The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-05
TIL E INDIAN wa B
BATTLE OF NEW ULM.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF CAPTAIN
FLANDRAU.

ST.. PETER, Aug. ~, 1862.
His Exec llency, Governor Alex. Ramsey;
S1R-Events have transpired so rapidly,
and nv time has been so taken up since
nv last communication, that cannot with
certainty recall the condition Of things at
it's date, but believe wrote you almost i'm
mediately preceding the second attack upon
New Ulm, which occurred on Saturday
last.
During the morning we discovered
succession of fires on the Nicollet county
side of the river, very near the bluffs, ap-
preaching us from the direction of Fort
Ridgley. Our supposition twas that the
Fort had fallen, and the Indians were NOV.
ing down upon the town, on that side OF
the river, to unite with another party on
the side we were occupying.
As they increased in numbers very rap
idly, l thought it best to send aetach-
ment over to ascertain the design OF the
enemy, and if possible give him check on
that side of the river. Lieut.. Huey of
Travers des Sioux volunteering to perform
the service, detailed seventy-fve men with
him, and they crossed at the ferry opposite
the town, about 9 o'clock A. NJ. Very
shortly after their departure, the Indians
we're discovered issuing from the woods
above the town in large numbers, and as
sembling upon the prairie.
at ouCe posted all my available force
upon the open prairie, outside the town,
about half mile at some points. and at
greater distance towards the point at which
conceived the attack would be made, de-
termining to give them battle in the open
field where conceived would be our great.
est advantage.
At nearly ten A. M. the body began to
move towards US, first slowly, and then with
considerable rapidly. The men were en-
couraged by their officers to stand firm and
meet their attack, and all promised well.
We had in all about 25O guns, while the
Indians were variously estimated at from
400 to 500. I fixed the number at not
over $50.
Their advance upon the sloping prairie,
in the bright sunlight, was very fine spec
tacle, and, to such inexperienced soldiers as
we all were, intensely exciting. When
within about one mile and half of US, the
mass began to expand like fan, and in.
crease in the velocity of its approach, and
continued this movement until within about
double rife shot, when it had covered our
entire front. Then the savages uttered
terrific yell, and came down upon Us like
the wind. l had stationed myself at
point in the rear, where communication
could be had with me easily, and awaited
the first discharge with great anxiety, as it
seemed to me that to yield was certain de-
struction, as the enemy would rush into the
town and drive all before them. The yell
unsettled the men little, and just before
the rifles began to crack they fell back
along the whole lines, and committed the
error of passing the outer houses without
taking possession of them, mistake which
the Indians Immediately took advantage OF
by themselves occupying them in squads OF
two, three, and up to ten. They poured
into US a sharp and rapid fire, as we fell
back, and opened from the houses in every
direction. Several of US rode up the hill,
endeavoring to rally the men, and with
good effect, as they gave three cheers and
sailed out of various houses they had re-
treated to, and checked the advance etfect>
ualy. The firing from both sides then be-
came general, sharp and rapid, and it got
to be a regular Indian skirmish, in which
every man did his own work after his own
fashions
The Indians had spread out until they
had got into our rear, and on all sides,
having the very decided advantage of the
houses on the bluff which commanded the
interior of the town, with the exception of
the windmill which was occupied by about
twenty of the LeSueur Tigers, and beld
them at long range. The wind was from
the lower part of the town and this fact di
rected the larger part of the enemy to that
point, where they promptly commenced tirs
ing the houses and advancing behind the
smoke. The conhagration became general
in the lower part of the town on both sides
of the street and the bullets flew very thick
ly both from the bluff and up the street. l
thought it prudent to dismount and direct
the defence on foot. Just at this point
Captain Dodd of St. Peter, and some one
else whose name 1 do not know, charged
down the street to ascertain Il have since
learneG) whether some hOrsemen seen in
the extreme lower town, were not our
friends coming in, and were met about three
blocks down with heavy volley from be-
hind house, five bullets passing through
Captain Dodd and several through his
horse. They both turned and the Captain
got in sufficiently near to be received by
bis friends before he fell. He died about
five hours after being hit. Too much can.
not be said of bis personal bravery and
general desire to perform bis duty manfully.
Captain Saunders, of the LeSueur cons
pany, was shot through part of bis body
shortly after, and retired, placing his rife
in effective hands, ard encouraging the
men. The fight was going on all around
the town during the whole forenoon and
part of the afternoon, sometimes with slight
advantage to US, and again to the Indians !;
but the difficulty that stared US in the face,
was their gradual but certain approach, up
the main street, behind the burning build
ings, which promised our destruction. We
frequently sailed out and took buildings in
advance, but the risk of being picked off
from the bluff was unequal to the advan-
tage gained, and the duty was performed
| NTH eomp reluctance hv the men, In the