Show JH ill THESE UNITED STATES minnesota fete recalls historic indian uprising Fea features NEW ULM MINN eighty five years ago this month mont h the sioux indians under command of chief little crow struck out in a last desperate attempt to drive the white men from their rapidly shrinking empire in the midwest states center of the attack which occurred at a period when america was engaged in bitter civil war between the states was new ulm early german settlement in minnesota the indians struck with sudden savage fury in what history has recorded as the new ulm massacre although theo the indians cause was hopeless from the outset it cost the lives of more than men women and children ot of southwestern minnesota the indians were in the end badly defeated and driven from brorn the state into dakota territory many were captured and more than were sentenced to hang intervention ot of president lincoln spared the lives of the great majority of these but 38 eventually died in the greatest mass hanging america ever has recorded there are different dil lerent versions of the incident that touched off the trouble conceded to have been one of the most serious of all american indian uprisings accepted by many Is the story that it was provoked by the craving of a renegade indian named one who kills ghosts for a mess of eggs tor for breakfast the story has it that one of his companions ordered one who kills ghosts to put down the eggs to avoid starting trouble one who kills ghosts thereupon accused the other of being a coward and afraid of we tiie white while man muster bluster for war that allegedly set oft off the spark in th the a C quarrel that followed the young bucks decided to prove their valor and went to a nearby settlers home and shot up members of the family indians throughout the minnesota river valley immediately began mustering for war and the very next day whites at the lower agency were attacked the indians spread out over the country on both sides of the river despoiling every settlement by torch tomahawk and terror terrified settlers hurried their families to new ulm as the indians massed for attack milford a rural settlement seven miles west of new ulm was attacked and many of its inhabitants killed on august 18 the following day a force of warriors hit at new ulm killing several persons and burning a number of buildings the defense held however and alter after some spirited fighting the savages withdrew during the battle reinforcements arrived from st peter mankato mancato Man kato le sueur and other neighboring settlements bringing the defense forces to around maj charles E flandrau a former indian agent was placed in command and defenses of the town were strengthened path of destruction four days later on august 23 the indians attacked new ulm in greater number fighting continued until noon of the following day when the attackers withdrew of the new ulm defenders 34 had been killed 60 wounded nearly buildings had been destroyed during the same time the indians also laid siege to fort ridgley a united states military post established in 18 miles up the river from new ulm during the nine day siege two formidable assaults were made and repulsed the indians then retreated into the dakotas taking with them many captives whatever it was that started the uprising historians are agreed that it a mere sudden binim him the indians were well prepared when they launched their attack their leaders knew well nhat hat they were doing when they chose fort ridgely and the settlement of new vim ulm as their main objectives jec tives it Is felt that the underlying cause goes back to 1851 before the state of minnesota was founded when treaties were negotiated with the upper and lower branches of the sioux nation tor for the transfer of most of their vast lands in southern minnesota and in iowa to the government in return tor for specified payments the indians were to make their homes on a reservation consisting S of a 10 mile strip on both sides of the minnesota river near fort ridgely the th treaty was unpopular with many of the indians for they had exchanged a big empire tor for a narrow strip of not very suitable land and payments were not as large as they had expected other factors ors too contributed to the hostile pronounced feeling eeling which was be becoming corning more pronounced at a time when able bodied men were being sent out of the state to fight in the civil war t LEADS UPRISING chief little crow ot of the sioux indian tribe led more than warriors in the historic raid against new ulm pioneer southern minnesota farming center little crow escaped s V U S troops sent in pursuit after the indians were driven drive off in a climactic battle august augus 18 1862 thirty eight of his warriors were hanged later at mankato mancato Man kato minn little crow escaped that fate I 1 but later was found and shot bravery of their hardy forefathers whose valiant defense once and for all destroyed the war making power of the sioux in the midwest and made the area safe for settlers will be commemorated in a huge six day observance august 1217 12 17 by residents of new ulm none of the actual defenders is known to survive but still living are more than a score of men and women who as children shared the anxious moments of those trying days some despite their advanced ages can vividly recall many harrowing experiences perien ces descendants of the defenders today make up much of the cites population the observance not only will honor the pioneer settlers of the region but also will serve as the official homecoming tor for several thousand new ulm and brown county veterans of world war IL attendance of residents from throughout the midwest Is expected to swell attendance at the six day program to and the city will be appropriately decked out for the event which commemorates so vital a period in the history of the plains states |