The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-10-30
INDIAN UPRISING OF 81
Thrilling Story Of Dr.. I. y. Earle Of
Rochester, N. Y, a Beaver Falls
Boy in 1862.
CONTINUED from Last Week

force of Indians returning from the
attack on New Ulm. were going
towards the agency on the opposite
side of the river, ssand the command
er dropped a few shells among them.
About twoFo' clock the music began
and it seemed for a while as though
pandemonium itself had broken
loose, for the Indians numbered 400
or 500 and they fired rapidly and
each time they fired they uttered the
war whoop. The noise from the
shouting with the crashing Of bullets
through doors and windows was bad
enough but the war whoop was worse
yet, for it was simply blood curdling
and | think that / lodged oftener
from the war whoops than from the
bullets. For a moment it seemed
that myfhair stood on end and | was
bit ratified but by an effort | re-
gained control Of myself and was
not afterwards badly excited.
| could not do much in the way of
shooting for the soldiers in the log
huts soon had quite a cloud Of smoke
about them which obscured my
sight and made it dangerous to them
for me to shoot. So | simply re-
NAMED on guard at the window.
The fighting continued till long after
dark when the Indians withdrew.
No one in the room where / was
stationed was wounded but the sur
geon brought in others who had
been wounded outside and the sight
of those poor fellows taxed my nerves
severely.
After the fighting ceased every
thing became quiet and part of US
slept while others kept watch. The
next morning the citizens company
was ordered to assemble and we
were arranged in single rank across
the parade. / happened to stand
forth from the right of the company.
AS soon as Capt. DeCamp had the
company in line hereported the'fact
to Lieut.. Sheehan who proceeded to
make us speech in which he called
US all the mean names, such as cow
ards, sneaks, etc., that he could
think of. | was surprised, for was
not aware of sneaking, but | after
ward learned that many of them had
deserted their posts and gone up
stairs with the women and children
Lieut.. Sheehan ended This harrangue
by telling Capt. DeCamp to pick out
ten of his men, if he had SO many in
his company of scrubs, and detail
them them to go on picket duty to
relieve his men.
Capt. DeCamp began at the right
Of his company and asked if the man
could go on picket duty for about
two hours. The man said no, and
gave some f1imsy excuse. He then
asked. the second, and got still
poorer excuse. I think his excuse
was that he had no cartridge box
but had to carry his cartridges in his
pocket. He asked the third man,
and got another flimsy excuse. l
confess that by that time / was
ashamed of the company | was in,
and did not blame Lieut.. Sheehan for
the language he had used. | think /
would have volunteered to go if /
had known / would get hurt. So
when Capt. DeCamp asked me an
swered promptly and loudly, Eyes.
sir" No doubt my answer came
more from shame and bravado than
from bravery. but it seemed to have
a magical effect on Lieut.. Sheehan,
for he said, THANK God for one man.
Take pace to the 'front.'" Soon the
other nine were found and we were
taken out and stretched in picket
line about the fort. My post was OF
a knoll about 80 rods from the fort
and on theAbercrombie road. Other
pickets were about twenty rods dis
tant. on either side.
I Nothing of interest occurred dur
ing the two hours Twas on that pos
except that one Of the soldiers VIII,
had been with Capt. Marsh returned
and was received at my post. Will,
OBTAINING him until the corporal O
the guard could come and admit hin
he told of the fight between Capt