Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-28
A EnRt,TFJDL REMINDER.

A FORCEFUl REMINDER.
The newness of the west in which we live
is forcibly impressed on the mind by an
incident which occurred ut New Ulm, Min
nesota, last Saturday, when u monument
was dedicated to the brave men who in
1862, saved that little city from annihila.
ton by the ferocious Sioux and prevented
n long and bloody Indian war. Less than
thirty years ago this memorable outbreak
of the redskins occurred, scarcely more
than 200 miles distC mt from our own capi-
tal city of Wisconsin and not half that far
removed from st Paul and Minneapolis,
peopled now by several hundred thousand
souls.
A little history, for the special benefit
of the younger generation, will be inter
esting
On tho morning of Monday, Aug l8,
1869, the Sioux massacre burst upon Min
ncsota, terrific and unexampled in its ter.
ror of blood, FIRE, lust and cruelty. A
happy and prosperous people were dream.
ing of peace and safety up 10 the very
hour sudden destruction came. For while
they we're coEgratulatng themselves that
their homes were no far away from the
enemy was Mt their doors. In n week and
nearly within AZ hours 900 persons per
ished, 1000 more were manned, and 5000
who before were comparatively we'll to do
were thrown IN paupers ON the charity of
others or ON the bounty of the state. A
trenm of $4,000 fugitivcs pushed down
the Minnesota valley seeking refuge
Not less than 81, 900. 900 worth of property
was destroyed in II belt of $50 miles and
in 10 counties nothing was left.
The causes of this awful tragedy are
easily summed up. In 1887 and again in
1851 the bands of Sioux implicated had
been induced by treaty to turn over their
lands west of the Mississippi to the whites
and to consent to remove to the Redwood
and Yellow Medicine reservations where
they were to DO provided for by tho gov
eminent. The treaties guaranteed that
all the promises should be faithfully kept
But the government had terrible burden
ON its shoulders. The Indians were
neglected and left to starve. Appropria
tons by congress for special purposes were
wrongfully merged into n general fund,
annuities were frequently suspended, and
payments deferred for months, causing in
calculable suffering.
The summer months preceding the out.
break had witnessed the assemblage
three distinct periods of nearly 1000 Sioux
Indians, called together by tho agent with
the expectation that money, food and
clothing due them should be forthcoming.
Each time they were disappointed. The
supply of eatables at the agency was OK.
bausted.
On Sunday, Aug, II, few whites were
murdered by small band of Indians at
Acton. The murderers returned to the
main bands at Redwood aad Yellow Med
icine agencies, confessed their deed and
asked their starving kindred to protect them
against the whites and to make common
cause with them againt their oppressors
The $50 warriors constituting the supreme
authority of the band met, formed tn,
plan and took the oath of destruction
There followed one of the most nhumau
and remorseless butcheries ever known on
the American continent, The moment
was opportune. The Sioux knew of tn,
war, and runners of the capture
of Washington even had
reached their ears. The decisiv,
battle which stemmed the horrid onslaught
was fought at New Um. where the In
dams were repulsed and prevented from
pushing on to the very gates of st. Paul
They penetrated the Iowa border, how
ever, but did little damage Thir,y-nin,
of the bloody -handed leaders were subse
quently hung on one gibbet at Manl
and the whole tribe moved westward to n
"a later day make another terrible recorC
OF their warrior qualities by entrappinl
and massacreing Custer and his BRAY,
comrades.