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

wounded. but no details could be OBJ
tanned. The fort was in command of
Capt John F. Marsh, Of Company B,
Fifth Minnesota Volunteer infantry.
He had eighty-five men in his company,
from which he selected fOrty-fve, leav-
ing the balance, under Lieut.. T. p.
Gere, to defend to fort. This little
squad, under the command of Capt.
Marsh, with full supply OF ammuni-
ton. provisions, blankets, etc. accom-
panied by sixmule team, left the fort
at a. m. on the 18th of August for
the Lower Agency, which was
distant about thirteen miles up
the Minnesota river, and situated
on the other side of the river from the
fort, being reached by ferry at the
agency. On the march up the COM
mand passed nine or ten bodies lying in
the road, bearing evidence Of having
been murdered that morning by In
dians, one of whom was DR.. Humphrey,
surgeon at the agency. CNreaching
the vicinity of the ferry no Indians
were in sight, except one on the other
side of the river, who endeavored to in
duce them to cross. A dense chapparal
bOrdered the river on the agency side,-
where were the troops. Suspicion of
the presence of Indians was aroused by
the disturbed condition of the water of
! the river, which was muddy aud con-
tanned floating grass. Then a group
| of ponies was seen. At this
}. point, and without moments notice
Indians in great numbers sprang up on
all sides of the troops, and opened upon
them a deadly fire. About half of the
men were killed instantly. Finding
| themselves surrounded. it then became
with the survivors question of sauve
qui peut. Several desperate band-tO-
| hand encounters occurred with varying
| results, and the remnant of the COM
| mand made a point down the river
| about two miles from the ferry, Capt.
| Marsh being of the number. They at
tempted to cross, but the captain was
| drowned IN the effort. Only from thir-
! teen to fifteen of the command reached
the fort alive.
Having masSacTed the people at the
agencies, the Indians at once
Sent Out Marauding Parties
in all directions. They covered the
country to the northeast as far as Glen
cOe and Hutchinson; to the southeast
nearly to St. Peter; to the south as far
as Spirit lake, which is partly in Dick
insOn county, To-, and they carried
death and devastation wherever they
| went, -muTueTInP OI n6n, WOMEN ana
children quite 1000. The settlers, being
| accustomed to their friendly visits, were
taken entirely unawares and were shot
down in detail without an opportunity
of defense,
The agent for the Sioux at this time
was Maj. Thomas Galbraith. He had
raised a company of men for service in
the civil war called the Renville rang
ers. and was on his way down to Fort
Smelling to muster them in. He arrived
at st. Peter on the evening of the 18th
of August, and there received news
of the outbreak at the agencies.
Taking the muskets of a militia
company of st. Peter, he Immediately
started to return to Fort Ridgely, where
he arrived on the 18th. On the same
day Lieut.. T. j. Sheehan, of Company
G. Fifth Minnesota volunteer infantry,
with fifty-five men, also arrived. Lieut..
Sheehan had previously been at Yellow
Medicine agency with his company, to
aid in preserving order among the In
dians, and was there when the threats
were made to attack the government
warehouse. He had returned to Ridgely,
and was on his way to Fort Ripley, and