The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-11-06

thus getting powder IN our mouths.
/ got some relief by chewing a bull
let which started the saliva and
moistened my mouth.
Food was as scarce nearly as wat
Ter All had to eat during the bat
tie was small piece Of raw cabbage
leaf, but that was very delicious.
As evening came the Indians left
/ a part Of their number to keep up
the fight. but the larger part with
drew into the woods Of the bottom
lands where they were perfectly
safe, and slaughtered and roasted
beef for their suppers which they
evidently enjoyed more than we did.
The firing continued all night,
which was as light almost as day.
| We were allowed no rest. We dared
not sleep, even portion at time,
for it had been noted that when we
slackened fire too much they became
much holder, and as we had lost
good many our fire was necessarily
much lighter than at first. At one
time Capt. Grants men slackened
their fire so much that we on the
other side of the circle were badly
exposed to the Indian fire and most
of our casualties were from that side
So Capt. Anderson determined to
send word to Capt. Grant to that eff
feet. He asked me to go. AS was.
simply to go there and back, left
my gun and made bold dash for it,
thinking | would get across before
the Indians would see me. But they
were alert and instantly the bullets
came thick. There had been a scow
picked up somewhere and brought
along on one side of the wagons and
on camping had been thrown upon
the ground. This lay convenient for
me and | threw myself behind it.
The firing quickly ceased, and after
a few minutes | went on to Capt.
Grant and delivered my message.
When sprang up to return it seem
ed as though they were all watching
for me, for | never heard bullets
whistle SO thickly. Again | dropped
behind the boat, and from there
across was little more discreet.
Morning came. Noon came, and
with no promise Of relief. But
about two o'clock in the afternoon
we noticed a stir among the Indians,
a slackening of their fire, and we
soon were aware that most of them
had left us to meet force coming to
our relief. A regiment under Gen.
Sibley was coming, and, scarcely
hating, they formed line of battle
and scattered the redskins from in
front Of them. The Indians did not
make much of an effort, for they
were outnumbered and there was no
show for them. Of our force Of 140
men, more than half were killed or
wounded. We buried thirteen there.
Among them was poor Henderson.
/ did not see him after the fight be-
gan. We found him between our
lines and the Indians. He had prob
ably started to run at the beginning
Of the fight and was caught between
the lines, and whether killed by sol
diers or Indians, no one knows.
Our relief was fortunate. Soon
after the fight began, picket at the
fort reported firing towards the
west. Gen. Sibley Immediately dis
patched an officer and several COM
panies Of troops to our relief, but
after coming about three miles, the
officer went back and said he could
not hear any firing. Meantime it
had been plainly heard at the fort,
so Gen. Sibley peremptorily COM
manded him to come to our relief,
and to continue until he found us.
The officer then started again, and
came within three miles and camped,
notwithstanding that the fight was
still going on. Neither did he make
any proper effort in the morning, for
before he got started Gen. Sibley
had taken another force and come to
seek us. and had found the officer
just ready to break camp.
A good hearty meal, and we were
loaded into wagons for our return to