The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-14
THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO.

| Just thirty-six years ago the first of the
historic Sioux massacres took place in the
| Minnesota valley. New Ulm was first at
| tackled by large band of Sioux numbering
| anywhere from 500 to 1000 and ten white
! people were killed and over fifty wounded
more or less seriously. After the first at
| tack council was held in the city and Il
was decided that the town could not with.
stand another assault, and under the direc-
ton of Maj. Flandrau the town was eyacu-
ated the following day. Every horse and
wagon in the city was utilized in taking the
wounded and women and children to Mankato.
the nearest place Of refuge. In an incredi-
bly, short time the whole Minnesota valley
was in panic. Settlers few to the towns
for refuge. The already panic-stricken neo-
pie of Mankato were not to any extent re-
HeVed by the arrival Of the large number of
refugees from New Ulm. 1t was thoueht at
the time that the Indians had looted New
uim and We're on their way to take Fort
Ridgely. The latter presumption proved cor-
rect and it was only after one of the hottest
indian sieges recorded in the early DAVIS Of
the Northwest that Fort Ridgely, under the
command Of Col. T. ]. Sheehan, its gallant
defender, was saved from the murderous
hands OF the savage.
II the Indians had succeeded in tabinp tho
fort' with everything to the west their own
way there Wouio nave been nothing to have
prevented them coming to St. Paul and Min
neapolis, and. with the assistance of rein
forcements which they would have collected
along the way, taking st. Paul.
This possibility was happily averted nv the
garrison under Col Sheehan. and for tho
next two years the warfare with the Indians
was one OF chase rather than conflict
me news of the uprising was received in
81 Paul several days after the refugees ar
rived in Mankato from Hon H. A. Swift
VINO escaped to St Paul on horseback and
was doubly distressing from the fart tbat
the news of some very disastrous defeats Of
the federal army in Virginia had lust been
received
little band Of missionaries, through the
timely warming of friendly Indians. reached
Fort Ridgely just in time to escape heinp
scalped by the Indians, who were close on
uhelr tra1l Added to the ANXIETY about the
war the news Of fresh outrages of the In
dians was received in st. Paul daily. The
news from Fort Abercrombie and Gen. S.b-
ley's expedition was not such as to allav tho
fears of the people.
aug. 20 lgnatlus Donnelly took dispatches
to Gen. Sibley at St. Peter, urging a forward
movement to Fort Ridgely to punish the
son at all Minnesota valley towns, to protect
the refugees against further attacks from
the INDIANS. 1t was estimated that there
were 4Oo0 settlers seeking protection in these
towns. They were without provision and
means. Reinforcements were sent TO Fort
Rldgely, and the government sent supplies
by steamers up the river as soon as posi-
bic after the news was received here.
A call was issued, signed by Peter Berkey,
Charles Scheffer, F. 'Willius, D. Frazer and
A. Wolf, asking for bedding blankets and
household goods, to assist in relieving the
distressed condition of the settlers. The SIT
uation was said to be alarming, as winter
was coming on with no means in sight for
the proper care and shelter of the thousands
who were rendered homeless by the depre-
datlons of the red man. The citizens respond
ed literally, and St.. Paul was made a CEN
trail point where Supplies were sent from
the southern counties The efforts of a
woman's society in. Red Wing at the time
was especially conlnaendable, but only one
instance in many of the brotherly spirit of
Minnesotans. tsr'~
"Other Day. the Sioux chief who warned
the missionaries before the Yellow Medicine
massacre and directed them to a e;ace Of
safety. was given the best that there was
in st. Paul. A local photographer took his
picture and sold it for % cents copy, direct
ing the proceeds to his benefit "Other
Days daguerreotype occupied a place in
every family album in town.
Less than week following the news of
the indian uprising came the intelligence of
another disastrous battle fought at Bull Run.
For second time Washington was thought
to be in danger. 1t was reported that the
rebels had secured a position between pope
ana Washington, and were marching towards
the nations capitol. Later came the gladstone
news that Gen. Pope had extricated himself
from the trap which the rebels had appar-
emily successfully laid for him. few days
later he Joined Gen. Burnside's and Gen. Nc
Cleilan's forces and the campaign during
the fall of 1862 in Virginia was very hard