The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-16
WHEN NIGHTS were BOLD|
AN INTERESTING EPISODE OF
DAYS NOW GONE BY
the new. uLm INDIAN MASSACRE
A Prominent South Dakota Man
Tells of a Famous Event in
Sioux Indian History

Tells of a Famous Event in
Sioux Indian History
Having participated in the Indian
war of 1923, aud being one of the
guards who stood around the scaffold
at Mankato during that famous exc,
cution, deem it proper to write a
brief account of the historic events
leading up to that tragic scene.
During the month of August, 1862,
the Sioux Indians of the upper Min
nesota river initiated a massacre of
white settlers, which stands promi-
nent in the bloody drama which has
attended the advance of civilized
man across the continent.
More than one thousand white
settlers were slain by the savages,
on the frontier settlements of Min
pesota and the two Dakotas; and an
Indian war was precipitated along
the western frontier with scarcely
any warning.
The battles of Birch Coolie, Fort
Ridgely, New Ulm and Wood Lake,
were fought and the Indians driven
back to Big Stone lake and the plains
of Dakota. The battle OF Wood
Lake was fought on the 23rd of Sep
tember and the defeated savages
were driven back to Big Stone lake,
leaving their white captives with an
insurgent band OF friendly Indians
who negotiated terms of surrender
with General Sibley, who was adj
vancing with his forces of Minnesota
troops. Our army of eight hundred
men pushed on to Camp Release
where the "friendlies' were en-
camped on the banks OF the Min
nesota, to prevent the killing of the
captives by Little Grow and his
hostile warriors. They came into
our hands on the 26th of September,
sad wrecks of humanity.
The white female captives had
dressed themselves up as best they
Gould, tn meet the rescuing army;
weeping at the sight of the soldiers,
who wrapped army blankets around
their half-clad forms and placed
them within our protecting lines.
The soldiers encampment was about
one-quarter mile from that of the
Indians, which was commanded by
our cannon. We found one hundred
and twenty-six white women and
children, several mixed bloods, and
ole white man who were prisoners
in the Indian camp. George Spen-
Ger, the white man, was found
wounded by an Indian friend, who
took him to his lodge and saved his
life.
He had rescued young Sioux
warrior from band of Chlppewas,
before the massacre and his life was
saved for that friendly act.
Spencer was subsequently ap-
pointed Indian agent, on the Great
Sioux Reservation and was super.
coded by an army officer during
President Grants administration.
After the capture of the Indians
at Camp Release, military com.
mission composed of officers of Cen
eral Sibtey's command was appointed
to try those warriors who had par
ticipated in the massacre of white
settlers; and as the wheels of the
commission we're put in motion the
accused victims multiplied, until
more than three hundred warriors
were condemned; upon what was
considered good evidence. At the
close of their work the military
commission turned over their find.
ings to General Sibley for his ap.
proval.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel
Marshall of the Sixth Minnesota in.
fantry started out with the Indian
women and children who were cap
tured, for Fort Smelling; and the
main command Of Sibley's forces
moved out on the march for Maukato