The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-23
CAREER AS WAR GOVERNOR
How Ramsey PlIoted the, State Thru Two
Trying Years.

....a- ..
Among the many distinctions in which
Alexander Ramsey shared was that of
being one of that noble and immortal
band of patriots known as the loyal war
governors It was not enough for the
union to have able generals and sturdy
soldiers in the field, for without hearty
support from the loyal states the war
would have been a complete failure. even
with President Lincoln at the head of
the government. When the war broke
out Minnesota. was a frontier state In
which the pioneers were still struggling
for mastery with the aborigines the
prineval forests and on the unbroken
prairies.
Her governor was in Washington on
official business when Sumter was fired
upon. He realized what it meant to the
nation and acted with his usual prompt,
ness. Before the call was issued he walt
ed personally upon President Lincoln and
rendered the services of a thousand Min
nesota backwoodsmen to aid In putting
down the rebellion. Minnesota was first
in the field. and q few days later when
the call for volunteers was issued Gov
ernor Ramsey came in person to an
nounce that the Minnesota quota was
ready.
The First Minnesota is said to have
been attired In dark trousers and red
shirts secured from an Indian trader. It
was certainly a picturesque command a.
During the year 1851 Governor Ramsey
raised and modified five regiments Of
Infantry, a. battalion Of cavalry and a.
battery Of artillery. His appointments of
officers were made with excellent judg-
mont. for a large proportion of the colo
nels were promoted to be brigadier gen
erals and several to the rank Of major
general.
It is hardly necessary to add that Gov
ernor Ramsey's trials were many and his
duties arduous. The big state was sparse
ly settled, part Of the public debt had
been protested, and taxes were difficult
to collect, but at the head of the state
was an executive possessing courage,
energy and answering loyalty and the
young comm onwealth was raised to proud
distinction by the galantry Of her sons
in the field. and the patriotism Of Gov
ernor Ramsey at home.
In the midst of the troublous times
the election of 1861 came to pass. It was
worthy Of record. as showing in what
high regard he was held by the people,
that altho the total vote was about IT,
900 less than in the election of 1853, the
war governor was elected by a major
ity of 5000, or nearly twice as large as his
majority two years previously. -'- =.
In 1862 in response to the call for more
troops. Governor Ramsey organized, Of
ficered and mobilized five more regiments
of infantry and another battery Of artil-
lery. Minnesota maintained her full quota,
at all times and was ever prompt lin
meeting the calls for volunteers.
Uprising Of the Indians.
1t was in 1852. when ten thousand of
the strongest men in the state We're hun
dreds Of miles away on the southern cam
paigns. that the treacherous Sioux
swarmed over the southwestern and
western parts Of the state, repeating the
bloody scenes of the Wyoming massacre
of the revolutionary war. The Indians
swept down the Minnesota valley, COM
mitting some of the most atrocious
crimes in the annals. of savagery. 7
Again Governor Ramsey acted with
promptitude and good Judgment. Gen
eral H. H. Sibley- was commissioned to
lead the forces which were being COL
lected all over the state to]sllead off the
outbreak. The Indians were driven back
and chased far out into the Dakotas.
They were dispersed and defeated,{ and
received such a lesson that they never
again returned to the state. Their record
was a bloody one. for in their short out
break they had murdered more than 1 ,OOC
r. settlers and destroyed numberless homes
Thirty eight ringleaders were: tried and
sentenced to death. The Pennsylvania
Quakers labored with the president tc
commute the sentences of the red fiends,
: but the people of Minnesota thru their
sturdy governor and their representatives
in congress, spoke again and with no un-
certain voice and President Lincoln re-
fused to interfere. The Indians were
hanged at Mankato all at one time.
In 1853 Mr.. Ramsey accepted the cleo
tion to the United States senate, retiring
from the office Of governor which he filled
with distinguished credit during the most
trying period in the history of the state.