New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-11-25
INDIAN WAR "REMINISCENCES
How Some Men lose their Heads in Emer-
gencies

How Some Men lose their Heads in Emer-
gencies.
Isaac Lindsey, who served as priv
ate in Company B, 5th Minnesota, tells
many amusing incidents which came
under his notice in the Indian massacre
at Fort Ridgely in 1862, which illus
trate the irresponsibility of a man if
badly scared.
Capt Marsh sent soldier into the at
tic of the fort to look through a small
window in the gable for signs of hostile
Indians. He saw great number OF In
dians approaching the fort, as if to at
tack. The attic was not foored. The
lookout window CHANGED to be directly
over where the officers were seated in
council. The intrepid scout in the garret
caught one glance of the hostiles. and
with a groan threw himself upon the
lath and plaster selling and was. of
course, precipitate1 upon the heads of
the officers below. They're a-comin'
thick, captain,'' was his report, before
anyone could get himself together suf-
fciently to comprehend what had hap
pened.
Capt Marsh drew up his company
outside the fort and within a step of the
open door. On either side of the door
was half sash window. In the ranks
directly in front of the door stood
scared soldier with trembling knees, at
tempting to obey the officers command
to brace up and be a man. The cap
tain's attention having been distracted
for moment, the fellow turned half
round and then losing the last vestige
of courage aud self control, bolted past
the open door and through the window
carrying the sash with him into the
fort. --~-~.
The reds, under cover of small log
building, were amusing themselves by
firing at the cook and his assistants as
they passed by the window of the bake
house. Near by an artillery squad were
firing howitzer, apparently without
any object, except to make a noise. The
cook, observing this, and concluding
that we'll directed shot or two would
dislodge the Indians from the little
building, desired the officer in command
to order the howitzer trained that way
The officer-a lieutenant-im immediately
started to give the necessary order, and
slipped out into the open field, where {
shower of bullets fell about him. Dodg
ipy back, he called to me. Lindsey
you run down and tell the boys to shoe
at the log house. I'd 60 myself, bu
the Indians are bound to kill me-
Companies B and c were, early il
1862, sent 20 Fort Ridgely to maintain
order among the Sioux until they re
: ceived their annuities. I was with
detail of so men who went to Yello,
Medicine agency in July. The Indian
were very demonstratiYe, and frequent
ly threatened violence. About th
1st of August about 400 .of them sur
rounded our little company, while
few others made an attack on the ware
house. The officers ordered us to fir
on the depredators, At the word, 40
Sioux rifles were aimed at US. sFo
Gods sake, don't shoot and I'll unloc
the warehouse, cried the frightened o
fcer, and tie doors were opened an
the stores rolled out.
Mr.. Lindsey is a typical. hard HEADED
practical Minnesota farmer, who, hayin
reached his 18th year,is still a hale ma
and is living in comfort and plenty, el
joying the abundance which we'll l-direc
: ed energy and Minnesota S soil will brin
to any man. He is native Of Englan,
: and arrived IN Minnesota on Jan. /, 49,
without a single cent. In fact, he ",
compelled to leave his family
in Iowa and come on to Chatfeld {
y foot and without dinner, and that vii
# ter, to obtain employment, was cor
t PEELED to walk 4 miles per day to G
s wood at 80 cents per cord In the lig
/ Of these experiences he is justified in &
g conclusion which he couches IN +
8 quaint dialect of Lincolnshire, 81
knows nowta haardtolmes these da
d nawways. Z Doane Robinson in Mi
It neapolis journal.
Il Gustav Appelt representing the s.Arl
e Tenfel' of Detroit, was il town. Yeste
Day.