The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-21
ThIty-SM Years Ago.

JUST tn1rty-S1X years ago the WhOie StaJe
was in fever of excitement over the Indian
outrages on the Western frontier, and troops
were rapidly mustered into service to pro-
tect the hundreds Of settlers who had fockei
to the forts and towns, and to further pun
ish the savages for their depredations. Five
Minnesota regiments were detailed for serv-
ice in the Minnesota valley and north at
Abercrombie and Yellow Medicine. The Third,
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Mimi sofa
regiments were in short order given details
over the state. One company here and an
other there to insure the safety of those In
the towns, and large detail of almost two
regiments was stationed at Fort Ridgely.
On the 25th of August Gov. Alexander Ram
sey issued a proclamation reassuring the
people, and calling attention to the fact that
the Indians could not expect under any cir
cumstances to muster very large force at
any one place. There was no danger to the
large cities. and the troops had been detailed
to protect those living in the country. In
dian warfare was seldom concentrated, and
at best was desultory.
The state fair, which was to be held in Sep
tember, was postponed because Of the ex-
cftement and distraction Of the public mind
caused by continual disastrous news DO
from the East and the West Few able
bodied men were left in st. Paul between the
two wars, and those remaining only hoped for
the best, as the days of 81 were the darkest
of the Civil war.
Early in September the famous battle Of
Birch Coulee fought near Fcrt Ridgely.
1t was perhaps one Of the most furious bat
ties during the Indian troubles. Capt. Grant
with company Of infantry, and Capt. An
derson. with nearly a full company of cav
airy, were camped near the fort about to
break camp. when the guard noticed in the
haze Of the morning moving objects at dis
lance. Thinking that 1t was cattle, a vo ley
was fred into them, and was Immediately
returned killing some Of the guard In less
than ten minutes the whole camp was sur
rounded by savages. The battle contnu ed
for twenty-four hours. the savages fighting
from behind dead horses and trees, but the
troops held their ground, although greatly
outnumbered. The firing was heard at Fort
Ridgley by Maj. R. N. MacLaren, who set
out Immediately with three companies of
infantry and one of cavalry. Before pro
ceedng far his command was also surround
ed by Indians, who tried to cut him off, Col.
H. H. Sibley was informed Of this by mes
sengers, and soon set out with his entire
command. He drove the Indians west into
the hills and gathered up his six companies
which had been In the fight Thirteen were
killed and fcrty-seven wounded.
A short time after Little Crow sent mes
sage to Col. Sib!ey, saying that the war
against the whites had not been waged with
out a cause, and he wanted to make peace.
He also stated that he had large numbsr
of white prisoners. Gen. Sibley sent back
the following message:
Little Crow: You have murdered many Of
our people without sufficient cause. Return
the prisoners under flag of truce and 1 will
talk to you like man. H. H. Sibley.
Little Crow, however, with true Characters
tics Of an Indian, permitted his young bucks
to continue their murderous warfare ard
many innocent white settlers were sacrificed
The Sully expedition Of 1854 pursued the
Sioux westward beyond the Back Hills, pun
ishing them severely for their depredations.
The Indian war continued from 1862 to 1854
Although at no time after the first attacks
on Jew Ulm and Fort Ridgely and poin g
further west did the red man assume the
aggressive. Numbering a lone while sitter
here and there and possibly his family, and
driving off CATTLE the Indians were not strong
enough in numbers to make a concentrated
attack at any Of the larger pests, although
the troops had an occasional brush with the
sayages