St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-23

them and distant not over forty or fifty feet.
The surprise was mutual. Both parties
opened fire at once. We continued our
rush and they fed. We chased them, firing
as rapidly as we could, for about a quarter
OF mile and to point beyond any build
ings then remaining. We then took cover
in lot of saw logs, which lay in the road,
and held them under fire until dark, when
we sent men back with orders to burn every
house between US and the barricades, which
orders they carried out to the demolition of
every building and fence that was stand
ing. We then returned to the town,
feeling assured that we would not
be attacked over an open country.
That night rifle pits were dug outside of the
barricadeS, and the fighting was kept up all
night, but no assault was made upon us of
a formidable nature.
IN THIS CHARGE
we lost four men, Newell Houghton. an
old man from Nicollet county named Sum-
mers, and two others whose names have
escaped ME. Houghton's body was not
found, nor was it known that he was dead
until later. 1t was discovered in this way:
a man came to me with a rife, saving
Here is good gun some Indian has lost
IN the stampede" White at once recognized
1t as HOughtOn's and said, ''HoughtOn is
dead. He never let that rifle go out of his
hands while alive" a search verified the
prediction.
When Sunday morning opened upon us
very few Indians were in sight but enough
were around to make it very dangerous to
remain long exposed, but by afternoon they
had all withdrawn to the nOrthward in the
direction of the fort, and that was the end
of them so far as New Ulm was concerned.
That we felt relieved at their withdrawal it
is hardly worth while to say. We had
gone through a most trying experience.
The stake we fought for was our own lives
and the lives of some ten or twelve hundred
women and children; about as important
one as man is ever called on to fight for
IN an average lifetime. We had won the
game and felt well over it, but while we
had cause to rejoice at our success there
was still much cause for apprehension. We
did not know what had become of the In
dians. They might at any moment renew
the attack, which compelled US to be as Wig
liant as ever.
Nearly week had elapsed since we left
st. Peter, and we naturally looked for re-
Inducements. No communication with the
outside world had been possible since our
arrival, and we did not know what
had transpired beyond our own limited
theatre OF action. On Sunday at about
noon we saw approaching from the south a
body of men, and at once were on guard:
but to an experienced eye it does not take
long to decide between Indians and white
men, and we were assured they were
friends. They were squad from ST. Peter,
commanded by Capt. E. ST. Julien Cox.
largely Irishmen, pretty we'll armed and
numbering about one hundred men. They
charged into the town not knowing to
certainty whether they were to meet friends
or foes. This was an irregular squad which
had been raised by Capt. Cox, Lieut.. NLer-
rill and Lieut.. Buck. under the direction
and authority of Gen. Sibley, and were
very welcome addition to our forces. Capt.
William Huey of st. Peter came with them.
In the beginning of the fight Capt. Huey
had taken squad of men to the ferry to
repel the advance of the enemy in that direc-
tiOn and had been cut off from us. He pro-
ceeded towards st. Peter, and, meeting
Cox, returned with him. Nothing of i'm
pOrtance happened on Monday, and On
Tuesday it was decided to
EvACUATE THE TOWN
and move for st. Peter or MankatO. The
latter point was determined upon, to save
the necessity of crossing the Minnesota
river. All available teams were made ready
and loaded with women, children and
wounded men. I think there were 1913
wagon loads in the train, mostly drawn by
oxen.
The disposition of the escort was entrusted
to Capt. Cox, who was fresh from the
battle of Mill Spring, and probably the
most experienced soldier among us all. His
management was most judiciOuS, and the
migration was successfully made.
One short week before the town of New
Ulm was prosperous and happy commun-
ity. l know of none in the state of its
numbers that was more so. They marched
forth from their ruined town bruised and
bleeding. Families were dismembered,
children orphaned, homes burned and their
only worldly possessions what they carried
on their backs. History does not record
more heartrending spectacle. Where were
these people to go? What was to be their
future? These were questions that turned
the pervading gloom into utter darkness.
i saw strong men shed bitter tears as they
took last look at their once happy homes,
which they never expected to see again.
hope l shall be spared from ever Witnessing
a similar scene of wretchedneSs and utter
woe.
And so ended the battle of New UIm. the
twenty-third anniversary of which we are
assembled here to celebrate. We lost i'm
the actual engagement about twelve
killed, and between forty and fifty wounded.
The recording of this roll of honor leave
to other hands. God save our beloved
country from similar visitation of horrors.
but should it come, may the noble example
set by you in 1862, nerve the arms, and fire
the hearts of your defendants to like deeds
of valor.