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

LITTLE CROW.
officers of the various organizations met on
the main street. seated themselves in a
wagon box and discussed the question. The
honor fell to my lot, and / was duly chosen
commander-in-chief of the assembled army.
suppose the choice was made largely from
the fact that possessed some Indian ex-
perience, as my military record was con-
fined TO a second Ieutenantcy in militia
company that never saw service. As soon
as l was installed in my new position.
which, in the absence of a commission, was
ratified, if | remember correctly. by
ALL HANDS TAKING \ DRINK.
l commenced thorough organization of
the troops and the people. Mai. 5. A.
Buell. of st. Peter was appointed provost
marshal, With unlimited powers. Inspec-
tlons of men and arms were instituted.
places of safety for women and children
were selected. barricadeS were strength
ened. guard-hOuse was established for
mcOrrigibleS and what was probably as
important as anything else all the liquor
in town was removed to my Headquarters.
where il was judidiOusly served ont To the
men. Order was restored, and we anxiOusly
awaited events.
We did not know what would happen.
The firing at Ridgeley Vas distinctly audible.
Each day we sent out expeditions of con
siderable force, say 100 men, TO scout over
the country and find ont what we could.
These expeditions resulted in bringing in
many people who were in hiding, and in
this way we saved many lives.
L am sorry to say that a day or two be-
fore the final fight on Saturday large COM
pany, not one of those l have mentioned.
left us and went home and that on the
morning OF the fight, after it was evident
that the Indians were coming down upon
US, several quite prominent citizens OF the
valley left us against my protestatiOns. but
/ thought perhaps il was better not 10 have
any one i'm the fight who did not relish il
and l finally let them 20.
Saturday. the 23d day of August. IS 62.
opened bright and lovely. The sunshine
and the atmosphere was peculiarly Mime
sOtian. You could see man on the clean
prairie miles away. Nature never intended
such a day for strife ami blOodshed. Ii
the love of the beautifli existed In a man.
this was day for its Development. Ever
thing suggested peace, repoSe, serenity and
love, but the plans Of nature were destined
10 be sadly Overthrown. Men of one race
Were 70 meet men of another race in deadly
conflict y battle was 10 be fought. in
which mercy entered not and
quarter on either side was unthought of.
Leaving all poetry ont of the question. the
Indians wanted our scalpS. and we had
about fourteen hundred of them that we
proposed to hold intact if possible. About
in the morning We saw column after col
umn Of smoke arise on both sides OF The
river in the direction of the fort. There
was not a habitatiOn we did not know be-
tween the fort and New Ulm. and as each
column arose we would say there goes 50
and SOS house" On they came mile after
mile, until we knew they had divided their
forces and were approaching us on both
sides OF the river, those on the Brown
county side intending to make the main at
tack. and those on the Nicoliet county side
intending 10 cut off our avenues of retreat.
THE PLAN OF THE ATTACK
was well devised; but the idea of a retreat
had never entered into our plans. We had
come there to defend New Ulm, and we
proposed to flight it out on that line if il
took all summer, TO quote the words of a
commander whose name probably ought not
To be used in connection with so trivial an
affair as the battle of New Ulm.
About 10 o'clock the Indians were sighted
coming out of the timber above the town a;
a distance of say two miles and a half.
Here they stopped and maSSed. Then we
saw fires along the bluff on the Nieollet
side quite down 10 the ferry. There was
an undOubted understanding between the
two sections of the enemy, that when they
arrived at the two points of attack. the one
above and the other below the town, fires