The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-12-21
FORTY YEARS AGO.
Excerpts From St Paul Papers of Dec
10, 1864.

Capt. J. G. Farwell, of the First
infantry battalion Successors of the
old First Minnesota writes thrill
ling description of their narrow es-
cape from capture, if not total des-
truction. During an engagement
near Petersburg, Va, and while
surrounded on all sides by large
number of rebels, the remainder of
the Union army fell back. This
happened at Ii o'clock at night,
without the knowledge of the Min
nesota boys, who were some dis
lance from the main army. The
next morning, seeing no other
troops about, Capt. Farwell, who
was in command, sent out a scout
who soon returned on the run and
reported that the rest of the feder-
ais had disappeared and the en-
emy's cavalry was advancing. In
very short time the rebels could
be seen coming from all sides. The
battalion resolved to try to reach
the Union lines. To prevent the
colors falling into the hands of the
enemy, the United States flag was
torn to pieces, and every man took
a piece. The state flag was folded
and wrapped around the body of
the color bearer, his shirt and
blouse over it. They then started
out of the timber, all we'll armed
and supplied with ammunition TAX
en- from rebels captured the day be-
fore. They we're about to cross
the Plank road when the rebs
charged down the road with yell.
Our boys, 12O in number, at once
faced about and fired, with deadly
effect. The rebel ranks broke and
fled to cover in disorder. The bat
talon then made a rush for the
timber on the opposite side of the
road, reaching it just in time to es-
cape volley from the enemy S cav
airy. The enemy charged into the
woods in pursuit, but the thick un-
derbrush served as good conceal
ment for the men of the First. After
two miles had been covered and
rest taken, the men marched thru
the heavy timber in single file and
succeeded in reaching their lines of
safety.
During a deer hunt with party
of friends near White Bear lake
this week Capt. Fisk shot a five
pronged buck deer, weighing 287
pounds dressed. The captain is
distinguished as a dead shot with
rife or pistol.
In revenge for Sherman s devas-
tation on his march through Geor-
gia and the ruin brought by Sheri-
dan in the Shenandoah valley, the
rebel press has been filled with
dire threats of burning Northern
cities. and claims that the money
has been raised to hire incendiaries
to do the awful work. These threats
seem to be in process of fulfillment.
A few days ago a number of the
largest hotels and theaters in New
York were simultaneously fred,
and later an attempt to burn a large
government warehouse. Those in
cendiaries will be promptly hanged
If caught.
President Lincoln's message is
the first one ever telegraphed
through to ST. Paul on the day of
delivery. The document has the
great merit of brev!ty. He claims
that the nation is stronger now in
men than when the contest CON-
menced; that our resources are in
exhaustible and that the people of
the north have, by the result of the
late election, determined to prose-
cute the war to the bitter end.
*x*
The trial of Medicine Bottle has
been concluded and that of Shake
pay is nearly through. We hope
ere long to chronicle the departure
Of those two Indian murderers for
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