Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-09-03

tie Grow. Accounts Of this siege and
are numerous. At first the Indians
attempted to take 1t by strategy. Re-
questing the privilege OF dancing
within the enclosure. the request was
granted and the garrison was highly
entertained, suspecting nothing: but
Sergeant Jones was not to be taken
unawares, and when the Indians be.
gan their dance, he trained the big
guns of the fort on them and remain
ed ready to discharge them at any
minute. This action on the part OF
Sergeant Jones is truly remarkable,
for at that time II was not known that
there was any hostile purpose in the
visit of the Indians.
Fort Ridgley cost the government
nearly sl.O0O.0 900. 1t vas located in
a most exposed and unmilitary posi-.
ton. No water supply was provided
inside the fort, all having been car
cied from a spring in one Of the ra-
vines. In the course of the siege a
well was dug. which still supplies a
farmhouse on the site of the old fort.
All that is left now of the place
that was the scene of such thrilling
scenes and the shelter of such men
as Custer, Sherman and of jefferson
Davis of Confederate fame, is the
foundation of one Of the barracks that
answers for a COW stable. The gov
eminent has erected a magnificent
granite shaft to the memory of Lieu
tenant Sheehan and on the hillside
overlooking the river lie buried those
who fell in the engagement and some
Of those who were massacred by the
Indians. 1t is one of the most his
toric places in the state.
The failure to take Ridgley was the
Waterloo of Little Crow, the Napo-
leon of the Indian nation. Here he
expected to secure arms and ammu.
milton to carry on his war.
The second attack on New Ulm
was made about noon of Saturday,
August %. The city had been barri.
caded, that is, two blocks Of Mime
sofa street had been fenced in by a
stockade. Captain (now judge) Chas.
E.. Flandreau was elected to command
the forces, and the men we're march.
ed out to meet the foe.
The advance of the Indian forces
against New Ulm is described as hav-
ing been a very fine spectacle. The
hundreds of painted savages on horse
back came over the hill in a solid
body, and when within a mile or so
of the town, began to spread out like
a fan, increasing their speed as they
approached until within about half
a mile of town, when they covered
the entire front of the village. Then
they set up their wal cry and charged
the defense. The yell unsettled the
men somewhat and they fell back,
giving the Indians shelter in the out
lying houses. The men soon rallied,
however. and poured shot into the In
dams from under cover of the houses
and barns.
An old windmill afforded a splendid
shelter for a large number of men,
who held 1t all through the afternoon,
and when night was settling over the
city they set the windmill on fire and
~retreated to the barricade. The fight
was courageous throughout the day.
The defense had everything to fear
and nothing to hope for.
The women and children were hud-
died together in the cellars and in the
Erd house they had a barrel of pow.
der ready to ignite in case the In
dams should be victorious. Only
eight men were killed the first day of
the fight. About sixty were wounded
some of whom died.
Sunday morning the fight was re-
newed. but the defenders had fixed
up some ~stovepipe to resemble artil.
lery and, deceived by this, the Indians
soon dispersed. Toward noon Cox ar
rived with $50 men and orders to
~eyacuate the town. On Monday morn.
ing 1873 wagon loads OF wounded men,
women and children left their homes
and. guarded by $50 citizen soldiers
wended their way down the valley to
st. Peter and Mankato. Il was per
haps the most graphic and lamentable
exhibition that was witnessed since
the settlement of the country at Ply
mouth. Homeless. begared with nc
possessions save the clothes on theil
backs; behind them devastation
ahead strangers. with no hope for the
future, the party set out. But every
where the refugees found hospitality
and in a few days the most fearles.
returned to restore their homes. Gu
OF more than 200 houses in New Uln
t~wenty.three only remained standin,
on Monday morning.
Succeeding New Ulm came the bat
tie of Birch CoulIe. which, though I'M