New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-08-26

outer buildings Of the town. and cover
Cd III the front In the direction in
which the main body Of the Indians
was approaching. When they came
down thew advanced in solid body un-
til they arrived within about double
rife shot Of our front;they then deploy-
ed TO the right and left, moving rapid.
" towards US all the time, until they
entirely covered our front, when they
uttered an unearthly yell and opened
fire; several of our men were knocked
over, and, after q short stand, the
whole line Wavered and fell to the
rear. must admit that when the line
broke. felt for moment as if the day
was lost; but when Isaw that the In
dams did not follow up their advantage
and charge through the town. l felt en- (
couraged. An effort was made
TO RALLY THE MEN.
1t was at this point that saw Capt.
Bierbauer standing alone, about half
way up the bluff, firing with great
steadiness; his presence and GOODNESS
was used as rallying point for the
men; they soon emerged from the build
ing they had entered and charged up
the hill, carrying all before them. The
Indians left our front. and got into our
rear on the river side of the town, and
also on the lower part of Main street,
from which direction the wind was
blowing quite gale. Taking advan-
tage of the wind, they commenced FIR
ing the buildings on both sides of the
street, and the conhagration in the low
er town became general and alarming.
Imay say here that 1 have always
believed, which belief has been confirm
ed by what have learned from parties
who were with the Indians at the time
of the attack, that they regarded the
breaking of the line and the retreat in
to town as feint on our part to draw
them in among the buildings for an
ambuscade, which invitation they did
not accept. 1t was lucky thing for
US that they entertained this idea, for
had they charged boldly into the town
as our line retreated. there is no doubt
that they would have carried every
thing before them. OF course, having
possession of the buildings, we would
have sold our lives pretty dearly. but
the decentralization that then existed
would have proved fatal to us had our
foe been up to the occasion.
The dispersion of the Indians in their
general surround of the town gave our
men a breathing spell. and they dispos-
ed themselves very advantageously. A
number of the LIE Sueur Tigers with
some of the Mankato men, took pos
session of large windmill on the high
plateau and loopholed it on all sides,
baricading themselves On the in
side with sacks of wheat and flour,
which formed peri ect protection
against rifle bullets. The possession
of this building was great advantage
to us. as it covered in two directions,
to the limit of rifle shot, our front on
that side. Some twenty or thirty men
took possession of the postoffice build
ing, a brick structure in the outer part
of the town, and with axes loopholed it
in all its stories. These two buildings
commanded pretty we'll the west side
of the town, but
THE GREAT DANGER
was from the fire in the lower end,
which was gradually encroachine on
us. gave my attention to that part
of the town, and there the fight ragged
with the most intensity. Houses were
taken and retaken, but still the fire
came slowly along. About 1880, as
near as can remember, Capt Dodd
charged down the main street with an
other man on horseback, and went to a
point where the Indians had the houses.
just as he passed side street the In
dams opened on him and I felt sure he
was hit He and his comrade wheeled
and returned. The captain wayered in
his saddle and fell. His horse fell in
moment, dead, and so near to where
stood that he nearly fell upon me. The
captain was pierced through the body
by several bullets, but lived for some
hours. During the day it became ne
cessary to remove the captain several
times, as the fires encroached upon us.
He was buried at New Ulm, and his re.
mains subsequently removed to St.
Peter.
Capt. Dodd was vigorous. impetu-
Gus frontlersman, who had been in some
way connected with the ''patriot war;
in Canada. and had taken quite a
prominent part in the early affairs of
this territory. He died in the perform
ance of his duty. and deserves the ora.
titude of the citizens of Minnesota.
Our troops posted themselves as cir
camstances indicated in various parts
OF the town, and did their fighting in
their own way, holding all points of the
barrlcades. and performing their duty
mantully. Occasionally q man would
De stricken down, and would be car
rled to the hospitals which had been es.
tabllshed in various parts of the town
by the surgeons.
we were peculiarly well supplied
with corps of experienced and skilled
surgeons. The Mankato company had
with them DR.. McMahan. The Le
Sueur cQmnanies had NTH 4La. -