The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-08-27
McPHA1L REM1N1scENcEs

wood Falls:
Col. Sam McPhail was born of
Scotch parents in Logan county, KY.
When he was 8 years old his parents
moved to Caddo Parish, La. He was
student in the Baton Rouge Military
academy when the Seminole war came
on. Under an agreement that they
should be sent to West Point and
graduated in one year after the war
was over, his class entered the service.
He served through the Florida war
and then was transferred to Mexico,
serving throughout. He was not re-
turned to school but remained in the
regular service stationed in Texas,
where he renewed his knowledge of
Indian warfare in the long continued
troubles with the Comanches and
Kiowas. In 1856 he was given leave
of absence, and came to Minnesota to
locate soldiers land warrant. He To-
Gated in the southeast corner of the
state, planted town, which he named
Caledonia, for "Old Scotland" and Or
ganized a county, which he named
Houston, for the famous Texan. He
was ordered back to his regiment, just
in time to be surrendered to the con-
federacy. He had four brothers, all
soldiers, two of whom fought for the
lost cause. The Sioux war of l862-63
he characterized as a most successful
onslaught on the treasury but mighty
insignificant military enterprise. Less
than one-fourth of the number of In
dams reported really took part in it.
At Birch Cooley, where it is said 1000
Indians fought, McPhail said there was
not to exceed 1000. II tell ye thou
sand Indians looks mighty big when a
mans scared half to DEATH" he says.
He does not consider Gen. Sibley a
good Indian fighter, but thinks that
his (Sibley's) caution saved the lives
of the women and children rescued at
Camp Release. He says the reported
battle of Stony Lake is purely icti-
tious; no such engagement took place.
All there was in it, a scout came in,
shouting Indians" No Indians were
in sight, but few cannon shot were
thrown oyer the brow of the hill where
they we're supposed to be. From an
elevated position, which he (McPhaiD
secured, he discovered about 200 In
dams beating precipitous retreat.
1t is reported that when Sibley's
forces had arrived at the Missouri riv-
er, just in time to see the retreating
Indians, stripped of horses, wagons
and provisions, landing on the opposite
shore, Sibley called council of war to
determine whether or not they should
be pursued further. Marshall and Nc
Phail believed that little energy at
that time would result in the capture
of every Sioux, but Sibley and most of
the men we're getting homesick. In
the council McPhail and Marshall, see-
ing that they were in the minority,
ventured no opinion whatever until
Sibley asked for their views, to which
McPhail responded in his most ear
piercing squall: General Sibley, my
business here is to obey orders, not to
furnish brains to run this expedition"
McPhail, however, denies that he ever
showed any disrespect for Gen. Sibley;
but did say his business was to obey
orders and nothing more.
McPhairs wit is unfailing, and he
probably has furnished more examples
of bright repartee than any other man
in the West. While on the campaign
of 1873, though game sufficiently plen-
ty to provide subsistence for the army,
orders were read before breaking camp
one morning positively forbidding
shooting on the march. A few hours
later the army passed within easy gun
shot of large band of buffalos, feed
ing unconcernedly. Gen. Sibley, in
surprise, thrust his head through the
flaps of his covered wagon and shout
ed to McPhail, who was riding Sioux
pony near by: Colonel, did you ever
see aa agthi,g like that: why don't they
"Probably heard orders against
shooting on the march" squealed the
Colonel without seconds hesitation.
When about to start off on an ex-
ploring expedition, a friend, to whom
was assigned the duty of stocking the
commissary aware of his superior pro-
pensities, brought around very small
loaf of bread and three-gallon jug of
whisky. The colonel, sizing up the
outfit at glance, exclaimed:
martin, what in did you bring
so much bread for?"
Col. McPhail resigned from the army
in 1866 and has since resided quietly
on farm in Lincoln county, the while,
as a recreation, attending to the legal
business of his neighbors, having OBJ
tanned good knowledge of the law at
the military academy and while in the
army. When his county was organized
he was elected states attorney. A
young lawyer of neighboring village,
feeling the need of a better equipment
for his business, had spent a year in
the Michigan law school; and on his
return attempted to secure by habeas
corpus proceedings before an unlearn-
ed court commissioner the release of
criminal whose conviction McPhail had
secured in the district court. On the
argument of the writ the young lawyer,
in a grandiloquent manner, exclaimed,
MAY IL please the court, this is uni
versal proposition. Go with me, if you
please, to Iowa, to Texas, to Ohio, to
Michigan -" Here McPhail sprang
to his feet, and with a squeal that set
everybody's teeth on edge, cried out:
May it pie ase the court, [ huave no OBJ
lection to going with the &c tlemen to
Ohio; but my observation is that when
a lawyer goes to Michigan he comes
back a-- fool. I don't want to
60 there"
The argument was closed right there
and the criminal went to the penitenti-
ary by the first train.
Col. McPhail now resides at Porter,
Lincoln county, Mimi, well-preserved
old gentleman, looking little the fight
er that he is; but ready at any moment
to re-enlist in his country's defense if
his services q re needed.