The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-08-20

portant effect upon the war, and kept
the red skins from swarming down
the Minnesota valley and well into
eastern Minnesota as they otherwise
would have done. After few days
spent around the Fort in fruitless
attack upon it, Little Crow decided
to leave it to the rear and proceed on
his campaign of massacre upon the
frontier towns and the defenceless
farming regions to the east. But the
time spent at Fort Ridgely had given
time for the scattered inhabitants TO
gather in the villages and other places
of safety, and for reinforcements to
commence to arrive TO their aid. New
Ulm was the point to which Little
Crow next turned his attention. Here
several hundred men had collected
and were under the command of Col
Charles E. Flandreau, whom they had
chosen to lead them, and prepared to
give the redskins warm reception.
Says the Journal writer:
"On the morning of Aug. %, de-
tachment of $50 warriors dashed up to
New Ulm and began hot battle. Of
all the American Indians, the Sioux
most frequently give open battle.
New Ulm was attacked and assailed
very holly. A CALLING fire was poured
into the town, and under its cover the
warriors crept up to the outlying
buildings and set fire to them. Those
they didn't fire the whites did, SO as
to leave the foes without cover.
SIN the middle of the afternoon the
Indians were pressing the garrison
very closely, when detachment of
fifty men rushed down the burning
main street of the town and flung it,
self upon the Indians, who completely
gave way. That settled that battle
and the Indians withdrew. The
whites lost ten killed and sixty
wounded. The defense of New Ulm
was glorious one, for, while the In
dams numbered $50 well-armed war
riors, there were not 200 guns in the
town. On Monday, the 25th, fearing
another attack, and not being able to
longer endure the stencil that arose
from the ruins Of the town, it's de-
tenders and all the refugees to the
number of about 1000 began to re.
treat to Mankato. The sixty men
who were wounded in the battle and
the women and children were convey.
ed in 1913 wagons. The retreat was
safely executed"
The next day after New Ulm was
abandoned, Gen. Sibleys advance
guard reached that place, being ig'
norant Of the retreat to Mankato, and
ten days after the outbreak of the
war Gen. Sibley's little army was al
Ridsely. For nearly two months the
war progressed. There were several
bloody encounters, and the Indians
continued to massacre the settlers
wherever they found them unprotect
ed, and carried off the women as pris
oners. There were large number OF
prisoners in their hands, whom Gen
Sibley finally succeeded in liberating
having come upon them in a camp
largely made up Of friendly Indians
that was situated on the southern
bank of the Minnesota, opposite the
mouth of the Chippewa. The scene
at this place was NEST heartrending
one. This surrender ended the wal
so far as Minnesota was concerned
The masses of the Indians were
driven west and dispersed over the
Dakota prairies. The trial of the AGE
Indians that were captured, among
whom were many of the leaders, to-
gether with the hanging Of thirty
nine of the bloodthirsty redskins in
this city on Dec. &c, 1862, is familiar,
and peace and security once more
reigned in the smiling valley of the
Minnesota.