The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-05-21

had become expert horsemen TO con-
tend with u. S. Cavalry and were
supplied with later improved firearms
than had been furnished to U. S.
troops. At the earlier battle herses
were unknown, their weapons were
Of the stone age and the fighting
chiefly under cover, an Indian meth
cd adopted on an immense scale dur
ing the World War.
One thousand Sioux warriors first
encamped at the edge of the open
prairie on the south side of the river
near the present Redwood Cemetery
where there was a commanding view
of the valley which here was wide and
deep with most Of the lowlands and
bluffs covered with timber. The
camping place was also near the
Minnesota Valley bluffs.
The enemy was out Of sight, hidden
somewhere under cover of deep
woods, among the many obscure
places of the gorges, hills and deep
ravines, awaiting attacks and ready
for action, for the Cheyennes were
reputed to be as vigorous and aggres-
sive in warfare as the Sioux.
A band of scouts was chosen to
make survey Of the Redwood Valley
and learn the location of the enemy
and decide the points of attack.
This band first disappeared over
the Minnesota bluffs to the east, then
moved up to where the Redwood
energies into the Minnesota bottom
lands, then followed up the north
side of the Redwood opposite to the
location of the Sioux camp.
AS they passed upstream under
cover Of the woods they painted red
spots on trees as guide to larger
body of warriors who were to follow
them to positions selected by the
scouts.
1t was their plan to divide their
forces and completely surround the
enemy before the attack to destroy
them instead Of driving them out. To
accomplish this the trails and posi-
lions extended up to the crossing Of
the entrance of the Ramsey Valley to
through that opening to the west. We
have no report of the exact location
or incidents of the engagements ex-
cept that the appearance of the bat
tlefield at it's close was similar to the
ending of the Custer battle.
It was the custom of the Sioux af-
ter battle to erect pole or choose
tree and paint it red as memorial
to those whose lives were lost and
these were in large numbers at this
time. An Indian authority says that
when the Sioux took possession of
the Redwood Valley an oak tree was
selected which stood at the top of a
rock bluff by the river, by trail in
common use, near a river crossing.
The tree was painted red each year
with ceremony and Indians always
stopped in passing, in recognition of
this reminder of this great event of
their history.
At this time, also, the Sioux gave
the river name of their own-Tehan
(wood) Sha (red) Yapi (river).
The English Interpretation Of the
name Tehanshayapi by Indians and
students of the grammar and shades
of meaning of the Sioux language, is
''The River by the Trees Painted
Red" referring to those painted be-
fore and after the battle
The Memorial Tree was near the
west end of the Redwood River bridge
in Redwood Falls. The Indian trail
crossed the river few rods above the
present Lake Redwood dam.
Early residents remember the ford
at the same place that was used be-
fore and after the first bridge was
built, now twenty feet under water.
The road down to the ford from the
east side was by the present John
Lauterbach residence. The trail by
the Memorial Tree was about the
same route as the road now in use on
the west side from the lake to the
bridge.
This Indian name of the Redwood
River has saved this chapter of Min
nesota history from being perman-
emily lost and is also conclusive evil
dence that this Sioux tradition is
true story.
In all records that are preserved
from the early part of the last CEN
fury, the Indian name was the only
one used but beginning at about 1910
it completely disappeared from all
writings that mentioned the stream
and povor uyac hoard nv, onu white
residents of Redwood county or else
where. During all these later years,
however, the Sioux have continued to
use it in their own conversations in
their own language.
The first exploration of the Mime