The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-08-28

to-day to join in these memorial exercises
feel assured that / voice your sentiments. as
well as all citizens of this commonwealth, when
| speak words OF commentator or praise for the
man whose wise leadership, whose nnselfsh and
heroic actions defended the maddened and re-
vengeful followers of he Sioux leaders and drove
them back scattered and demoraiiZed HIS
prompt energetic and faithful services entitle
him to the gratitude OF our people, and the bet
ter to show their appreciation OF his loyal Sery-
ices the commission selected to erect this monu-
ment properly caused likeness OF his face to be
engraved upon the shaft; jjst tribute to the
noble part be bore in the contest which occurred
here in 1862 The name of Judge Flandreau
| will live in memory as a public benefactor
| loyal and true citizen worthy of the regard and
respect of the people of Minnesota. NAY he
long be with us and enjoy the fruits of the repu-
tat on well earned for his gallant leadership in
the contest so successfully waged under his guild
! ance might speak of many Others who bore
| their part bravely i'll suppressing tn Indian
| outbreak. l cannot forbear, however, in saying
a word of reference to a venerated citizen of our
! state who, on account of his worthness, occr-
pied a conspicuous position in connection with
| the Indian war; A gallant gentleman, loyal
and devoted citizen high minded, OF unerring
| integrity, the name OF Henry II. Sibley
He has gone from our side, but he has left
| the memory OF noble name. and the
remembrance of good example.
am pleased to express the obligations OF the
state to the commissioners who have had in
charge the execution of the work in connection
with the sketcher of the design and the construc-
commission have already mentioned. To the
other gentlemen who have given so much time
to the labor OF carrying to successful conclu-
sion this memorial / extend to each the thanks
of our citizens.
In behalf of the citizens of Minnesota present
to you memorial of one Of the mostimportant
events in the history of our statehood. The
beautiful monument is a fitting ending to the
tragic deeds we seek to perpetuate. Though the
storm of winter beat about it, though the thun-
der may shake the earth beneath 1t, though the
warm rains of summer may fall upon it, though
the lightning may culver about it, yet shall it
stand forever as a tribute TO herolsm, fidelity
and sacrifice. Thestory it tells will remind each
one of you, as we'll as the stranger within your
gates, that Minnesota remembers with love her
faithful sons, and expresses with gratitude by
erecting this column in memory OF those who
defended her peoplein her hour OF need.
Other speakers followed, among
them Judge Flandreau and e. St.
Julian Cox, and the days jubilation
closed with a dance at Turner hall in
the evening.
The monument, IS feet high, as a
whole, represents an obelisk resting on
cube shaped foundation, which tapering
to It's top, shows two battle scenes in
bas relief and four tablets with inscrip-
tons. Its material is stone, while the
obelisk is cast in white bronze. The
height of the obelisk is 10 feet inches,
and on its lower part there is a
strikingly natural medallion like
ness Of Judge Flandrau, the
commander Of the defense of New
Ulm during its seige by the Sioux. The
plates on the cube give, besides the
names of tie fallen, the following sketch
of the history of that time Of terror:
The Inscription.
"The Sioux Indians of the Redwood end
Yellow Medicine agency rose to open re-
volt Oh Aug IS, 1862 They slaughtered
nearly all the whites at the said agencies
and around them. Led by their chief Lit
tie Grow, they moved down the river
towards New Ulm. On Aug 10 they
reached the settlement of Milford, about
seven miles west OF New Ulm, killing a
great many inhabitants. In the afternoon
of the 18th about 100 Of their savage war
riors undertook an assault upon the CITY,
on which occasion many citizens fell anG
numbef of Laildings were burned down;
still they did not succeed in taking the
hurriedly erected barricades. During the
continuance of the fight the advance guard
of Captain Z. Flandrau's company, of Mic
ollet county, about fifteen men under the
command of L. NJ. Roardman, came into
the city and the savages retreated. Up tc
this time the defense was led by Captain
Jacob Nix. About o'clock in the even
ing of Aug. 10 there arrived in the city
strong force consisting of Captain Elan
drau's company, of Nicollet county, to-
gether with a company from LIE Sueur and
took possession of the city, after which
there arrived reinforcements to the num-
Der of several hundred. On the Goth Cap
tain Flandrau was chosen commander-in-
chief, and the defenses were strengthened.
On the 23d the Indians, this time number
Ing about $50 men, at 10 o'clock in the
morning, once more attacked New Ulm,
repeating their assault until noon on the
Oath. The attacks were very violent, and
desperate was the defense One hundred
and eighty buildings were destroyed dur
ing the fight, and only the part Of the city
within the barricades remained Thirty
four of the defenders were killed and about
sixty wounded. At noon on the 9th
Captain Cox, Of St. Peter, arrived with re-
Inducements. On the 2Sth the city was
vacated and the inhabitants safely con-
Quoted to Mankato."
New Ulm has grown to be one of the
prestiest little cities in the Minnesota
valley. Her people are prosperous,
progressive and happy, and the monu-
ment which marks the scene of blood
and desolation of quarter of cen
fury ago stands to-day in all its gran
deur as the symbol of valor, loyalty
and constancy, kissed by the warm
rays of a sun which shines upon a
united and prosperous people and
touched by the soft breeZes which
whisper cheering words of fraternal
unity and devotion to liberty to the
rising generation.
Minnesota is proud of New Ulm:
New Ulm is proud of the monument
which has been erected in memory of
an event which will never be forgotten
so long as history shall record the
events of time.
THERE is proposition now going
y L L