The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-21

settlements was marked by line just
west of the Blue Earth river cavalry
company of thirty was raised in the
towns along the Blue Earth valley, but
chiefly at Winnebago city, and one avow-
ed object was to exterminate the entire
Sioux tribe of redskins. In the company
was DR.. J. B. Welcome of Garden City,
the writer and Noble g. Root of Vernon,
one or two from Shelby and the rest
from Winnebago City. Among these
were Fl. w. Holly, who was elected cap
tain, A. d. Mason, Jesse Durham, Mr..
Morse, who was chosen chaplain because
of his unique profanity. DR.. Welcome
was chosen first lieutenant, but the other
officers if we had any are all forgotten
and also the names of the privates ex-
cept as given. Each one furnished his
horse, accoutrements and supplies and
also the weapons with which the EXTERN
ination referred to was to be accomplish
ed. | was so fortunate as to borrow for
the occasion light rifle of neighbor in
Vernon. a Mr.. Belts, who remarked as he
gave it to me that "Mr. Indian would
know it if hit him. 1t was very diff
cult for us to obtain the needed ammu-
milton as in those days there was little
to be had. We spent a day in Winnie
bago running lead into bullets, gathering
powder and caps and apportioning the
same among the men where the supply
would probably be productive of the best
results. We left Winnebago City early
one morning taking the road west toward
Fairmont. 1t was but little more than
:,.io nd n hnllt
reached Fairmont which at this time
consisted of of one log house-a frame
building about l6X24 in course of cree
ton and name. During the forenoon
we had crossed Il marsh about so rods
in width and extending beyond our vision
each way soft almost bottomless and
but for a heavy growth of grass lmpass-
able. When the command emerged final
" on the west bank we were in sorry
plight and as one of our warriors, OF
poetic temperament gave us the lines, lie
shall stable his steed in the kelpies flow,
and his name shall be lost forever more"
We voted them very appropriate. We
continued west from Fairmont and camp
ed for the night at the home of Nor
wegian near the present site OF Sherburn.
No guards were out or pickets posted and
l only know that l slept part of the
night with my saddle for a pillow and
line attached to my wrist and my horse
at the other end of said line. In the
morning We were undecided as to our
route. Some wanted TO continue west to
jackson. which then had a location and
name but not much more. 1t was finally
voted to 90 north to the south branch OF
the WatOnwan This ride took us across
the prairies where only the wide eXpanse
of rolling surface covered with grass and
flowers met the eve in all directions with
n fringe of timber marking the course OF
Elm creek to the east and occasionally
a grove of oaks located a little lake. we
had not progressed far before we saw
Indian sions-Trails through the high
grass leading generally in the same d.
TectiOn which we were going and appar-
emily made only a day or two before
and bv several small bands as near as
we could Judge. Captain Holly who was
q verv level headed commander now in
sisted that there should be no more non
sense-no struggling or chasing OF prairie
foxes. but that we should be alert and
ready for business. Chaplain Morse was
reminded that his services might be need
ed at any time and he was advised to
stop swearing. at least until the perlls
of war were past.
As we approached the WatonWan
about noon we came into road leading
down the river towards Madelia and saw
several abandoned homes-iog house IN
the timber with small cultivated fields
near. We followed this road and pre-
sentlv saw what We took to be three
Indians about half a mile ahead OF us
and we gave chase EN- masse, but soon
concluded that they were from Norway
and Judging from the speed they made
and the length of their stride, Indicated
bv their tracks in the road, that we
would hardly overtake them and orders
were given to reduce our gait to the
regulation walk | might say right here
that these then were the only Indians
we encountered during the campaign.
After following this road some three or
four miles we came to where we saw on
an opposite slope half mile ahead a log
house with. as it afterwards proved the
entire settlement of men, women and
children congregated and apparently in
great alarm The three gentlemen from
Norway before mentioned had just come
in and reported the approach of large
body of mounted Sioux and that they
would all soon be massacred. When we
came near enough for them to see that
instead of Indians, we were brave war
riors, whose especial mission was to Go
and to dare in their defense. They eX-
perienced a change of heart and their
tears were of Joy. They fed us gener-
ouslv and then we continued down the
river to Madelia, where there was a
stockade and a gathering of settlers from
all directions. The next day while at
this stockade we saw to the north great
clouds of smoke which we could not un-
derstand the meaning of, but later learn
ed that it was the burning of New Ulm
at the time of the fight at that place.
One incident at Madelia I hesitate to
record for we all vowed a VOW, never to
tell-Remember that we had during the
campaign been very careful OF our am
munition letting game pass us without
a shot. Now that we were back in the
settlements we ventured or rather as
saved to do some target shooting and
learn who was the best shot. Lately oul
pastor had advised us to tell the straight
square absolute, unadultered truth and
notice how it worked.-Following his ad
vice | must say that of some twenty
eight rifles and muskets in our company
only two could be discharged. After this
episode there were more remarks about
discriminating the Sioux, but not In thai
boastful, confident tone noticeable a
Winnebago City. We had feeling tina