New Ulm review., 1922-08-23
INDIAN FIGHTER
AT CELEBR ALTON.
c. w. SMITH, VETERAN OF
LIE sUEUR TIGERS NO. 2,
HERE LAST WEEK.

FIRST PASSED NEW ULM's
THREE LOG HOUSES
IN 1856.
G. W. Smith, 80 years Of age, on a
3O-day furlough from the Soldiers
Home at Minneapolis, was one of the
visitors in New Ul1n last week to help
celebrate the Goth anniversary Of the
Indian mass acre. Mr.. Smith is hale
and hearty for his age and took a
lively interest in the celebration pro-
gram and the history back of it.
Missed New Ulm in 1856.
Mr.. Smith first came through New
Ulm, on his way from Mankato, in
1856. He went on to old man Behn-
ke's place and inquired for New Ulm.
Mr.. Behnke told him that he had
just passed through the city, which at
that time had only three log houses,
according to Mr.. Smith. There were
a few more houses considered as being
in New Ulm, but as they were scattered
over large area, the city proper at
that time had only the three log houses
seen by Mr.. Smith, one of them being
the home of Mr.. Gross, who later built
hotel where the Grand hotel is now
located on Minnesota street.
Settled on Cottonwood River.
Mr.. Smith went on west and settled
on a piece of land on the Cottonwood
river, about six miles from New UIm.
He remained there till in 1859, when he
moved farther west and settled in
Stark township, near Iberia. 1t was
from this farm that he fled 'on August
19, 1862 with his wife and two little
children. They came to New Ulm for
safety, driving team of oxen. They
drove so fast, says Mr.. Smith, that
when they arrived in New Ulm, the
tongues Of tie poor oxen were hang
ing out. On the way into town, they
passed the home of the Bluehm fami-
ly where the dead bodies Of seven Of
the family were lying by the road
side, killed by the Indians. Only
one of that family escaped with his
life, young boy, and an Indian rode
along side of him, hacking him with
! his tomahawk, till the boy fell and was
left for dead. He escaped after much
suffering, and was also New Ulm
visitor last week. But since his fear
full experience his mind has been some
what affected. He is an old man too
by now.
Arrived in Nick Of Time.
Mr.. Smith and his family arrived in
New Uln in the early afternoon Of
Aug. 19, just in the nick of time, for
within half an hour Of their arrival, the
town was completely surrounded by the
attacking Indians, and houses in the
OutSklrtS were dDldLe.
Mr.. Smith was not assigned to any
company at the first battle Of New
Ulm but helped where he could best
be useful. His wife and children were
in the Erd building. The day follow
ing the first battle, Mr.. Smith enlisted
in the LIE Sueur Tigers No. 2 and
fought with this organization in the
second battle of New Uln on August
23rd, under the command Of Captain
E. C. Saunders. This military unit
existed only for seven days and was
then disbanded.
Wrecked Health of Mrs. Smith.
The fright of that first night in the
Erd building wrecked Mrs. Smiths
health, although up to that time she
had been strong and healthy woman.
She died 81 years ago from palpitation
of the heart as direct cause Of that
experience.
| Mr.. Smith has relatives at Sleepy
Eye and is making that city his head
quarters during his 30-day furlough
He has been at the Soldiers Home in
Minneapolis since last February. Al
though he has spent a good deal o1
his time since 1883 in Pierre, South
Dakota and St. Croix Falls, Wiscon.
sin, he has always considered Mime
! sofa his home state since he arrived
at St. Paul in 1851.
| He is well-known in Sleepy Eye ane
in Stark township as one Of the pioneer
settlers Of that neighborhood.
i n 80 NJ pa,.l calaa., nf co.o,.