The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-06-04

Minneapolis Journal: The story of
| the last stand of the Sioux Indians in
Minnesota is about to be placed in the
archives of the State Historical society.
| 1t is the story of the battle of Wood
Lake, Yellow Medicine county, where
the almost undying spirit of the Sioux
was compelled at last to bow to the
irresistible advance of the white man.
The record is the work of f. T. Champ
lin, Matthias Holl and L. w. Collins,
who were appointed commission in
accordance with an act of legislature
of 1907, to survey the historic battle
field and compile record of the en-
counter.
This report is now complete, and will
be rendered the society 1t is note
worthy for the credit given the brav.
cry of the Indians. 1t is considered
likely that a suitable monument will
be erected on the battlefield. as the
last legislature appropriated ST 500 for
that purpose. The commission will
select the exact site. The report fol-
| lows:
cat the treaty of Traverse DIES
Sioux, in 1851, the Sioux tribe coded to
the government their lands in Iowa and
Minnesota, reserving strip ten miles
wide on each side of the Minnesota
river, extending from Fort Ridgely to
its headwaters. Early in July, 1862,
the Indians congregated at the upper
agency to receive their annual install
ment of pay.
"Owing to the fact that the gov
the Civil war, the expected funds for
the Indians did not arrive on time, and
the trouble began.
"The butchery of the settlers be-
gan at Acton Aug. II. and at the Up
per Agency on Aug. Is. On the same
day nearly all the whites at the lower
agency were mastered, and Captain
Marsh of the Fifth Minnesota infantry.
with forty five soldiers from Fort
Ridgely, was ambushed at the ferry
near the lower agency and twenty
three of his men killed.
New Ulm was attacked on Aug 10
and again Aug %; Fort Ridgely Aug.
20, and again Aug, %. Fort Aber
crombie was besieged from Sept. to
6 and the whole frontier west and
north of Glencoe was at the mercy
of the savages.
"Sept. 2 and 3 Company A of the
Sixth regiment, Captain Grant in COM
mand, and about seventy-fve mounted
volunteers under Captain Anderson, all
being commanded by Major Joseph R.
| Brown were attacked while in camp
at Birch Coolie. They repulsed the In
dams under Little Crow until relieved
by troops from Fort Ridgely The In
dams continued for more than month
to raid the western portion of the
state.
Governor Ramsey as soon as posi-
BILE after the outbreak, sent the Sixth,
Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Min
nesota regiments, Just then being re-
cruited, to the front.
Colonel Henry H. Sibley assumed
command, and advanced upon the In
dams. The expedition was composed
of l,450 men.
The night of the 22nd, the command
camped on the east side of Long Tree
lake, in Yellow Medicine county.
Gas the forces approached the lake
Indians were seen at distance and
rifle pits were thrown up in places
around camp. At about eight o'clock
on the morning of Sept. 3, a party of
twenty men of the Third with wagons
left camp going northerly on the old
government trail, their objective point
being the abandoned agency, about
three miles distant. This move was UNI
authorized When this party reached
the high ground north of the bridge
across the outlet of the wake, about
thirty Indians fired volley into the
leading wagon, that of Company G,
wounding all of its occupants but one.
| This attack on the part of the Indians
was premature, and occurred in plain
sight of camp and about three fourths
of mile distant.
"The camp of the Third was nearest
the point of attack, and Major Welsh,
without waiting for orders, called to
his men, Fall in, all who want to
fight" A command of more than
200 was almost instantly in line, and
moving rapidly toward the point of at
tack. On reaching the high land north
of the ravine the Indians were met in
force and firing became general. The
Indians fell back and the Third moved
forward to point about 300 yards
beyond the stream, when an officer
rode up from Colonel Sibley with or
ders to Major Welsh to fall back to
camp. This order the major reluctantly
obeyed
"The Indians encouraged by the re-
treat, came on from the right, left and
front. 1t was down the slope toward
the stream that the fight was the hot
test, and where most of the casualties
i'm the Third occurred.
"The Indians tried to cut the Third
off from camp, but the rapid fire of
the Third, with shells from Hendricks
guns, was too much for them. Gal
liant Major Welsh was severely wound
ed after crossing the ravine and was