St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-23

| Ridgely to Big Stone lake. This belt of land
| by treaty stipulation was set aside lin perpe-
| tuity as home for the Minnesota Sioux. In
| addition to this magnificent freehold the
| government granted them an annuity in
| money and means enough by this
| time to have made them the wealth
| lest people per capita in the state,
| had they remained peace able and copied the
| industry and frugality of their white neigh
| bors. From their low and brutal standpoint,
| so sensible a course would have cost them TOO
| much, as it would have compelled them to
| break loose from their 1ndolent habits, ana
| thereby weaken. if it would not entirely
sever, the ties which bound them to their
| wilder brethren Of the plains. .
Efforts have been made to find sufficient
| reas on for the outbreak OF the Sioux in the
course the government pursued toward them,
| but no adequate cause has been discovered.
| am of the opinion that it was induced vastly
| more from what was in themselves, than be-
cause of any. act or neglect Of the govern
ment.
Even in times OF the profoundest peace
| they cultivated a love of blood and Tapine
| and hatred of the white race. All that was
| needed for these devils of their minds to In
| cite them to fendish deeds was favorable
| opportunity.
When, in the summer of 1862, Abraham
Lincoln called for additional 100000 volup-
| teers for Southern armies, they believed their
time had Gomez for with Minnesotas proper
| ton of that number out of the state all the
| able bodied men would be gone. leaving only
the weak and helpless in their way.
1t was at this time, l think, they determined
| on war, hoping by this means they might re-
gain some of the land they had sold to the
| government; but. whether they succeeded or
| failed in that direction by war. they would
| CRAFTY their hatred and murderous propen-
! sity and enrich themselves on the plumber of
| the slain.
OF the execution of their well-formed
| plans so far as they were related TO helpless
| communities, will not speak; but will con:
| fnn nlrC n 10 do NV OF u1Q
men against their fury and combined strength
at New Ulm.
| 1t should be cause of Just pride to the
! people of this place. that with the exceptions
| of Fort Ridgely place made for defense,
| and, at the time of The outbreak, garrisoned
| by United States troops, New Ulm was the
| first place in Southwestern Minnesota where
| an organized effort was made 10 stop the
fleeing refugees and punish their pursu-
| ers. On learning of the murderous attack of
| their red neighbOrs, instead of joining the
| frightened multitude Ill their effort TO go be-
| yond danger, they immediately armed them
selves ana chose OIL GERS to command them.
| They acted none too soon, for hardly was
| their hasty organization completed before a
| hundred of their foes appeared and made an
attack. Happily for the people and the
| events of the day, about that time unlocked
for, small body of men, led by Capt Board
man, put in their appearance and at once
| entered into the fight. Joining in a charge
with the New Ulm company, commanded by
IL
On hearing of the outbreak and the peril
| of the people here, companies were hastily
| formed at st. Peter, Mankato and LIE Sueur,
| and by the most rapid means at their disposal
! came TO your aid They all arrived under
| their own chosen leaders and at about the
! same time. The company from st. Peter was
| commanded by Judge Flandrau; that from
Mankato by Capt. Bierbauer. and the one
| from lie Sueur by Capt Delaughter My
company, which arrived q day later, was Or
| ganized for Southern service. Tidings of the
| outbreak reached US at Shakopee while on
the way from Fort Smelling TO our homes on
a fifteen days furlough. After being assured
of the truth of the report, we determined at
| once to continue our March to New Ulm. On
| reaching LIE Sueur we secured all the arms
left by the first company and arrived here in
| the quickest time we could make. In addi-
ton to those mentioned there was. I think, a
| small company from Garden City, command
ea by Capt Porter, and one from Milford by
Capt. Meile
With these brave but undisclplned com
panions, armed with shOtguns and squirrel
rifles, and all together numbering not to
exceed 800, the successful defense of New
! Ulm was made, and 600 Sioux warriors
turned back before hardly entering upon
campaign by which they expected by death
! or flight to depopulate The larger portion of
the state.
OF particular men and the distinguished
| parts they bore, whether dead or alive, l will
not speak lest through the frailtY and a lack
! of authentic knowledge many might be over
! looked in every respect AS worthy as those
! mentioned. l will only observe that the
| unanimous choice of Judge Flandreau as
! commander was fully justified in the wisdom
and heroic bearing he displayed from first TO
| last. and that the officers and men
under him showed fortitude and
! h3roism rarely if ever eXcelled in Indian
warfare. If this statement be challenged. its
vindicaton is found on this monument
Chiseled upon its polished surface are the
names of twenty-three brave men who fell in
the struggle. If only, two wounded be al
! lowed for one killed the loss in the fight was
! one-siXth of the defense. A record rarely
ever made in battle whatever the character of
the complaints or the objects for which they
! struggled.
The battle of New Ulm comm enced on the
| morning of the 23d ana continued the greater
| part of two days, and until our ammunition
was nearly exhausted, when contrary to our
| expectations the savageS raised the siege ana
| were quickly out of sight
We soon discovered the reason for their
| hasty withdrawal. Looking in the direction
of the lower ferry we saw about $50 men APP
preaching in military order and carrying
! United states guns brlstllng with bayonets.
| They proved to be company from St Peter
under the command of the gallant and in
trepid Capt. Cox. These fearless men and
the officers who were honored III command.
| ing them deserve the highest praise awarded
to self sacrificing devotion TO humanity in
their Willingness 10 place their own lives in
the greatest peru to save the people OF New
Ulm and its beleaguered defenders.
But Mr. President, the defense OF this
place was hardly more important than in the
evil it prevented in other portions of the
state.
In the spring of 1863. while in the charge OF
the captive Sioux Indians on their way from
Fort Smelling to Fort Thompson. Dakota.
learned that their plans of campaign the year
before. contemplated the destruction of sew
eral towns in quick succession, of which New
Ulm should be the first. The reason, and.
think correctly, that to win here would make
their success down the river comparatively
easy. That the people would be terrorized
and seek safety by flight rather than to meel
them in battle. Fhey expected. moreover, tC
be joined at Mankato by a large portion Of
the Winnebago warriors.
With their strength thus increased they in
tended to move on ST. Peter and all the Other
towns this side the big woods. Some OF them
even expected they would be able to carra
the people of the whole state in Fort Smelling
and the large cities.
If be said that these were but the wild
| dreams OF wild men, and their realization
was Impossible; that Gen. Sibley was al
| st. Peter with 400 soldiers and would have
been able to defeat them, reply; that if thai
able and ACCOMPLISHED gentleman could moi
come to our relief at New Tim because his
ammunition was too large for his muskets
would like to know how that trouble coulc
have been overcome in a fight with the III
dians at St Peter.
No. Mr. President Gen Sibley was too wise
an engagement with the combined hostiles
when defeat was possible.
After careful survey of the situation al
that time, am fully persuaded that the re-
suits of the successful defense of this place
were greater and farther reaching than the
results of any other battle of the Indian war
This battle was fought before the newly
formed companies at Fort Smelling coulC
be armed and reach the upper Min
nesota valley. By defeating and turning
these savages back it gave time fol
these troops to be organized into regiments
and to meet them Cd their own reservation
instead of amid the smouldering ruins of the
valley below. And then it prevented the in
tended union of the Winnebagoes with the
Sioux q union which would have nearly
doubled their strength and made their over
throw cost vastly more blood and treasures
1t is fitting, Mr.. President, that the monu
ment commemorating the Indian struggle
should be reared in New Ulm; that the PEG
pie who suffered most for the common gooe
| snould he TINS hOuored And, sir. it is agree