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

that none w0uld ever dare to re-en.
ter. this territory, that he claimef
as his own and over which it wa
his ambition to reign as undispu: II
chief.
On that fateful August, whether
prematurely or not. this daring con-
ception was precipitated on this fat
ed land. The sun rose in glory and
set in blood. Almost i'm the twink
ling of an eye the music of pros
porous agricultural community
peaceful industry was transformed
into the hellish clamOr of most hi
deo,ls, inhuman, savage massacre.
The battle of the Redwood agency
or rather the inhuman massacre at
that place, was successfully planned
and carried out by the crafty Little
Grow. -
The brave Captain Marsh, and his
intrepid soldiery had been success.
fully entrapped and destroyed. Full
of confidence. gloating over past
victory and thirsting for murder and
rapine the blood-frenZied. savage
hosts moved confidently on old Fort
Ridgely, never dreaming that it
would be more than mere sport to
overpower its defenders and give
them and those they defended over
to the tomahawk and scalping knife.
There never was more unequal
conflict waged in the history of ci-
vilization or savage. warfare. Less
than three hundred whites, not
more than a quarter of these cap.
able of bearing arms, protected only
by insufficient fortiflcauon, weakened
by dilapidation and long continued
neglect, opposed to these Thousand
warriors, the very pick of the tribe
and commanded by the most cum
ming and crafty chief of all the ages.
1t seemed as If there could be but
one outcome of that struggle, but
the men defending that post were
of the stuff out of which heroes are
made, and in deeds of gallantry the
women who had sought refuge there
surpassed those of the men. Against
the stubborn defense. put up, the
savage hordes dashed as fruitlessly
and futilely as the waves of the
Mediterranean dash against the Rock
of Gibralter. Every attempt to carry
the fort, by storm was met with
such stern and determined resist
ance and was accompanied with
such great loss of life that the
infatuated warriors were finally driv-
en- off and Southwestern Minnesota
was saved to civilization. Is
Every Man a Hero.
Every man behind the gun at that
critical time was a hero, and every
woman who shaped cartridge for
the man behind the gun was hero.
inc. There was no faltering or shrink.
ing from duty, each man and each
woman performed his! part or her
part with as lofty courage as any
man or woman that ever risked life.
or. gave life for the salvation of ma.
tive land and for the preservation
of their own liberties and the liber-
ties. of those that should come after.
and they are entitled to the same
high place in history and the same
place in the affections OF the Am
erican people, who delight to remem.
Der and honor the nations !benefac.
tors, as any of the heroes OF hero.
ines that ever performed marvellous
service and risked their lives or
gave, their lives in behalf OF their
country. ~
-, The Outbreak at Redwood.
The outbreak proper began with
the battle of Redwood on August
10. This was a most disastrous cpl.
sode as more than two-thirds OF
Captain Marsh's Company B of the
Fifth Regiment, Minnesota Infantry
Volunteers, We're slaughtered at the
agency ferry across. the, Redwood
river. Captain Marsh and his com.
pany had been warned of the ap.
proach of the Savages by the arrival
of some settlers, burned and wound.
ed, at Fort Ridgely. When the com
pany arrived at the ferry they were
met by an Indian who told them
that his tribe wished to have talk
with the white men about dispute
which had arisen regarding some
claims Of land between some of the
settlers and the indians. The treach-
erous red skin advised Captain
Marsh to board the ferry and cross
over to where the tribe, as he said,
was camped. They We're about to
do this when warned by scouts that
the Indians were surrounding the
company. It had been the plan of
the savages to get the company on
board the ferry then to cut it
loose and let it drift down the river,
picking off the defenseless soldiers
at their leisure. This plan was
spoiled by the delay in boarding
the ferry, boat and the discovery of
the savages. When they saw that
they were discovered, the, savages
opened fire and slaughtered in cold
blood about two-thirds of, Company
b. Part of the men escaped by a
failure in an attempt to swim the
river. Captain Marsh led the way
but when abort half way across
was seized with cramps and was
drowned. The rest of the company
turned back and the Indians, think
ing that the white men had crossed,
forded the river on their horses and
waited for the stragglers from the
company. While they were waiting,
most of the remnant, of Company d
retreated and made their Sway
safely back to the fort.
Men Maintained Their Ground.
The battle of Fort Ridgely be-
gan on the twentieth and lasted un-
til the twenty-second. The first
engagement lasted until dusk, when
the Indians, finding that they could
not effect Judgment. which was
prevented in great measure by
the. superior fire of the artillery, un,
der the immediate charge of Ord
nance Sergeant j. Jones. United
States army, which compelled them
hn ui, NV. whit ah