to come again and remove them, was obliged to leave them there and go on. Afterward when others came there, they found that the Indians' hatchet had already done its work.-Not far from the house lay killed, upon her back, a mother, with her infant left crying upon her breast. the main buildings on fire, by shooting from their bows blazing arrows into the roofs. To prevent this the soldiers had, during the night, covered them with a layer of earth. But they could not hold out much longer. Their provision was all gone; their ammunition nearly spent; and themselves almost fainting from ex- The dead, as well as the living, were outraged haustion. Their communications had been quite and mutilated by the savages. They killed a cut off. Whatever assistance and reinforce- farmer in his house, and laying him on the table ments might have been sent them from St. Pe- braced open his mouth with a stick, and left it ter or elsewhere were entirely precluded. They filled with milk. They left another to be eaten had not even been able to send a messenger by a hog, which they drove in and shut up in the stating their condition, and asking for help, same room; afterward nothing but his bones and since the first battle on Monday afternoon. Be- the hog were found. They tore out the heart ginning to despair of success, on Friday the In- of another, and left it fastened on a stick stuck dians made their most desperate charge. Had up beside him. The extent to which they carnot the garrison fortified themselves to their ut-ried these outrages depended upon the time most with intrenchments and barricades, the they had for their execution and the mood in savage flood would have overwhelmed them; which they happened to be. If they had time but, with the invaluable support of the artillery, to kill but few of a settlement, and burn but they held their ground. As the Indians com- part of the houses, they seemed invariably to menced to climb up the stables a shell was light upon the traders and those that had sold projected, which, bursting, enveloped them in them whisky; for though they were passionately flames. At sundown the savages returned to fond of "fire-water" they hated the men that their camp, about a mile to the right of the had brought it among them. road, between the fort and the Three-Mile Creek, and were soon busily engaged butchering cattle for their evening meal. During the Sabbath and Monday, when all this was going on at the Lower Agency and below, the people at the Yellow Medicine and the Not all engaged in the outbreak had taken an mission beyond were still in utmost security, unactive part in the siege of Fort Ridgely. War-apprehensive of the least danger. On that Sabparties, slaughtering, plundering, and burning, rehearsing again the blood scenes of the Lower Agency, traversed the country around bearing destruction, death, and desolation before them. They attacked the farmer's house just beyond the bridge over the Three-Mile Creek. For a time he returned their fire through a window. After his wife and children had sunk beside him, pierced with bullets, he leaped from the house and ran. Before he had gone many yards he also fell; his oldest son ran in the opposite direction, but was overtaken and tomahawked by the road-side. The family at Red Wood hearing of the approach of the Indians, hastily fled, part in one wagon along the road, while the three girls and the hired man drove across the prairie toward Patterson's Rapids. A war-party meeting the former left them lying by the road-side, and drove off their wagon; then coming to the house and finding it deserted, they set it on fire and followed on the tracks of the rest. They overtook them near the river, killed the young man and one of the girls, and pierced another through her breast, and then took her and the other girl captive and drew lots between them how many should have each; the bleeding, fainting girl died from the successive abuse of sixteen. Antoine Freniere found a house in which seven children, the oldest a girl not over twelve, were huddled together in one bed; hearing his footsteps, they pulled the bed-clothes further over their heads and lay trembling. It was impossible to take any of them along with him. Going into the cellar, and finding a pan of milk, he brought it and gave it to them, and promising bath the missionaries held service and preached in the Dahkotah language as usual, and also celebrated the Lord's Supper. It was noticed that the Indians acted strangely. One old squaw blustered into Mr. Riggs's, and demanded a calf as payment for some depredations one of his hogs, she said, had committed in her potatopatch. On being refused, she went off muttering that he might as well give it to her then, as she would have it any how pretty soon. Some Indians went into Dr. Williamson's barn and loosed and led away two of his horses. The Doctor called after them; but they only turned, laughed at him, and galloped off. Another couple would have taken away the remaining ones had not the Doctor met and prevented them. On his asking them why they treated him so, whether he had not always been kind to them, fed them, clothed them, and given them medicine whenever they were in need of it, they replied that they meant him no harm, but that some one would have the horses, and that they might have them as well as any one else. The Indians immediately in this vicinity were not among the instigators of this outbreak. Most of them were farmers-some members of the mission churches. For these causes the Lower and the Blanket Indians looked down upon and despised them, and when they afterward came up among them, burned their houses, laid waste their fields, and compelled them to change the dress of the white man for the breech-cloth and blanket, and go with them in their war-parties and to their battles. On that Monday, fearing no danger, we were scattered abroad from Dr. Williamson's house of destruction; others were hastening toward the mission houses. Convinced that it was no longer prudent to remain, Doctor and Mrs. Williamson, and his sister, in an ox cart, started after us. Lorenzo (or Toon-wan-e-tay) and Chaska walked along with them for several miles, and when they saw a war-party approaching covered them up with a buffalo-robe, and driving on the team replied to inquiries put them, that they had nothing but their own goods. A little incredulous, some of the Indians would have raised up the edge of the robe and looked under, but Lorenzo with his gun stepped between and threatened to shoot the first man that touched it. Leaving them, the war-party went on farther, and soon came across our tracks. "There," said they, "are the tracks of Dr. Williamson and Mr. Riggs; they can't be far distant, let us overtake and kill them!" On they came; in half an hour more they would have been up with us. as the business or fancy of each suggested. Medicine Agency, and commenced their work Some were in the hay field, some hunting, swimming, fishing, or sketching. In the evening when we returned we found the family in great alarm. Vague rumors had reached them of trouble among the Indians; and though yet not fully substantiated, they had produced considerable apprehension. Groups of the Farmer Indians would collect round the door or in the house and talk over what they had heard that the Blanket Indians had done at the Lower Agency and around; how that they had killed all the settlers, besides a company of soldiers, and captured and completely burned down Fort Ridgely. Some of them watched with us, but when the dangers thickened around their places knew them no longer. Chaska, Paul, Ma-zaku-ta-ma-ni, and Enos, however, were constant to the last, and did all in their power to assist us. Toward morning rumors came thicker and darker, that they had already commenced work at the Upper Agency, and would before long be down upon us. Some were for instant flight, others thought it only a "scare," and had no doubt that it would blow over shortly. Not one of us, even the most timid, had the least conception of its extent and magnitude. As the day dawned the Indians around us grew bolder. The squaws went over the house taking and appropriating whatever they fancied. Some of them brought out the sugar-barrel, and after helping themselves sufficiently, distributed it around. Others emptied the feather-beds on the floor, and passing their heads through the ticking wore them off as coats. We began to think it was time to leave. Having hastily unloaded a wagon of hay, which had been driven in the night previous, led by Chaska to a fording of the river with which we were unacquainted, driving along a few head of cattle, all of us, except Doctor and Mrs. Williamson and the Doctor's sister, who had determined to stay behind a while longer, commenced our escape. The same thunder-storm that was then protecting the fort from destruction began to throw its shield around us. The rain completely obliterated our tracks. Concluding that we had not enough plunder to make it worth while to overtake and kill us, especially as it was raining and they were hungry, the savages turned off and went to the Big Woods. They entered a house in which were two men, one of whom they killed with the first shot. The other, Richard Roe, received a bullet in the thigh; he turned and ran to the window, and was jumping from it when they stabbed him in the back with a butcher knife, and chased him until exhausted with loss of blood he fell, when thinking him dead, they hastened back to quarrel over the division of the spoils. He soon got up, and pushing on overtook us. We bound up his wounds the best we could, and laid him in one of the wagons wrapped up in a shawl. That night was spent in a cold drizzling rain. The next day we again journeyed on, scarce knowing whither; our main object being to keep out of sight and avoid meeting the Indians. From the distance over the prairies we saw some figures approaching us. Few of the party evinced the least signs of alarm. One of our number rode up to them and soon returned, not with Indians, but with three German refugees from the Yellow Medicine Agency. A war-party, they said, had killed a number there, pillaged the stores and burned most of the buildings; they themselves with the utmost difficulty had escaped. Our provisions were all gone; a small piece of raw pork was all we had left. Through Having got the wagons and cattle across the river we left them in a flat of tall rushes in charge of the ladies, and went off in search of Mr. Riggs's party, who were hiding, we were told, in a thicket about a mile below. At last, after a good deal of fruitless search, Paul Ma-za-ku-tama-ni led one of us to them on an island in the river. Some of the Indians had met a part of them just after they had left their houses, and ordering them out they drove off the wagon and left them to continue their journey on foot. Their remaining horses, after they had got to the island, the Indians had taken away, promising to return them when they got ready, as it was by all means best, they said, for the mis-out the entire night again it rained. Heroicalsionaries to stay there a few days, especially as they were entirely destitute of provisions, and the island was filled with mosquitoes. We effected a junction with each other a few miles farther down, and continued our journey, numbering in all forty, though with not half a dozen men, and almost entirely destitute of arms. this time a war-party had reached the Yellow By ly did the women and children bear up under it; and, in fact, throughout the whole trip. It is easy for one to keep up courage when his blood is warm; but in a half freezing, drizzling rain, trickling drop by drop through the clothes, and seemingly to the very bones, lying in a puddle of mud and water, courage, if it exist, is truly a genuine article. Next morning we arose, and What performing our toilets, like a Newfoundland dog | a partridge, tried to get around behind him. just out of a mill-pond, with a hearty shake to Each turned continually in a wider arc. dry ourselves, strode or waddled toward a thicket the Indian was after was to get to a place of some ten miles distant, where we hoped to col- security before he attacked him, until which he lect a few sticks with which to cook our break- did not dare to shoot, lest missing his aim he fast, which we drove along before us on the might endanger himself. They kept turning hoof; for not a mouthful else had we. First, until the Indian, finding that he could not get however, several creeks had to be crossed-one, behind him, beckoning to him to leave, slipped in particular, over which we had to lead the behind a knoll and escaped. A few yards disunhitched teams, for the mud was so soft that tant, by a fence, lay tomahawked a mother and it was impossible for them to pull the wagons ner three children. In a house within sight had over; then, having transported across most been a sick woman. When the alarm reached of the women and children as best we could, them she was unable to leave her bed; her two we drew them by hand over reeds and grass sons carried her out on a straw mattress, and in bent down to prevent the wheels from cutting a wagon had tried to escape. The Indians overin. But when we got nearer we found a marsh took them, killed the sons, and piling some full three miles in width, between us and our brush around the mattress, burned the sick woonly chance for breakfast, save of raw flesh. man alive. A few of us walked over the floating sod, and We then were in the greatest danger we had brought over on our shoulders a supply of dry yet encountered. At that very time the plain wood. Then we killed a calf, and at about three around the fort was alive with Indians, and the in the afternoon had our breakfast of partly roast-battle was raging furiously. Toward sundown ed or smoked veal. The next day was Friday-the day on which the Indians were making their most desperate and strenuous attack upon the fort. Unconscious of all this, nearly every one of us was eager to hasten directly to it, thinking that once there the danger would have all been passed. About noon we reached Birch Cooley, where Dr. Williamson, in his ox wagon, overtook us. One of our number strayed off a little distance, and encountered a solitary Indian who would have fled; but the next moment he turned, and with his gun held at an angle as if he was approaching we started again, and pushed on rejoicing in the prospect of soon being in safety. The contemporary occurrences at the fort I have already rehearsed; the charge, the burning of the stables, the retreat of the Indians to their camp, about a mile from the road we had just entered-the first one we had taken since we left the mission. Ere we had journeyed far in it, as night began to gather around us, on the brow of the opposite hill we saw two Indians. They rode along a little distance on their ponies parallel with us, reconnoitring our train; then turned and galloped off to collect a party to fol low us. Be longed scream. Some were urgent to hasten how I can not say, for it was through the very court-yard of death-a few still remaining around the fort, to preclude the arrival of reinforcements, that they might starve the garrison out. Early at daybreak the Indians, passing through the tall, dew-dripping grass, neared New Ulm. Not five miles beyond it our party was passing. We heard the rattle of their guns; we saw the smoke and flames, as they enveloped house after house, in which the savages had first butchered or tortured to death the inmates. Hastily the men, with what few arms they had, collected together in the centre of the village to defend to the last themselves and theirs. Fiercely throughout that day the battle raged. A few brick buildings in the main street, parallel with the river, sheltering all that could get to them, enabled the inhabitants to return with consider At that moment we saw a rocket, then another, again another ascend from the fort. Entirely forgetful of their being signals of dis- That Saturday morning, August 23, after tress, we felt confident that they were beacons to vigorously besieging the fort for five days, deguide us on. One of us having gone in advance, spairing of ultimate success in taking it-for entered the fort on his hands and knees; passed they did not know of the helpless condition to the blazing stables, the skulking Indians, and which they had already reduced the garrisonreached the garrison. Surprised at his exploit, the Indians commenced to transfer their main they bade him immediately return, and if possi-attack upon New Ulm. They left their campble prevent the rest from following, or even mak-ing-ground by the road-side, where we had passing the attempt, which they thought would lead ed them the night previous unharmed, though to certain death. They told him of their exhausted condition, the length of the siege they had sustained, and the trembling multitude already under their care. Still other rockets were sent up from the fort. Confident of safety ahead, all were advancing with light step, when he reached us and delivered his message from the garrison urging us to turn aside. Our warming hearts felt as if a load of frozen mercury was let down into them. Some were determined at least to make the effort. After having nearly reached a place, as we supposed, of safety, then, when we knew the blood-hounds to be on our very track, to turn right back again among them, was at the least discouraging. But we turned off, and went to the left. Within ten minutes, scarce a quarter of a mile from the road, we halted to consider which way we should go. The two Indians that had seen and reconnoi-able effect the Indian fire. But all around they tred our party went with utmost haste and carried the news to their camp. Just then the "braves" were hungry, they were killing beef. As soon as possible they formed a party and followed us. As we were waiting to consider we heard a noise approaching up the road; we heard the dogs at the desolate house bark louder as they passed. But it was dark, and the glare of the burning stables blinded their eyes. They did not see us, but hastened on still further in quest of us. With as little noise as possible we journeyed on till we came to another creek. There, while seeking a fording place, we heard something strange in the bushes; then a pro laid waste in blood and flames. The stores, the mills, the houses, the barns, the stacks of newly-gathered hay and grain, all sent up clouds of black smoke, and lit the sky with their glare throughout the next night. Even the brick houses would soon have been taken, had not, toward evening, Judge Flandrau from St. Peter providentially arrived with reinforcements. With a company of horsemen he charged upon the savages, and, after a vigorous engagement, routed them and entered the village, but not until after carnage and destruction had completely ruined it. Bringing together the gory, mutilated dead they could rescue from the flames, the surviving inhabitants buried them in the street, for yet the Indians lurked around. Even had they been able to go without and bury them, the insatiate devils would not have suffered them to rest, but have dug them up again, and scattered the bodies abroad in pieces. Putting the wounded in wagons, they made speedy preparations to evacuate the village; and the next day, after seeing sights that would chill the strongest heart, stripped of all they had, exhausted, worn, and bleeding, the inhabitants in a long train of wagons started for St. Peter, leaving New Ulm, deserted and nearly destroyed, in possession of Judge Flandrau and his men, and, soon after, of a detachment of Colonel Sibley's troops. By this place, within sight of it, while this battle was raging in its height, we passed. Farther on was the "Norwegian Grove." There, that night, another scene of blood was enacted. The inhabitants were all massacred, mangled, and mutilated, and their houses and barns reduced to ashes. From this place, not two miles distant, we entered a house and slept through the remainder of the night. Those that had fled from that house not two hours before we entered it were already dead; but we then knew it not, and even had we, we were so completely exhausted that I doubt whether we would have done much otherwise. Beyond this, though not at once entirely safe, our danger lessened, and we soon separated, to St. Peter, St. Paul, or back again in the military expedition. ing it might soon blow over, determined at least for a time to make a stand. They filled a number of barrels with water, to extinguish the flames in case of fire, loaded their guns, and, taking their several places on guard, concluded to wait and see what would come of it. About ten that evening, in the valley below, by the flag-staff, the Indians commenced breaking open the stores, killing those they met, and helping The The entire country from Fort Ridgley, New Ulm, and the Norwegian Grove, almost to St. Paul, was completely panic-stricken. The set-themselves to the spoils and plunder. tlers even far beyond the line of danger precipitately left their homes, fled from ten to thirty miles according to the height of their excitement, and stopped in some deserted house, whose inhabitants in like excitement had abandoned their homes; and so on, like the waves on the sea, each falling where the other had risen from. The rich harvests, even where the torch of the Indian had not touched them, were for the greater part lost merely from the want of timely care. Terribly destructive as the outbreak had been, this thoughtless stampede caused yet greater loss of property. The streets of St. Peter and St. Paul were, in fact, glutted with the wagons and temporary shelter of refugees from even within ten miles around, while the massacre had not approached within a hundred miles of St. Paul. squaws again were busy receiving, distributing, and quarreling over the division of it. Seven times they shot at Garvie, and twice pierced him with bullets. He leaped from an up-stair window, ran across a potato field by no means the smoothest, marking his tracks with his blood, and reached the warehouse. While we had been making our escape from the Mission District another party, led by John Other-Day, had fled from the Yellow Medicine Agency, and by a more secluded route reached Henderson. On that memorable Monday, as soon as they there heard of the approaching storm, the whites and some of the half-breeds collected hastily in the Government warehouse. They had arms and ammunition in abundance; for three tons of powder and a large amount of lead were then in store, nearly all of which the Indians soon after appropriated. Sixty-two from the houses around collected together, but think As Other-Day and Fadden, disguising themselves in blankets, secretly entered the ravine to see the extent of the ruin. Soon returning, they reported that if they staid there much longer they would all be massacred. With utmost speed they got together what wagons they had, and before daybreak had deserted the warehouse, and, guided by Other-Day, were fleeing for their lives. soon as they found this out the next day the Indians started in quest of them; but fortunately, according to the information they had received, down the fort road, while Other-Day sagaciously had led the party in quite a different direction, else with others around them their bones would also have bleached upon the prairie. They escaped in safety, though after great sufferings. From Cedar City and about all the inhabitants collected, with a few of their portable effects. on Cedar Island, around which a lake of about a mile in width rendered them comparatively secure. Beyond the Yellow Medicine Agency, and the missions around it, were very few white inhabitants. Mr. Huggins had a mission sta |