St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-06
TRIBUTE TO BIERBauER.
Judge Tsiandrau Speaks OF His
Great Bravery.

Judge Ffandrau speaks OF His
Great Bravery
From the Mankato Review.
John c. Wise. Bsq.-My Dear Sir:
When / heard ef the death OF Capt
William Bierbauer, that brave soldier
and dear friend of mine, determined
fatoaee to attend his funeral. and would
be with you tomorrow were i not con-
fined TO the house with a dreadful cold
that would render the journey actually
dangerous. 1neyer think of him but
the scenes of Aug. 2S. 1862, reappear
wildly In my memory. He and his
gallant company were very prominent
agures at the battle of New
Uim, which was fought on that
day. j think the captain had
been a soldier in his own
country before his emigration. but,
whether he had or not, his cool ]udg-
inent on that eventful day, i'll the face
OF the most trying circumstances, was
certainly indicative of military expert
ence or great natural bravery. The his
tory of that battle has been written,and
is well understood by the old settlers.
but the particular part taken in it by
capt. Bierbauer do not remember of
ever seeing in print [ wrote my off,
clal report OF it TO the governor very
soon after we evacuated the town. and
under great pressure of haste and
want OF opportunity for careful or
lengthy description, so that very
little appears beyond the principal
features and incidents of the fight.
After the first appearance of the enemy.
the whole command was formed on the
open prairie at some distance outside of
the town, Capt. Bierbauer's company
being well to the right, if j remember
correctly, some distance above the old
orlck p0Stofflce, and there we awaited
the enemy. l will here give you an ex-
tract from my report, covering the
critical moment when the bravery of
Capt. Bierbauer was most conspicuous,
and produced the best results:
AT nearly 10 O'clock q. m. the bodyof
Indians began to move toward US, first
slowly and then with considerable ra-
pidity. 49, a When within about
one mile and half of us, the mass be-
gan to expand like fan, and increase
In the velocity of its approach, and con-
Nnued this movement until within
about double rifle shot, when 1t had COW
cred our entire front.
Then the sayages uttered a terrific
yell, and came down upon us like the
wind. had stationed myself at point
In the rear where communication could
De mad with me easily, and waited the
nrSt discharge with great anxiety, as
1t seemed to me that to yield
was certain destruction, as the
enemy would rush into the
town anu drive all before them. The
yell unsettled the men little. and Just
as the rifles began to crack they fell
back along the whole line. and commit
ted the error OF passing the outer houses
without taking possession-a mistake
which the Indians Immediately took All
vantage OF by themselves occupying
them in squads of two and three up to
ten. They poured into us a sharp and
rapid fire as we fell back, and opened
from houses III every direction.
'Sevefa. or us rode up the hill en-
aeavoring-to rally the men, and with
good effect. as they gave three cheers
and sailed ont of the various houses
they had retreated to, and checked the
advance effectualy."
1t was at the point where we rode
up the hill and rallied the men that we
saw Capt. BierDauer standing alone,
halfway up the slope, compoSedly fir
Ing at the enemy. The rally was made
OH him. and when the men of his own
company saw him in this position they
charged forward. followed by tire rest,
ana one of the most critical and danger
Gus positions of the fight was safely
passed. l shall never forget the effect
produced OIL these men. who had been
on the run moment before, when they
recognized their captain in this exposed
position. SO eoolly holding his own: il
was electrical.
The state of Minnesota owes Capt.
Blerbauer debt of gratitude, and we
VIII ever keep his memory green. Sin
cerely yours,
CHARLES E. FLANDRAU.
st. Paul, Dec. 2.