The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-03

by Indians on a military post
When the Indians attacked New
Ulm, the men were forced to aban-
don the town after q fierce strug-
! gle. During the morning Of the
twenty-third fires were discovered
on the Nicollet county side of the
river, very near the bluffs. ap-
preaching us from the direction Of
Fort Ridgely. A detachment Of sew
enty-flve men under Lieutenant Huey
of the Indians, for it was supposed
that they had taken Fort Ridgely
and were advancing on New Ulm.
Very shortly after, their depart
ure the Indians were discovered Is
suing from the woods above the
town in large numbers and assem-
bling upon the prairie. Available
force was at once posted upon the
open prairie outside the town, about
half a mile at some points and at
a greater distance toward the point
at which the attack was made, bat
! tie was given them in the open
field.
AT nearly 10 a. m. the body be.
gan to move forward, at first slowly,
and then with considerable rapidity.
The men were encouraged by their
officers to stand firm and meet the
lattack. and all promised well.
Advance In the Sunlight.
Their advance upon the Sloping
prairie in the bright sunlight was
a very fine spectacle, and to such
inexperienced soldiers as all were,
intensely exciting. When within
about one mile and a half of us the
mass began to expand like a fan,
and increase in the velocity of its
approach, and continued this move
ment until within double rifle shot,
when it had covered the entire
front. Then the savages uttered
a terrific yen and came down upon
us like the wind.
The Indians spread out until they
had got into the rear, and on all
sides, having the very decided ad.
vantage of the houses on the bluff
which commanded the interior of
! the town, with the exception Of the
windmill, which was occupied by
about twenty of the LeSueur Tigers,
who held them at long range. The
wind was from the lower part OF
| the town, and this fact directed the
| larger part of the enemy to that
! point. where they promptly com
menced firing the houses, and adj
vancing behind the smoke. The
lcOnfiagration became general in
! the lower town on both sides of the
street, and the bullets flew very
thickly. both from the bluffs and
up the street.
The fight continued all day and
about dusk the savages were re-
pulsed by sally from the fort.
| After this repnlse the battle ragged
until dark without sufficient adj.
vantage one side or the other to
merit mention in detail, when the
savages drew off, firing only. an oc.
casional shot from under close
cover. That night the defenders
slept very little. every man being
at the barricades all night. each
third man being allowed to sleep at
intervals. In the morning the at.
tack was renewed. but not with
much yisor, and subsided about
noon. @
During the day a body of men
! appeared in the lower town, and
turned out to be a detachment of
| $50 volunteers from Nlcollet and
Sibley counties, under Captain 4.
st. julien Cox, which had been
forwarded TO our relief by Colonel
Sibley. They had about fifty Aus
| trian rifles and the rest were armed
with shOtguns and hunting rifles.
Their appearance inspired us with
gladness as, things were becoming
doubtful -. e
i Council Of Officers. =
7 A council of the officers was held
and it was decided to evacuate. the
town, carrying off all the inhabi-
tants, women and children, sick and
wounded, to. the number of about
1000. This movement was very
iperilous one to undertake with the
force under command. but the coti-
i fined state Of the town was rapidly
! producing disease among the women
I and children, who were huddled in
cellars and close rooms like sheep
in cattle car, and ammunition
and provisions were, running low.
| At daylight the next morning the
barricades were broken and the
wagons taken out and. put in mo-
i.tion. The scene was one of indie.
lscrfbable confusion and distraction.
/ The poor people, naturally DESTROYS
! of taking away all they could, filled
their wagons with boxes and bag
gage to the exclusion Of many p OF
The women and wounded. 1t was
therefore found necessary that all
PARTICLES of "A bulky nature be tum-
..bled out, and their places supplied
by more valuable freight. 1T was
Ehard, but necessary. and the, inhabi.
itants yielded with less reluctance
/ than anticipated.
I About nine O'Clock a.; M. the cara
Ivan moved with 1873 wagon loads of
women. children. sick and wounded,
and large company on foot. Lieu
tenant Cox took the general dispe.
Esition of the escort, and the various
commands We're posted so as to best
protect the whole in case Of attack.
They made their way safely across
1.-THE country to Fort Ridgely.
Battle of Birch Coolie.
The battle Of Birch Coolie follow
ing that of Fort Ridgely and New
/ Ulm was an attack by the retreat
ling redskins upon Colonel Fl. H.
. Sibley, who had been sent out on
august 81 to visit the different, set.
elements between this post. and
Beaver river, to search for and
! bury all, persons that could be found
murdered, and at the same time to
examine the country about the
Lower Sioux Agency and Little