Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-07-02

The military movements on the from
tier fifty years ago might be considered
very insignificant and unimportant when
contrasted with the gigantic struggles
of those time, but as incidents of local
interest they may possess some value
to us.
The fearful Indian outbreak of 1852,
had driven away the first settlements
of our county, leaving abandoned claims
thruout these regions. In the campaign
which followed the massacre, the swift
and sure movements of Gen. Sibley and
his brave boys in blue had forever brok-
en- the power of the proud Dakotahs
who had for ages claimed this country
as their own. But while secure from
any large concerted attacks, the from
tier settlements farther to the East
were in constant danger from small
bands of depredating Indians. To pro-
tect the frontier during the winter of
1S62-'63, companies Of the 25th Wiscon-
sin were stationed at Paynesville and
other places. In the spring OF 1858
these soldiers were sent to the south
and the newly organized Eighth Mime
sofa was stationed at various places
from Fort Abercrombie on the Red Riv
er to Mannannah. Congress had an
nulled all existing treaties with the
Dakotahs, and in May, Gen. sibley took
all his prisoners Ducks, squaws, and
papooses) and placed them beyond the
Missouri river in their new reservation.
Not content to remain there, the In
dams soon made another expedition
necessary and during the months Of
md TIL
| Sibley, commanding force of about
1000 men, proceeded to Devils Lake and
| in a series of battles punished and
| drove the Indians back over the Mis-
souri,.
In the meantime the Eighth Mime
sofa patrolled the frontier. Two not
| able casualties occurred within the
limits of this County. On June 18th,
Capt. Cady Of Co. A., stationed at Man
hannah, in company with two or three
men pursued two Indians. When at a
point south Of Lake Elizabeth, the In
| dians hid in a clump of hazel brush and
| by a clever ruse drew the fire of their
pursuers by means of RENTS with a
| blanket. Capt. Cady became impatient
| and charged for the hidden foe, when
he was killed by a well aimed bullet
| thru his heart. The Indians escaped
Capt. Cady was a resident Of Anola
and was highly thought of. The G. A.
R. boys of Anoka named their organ
ization the John S. Cady Post, in his
honor, and the survivors are to this day
anxious to cooperate with this asso-
citation or any other body to properly
mark the spot where the brave Captain
fell in this county. Three months lat.
err, Sept. 18th, non-commissioned Of
ficer of Co. A., met his death. Ser
geant VIM. Edwards was ambushed
near Cape Bad Luck on the trail from
Mannannah to Paynesville. Capt. But
terfeld, Capt. Cady's successor, whe
was in the party, received a bullet thru
his clothing. Again the Indians es
capped. These attacking Indians were
small parties Of two or three, who were
staying around apparently more for the
purpose Of stealing horses for them
selves than for any hope Of conducting
any successful warfare with the whites
That was the errand of Little Grow 'ant
his son, when the former was killed
July 3rd, at Hutchinson. One day IL
August of that year two Indians sue
ceeded in stealing four horses from tn
!. Branhams and Krugers in Meeker coun
ty. The Indians were pursued and sur
rounded near the A>andiyohi Lakes
| where both were killed after hare
fight A detail of soldiers who campet
! at West Lake in April narrowly misse'
; having their horses stolen in the nigh
by prowling Indians. In looking thru
some records in the State Capitol, i
Z found the following report from Col
Thomas. which tells it's own story. TIL
, recognaisance was probably ordered b,