St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-26

vas covers like prairie SchOOnerS, placed
one behind the other, so they extended
from our lmprovised fort to the river
Many of us laughed at this idea, as it
would afford practically no protec-
ton, but Kittson's plan was followed.
The Hudson Bay company's agent,
Murray, had some idea of military af-
fairs and I was one of the men select
ed to stand guard during the first
night. Murray stationed the guards
and spoke with broad Scotch accent.
I remember the difficulty we had in
understanding the password which he
gave us. AS he pronounced it at first
1t sounded like "throost," so 1 asked
him again, but still could not under
stand the word which he spoke in a
coarse whisper close to my ear. When
I shook my head he said: "Ha' throost
mon an a wi be weel," then I under
stood that the word was trust.
After staying at Georgetown for
about ten days, I decided to push
through to FIT Abercrombie with my
three remaining mules. | had allowed
Capt. Lull, who | believe still lives in
st. Paul, to take the fourth one to
ride back to civilization. He had &C
quired the title of captain while run
ming a steamboat on the Red river,
and not from service against the In
dams. Since my arrival at George
town we had learned that the Indians
had killed four men at Breckenridge,
and supposed that this party was dew
astating the country between there and
FIT Abercrom bic. There was practi-
cally no protection for my mules at
Georgetown, and at the fort there were
large stables and plenty Of hay.
wanted to save the mules-horses and
mules were valuable in those days
so | made up my mind to reach Aber-
crombie. When ! told Kittson of my
intention he attempted to dissuade me,
and said / would never reach the fort,
for he believed it to be already sur
rounded by Indians Others also
urged me not to go, but | started out,
riding one mule and leading the other
two. The distance from Georgetown
to Abercrombe was counted as fifty
five miles, and / covered the distance,
including a stop to eat lunch and
rest the mules, in seven hours. OF
course [ changed over every few miles,
SO l had practically a fresh animal to
ride all the time.
FIT. Abercrombie was on the west side
of the Red river, and l had to cross
on the ferry. Before reaching the river
I saw fresh pony tracks, moccasin
tracks, and other signs Of Indians, and
indicating the presence of large body
of the savages. The ferryman laughed
at me when I told him what L had
seen, and said there were no Indians In
the country. Subsequent events proved
how we'll he was informed and how
complete would have been the surprise
upon the fort had it not been for the
information which | brought to the
garrison.
The fort was built on the open prairie
some distance from the river and the
fringe of timber between it and the
water had been cut away. 1t included
quarters for one company, commits
sary building, officers and post
surgeons quarters and stables. There
was no stockade or embankment, but
when the news Of the outbreak was re-
ceived, a wall of cordwood and earth
had been built around the soldiers
quarters and this was named last re-
Sort The company stationed at the
fort numbered Seventy-fve men and
was commanded by Capt. John Van
der Horck. The settlers, who had
sought safety in the fort, were enrolled
in another company by Capt. IT. D.
Smith, the post quartermaster. Every
one was enrolled, including boys and
old men, and the citizens company had
seventy-seven on it's roll, two more
than the regular company.
Capt Van der Horck did not believe
there was any considerab BILE number of
Indians near the fort, but many others
agreed with me that an attack might
be expected at any moment. Had it
not been for a blunder on the part of
Van der Horck or one of the sentries
we would have been completely sur
prised. 1t happened in this way:
Wednesday, the day after 1 arrived
at Abercrombie, Capt. Van der Horck
started out to make the rounds of the
sentrieS. He had thrown a blanket
over his head and might easily be mis-
taken for an Indian. One Of the
guards halted him and there was a
misunderstanding, the captain failing
to give the password promptly. Then
the guard blazed away, supposing he
was shooting at an Indian, but the
bullet bored a hole through the .fleshy
part of one of Capt Van der Horck's
arms. The firing, of course, aroused
the garrison and every one turned out.
This proved to be fortunate, for the
post had scarcely quieted down before
we We're again awakened-this time by
a volley Of shots on the river side of
the fort. We turned out this time very
quickly as many Of US were still awake
and nearly all of us were dressed. 1t
was the Indians this time sure enough.
and the attack was continued for
about two hours. The reds had crossed
the river and were crawling up the
bank between the fort and the stream.
They lay behind stumps and clumps
Of brush and gradually worked up
toward the stable where there were
over a hundred head of horses and
mules We drove them away from the
stables and they retreated across the
river, taking with them four horses,
but leaving two dead Sioux in their
stead. They also set fire to one of the
o. CT oh Of hax lint n
spread to the other stacks or the stable.
We supposed that their plan was to fire
the hay, as there were about 300 tons
stacked at the fort; stampede the
horses and mules and, when the fire
extended to the buildings, swoop down
upon us and massacre every man.
woman and child in the fort This was
their plan as was afterwards learned
from an Indian, who was at Lake Ira
verse and heard the report of the war
party when they returned for re-en-
forcements He also reported that they
brought with them the bodies of their
warriors who fell in the fight and said
there were two others killed, but thew
were unable to secure their bodies.
There were eleven of the Indians
wounded, and these were also taken
back with the party that returned for
re-entorcements. This Indian reported
thdt the NUMBER or braves in the party
which made the attack was 264.
In the fort two soldiers were killed
and several of our number were slight
ly wounded, including E. M. Wright
one of the militia company, who died
at Fergus Falls about two years ago.
He also said that the warriors told of
a white man, with three mules, passing
them as they lay concealed in the
brush on the afternoon Of the lay be-
fore the fight. They said they could
nave captured him but they concluded
to let him go Until the ,,oor,, .. ..-I.