses offered by the dragoons was, that all the guard but one fell asleep.

The first paper published in Minnesota, bevoud the capital, was the St. Anthony Express, which made its appearance during the last week of April or May.

The most important event of the year 18.51 was the treaty with the Dahkotahs, by which the west side of the Mississippi and the valley of tlie Miuunesota Eiver were opened to the hardy immigrant. The commissioners on the part of the United States were Luke Lea, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and Governor Eamsey. The place of meeting for the upper bands was Traverse des Sioux. The commission arrived there on the last of June, but were obliged to wait many days for the assembling of the various bands of Dahkotahs.

On the eighteenth of July, ail those expected having arrived, the Sissetons and Wahpaytou Dahkotahs assembled in grand council with the United States commissioners. After the usual feastings and speeches, a treaty was concluded on Wednesday, July twenty-third. The pipe having been smoked by the commissioners, Lea and Eamsey, it was pas^ed to the chiefs. T!io paper containing the treaty was then read in I'jUglish and translated into the Daiikotah by the Kev. S. R. Eiggs, Presbyterian Missionary among this people. This finished, the cliiefs came np to the secretary's table and touched the ])en; the white men present then witnessed the doeunient and nothing remained but tlie ratification of the United" States Senate to open that vast country fv)r the residence of the hardy immigrant.

During the first weok in August, a treaty was also concluded beneath an oak bower, on Pilot Knol), Meudota, with the M'dewakaiitonwan and \\"a'ipaykoi)tay bands of Dahkotahs. About sixty of the chiefs and principal men touched the pen, and Jjittle Crow, who had beceu in tlie niiss.siouseliool at Lac qui Parle, signed his own name. Before they separated Colonel Lea and Governor Ivimsey gave them a few words of advice on various subjects connected with tlicir future wellb.'iug, but particularly on the suliject of eibicatiou and temperance. The treaty was interpreted to them by the Rev. G. H. Pond, a geutleniau who was conceded to be a most ccrrect speaker of the Dahkotah tongue.

The day after the treaty these lower lands received thirty thousand dollars, which, by the treaty of 1837, was set apart for education; but, by the misrepresentations of interested halfbreeils, the Indians were made to believe that it ought to be given to them to be employed as they pleased.

On the seventeenth of Se|)t,cmlier, a new j^aper was commenced in St. Paul, under the ausjjices of the "Whigs," and John P. Owens became editor, which relation he sustained until the fall of 18.57.

The election for memliers of the Legishiture and county officers occurred on the fourteenth of Oct'iber; and, for the first time, a regular Democratic ticket was jjlaced before the people. The parties called themselves Democratic and Antiorganization, or Coalition,

In the mouth of November Jerome Fuller arrived, an 1 took the place of Judge Goodrich as Chief Justice of Minnesota, who was removed; and, about the same time, Alexander Wilkin was

Explorers And Pioneers Of Minnesota

The third Legislative Asseml:)ly ccimmencsd its sessions in one of the -^tiitjeefs on Tliird below Jackson street, which became a portion of the Merchants' Hotel, on the seventh of January, 1852.

This session, compared witli the previous, formed a contrast as great as tliat between a boisterous day in Marcli and a calm June morning. The minds of the population were more deeply interested in the ratilication of the treaties made with the Dahkotiilis, than in political discussions. Among other lejiislatloii of interest was the creation of Ile-nepin county.

On Saturday, the fc-irteeuth of February, a dog-traiu arrived at S' Paul from the north, with the distinguished Arctic explorer. Dr. Kae. He had been in search of the long-missing Sir John Franklin, by way of the ^Mackenzie river, and Mas now on his way to Europe.

On the fourteenth of May, an interesting lusus naturse occurred at Stillwater. On the prairies, beyond the elevated bluffs v\hich encircle tlie busuiess portion of the town, there is a lake which discharges its waters through a ravine, and suppli(Kl ilcKusick's mill. Owing to heavy rains, the hills became saturated with water, and the lake very full. Before daylight the citizens heard the " voice of many waters," and looking out, saw rushing down through the ravine, trees, gravel and diluvium. Nothing impeded its course, and as it issued from the ravine it spread over the town site, covering up barns and small tenements, and, continuing to the lake shore, it materially improved the lauding, by a deposit of many tons of earth. One of the editors of the day, alluding to the fact, quamtly remarked, that "it was a very extraordinary movement fif real estate."

During the sununer, Elijah Terry, a young man who had left St. Paul the previous March, and went to Pembina, to act as teacher to the mixed bloods in that vicinity, was murdered under disti'essing circumstances. With a bois brule he had started to the woods on the morning of his death, to hew timber. ^V^lile there he was fired upon by a small party of Dahkotahs ; a ball broke his arm, and he was pierced vnXh an-ows. His scalp was wrenched from his head, and was afterwards seen among Sisseton Dahkotahs, near Big Stone Lake.

At the November Term of the United States District Court, of Ramsey county, a Dahkotali, named Yu-ha-zee, was tried for tlie murder of a German woman. "With others she was traveling above Shokpay, when a party of Indians, of whom the prisoner was one, met them ; and, gathering about the wagon, were much excited. The prisoner punched the woman first with iiis gun, and, being threatened by one of the party, loaded and fired, killing the woman and wounding one of the men.

On the day of his trial he was escorted from Fort Snelling by a company of mounted dragoons in full dress. It was an impressive scene to witness the poor Indian half bid in his blanket, in a buggy with the civil otlicer, surrounded with all the pom)) and circumstance of war. The jury found him guilty. On being asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed, he replied, through the interpreter, that the band to which he belonged would remit their annuities if he could be released. To this Judge Hayner, the successor of Judge Fuller, replied, that he had no authority to release him ; and, ordering him to rise, after some appropriate and impressive remarks, he pronounced the first sentence of death ever pronoimced by a judicial officer in Minnesota. The prisoner trembled while the judge spoke, and was a piteous spectacle. By the statute of Minnesota, then, one convicted of murder could not be executed until twelve months hadelaiisi'<l,and he was confined until the governor of the terorrity should by warrant order his execution.

The fourth Legislative Assembly convened on the fifth of January, 18.53, in the two "story brick edifice at the corner of Third and JMinnesota streets. The Council chose Martin McLeod as presiding oflicer, and the House Dr. David Day,

The Baldwin school, now known asMacalester f'o!Ipg(\ was incorporated at this session of tlie legislatnre, and was opened the folk)wing June.

On tlie ninth of April, a party of Ojibways killed a Dahkofah. at the village of Shokpay. A war party, from Kaposia, then proceeded up the valley of the St. Croix, and killed an Ojibway. On the morning of the twenty-seventh, a band of Ojibway warriors, naked, decked, and fiercely gestienlating, might have been seen in the busiest street of the capital, in search of their enemies. Just at that time a small party of women, and one man, who liad lost a leg in the battle of Stillwater, arrived in a canoe from Kaposia, at the Jackson sti-eet landing. Perceiving the Ojibways, they retreated to the building then known as the " Pioneer " oftice, and the Ojibways discharging a volley through the windows, wounded a l)ahkotah woman who soon died. Fora short time, the infant capital presented a sight similar to that witnessed in ancient days in Hadley or Deerlield, the tlien frontier towns of Massachusetts, ilessengers were despatched to Fort Snelling for the dragoons, and a party of citizens mounted on horseback, quickly in pursuit of those wlio with so much bolcbiess had sought the streets of St. Paul, as a place to avenge their wrongs. The dragoons soon followed, with Indi;in guides scenting the track of the Ojibways, like bloodliomids. The next day they discovered the transgressors, near the Falls of St. Croix. The Ojibways mauifestmg what was supposed to be an insolent si>irit, the order was given by the lieutenant in command, to fire, and he whose scalp was afterwards daguerreo

During tlie summer, the passenger, as he stood on the hurricane deck of any of the steamboals, might have seen, on a scaffold on the bluffs in the rear of Kaposia, a scpiare box covered with a coarsely fiinged red cloth. Above it was suspended a piece of the Ojibway's scalp, whose death had caused the affray in the streets of St. Paul. Within, was the body of the woman who had been shot in the " Pioneer " building, while seeking refiige. A scalji suspended over the corpse is supposed to be a consulation to the soul, and a great protection in the journey to the spirit land.

On the accession of Pierce to the presidency of the United States, the officers appointed under the Taylor and Fillmore administrations were removed, and the following gentlemen substituted : Governor, W. A. Gorman, of Indiana; Secretary, J. T. Kosser, of A'irginia; Chief Justice, W. H. Welch, of ilinnesota ; Associates, Moses Sherburne, of Maine, and A. G. Chatfield, of AVisconsin. One of the first official acts of the second Governor, was the making of a treaty with the Wumebago Indians at Watal), lientuu county, for an exchange of coinitry.

On the twenty-nintli of June, I). A. Robertson, who by his enthusiasm and earnest advocacy of its principles had done nnich to organize the Democratic party of Minnesota, retired from the eilitorial chair and was succeeded by David Olmsted.

At the election held in October, Henry JM. Rice and Alexander Willvin were candidates for deligate to Congress. The former was elected by a decisive majority.

Exploeebs And Pioneers Of Minnesota Chaptee Xxiii

Fifth Legislature - Execution of Yiihnzce - Sixth Legislature - First bridge over the Mississippi - Arctic E.ipliiriT - ?evflnth Legislature - Indian girl killed near Blosmington Kerry - Eii^hth Letjislatlire - Attempt to Remove the Capital - Special Session of the Legislature - Convention to frame a State Constitution- Admission of Mimiesota to the Union,

The fifth session of the legislature was commenced iu the building just completed as the Cai)itol, on Januarj' fourth, 1854. The President of the Council was S. B. Olmstead, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives was N. C. D. Taylor.

Governor Gorman delivered his first annual message on the tenth, and as his predecessor, urged the importance of railwaj- communicatior.s, and dwelt upon the necessity of fostering the interests of education, and of the lumbermen.

The exciting bill of the session was the act incorporating the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad Company, introduced by Joseph R. Brown. It was passed after the hour of midnight on the last day of the session. Contrary to the expectation of bis fi-iends, the Governor signed the biU.

On the afternoon of December twenty-seventh, the first public execution in ;Minnesota, in accordance with the forms of law, took place. Yu-liazee, the Dahkotah who had been convicted in November, 1852, for the miu'der of a German woman, above Shokpay, was the individual. The scaffold was erected on the open space betn'een an inn called the rrankUn House and the rear of the late Mr. J. W. Selby's enclosure in St, Paul. About two o'clock, the prisoner, dressed in a white shroud, left the old log prison, near the court house, and entered a carriage v.ith the officers of the law. Being assisted up the steps that led to the scaffold, he made a fe-n remarks in his o\^ti language, and was then executed. Numerous ladies sent in a petition to the governor, asking the pardon of the Indian, to which that officer in declining made an appropriate reply.

The sixth session of the legislature convened on the third of January, 1855. W. P. Murray was elected President of the Council, and James S. Nonis Speaker of the House.

About the last of January, the two houses adjourned one day, to attend the exercises occasioned by the opening of the first bridge of any kind, over the mighty Mississippi, from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. It was at Falls of Saint Anthony, and made of wire, and at the time of its opening, the patent for the land on which the west piers were built, had not been issued from the Land Office, a striking evidence of the rapidity with which the city of Minneapolis, which now surroimds the Falls, has developed.

On the twenty-ninth of March, a convention was held at Saint Anthony, which led to the formation of the Republican party of Minnesota. Tliis body took measures for the holding of a territorial convention at St. Paul, which convened on the twenty-fifth of July, and William R, Marshall was nominated as delegate to Congress. Shortly after the friends of Mr. Sibley nominated David Olmsted and Henry M. Rice, the former delegate was also a candidate. The contest was animated, and resulted in the election of Mr. Rice.

Aliout noon of December twelfth, 1855, a fourhorse vehicle was seen driving rapidly through St. Paul, and deep was the interest when it was announced that one of the Aictic exploring party, Jlr. James Stewart, was on his way to Canada with relics of the world - reno^vned and worldmounied Sir John Franklin. Gathering together the precious fragments found on Monb-eal Island and vicinity, the party had left the region of icebergs on the ninth of August, and after a continued land journey from that time, had reached

Tlie seventh session of the Legislative Assembly was begun on the second of January, ISoti, and again the exciting question was the Minnesota and Xortliwesteni Railroad Company.

Tliis j'ear was comparatively devoid of interest. Tlie citizens of the territory were busily engaged in making claims in newly organized comities, and in enlarging the area of civilization.

On the trsvelfth of Jime, several Ojibways entered the farm house of JMr. "Whallon, wlio resided ill Hennepin county, on the banks of the Minnesota, a mile below the Bloomiugton ferry. The wife of the farmer, a friend, and tliree children, besides a little Dahkotah girl, who had been brought up in the mission-house at Kaposia, and so changed in mamiers that her origin was scarcely perceptible, were sitting in the room when the Indians came in. Instantly seizing the little Indian maiden, they threw her out of the door, lolled and scalped her, and fled before the men who were near by, in the field, could reach the house.

The procurement of a state organization, and a grant of lands for railroad purposes, were the topics of poUtical interest diu'mg the year 1857.

The eighth Legislative Assembly convened at the capitol on the seventh of January, and J. B. Brisbiu was elected President of the Council, and J. W. Fiuber, Speaker of the House.

On Satvu-day, February twenty -eighth, Mr. Balcombe offered a resolution to report the bill for the removal of the seat of government, and should ^Ir. Rolette, chairman of the committee, fail, that W. AV. Wales, of said committee, report a copy of said bUl.

ilr. Setzer. after the reading of the resolution, moved a call of the CouncO, and :Mr. Rolette was found to be absent. The chair ordered the sergeant at aims to report Mr Rolette in his seat.

Mr. ]?alconibo moved tiiat further proceedings under the call be dispensed with; which did not prevail. Prom that time until the next Thursday afternoon, March the fifth, a period of one hundred and t\venty-tln-ee hours, the Council remained in their chamber witliout recess. At that tiuK! a motion to adjourn prevailed. On Friday auollier motion was made to dispense with the call of tlie Council, wldch did not prevail. On Saturday, the Council met, tlie president dec'lared the call still pending. At seven and a half p. m., a committee of the House was announced. The chair ruled, that no commmiicatidu from the House could be received while a call of the Council was pending, and the committee withdrew. A motion was again made during the last night of the session, to dispense with all further proceedings under the call, whicli prevailed, with one vote onlj' in the negative.

ilr. Ludden then moved that a committee be appointed to wait on tlie (_io\ernor, and inquire if he had any further communication to make to the Council.

^Ir. Lowry moved a call of the Council, which ordered, and the roll being called, ^Messrs. Rolette, Thompson and Tiilotson were absent.

At twelve o'clock at night the president resumed the chau', and announced that tlie time limited by law tor tlie continuation of tlie session of the territorial legislature had expu'ed, and he therefore declared the Coiuuil adjourned and the seat of government remained at Saint I'aul.

The excitement on the capital question was intense, and it was a strange scene to see members of the CouncU, eating and sleeping in the hall of legislation for days, waiting for the sergeant-atarms to report an absent member hi liis seat.

On the twenty-third of February, 18.57, an act passed the United States Senate, to authorize the people of Minnesota to form a constitution, preparatory to their a(huission into the Union on an equal footing with the origuial states.

Governor Gorman called a special session of the legislatiu'e, to take into consideration measures that would give efticiency to the act. The extra session convened on April tweiitysevenlli, and a message was transmitted by Samuel JNIedary, who liad been appointed governor in place of W . A. (Jormau, whose term of office had expired. The extra session adjourned on the twenty-third of ^lay ; and in accordance witli tiie provisions of tlie enabling act of Congress, an election was held on the first Monday in June, for delegates to a convention which was to assemble at the capitol on the second Monday in July. The clertion resulted, as was thought, in giving a majority of delegates to the Eepublican party.

At midiugiit previous to the day fixed for the meeting of tlio convention, the Republicans proceeded to the capitol, because the enabling act had not fixed at what hour on the second ilonday the convention should assemble, and fearing that the Democratic delegates might anticipate them, and elect the officers of the body. ^V little before twelve, a. ji., on Monday, the secretary of the territory entered the speaker's rostrum, and l)egan to call the body to order; and at the same tune a delegate, J. AV. North, who had in his i>ossession a written rp(iuest from the majority of the delegates pr.-;:.cnt, proceeded to do the same tiling. The secretary of the territory put a motion to adjourn, and the Democratic members present voting in the afBrmative, they left the hall. The Kepublicans. feeling that they were in tlie majority, remained, and in due time organized, and proceeded witli the business specified in the enalding act, to form a constitution, and- take all necessary steps for the establishment of a state government, in conformity with the Federal Constitution, subject to the approval and ratification of the people of the proposed state.

After several days the Democratic wing also orgaiuzed in the Senate chamber at the caiiitol, and, claiming to be the true body, also proceeded to form a constitution. Both parties were remarkably orderly and intelligent, and everything was marked by perfect decorum. After they had been in session some weeks, moderate counsels prevailed, and a committee of conference was appointed from each body, which resulted in both adopting the constitution framed by the Democratic wing, on the twenty-ninth of Auggust. According to the provision of the constitution, an election was held for state officers and the adoption of the constitution, on tlie second Tuesday, the thirteenth of October. The constitution was adopted by almost a unanimous vote. It provided that the territorial officers should retain their oftices until the state was admitted into the Union, not anticipating the long delay which was experienced.

The first session of the state legislatiu'e commenced on the first "Wednesday of December, at tiie capitol, in the city of Saint Paul; and during the month elected Henry M. Eice a]id James Shields as their Kepreseutatives in the United States Senate.

On the twenty-ninth of Jaiuiary, 1S>58, Mr. Douglas submitted a bill to the United States Senate, for the admission of Minnesota into the Union. On the first of February, a discussion arose on the bill, in which Senators Douglas, Wilson, Gwin, Hale, Mason, Green, Brown, and Crittenden participated. Brown, of Mississippi, was opposed to the admission of Minnesota, until the Kansas question was settled. Mr. Crittenden, as a Southern man, coidd not endorse i;ll that was said by the Senator from !Mississipri; and his words of wisdom and moderation during this day's discussion, were worthy of remejnbrance. On April the seventh, the bill passed the Senate with only three dissenting votes ; and in a short time the House of Representatives concurred, and on May tlie eleventh, the President ajiproved, and Minnesota was fully recognized as one of the United States of America.

Min-Nesota Ddrinq The Civil Wab-Eegiments

The transition of Minnesota from a territorial to a state organization occurred at the period when the whole republic was sutTering from financial embarrassments.

By an act of congress approved by the president on the 5th of March, 1857, lands had been granted to Minnesota to aid in the construction of railways. During an extra session of the legislature of Minnesota, an act was passed in May, 1857, giving the congressional grant to certain corporations to build railroads.

A few months after, it was discovered that the corporators had neither the money nor the credit to begin and complete these internal improvements. In the winter of 1858 the legislature again listened to the siren voices of the railway corporations, until their words to some members seemed like "apples of gold in pictures of silver," and an additional act was passed submitting to the people an amendment to the constitution which jsrovided for the loan of the public credit to the land grant railroad companies to the amount of $5,000,000, upon condition that a certain amount of labor on the roads was performed.

Some of the citizens saw in the proposed measure -'a cloud no larger than a man's hand," which would lead to a terrific storm, and a large public meeting was convened at the capitol in St. Paul, and addressed by ex-Governor Gorman, D. A. Robertson, William K. Marshall and others depre- ciating the engrafting of such a peculiar amendment into the constitution; but the people were poor and needy and deluded and would not listen; their hopes and happiness seemed to depend upon the plighted faith of railway corporators, and on April the 15th, the appointed election day, 25,023 votes were deposited for, while only 6,733 votes were cast against the amendment.

First State Leqislatube

The election of October, 1857, was carried on with much partisan feeling by democrats and republicans. The returns from wUdemess precincts were unusually large, and in the countiflg of votes for governor, Alexander Ramsey appeared to have received 17,550, and Henry H. Sibley 17,796 ballots. Governor Sibley was declared elected by a majority of 246, and duly recognized. The first legislature assembled on the 2d of December, 1857, before the formal admission of Blinnesota into the Union, and on the 25th of March, 1858, adjourned until June the 2d, when it again met. The next day Governor Sibley delivered his message. His term of office was arduous. On the 4th of August, 1858, he expressed his determination not to deliver any state bonds to the railway companies unless they would give first mortgages, with priority of lien, upon their lands, roads and franchises, in favor of the state. One of the companies applied for a mandamus fi-om the supreme court of the state, to compel the issue of the bonds without the restrictions demanded by the governor.

In November the court. Judge Flandrau dissenting, directed the governor to issue state bonds as soon as a railway company delivered their first mortgage bonds, as provided by the amendment to the constitution. But, as was to be expected, bonds sent out under such peculiar circumstances were not sought after by capitalists. Moreover, after over two million dollars in bonds had been issued, not an iron rail had been laid, and only about two hundred and fifty miles of grading had been completed.

In his last message Governor Sibley in reference to the law in regard to state credit to railways, says: "I regret to be obliged to state that the measure has proved a failure, and has by no means accomphshed what was hoped from it, either in providing means for the issue of a safe currency or of aiding the companies in the completion of the work upon the roads."

Notwithstanding the pecuniary complications of the state, during Governor Sibley's administration, the legislature did not entirely forget that there were some interests of more importance than railway construction, and on the 2d of August, 1858, largely through the influence of the late John D. Ford, M. D., a public spirited citizen of Winona, an act was passed for the establishment of three training schools for teachers.

North

In the month of June, 1859 an important route was opened between the Mississippi and the Red River of the North. The then enterprising firm of J. C. Burbank & Co., of St. Paul, having secured from the Hudson Bay Company the transjjortation of their supplies by way of the Mississippi, in place of the tedious and treacherous routes through Hudson's Bay or Lake Superior, they purchased a little steamboat on the Ked River of the North which had been built by Anson Northrup, and cjjmmenced the carrying of freight and passengers by land to Breckeuridge and by water to Pembina.

This boat had been the first steamboat which moved on the Mississippi above the falls of St. Anthony, to which there is a reference made upon the 121.st page.

Mr. Northriip, after he purchased the boat, with a large number of wagons carried the boat and machinery from Crow Wing on the Mississippi and on the 8th of April, 1859, reached the Red River not far from the site of Fargo.

deposited for Alexander Ramsey as governor, and 17,532 for George L. Becker. Governor Ramsey, in an inaugural delivered on the second of January, 1860, devoted a large space to the discussion of the difficulties arising from the issue of theraUroad bonds. He said: "It is extremely desirable to remove as speedUy as possible so vexing a question from our state politics, and not allow it to remain for years to disturb our elections, possibly to divide our people into bond and antibond parties, and introduce, annually, into our legislative halls an element of discord and possibly of corruption, all to end just as similar complications in other states have ended. The men who will have gradually engrossed the posession of all the bonds, at the cost of a few cents on the dollar, will knock year after year at the door of the legislature for their payment in full, the press will be subsidized; the cry of repudiation will be raised; all the ordinary and extraordinary means of procuring legislation in doubtful cases will be freely resorted to, until finally the bondholders will pOe lip almost fabulous fortunes. * * * * It is assuredly true that t^je present time is, of aU others, alike for the present bondholder and the {icople of the state, the very time to arrange, adjust and settle these unfortunate and deplorable railroad and loan comjjlications."

The legislature of this year passed a law submitting an amendment to the constitution which would prevent the issue of any more railroad bonds. At an election in November, 1860, it was voted on, and reads as follows: "The credit of the state shall never be given on bonds in aid of any individual, association or corporation ; nor shall there be any further issue of bonds denominated Minnesota state railroad bonds, under what purports to be an amendment to section ten, of article nine, of the constitution, adopted April 14, 1858, which is hereby expunged from the constitution, saving, excepting, and reserving to the state, nevertheless, all rights, remedies and forfeitures accruing under said amendment."

First White Person Executed

On page 126 there is a notice of the first Indian hung under the laws of Minnesota. On March 23, 1860 the first white person was executed and attracted considerable attention from the fact, the one who sufifered the penalty of ti^a law was a wt>man.

been poisoned. Anna, bis fourtli wife, was tried for tlie oH'ence, foimd guilty, and on tlie 3d of December, 1859, sentenced to be hung. Tlae ojiponents to capital punishment secured the passage of an act, by the legislature, to meet her case, but it was vetoed by the governor, as unconstitutional. Two days before the execution, the unhappy woman asked her spiritual adviser to wi'ite to her parents in North Carolina, but not to state the cause of her death. Her scaffold was erected within the square of the Kamsey county jail.

Thikd State Legislatcbe

The third state legislature assembled on the 8th of January, 1861, and adjourned on the 8th of March. As Minnesota was the first state which, received 1,280 acres of land in each township, for school purposes. Governor Kamsey in his annual message occupied several pages, in an able and elaborate argument as to the best methods of guarding and selling the school lands, and of protecting the school fund.

His predecessor in ofEoe, while a member of the convention to frame the constitution, had spoken in favor of dividing the school funds among the townships of the state, subject to the control of the local oflScers.

Minnesota Duking The Civil War

The people of Minnesota had not been as excited as the citizens of the Atlantic states on the question which was discussed before the presidential election of November, 1860, and a majority had calmly declared their preference for Abraham Lincoln, as president of the republic.

But the blood of her quiet and intelhgent population was stirred on the morning of April 14, 1861, by the intelligence in the daily newspapers that the day before, the insurgents of South Carolina had bombarded Fort Sumter, and that after a gallant resistance of thirty-four hours General Bobert Anderson and the few soldiers of his command had evacuated the fort.

Governor Eamsey was in Washington at this period, and called upon the president of the republic with two other citizens from Minnesota, and was the first of the state governors to tender the services of his fellow citizens. The offer of a regiment was accepted. The first comjiany raised under the call of Blinnesota was composed of energetic young men of St. Paul, and its cajstain was the esteemed William H. Acker, who afterwards fell in battle.

First regiment was opened at Port Snelling. More companies having offered than were necessary on the 30th of May Goverpor Kamsey sent a telegram to the secretary of war, ofl'ering another regiment.

The First Regiment

On the 14th of Jime the First regiment' was ordered to Washington, and on the 21st it embarked at St. Paul on the steamboats War Eagle and Northern Belle, with the following officers:

Edward D. NeiU, Chaplain - Commissioned July 13, 1862, hospital chaplain U. S. A., resigned in 1864, and ajipointed by President Lincoln, one of his secretaries.

After a few days in Washington, the regiiment was sent to Alexandria, Virginia, where until the 16th of July it remained. On the mornmg of that day it began with other troops of Franklin's brigade to muvetoward the enemy, and that night encampetl in the valley of Pohick creek, and the nest day marched to Sangster's station on the Orange & Alexandria railroad. The third day Centreville was reached. Before daylight on Sunday, the 21st of July, the soldiers of the First regiment rose for a march to battle. About three o'clock in the morning they left camp, and after passing through the hamlet of Centreville, halted tor General Hunter's column to pass. At daylight the regiment again began to move, and after crossing a bridge on the Warrenton turnpike, turned into the woods, from which at about ten o'clock it emerge{| into an open country, from which could be seen an artillery engagement on the left between the Union troops imder Hunter, and the insurgents commanded bv Evans.

Outline History Of Tub State Of Minnesota

An hour after this the regiment reached a branch of Bull Run, and, as the men were thirsty, began to fill their empty caijteens. While thus occupied, and as the St. Paul company under Captain Wilkins was crossing the creek, an order came for Colonel Gorman to hurry up the regiment.

The men now moved rapidly through the woodland of a hillside, stepping over some of the dead of Burnside's command, and hearing the cheers of victory caused by the pressing back of the insurgent troops. At length the regiment, passing Sudley church, reached a clearing in the woods, and halted, while other troops of Franklin's brigade passed up the Sudley church road. Next they passed through a narrow strip of woods and occupied the cultivated field from which Evans and Bee of the rebel army had been driven by the troops of Bumside, Sykes and others of Himter's division.

Crossing the Sudley road, Eickett's battery unlimbered and began to fii'e at the enemy, whose batteries were between the Eobinson and Henry house on the south side of the Warrenton turnpike, while the First Minnesota passed to the right. After firing about twenty minutes the battery was ordered to go down the Sudley road nearer the enemy, where it was soon disabled. The First Minnesota was soon met by rebel troops advancing under cover of the woods, who supposed the regiment was a part of the confederate army.

Javan' B. Irvine, then a private citizen af St. Paul, on a visit to the regiment, now a cajitain in the United States army, wrote to his wife: "We liad just formed when we were ordered to kneel and fire upon the rebels who were advancing under the cover of the woods. We fired two volleys through the woods, when we were ordered to rally in the woods in our rear, which all did except the first platoon of our own company, which did not hear the order and stood their ground. The rebels soon came out from their shelter between us and their battery. Colonel Gorman mistook them for friends and told the men to cease firing upon them, although they had three secession Hags directly in front of their advancing columns. This threw our men into confusion, some declaring they are friends; others that they are enemies. I called to our boys to give it to them, and fired away myself as rapidly as possible. The rebels themselves mistook us for Georgia troojjs, and waved their hands at us to cease firing. I had just loaded to give them another charge, when a lieutenant-colonel of a Mississippi regiment rode out between us, waving his hand for us to stop firing. I rushed up to him and asked 'If he was a secessionist?' He said 'He was a Mississippian.' I presented my bayonet to his breast and commanded him to surrender, which he did after some hesitation. I ordered him to dismount, and led him and his horse from the field, in the meantime disarming him of his sword and pistols. I led him off about two miles and placed him in charge of a lieutenant with an escort of cavalry, to be taken to General McDowell. He requested the officer to allow me to accompany him, as he desired my protection. The officer assured him that he would be safe in their hands, and he rode off. I retained his pistol, but sent his sword with him." In another letter, dated the 25th of July, Mr. Irvine writes from Washington: "I have just returned from a visit to Lieutenant-Colonel Boone, who is confined in the old Capitol. I found him in a pleasant room on the third story, surrounded by several southern gentlemen, among whom was Senator Breckenridge. He was glad to see me, and ajspeared quite well after the fatigue of the battle of Sunday. There were with me Chaplain NeQl, Captains Wilkin and Colville, and Lieutenant Coates, who were introduced."

The mistake of several regiments of the Union troops in supj^osing that the rebels were friendly regiments led to confusion and disaster, which was followed by panic.

Second Regiment

The Second Minnesota Regiment which had been organized in July, 1861, left Fort Snelling on the eleventh of October, and proceeding to Louisville, was incorijorated with the Army of the Ohio. Its officers were: Horatio P. Van Cleve, Colonel. Promoted Brigader General March 21, 1862. James George, Lt. Colonel. Promoted Colonel; resigned June 29, 1864. Simeon Smith, Major. Appointed Paymaster U. S. A., September, 1861. Alexander Wilkin, Major. Colonel 9th Minnesota, August, 1862. Reginald Bingham, Surgeon. Dismissed May 27, 1862. M. C. Tollman, AssH Surgeon. Promoted Surgeon. Timothy Cressey, Chaplain. Resigned October, 10, 1863. Daniel D. Heaney, Adjutant. Promoted Cai^tam Company C. William S. Grow, Quarter Master, Resigned, January, 1863.

Thikd Beoiment

On the 16th of November, 1861, the Third Eegiment left the State and went to Tennessee. Its officers were : Heni'y C. Lester, Colonel. Dismissed Decmber 1, 18G2. Benjamin F. Smith, Lt. Colonel. Resigned May 9, 1862. John A. Hadley, Major. Resigned May 1, 1862. R. C Olin, Adjutant. - Resigned. O. H, Blakely, Adjutant. Levi Butler. Surgeon. - Resigned September 30, 1863. Francis Millipan, AssH Surgeon. - Resigned April 8, 1862. Channcey Hobart, Chaplain. - Resigned June 2, 1863.

Cavalry

During the fall, three companies of cavalry were organized, and proceeded to Benton Barracks, Missouri. Ultimately they were incorporated with the Fifth Iowa Cavalry.

Movements Of Minnesota Troops In 1862

On Sunday the 19th of January, 1862, not far from Somerset and about forty miles from DanviUe, Kontnoky, about 7 o'clock in the morning. Col. Van Cleve was ordered to meet the enemy. In ten minutes the Second Minnesota regiment was in line of battle. After supporting a battery for some time it continued the march, and proceeding half a mile found the enemy behind the fences, and a hand to hand fight of thirty minutes ensued, resulting in the flight of the rebels. Gen. Zollicoffer and Lieut. Peyton, of the insurgents were of the killed.

Battle Of Pittsburg Landing

On Sunday, the 6th of Ajsril occurred the battle of Pittsburg Landing, in Tennessee. Minnesota was there represented by the First Minnesota battery, Captain Emil Munch, which was attached to the division of General Prentiss. Captain Munch was severely wounded. One of the soldiers of his command wrote as follows: "Sunday morning, just after Tjreakfast, an officer rode up to ourCaistain's tent and told him to prepare for action. * * * * * wheeled into battery and opened ujDon them. * * * The first time we wheeled one of our drivers was killed; his name was Colby Stinson. Haywood's horse was shot at almost the same time. The second time we came into battery, the captain was wounded in the leg, and his hor.se shot under him. They charged on our guns and on the sixth platoon howitzer, but they got hold of the wrong end of the gun. We then limbered up and retreated within the line of battle. While we were retreating they shot one of our horses, when we had to stop and take him out, which let the rebels come up rather close. When within about six rods they fired and wounded Corporal Davis, breaking his leg above the ankle." As the artillery driver was picked up, after being fatally wounded, at the beginning of the fight he said, 'Don't stop with me. Stand to your guns like men,' and expired.

First Regiment At Yorktown Siege

Early in April the First regiment as a part of Sedgwick's division of the Army of the Potomac arrived near Torktown, Virginia, and was stationed between the Warwick and York rivers, near Wynnes' mill. During the night of the 30th of May, there was a continual discharge of cannon by the enemy, but just before daylight the next day, which was Sunday, it ceased and the pickets cautiously apj)roaching discovered that the rebels had abandoned their works. The next day the regiment was encamped on the field where ComwalUs surrendered to Washington.

Battle Of Fair Oaks

While Gorman's brigade was encamped at Goodly Hole oreek, Hanover county, Virginia, an order came about three o'clock of the afternoon of Saturday, the thirty-first day of May to to cross the Chicahominy and engage in the battle which had been going on for a few hours. In a few minutes the First Minnesota was on the march, by a road which had been cut through the swamp, and crossed the Chicahominy by a rude bridge of logs, with both ends completely submerged by the stream swollen by recent rains, and rising every hour.

About 5 o'clock in the afternoon the First Minnesota as the advance of Gorman's brigade reached the scene of action, and soon the whole brigade with Kirby's battery held the enemy in check at that point.

Battle Op Savage Station

Just' before daylight on Sunday, June the 29th, Sedgwick's, to which the First Minnesota belonged, left the position that had been held since the bat- tie of Fair Oaks, and had not proceeded more than two miles before they met the enemy in a peach orchard, and after a sharp conflict compelled them to retire. At about 5 o'clock the afternoon of the same day they again met the enemy at Savage Station, and a battle lasted till dark. Burgess, the color sergeant who brought ofl" the flag from the Bull Kuu battle, a man much respected, was killed instantly.

On Monday, between White Oak swamp and Willis' church, the regiment had a skirmish, and Captain Colville was sligJitly wounded. Tuesday was the 1st of July, and the regiment was drawn up at the dividing line of Henrico and Charles City county, in sight of James river, and although much exposed to the enemy's batteries, was not actually engaged. At midnight the order was given to move, and on the morning of the 2d of July they tramped upon the wheat fields at Harrison's Landing, and in a violent rain encamped.

Movements Op Other Troops Fifth Regiment

The Second Miuuesota Battery, Cajitain W. A. Hotchkiss, left the same day as the Fourth regiment. On the 13th of May the Fifth regiment departed from Fort Snelling with the following officers: Eudolph Borgesrode, colonel, resigned August 31, 1862; Lucius F. Hubbard, lieutenantcolonel, promoted colonel August 31, 1862, elected governor of Minnesota 1881; WiUiam B. Gere, major, promoted lieutenant-colonel; Alpheus E. French, adjutant, resigned March 19, 1883; W. B. McGrorty, quartermaster, resigned September 15, 1864; F. B. Etheridge, surgeon, resigned September 3, 1862 ; V. B. Kennedy, assistant surgeon, promoted surgeon; J. F. Chaffee, chaplain, resigned June 23, 1862; John Ireland, chaplain, resigned April, 1863.

On the 18th of Sej^tember, Colonel Sanborn, acting as brigade commander in the Third division of the Army of the Mississippi, moved his troops, including the Fourth Minnesota regiment, to a position on the Tuscumbia road, and formed a line of battle.

Battle Op Corinth

In a few days the contest began at luka, culminated at Corinth, and the Fourth and Fifth regiments and First Minnesota battery were engaged.

On the 3d of October, about five o'clock. Colonel Sanborn advanced his troops and received a severe fire from the enemy. Captain Mowers beckoned with his sword during the firing, as it he wished to make an important communication, but before Colonel Sanborn reached his side he tell, having been shot through the head. Before daylight on the 4th of October the Fifth regiment, under command of Colonel L. F. Hubbard, was aroused by the discharge of artillery. Later in the day it became engaged with the enemy, and drove the rebels out of the streets of Corinth. A private writes: "When we charged on the enemy General Bosecrans asked what little regiment that was, and on being told said 'The Fifth Minnesota had saved the town.' Major Coleman, General Stanley's assistant adjutant-general, was with us when he received his bullet-wound, and his last words were, "Tell the general that the Fifth Minnesota fought nobly. God bless the Fifth.' "

Other Movements

A few days after the fight at Corinth the Second Minnesota battery. Captain Hotchkiss, did good service with Buell's army at Perryville, Ky.

In the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., on the 13th of December, the Fkst Minnesota regiment supported Kirbey's battery as it had done at Fair Oaks.

Third Regiment Humiliated

On the morning of the 13th of July, near Murfreesboro, Ky., the Third regiment was in thejjresence of the enemy. The colonel called a council of officers to decide whether they should fight, and the first vote was in the affirmative, but an- other vote being taken it was decided tosurreuder. Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Griggs, Captains Andrews and Hoyt voted each time to fight. In September the regiment returned to Blinnosota, humiliated by the want of good judgment upou the part of their colonel, and was assigned to duty in the Indian country.

The Siodx Outbeeak

The year 18G2 will always be remembered as the period of the uprising of the Sioux, and the slaughter of the unsuspecting inhabitants of the scattered settlements in the Minnesota valley. Elsewhere in this work will be found a detailed account of the savage cruelties. In this place we only give the narrative of the events as related by Alexander Kamsey, then the governor of Minnesota.

"My surprise may therefore be judged, when, on August 19th, while busy in my office, Mr. Wm. H. Shelley, one of our citizens who had been at the agency just before the outbreak, came in, dusty and exhausted with a fifteen hours' ride on horseback, bearing dispatches to me of the most startling character from Agent Galbraith, dated August 18th, stating that the same day the Sious at the lower agency had risen, murdered the settlers, and were plundering and burning all the buildings in that vicinity. As I believe no particulars regarding the manner in which the news were first conveyed to me has been pubUshed, it might be mentioned here. Mr. Shelley had been at Kedwood agency, and other places in that vicinity, with the concurrence of the agent, recruiting men for a company, which was afterwards mustered into the Tenth regiment under Captain James O'Gorman, formerly a clerk of Nathan Myrick, Esq., a trader at Redwood, and known as the Eenville Rangers. He (Shelley) left Redwood, he states, on Saturday, August 16th, with forty-five men, bound for Fort Snelling. Everything was quiet there then. It may be well to note here that one of the supposed causes of the outbreak was the fact that the Indians had been told that the government needed soldiers very badly, that many white men had been killed, and that all those in that locality were to be marched south, leaving the state unprotected. Seeing the men leave on Saturday may have strengthened this belief. Stopping at Fort Ridgely that night, the EenviUe Rangers the next day continued their march, and on Monday afternoon arrived at St. Peter. Galbraith was with them. Here he was overtaken by a messenger who had ridden down from Redwood that day, hearing the news of the terrible occurrences of that morhiug. This messenger was Mr. - Dickinson, who formerly kept a hotel at Henderson, but was living on the reservation at that time. He was in great distress about the safety of his family, and returning at once was killed by the Indians.

"When Agent Galbraith received the news, Mr. Shelley states, no one would at first believe it, as suoh rumors are frequent in the Indian country. Mr. Dickinson assured him cjf the truth with such earnestness, however, that his accoimt was finally credited and the Renville Rangers were at once armed and sent back to Fort Ridgely, where they did good service in protecting the post.

"Agent Galbraith at once prepared the dispatches to me, giving the terrible news and calling for aid. No one coidd be found who would volunteer to cari'y the message, and Mr. Shelley offered to come himself. He had great difficulty in getting a horse; but finally secured one, and started for St. Paul, a distance of about ninety miles, about dark. He had not ridden a horse for some years, and as may be well supposed by those who have had experience in amateur horseback-riding, suffered very much from soreness; but rode all night at as fast a gate as his horse could carry him, sjDreading the startling news as he went down the Minnesota valley. Reaching St. Paul about 9 A. M., much exhausted he made his way to the capitol, and laid before me his massage. The news soon sjjread through the city and created intense excitement.

"At that time, of course, the full extent and threatening nature of the outbreak could not be determined. It seemed serious, it is true, but in view of the riotous conduct of the Indiana at Yellow Medicine a few days before, was deemed a repetition of the emeute, which would be simply local ih its character, and easily quelled by a small force and good management on the part of the authorities at the agency.

"But these hopes, (that the outbreak was a local one) were soon rudely dispelled by the arrival, an hour or two later, of another courier, Cieorge C. Whitcomb, of Forest City, bearing the news of the murders at Acton. Mr, Whitcomb had ridden to Ohaska or Carver on Monday, and came down from there on the small steamer i\iitelo23e, reaching the city an hour or two after Mi\ SheUey.

Outline History Of The State Of Minnesota

more general than had at first been credited, and that prompt and vigorous measures would be required for its suppression and the protection of the inhabitants on the frontier. I at once proceeded to Fort Snelling and consulted with the authorities there (who had already received dispatches from Fort Ridgely) regarding the outbreak and the best means to be used to meet the danger.

"A serious difficulty met us at the outstart. The only troops at Fort Snelling were the raw recruits who had been hastUy gathered for the five regiments. Most of them were without arms or suitable clothing as yet; some not mustered in or properly officered, and those who had arms had no fised ammunition of the proper calibre. We were without transportation, quartermaster's or commissary stores, ;ind, in fact, devoid of anything with which to commence a campaign against two or three thousand Indians, well mounted and armed, with an abundance of ammunition and provisions captured at the agency, and flushed with the easy victories they had just won over the unarmed settlers. Finally four companies were fully organized, armed and uniformed, and late at night were got off on two small steamers, the Antelope and Pomeroy, for Shakopee, from which poiat they would proceed overland. It was arranged that others should foUow as fast as they could be got ready.

"This expedition was placed under the management of H. H. Sibley, whose long residence in the country of the Sioux had given him great influ' ence with that people, and it was hoped that the chiefs and older men were stiU sensible to reason, and that with his diplomatic abiUty he could bring the powers of these to check the mad and reckless disposition of the "young men," and that if an opportunity for this failed that his knowledge of Indian war and tactics would enable him to overcome them in battle. And I think the' result indicated the wisdom of my choice.

-'I at once telegraphed all the facts to President Lincoln, and also telegraphed to Governor Solomon, of Wisconsin, for one hundi'ed thousand cartridges, of a calibre to fit our rifles, and the requisition was kindly honored by that patriotic officer, and the ammunition was on its way next day. The governors of Iowa, Illinois and Michigan were also asked for arms and ammunition.

the upper Minnesota, with intelhgence of the most painful character, regarding the extent and ferocity of the massacre. The messages all pleaded earnestly for aid, and intimated that without speedy reinforcements or a supply of arms. Fort Eidgely, New Ulm, St. Peter and other points would undoubtedly fall into the hands of the savages, and thousands of peraons be butchered The principal danger seemed to be to the settlements in that region, as they were in the vicinity of the main body of Indians congregated to await the payments. Comers arrived from various points every few hours, and I spent the whole night answering their calls as I could.

"Late that night, probably after midnight, Mr. J. Y. Branham, Sr., arrived from Forest City, after a forced ride on horseback of 100 miles, bearing the following message:

His Excellency, Alexander Ramsey, Governor, etc. - Sir: In advance of the news from the Minnesota river, the Indians have opened on us in Meeker. It is warl A few propose to make a stand here. Send us, forthwith, some good guns and ammunition to match. Yours truly,

Seventy-five stands of Springfield rifles and several thousand roimds of ball cartridges were at once issued to George C. Whitcomb, to be used in arming a company which I directed to be raised and enrolled to use these arms; and Gen. Sibley gave Mr. Whitcomb a captain's commission for the company. Transportation was furnished him, and the rifles were in Forest City by the morning of the 23d, a portion having been issued to a company at Hutchinson on the way up. A company was organized and the arms placed in their hands, and I am glad to say they did good service in defending the towns of Forest City and Hutchinson on more than one occasion, and many of the Indians are known to have been killed with them. The conduct and bravery of the courageous men who guarded those towns, and resisted the assaults of the red savages, are worthy of being commemorated on the pages of our state history."

Movement Of Minnesota Regiments 1863

On the 3d of April, 1863, the Fourth regiment was opposite Grand Gulf, Mississippi, and in a few days they entered Port Gibson, and here Col. Sanborn resumed the command of a brigade. On the llth of May the regiment was at the battle of Raymond, and on the 14th participated in the battle of Jackson. A newspaper corrc»])ondent writes: "Captain L. B. Martin, of the Fonrth IMinnesota, A. A. G. to Colonel Sanborn, seized the tlag of the 59th Indiana infantry, rode rapidly beyond the skirmishers, (Co. H, Fourth Minnesota, Lt. Geo. A. Clark) and raised it over the dome of tJie capitol" of Mississippi. On the 16th the regiment was in the battle of Champion Hill, and four days later in the siege of Vicksburg.

Fifth Re3Iment

The First regiment reached Gettysburg, Pa., on the 1st of Julyj and the next morning Hancock's corps, to which it was attached, moved to a ridge, the right resting on Cemetery Hill, the left near Sugar Loaf Mountain. The line of battle was a semi-ellipae, and Gibbon's division, to which the regiment belonged occupied the center of the curve nearest the enemy. On the 2d of July, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, General Hancock rode up to Colonel Colvill*, and ordered him to charge upon the advancing foe. The muzzles of the opposing muskets were not far distant and the conflict w'as terrific. When the sun set Captain IMuller and Lieutenant Farrer were killed; Captain Periam mortally wounded; Colonel Colville, Lieut-Colonel Adams, Major Downie, Adjutant Peller, Lieutenants Sinclair, Demerest, DeGray and Boyd, severely wounded.

On the 3d of July, about 10 o'clock in the morning, the rebels opened a terrible artillery fire, which lasted until 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and then the infantry was suddenly advanced, and there was a fearful contUct, resulting in the defe;it of the enemy. The loss on this day was also very severe. Captain Messick, in command of the First regiment, after the wounding of Colville, and Adams and Downie, was killed. Captain FarreU was mortally wounded, and Lieutenants Harmon, Heffelfinger, and May were wounded. Color-Sergeant E. P. Perkins was wounded on the 2d of July. On the 3d of July Corporal Dehn, of the color guard was shot through the hand and the flag stafi' cut in two. Corporal H. D. O'Brien seized the flag with the broken staff and waving it over his head rushed up to the muzzles of the enemy's muskets and was wounded in the hand, but Corporal W. N. Irvine instantly grasped the

The Second Eegiment

The Second regiment, under Colonel George, on the 19tli of September fought at Chicamauga, and in the first day's fight, eight were killed and forty-one wovmded. On the 25th of November, Lieutenant-Colonel Bishop in command, it moved against the enemy at Mission Ridge, and of the seven non-commissioned officers in the color guard, sis were killed or wounded.

EVENTS OF 1864. The Third regiment, which after the Indian expedition had been ordered to Little Rock, Arkansas, on the 30th of March, 1864, had an engagement near Augusta, at Fitzhugh's Woods. Seven men were killed and sixteen wounded. General C. C. Andrews, in command of the force, had his horse killed by a bullet.

Fiest Kegiment

The First regiment after three year's service was mustered out at Fort Snelling, and on the 28th of April, 1864, held its last dress jjarade, iu the presence of Governor Miller, who had once been their lieutenant-colonel and commander. In May some of its members re-enlisted as a battalion, and again joined the Army of the Potomac.

Sixth, Seventh, Ninth And Tenth Regiments

The Sixth regir^^nt, which had been in the expedition against the Sioux, in Jiuie, 1864, was assigned to the 16th army corj)s, as was the Seventh, Ninth and Tenth, and on the 13th of July, near Tupelo, Mississippi, the Seventh, Ninth and Tenth, with portions of the Fifth, were in battle. During the first day's fight Surgeon Smith, of the Seventh, was fatally wounded through the neck. On the morning of the 14th the battle began in earnest, and the Seventh, under Colonel W. R. Marshall, made a successful charge. Colonel Alexander Wilkin, of the Ninth, was shot, and fell dead from his horse.

Battle Of Nashville

During the mouth of December the Fifth, Seventh, Ninth and Tenth regiments did good service before Nashville. Colonel L. F. Hubbard, of the Fifth, commanding a brigade, after he had been knocked off his horse by a ball, rose, and on foot led his command over the enemy's works. Colonel W. B. Marshall, of the Seventh, in command of a brigade, made a gallant charge, and Lieutenant-colonel S. P. Jennison, of the Tenth, one of the first on the enemy's parapet, received a severe wound.

Minnesota Tboops In 1865

In the spring of 1865 the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth and Tenth regiments were engaged in the siege of Mobile. The Second and Fourth regiments and First battery were with General Sherman in his wonderful campaign, and the Eighth in the month of March was ordered to North Carolina. The battalion, the remnant of the First, was with the Ai'my of the Potomac untU Lee's surrender.

Arrangements were soon perfected for disbanding the Union army, and before the close of the summer all the Minnesota regiments that had been on duty were discharged.