St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-01

of the First National bank; director in the
old Sioux City railroad; was park commits
sioner; member Of the board Of education; a
prominent aud active member and president
of the historical society; president of the
chamber of commerce; ran for congress in
1873, but was beaten; has had the honor Of
living in four territories and one state; has
had the additional honor of a bright, active
town being named after him, as well as Sib-
ley county; of building the first stone house
which is now the most ancient residence of
the kind in the state; and last but not least,
OF being the oldest living inhabitant OF the
state, save one, and he is Norman ". Kilt
sou, his personal friend.
RESIDENCE N ST. PAUL.
Gen. Sibley did not come to reside perma-
nenty in st. Paul until 1862, but he
was here in the city long years : fore
that and in 1S4S bid in the towusite at the
request Of the settlers, and subsequently, in
company with Louis Robert and A. /. Lar
peuteur, entered the lands and decided the
lots to the respective owners, so that can
very justly make him 4 resident OF the city
in 1854, and this brings him side by side
with his old friend Of many years.
on HIS STAFF.
The writer was an officer on Gen. Sjbley's
sta II during the years 1861, 1862, 1863 and
1864. and when his expedition was fitted out
at Camp Pope to pursue the Indians, | was
there rs commissary aud A. A. Q. master.
Previous to the arrival of the general, many
private letters passed between himself and
myself. aud from these letters | came 10
know more fully the man. He seemed
imbued with conscientious desire 10 do his
duty. at the same time 70 commit no grievous
errors by haste In starting out in the cam
paigu be knew the willy foe he had to cope
with, and his cautious characteristics were
construed as marks OF fear, while, had he
been less cautious, many brave fellow s
bones would now be bleaching on the plains
of Dakota. His orders were TO drive the In
dians into the Missouri river or across it, and
then Gen. Sully was 10 intercept him. Sibley
did his duty: Sully failed to do his, and the
Indians escaped. Had Gen. Sibley violated
his orders in going beyond the Missouri
river, be would have been subjected to 5
court martial, aud had he premsturely brought
on an engagement with the savages, as some
Of his officers wanted him to do. many lives
would have been lost and no good would
have been gained.
PERSONALLY,
Gen Sibley is 4 tall, finely-de7eloped man,
aud in his younger days was splendid
specimen Of a rounded, well-moulded physi
cal organization In early life he was VERY
fond OF fishing and hunting He has we'll
formed head; strong features; large, black
piercing eve, and he looks st you with the
gaze Of hawk. and this is one Of his pecU-
liar, striking characteristics. He Is very
systematic. neat aud prompt in matters oi
business; moves quietly aud moderately: /:
cautious and prudent: weighs subjects upon
which he has to act with due consideration
Is strictly honest, and very jealous Of bis
reputation, aud has s. high appreciation oi
man of integrity aud honor. Honorable
aud upright himself, he spurus neanneSs
IN others, aud in passing down into history
he viii leave grand record and name IN
sulied and reTered-