St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-23
WHO WAS IN COMMAND i?
A ERsEZY account OF THE BIRCH
C00LiE FIGHT
koNIE ONE SURELY BLUNDERED

Firing upon the Sahip-Oo"-
versation interrupted by Bull
let-A Dead Man KReeling All
Day.
SIOUX CITY, To-. July 10. 1S94.-Hoa.
Charles E. Flaudrau: A friend of mine
has gent me some clippings from the ST.
Paul papers OH n controversy going on
as 10 who was in command at blrch
Coolie. While | do not think 1t Is In
good taste or profitable TO agitats such
questions now, when most of the par
ties interested have passed away. STILL
as the tight is on. it naturally interests
every one who participated in affairs at
that time. and as was there and some
what acquainted with the actors at that
time, will give you my recollections OF
the matter.
do not remember the dates and have
not now access to the papers to refresh
my recollection, and while recognize
the fact that my testimony will not set
tie the question as to who was in CON-
mand of that expedition, do not think
it worth quarreling over. Whether
Maj Brown or Maj. Grant gave orders
as to what was 10 be done and where to
go and where to camp, they showed
very poor judgment and camped both
nights where the troops were at the
mercy of an attacking foe. A little bet
ter judgment in selecting camping
ground might have made it more pleas
ant at Birch Coolie the next day. But
to my recollections:
was first lieutenant of Company l,
of the Third Minnesota infantry, and
when sufficiently recovered from run
of typhoid fever to travel, had been
sent home on recruiting service and
ordered to report to Maj. Nelson AT st.
Paul. He gave me furlOugh and
sent me home. where l was when the
first rumor of the outbreak was spread.
l Immediately started for st. Paul to
report, expecting there might be work
on hand On the road between
Fort Smelling and St. Paul
met Mai. Nelson. He directed me to
return TO the fort and act as adiutant Of
the Sixth regiment. which was then as
sembling. until one was appointed. |
did SO. and took small steamboat and
went to ST. Paul, got some arms and
ammunition up to the fort, which were
distributed. l accompanied the regi-
ment to Shakopee OH the boat, at which
place Col. Crooks joined us. We went
on to st. Peter, where F. E. Snow
joined us as adiutant and superseded me.
As 1 had no orders what to do in such a
case, found myself an officer at leis
ure. That afternoon call was made
for men to go through to Fort Ridgley
to relieve that post. Fearing that if
stayed in st. Peter some order might
overtake me. Joined this party and
went through to the fort that night.
When Gen. Sibley came up with the
full force [ attached myself to his eat
ing and sleeping department, and as
sort of 'go as you please" officer
around his headquarters, and as they
were all old friends. l got along COM
fortably.
The night before the detachment
started out that had the fight at Birch
Coolie, Gen. Sibley and Maj. Brown had
conversation in the generals tent
about the expedition. They talked and
l smoked. There were one or two
other persons there, but do-not recall
them. though l think Capt. Anderson
came IN during the time. | cannot at
this time give the conversations, but it
was understood shat the next morning
Maj. Brown should start out with
detail of Infantry and such
mounted men as Capt. Anderson
had with him, and go 10 the
20
Brown thought proper, to be gone not
more than three days. There was to be
burial party also. and the party were
to search for and bury any dead found.
This, aud to ascertain how matters
stood at the agency and to scout the
country around. was the object of the
expedition. Joined the party, though
l did not ask any ones permission
further than to tell Maj. Brown
was going. and to suggest that
should mot be left out in the
count for rations. The detail was
made, consisting of one company of in
fantry Of the Sixth regiment Capt
Grant's), and two men from each of the
other companies of the Sixth regiment,
Capt. Anderson and some mounted men
i do not Know the number. The next
forenoon we started from Fort Ridgley
With the party were several civilians,
most of whom returned from the
lower agency. / do not know who
directed the course. or selected
the camping ground, Tor myself
and one or two others were ranging
around and got beyond the camp, and
did not get in until about dark. About
the same time that came in, Washing
ton Faribault and Jack Frazier came in
from other directions. We all went to
Mai. Brown, who was sitting on sack
Of grain laid on a wagon tongue. He
questioned me closely as to which way
we had been. and as to whether we had
seen any Indian signs. Jack Frazier
grunted out some dissatisfaction at the
camping place, and l think if you ask
Jack about it you will find that he found
bed iii bunch of willows two or three
hundred yards from camp, nearer the
river and to the left of the road.
The next morning we marched down
to the river at the old ferry crossing
the soldiers who had been killed there
at the outbreak were buried. and the
mounted men and several civilians then
crossed the river, which was just deep
enough to take the smaller horses of
their feet for few yards. We went w
to the agency. buried some dead there
and went on to Little Crow village.
We stayed there awhile looking
for caches Of plumber, and
think found and opened one or two
While there Maj. Brown, Maj .Calbraith,
the Indian agent and myself concluded
to follow the trail up farther. Before
starting Maj. Brown told Capt. Ander-
son where we were going, and directed
him as to his movements so as to join
the infantry for camp that night. We
followed the trail of the Indians on Ieav
ing. which kept the old Yellow Medi
cine trail. until we were satisfied they
had kept the river trail and had net
gone off on the prairies. We then