The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-12

along the Minnesota frontier. during the,
winter. In May he murdered Henry,
Basche at New Ulm, tho two weeks
earlier he had shot Mr.. Jacobson at the
James river ferry at Ynnkton! In: July
he massacredi the family Of Henson
Wiseman in Nebraska, opposite Yank-
ton, and had retired to the buffalo
ranges of the Missouri coteau before
the end Of August, where he fell in with
the Sissetons and took the leading part
in the battle Of Big Mound.
It is astonishing that scarcely. q white
man who took part in that battle was
even aware of his presence, and his
name is not mentioned in any history of
the affair, yet, he organized and directed
this, one Of the most remarkable and
successful retreats in the history Of
American warfare. The approach >, of
General Sibley and his army was a
complete surprise to: all Of the Indians.
They had not the remotest idea that a
white soldierew was within hundreds of
miles Of them. Only the previous day
had the Sissetons fallen in with the
party Of Inkpaduta and they were .qui-
city hunting together. 49,, -sS,e7s-t>
The approach Of Sibley from the
northeast was concealed from them by
the brow of the coteau. They had
found an abundance Of buffalo and were
encamped, while the women cured the
meat and robes they had already Sc
cured. On the afternoon Of July "a,
1868, one of their hunters rode out to
the top. Of the coteau and looking off
to the northeast discovered great
army Of white men almost upon them.
He flew back to the camp shouting:
HAll the Americans in the land are
right here.' ... -. .:s.@..
Confusion and hubbub overwhelmed
the camp, but almost instantly Joe La
Frambois, sibley's halfbreed scout, ap.
peared among them and assured them
that Sibley had not come to fight, but
to council, and invited Standing Buffalo
and all. Of the head men to go at once
and meet the general. Quiet was in.
. stantly restored, and the old men set
off unarmed for the American lines
DR.. Joseph s., Weiser Of the First Min
nesota had imprudently ridden out on tc
the coteau in advance, of the army and
was WELCOMED by the Indians, who sur
rounded him.
At this moment, when erythine
promised happy and peaceful settle
ment, a young Inkpadutan raised hi
! rifle and shot the doctor dead. The sol
diers saw their comrades; fall and in
) stantly opened fire upon the Indians
} who were passing down to meet Sibley
!, They at once turned in wild retreat
! the soldiers in pursuit. just over tn,
hill, not mile away, the Indian camp
stood, the women engaged in thei
: mental tasks, the children playing limo
!; Gently about the campfres. To cove
!, the retreat and beat off the soldier
i while the camp was struck, and to ge
! the women and children away in safety
was the task devolving upon the In
dams. Not a moment was to be lost.
sInstinctively4 every warrior looked t
: Inkpaduta for leadership and he did no
| fail them. He rallied the braves an,
/ the headlong advance of the white
was momentarily checked. The. womel
) meanwhile were engaged in strikin
> camp and getting away. Much Of thei
: property was necessarily abandoned
+ that they, saved any. Of it was miracu
j lous. AS the families got away, til
/ warriors retreated in their wake; whe
) the soldiers approached too nearly, the
t concentrated9t their forcesof braves in
8 compact body and whif1ing aroun
d dashed back sat the head ofssthe whit