New Ulm review., 1917-02-14
TRIBAL BATTLE AT
SHAK0PEE in 1858
WRITER IN A SCOTT COUNTY
PAPER TELLS OF INDIAN
FIGHT
LAST CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO
BANDS is DESCRIBED BY
EYE WITNESS ,.#

Several weeks ago the Review printed
statement made by Richard Pfefferle,
and corroborated a week later by Fred
Fritsche, to the effect that the last
battle fought between the Sioux and
Chippewa Indians, was at Shakopee,
and not at Graceville, as has been con-
tended by parties who are attempting to
establish a state park at that place.
Since the publication of these stories,
the Scott County Argus, published at
Shakopee, has printed several articles
relative to the battle, after having copied
those from the Review. f..-
The last issue of the Argus contains
the following letter from w. H. Smith,
who was at Shakopee at the time of the
battle. Mr.. Smith bears out the conten-
tions of Mr.. Pfeferle and Mr.. Fritsche,
although he agrees with Mr.. Fritsche
that the conflict wasin 1858. He says:
Saw Indian Battle. ~
81 cheerfully comply with your re-
quest to tell what little I know about
fight in the long, long ago, between
the Sioux and the Chippewas at or near
Shakopee, although in doing so I for
felt the claim I have been making of
still being a kid.
'The fight I have reference to occurred
in the late summer of 1858 and not in
1856 as given in the excerpt you sent
me. Together with a cousin of mine,
Hamline Smith, then of Moore's Hill,
Indiana, and several others 1 was on
my way up the St. Peters river {now
Minnesota.) We were on the steamer
Frank Steele. At the little settlement
known as Shakopee my cousin and my
self stopped off the steamer. There
were rumors of a possible engagement
between two rowing bands of Indians
and we were desirous Of seeing the
scrap. A band of Sioux was encamped
along the bank of the river, and great
excitement was perceivable, but we
could not learn the cause. We soon
did learn, however, that band of
Chippewas was prowling around and
it was the intention to give battle.
It was not long after we landed from
the steamer before the Sioux warriors
could. be seen scattering out in their
war paint, as if they were looking for
trouble. They soon found it. A rifle
shot or two was heard and puff of
smoke seen rising from the tall grass.
We hastened to points of vantage to see
all that was to be seen. On the river
side, close to the bank, were a few
small trees. I climbed into one
and my cousin into another. We saw
still other on-lookers in other trees.
We had hardly got settled to view the
scene when the battle opened in earn
est.
Shots Came Too Close.
"No regular 'volleys we're fired but
for some time it was an almost con-
tinuous crack of single rifles, accompan-
cid by the wild whoop so common to
the red man when in battle. Some
shots came perilously close to our hiding
places, but we stuck it out. Now and
then we could see red man tumble
to the ground, and one of the other
side dart out to secure his scalp. The
fight lasted, to the best of my recollec-
tion, something more than an hour,
when the Chippewas took flight. They
had ponies near by and mounting them
they scurried away, the Sioux following
some distance. The steamer still be-
ing at the landing we once more boarded
her and went on up to St. Peter. The
next night after our arrival, I remember
correctly, the band of Sioux arrived at
Traverse des Sioux, some two miles
below St. Peter, and there held a scalp
dance which nearly all St. Peter at
tended as witnesses. wrote an account
OF the fight for the St. Peter Free Press,
OF which Mr.. Dodge was owner. I
remained at St. Peter for several months.
April Fool Joke.
'This recalls to my mind another
Renaissance of those days. Some time
in 1857 the Indians under Chief Ink
paduta, committed horrid massacre
at Spirit Lake, Iowa, and escaped cap
ture. Mr.. Dodge had a cylinder press
operated by an ugly dispositioned In
dian pony, in the old manner of grind
ing tanbark. Mr.. Dodge gave to his
pony the name of Inkpaduta. One
night the pony escaped from the stable
and was not captured again for two or
three days. This made the paper late
that week. 1t should have appeared
on Thursday. I was foreman of the
office, and trying to be witty, I ran in a