New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-09-24
Historical Renaissance
Gel. Dutler ana the Inebriale.
THE BATTLE OF WYOMING.

facts be Invested of distorted posi-.
tions and extravaganza coloring which
the excited fancies of the fugitives
gave them, we should find much,
that has rendered the story one of
the most soul.thrilling on record, to
be mere fable. Enough is true,
however, to stir up the blood, and,
awaken the liveliest emotions of an.
guish, in perusing the history of
the valley, as written by an unbiased
and careful pen. Replete with Incl.
dent, it has furnished the pencil Of
the artist with Vulnerable subjects,
| full of action and bold relief, among
many others of thrilling interest.
When the enemy, consisting Of
eleven hundred tories and Indians,
under command of Col. John But
Ter, arrived in the vicinity Of the
valley, they found it undefended by
any force which could be considered
| respectable, and, feeling secure of
their prey, they made their head.
| quarters at fortified house called
Wintermoot's fort, sent out scouts
and foraging parties, and gave them.
selves up to riot and debauchery.
The inhabitants finding them
selves deserted by Congress, and
thrown upon their own exertions to
defend their homes from the torch,
and themselves, their wives and
children from the tomahawks Of
the savages, resolved, as the only
hope of success, to march out and
attack the foe, while lulled in fan
cied security. Their whole force,
consisting of about three hundred
old men, young men, and boys
divided into six companies, and un-
der the command Of Col. Zebulon
Butler, who happened to be in the
valley at the time, marched out Of
Forty Fort. The women, children,
and few old men were left in the
fort to await with feelings Of the
most intense anxiety, the issue Of a
battle on which depended their lives.
The little force was Joined by the
justices of the courts, and every male
inhabitant capable of bearing arms,
and marched forward to the contest,
strong in determination, if not in
numbers. The object was to sur.
prise the enemy in his camp, and
gain by stratagem what they lacked
in strength. Col. John Butler was
not to be caught mapping, however,
and although encamped in very ir-
regular manner, and exposed to sud.
den surprise, yet his scouts had in.
formed him of the march of the lit.
tie army, and when they arrived in
the vicinity of Wintermoot's they
found his line drawn up, prepared to
receive them. There was no alter.
native but to fight, and the little
force of six companies was wheeled
into line and harrangued by their
brave commander. ''Men,' said
he, ''yonder is the enemy. The fate
of the Hardings tells us what we
have to expect if defeated. We
came out to fight, not only for H.
berty, but for life itself, and, what
is dearer, to preserve our homes from
confagration, and our women and
children from the tomahawk. Stand
firm the first shock, and the Indians
will give way. Every man to his
duty
It was about four O'Clock of a
hot, sultry afternoon, when the
battle commenced, by an attack on
the enemy's left wing. The contest
was short, sharp, and bloody. For
half an hour it was kept up with the
utmost spirit and determination, and
promised success to the Americans,
but an unfortunate mistake Of an
order threw the victory into the
hands of the enemy. Col. Denisou
who commanded the American left,
finding the Indians who opposed
him were outhanking him and get.
ting into his rear, gave the order to
''fall back,'' in order to change his
position. This was understood
as an order to retreat, and
was repeated with increasing
emphasis along the line. Fatal err
ror! {. few moments more and the
enemy's left, which was composed
of tories, would have given way, and
the Indians would have reiterated al.
so. The damage was irretrievably
done, however, and no exhortations
or commands could rally the broken
division. The Indians sprang from
their coverts in cloud, and fell up
on the retreating Americans, cut.
ting them down by scores, and now
commenced that fearful massacre
which makes the blood run chilled
through the veins as we read. Des.
peration lent wings to the flying flu.
gitiyes, while ''fnry ragged, and shud.
dering pity quit the ensanguined
field
Finding his efforts to rally the re.
treating Americans unavailing, and
hoping to be able to collect a sufici
ent numbersto defend the fort until
assistance could arrive, Col. Zebul.
on Butler who had exposed him.
self to the fiercest Of the battle with.
out regard for his personal safety
turned his horses head in that di.
rection, and fastened forward to the
garrison. As he was speeding along
the road toward the fort, he overlook
an Indian warrior in pursuit Of one
of his men, who, almost exhausted,
would in few moments have yield.
ed. from utter exhaustion, his scalp
to the knife Of his pursuer. Having
either lost his sword, or there being
no time to use it, Butler was com.
PEELED to pass the Indian without at.
/ tackinp him The 6on,o, 1,,o. 10