New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-01-07
INDIAN FIGHTER IS REMINISCENT

Major s. A Buell. Recalls Early Days
In This Region.
Major Salmon "A. Buell., pioneer
Of Minnesota and Indian war veteran,
got up early on Thanksgiving, says
the Minneapolis Journal, and from
his appearance no one would have
supposed that he is sc years old and
that ne suffered a physical collapse
a few days before while in the Office
Of Postmaster w. E. Hale of Minne-
apolis. Since his attack Major Buell..
has rested easily. He was up and
about his room, and on Thanksgiving
was back in normal condition.
Last October marked the begin
ming of Major Salmon A. Buell's
eighty-seventh year and found him
the oldest practising lawyer in Min
nesota. He has followed his profess
sion in the closing years of life full
OF activity life fuller, perhaps
than most mems lives, of the circum-
stances which are commonly asso-
ciated with stern reality rather than
heart-moving romance.
For among the many scenes of
his eighty-odd years, come those of
naval service, military service, Indian
fighting, pioneering experience as
soldier, sailor, lawyer, executive, hon.
ored and honorable citizen; but be-
fore them all, pre-eminent, stands
out his memory of his bride and their
wedding day. AS he talks and GEES
lures with a fine, firm, almost youth
full hand, his eyes glow and his voice
becomes vibrant. Many of his four
score years fall from him, and he is
again the gallant chivalrous young
northeraaer who wooed and won a
beautiful daughter Of proud Vir-
ginia daughter.
Describes His Wedding Day.
ut was in the, historic old church
Of st. Paul's, in Norfolk" Major
Buell. said recently, "tirat Elizabeth
r. Freeman became my wife. It was
in '53-Dec. 20, 1853-:6ne Of those
beautiful southern winter days. I can
see the carriages now as they drove
up to the church. The bridesmaids
and their attendants-we did not call
them ushers in those days-formed
an aisle to the church door, through
which we passed, my bride and I.
The church was filled with throng
Of gaily dressed people; it was a
beautiful scene and a great society
event in those good old Virginia days.
She was the daughter of a promi-
nent slave-holding family, and all the
countryside came to do her homage
Although. Major Buell. inclined to
recall the love-plighted years of his
lifetime, he also drew interesting
material from the stirring experience
of his sea-faring days, when he was
acting midshipman of the United
States navy in the late forties. For
three and one-half years he cruised
the seas, sailing to the west coast Of
Africa, to the waters of northern and
western Europe, and on both sides
of South America, going around the
Horn. On account of ill health he
resigned from the navy.
Starts Practise of Law.
Immediately after terminating his
sea service he took up the study of
law, and in 1852 he went to Indian
apoiis and began to practise. He
continued in Indianapolis until 1857.
Then, seeking change for his health,
he came to Minnesota and became
secretary Of the st. Peter company,
thus entering associations which
seem to have given extraordinarily
to the state of Minnesota in numbers
of men made of the timber of leader
ship. The men of st. Peter were of
a stature which loom large in Mime
sofa history, and among them stands
out prominently the name of Buell..
Thus it came about that when the
exegencies of the Indian uprising in
1862 tried the mettle of men, Salmon
A. Buen's qualities Of leadership gave
him prominence, and he stood the
test.
was made up Of about $50 men.
When they arrived at New Ulm the
Indians withdrew before them, and
on Wednesday morning in the settle
ment the troops were organized, with
Flandrau colonel in command and
Buell. made adjutant, chief of staff
and provost marshal, because said
Flandrau, che had been in the navy
and was good organizer" He an