Frank B. Fobes
| Name: Frank B. Fobes Company: C Promoted Second Lieutenant February 18, 1862; promoted First Lieutenant August 31, 1862; resigned. |
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Birth
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Mustered In
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Death
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Mustered Out
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Frank B. Fobes| Name: Frank B. Fobes Company: C Promoted Second Lieutenant February 18, 1862; promoted First Lieutenant August 31, 1862; resigned. |
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Birth
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Mustered In
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Death
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Mustered Out
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| There was a quasi-understanding
between the Sioux and Chippewa Indians that they should make common war
upon the whites, notwithstanding the two Indian nations were hereditary
enemies, either of whom would kill the other at sight, and the one who
took the scalp wore an eagle's feather. At the time of the Sioux
outbreak a portion of the Chippewa Indians had gathered at Gull Lake,
about twenty-five miles north of Fort Ripley, which at that time was
one of the frontier military posts, and, being only about ten miles
from the Chippewa Agency, served as its defense. This post, before the war, was usually garrisoned by a company of regulars, but during the summer of 1862 the command consisted of thirty men of Company C, Fifth Minnesota Volunteers, under command of Capt. Francis Hall, the balance of the company being away on detached service, under command of Lieut. T. J. Sheehan, at Fort Ridgley, where they nobly aided in the defense of the fort against a large body of Sioux. Fort Ripley was situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River, one hundred and thirty miles by wagon road north, of St. Paul and fifty miles from St. Cloud. This troop, small as it was, seemed sufficient, as no one had anticipated trouble with the Indians who for years had been perfectly friendly with the whites, so much so, that "Good Injun" was applied to all except a few wild bucks who would occasionally fill themselves with fire-water and amuse themselves by carving each other with hunting knives; but as this diversion was among themselves no one felt any uneasiness. The boys at the fort spent their time in hunting and fishing and such other amusements as their ingenuity might invent; consequently it was a season of pleasure to this little band until a messenger from the agency brought the intelligence that the Indians at Gull Lake were killing cattle and were about to commence war upon the whites. The Indian agent, Maj. Walker, requested the commander of the post to send soldiers to the agency to protect the government property. A glance at the situation revealed our helpless condition. Our arms consisted of old "Brown rifles," without bayonets, and for which we had no cartridges. We had four six-pound howitzers standing on the river bank, where they were usually kept during the summer months. For these we had ammunition, but only one man had ever loaded a gun larger than a blacksmith's anvil. That man was Ordnance Sergeant Frantzkey of the regular army, who was appointed to that position as a reward for twenty years ' service in the regular army, and assigned to duty in charge of ordnance at that post. The fort consisted of several one-story frame buildings, situated so as to form three sides of a square, the fourth side being the Mississippi River, which at this point runs from east to west. On the southwest corner upon the river bank, and the northeast corner diagonally opposite, were block houses, built of logs, with port-holes from which the cannon could command the four sides, providing there had been gunners to man them all. Between the buildings forming the fort were openings from ten to twenty-five feet wide, through which any one might enter the inclosure unobstructed, except on the east side, where a stockade had been built of logs placed on end. The reader can judge how helpless we would have been had the Indians attacked us unawares. Fortunately, however, we were warned of the approaching danger by a chief of the Pillager band, named Bad Boy, who refused to join with Hole-in-the-Day, head chief of the Chippewas, in his war upon the whites, and, to escape the wrath of the other tribes, took refuge at the fort with his family and a few of his tribe. Upon receipt of the message from the agency all hands were set at work by candle-light making cartridges. At daylight, the morning of the 20th, the writer with twenty men started for the agency, leaving the fort in charge of Sergeant Frantzkey. We had proceeded as far as Crow Wing village, seven miles from the fort, where we met Indian Agent Walker, with all the whites at the agency, in full retreat, having abandoned the government property. They reported the Indians were coming down from Gull Lake in force, and an attack was expected at any time. Walker then issued the following order:
Walker thought by arresting the ringleader a check would be put upon the outbreak. A good house had been built for Hole-in-the-Day near the river, about two miles from Crow Wing village, where he lived with his squaws (three in number) and a few of his trusty lieutenants, for it was necessary for him to keep a body guard, being acknowledged as head chief of all the Chippewas. Many of the tribes feared and hated him, as was proven a few years later when some of the Pillager Indians shot him from ambush, killing him on the spot. Thinking we might find him at his house, we started in that direction. Just as we got outside the village we discovered him in company with another chief, whom we succeeded in capturing, together with a six-shot Colt rifle, the property of Hole-in-the-Day. Suspecting what our intentions were, Hole-in-the-Day took to his heels, the soldiers in hot pursuit, through the woods. Having a better knowledge of the paths around the marshes, he succeeded in reaching his house in time to give the alarm to his squaws and Indian friends, who made their escape across the river in canoes. Sergeant D. K. Stacy and Privates Horning and Godley came up just in time to see them land, and give them the command to halt. This order not being obeyed, a bullet was sent after them, which fire was promptly returned. Several shots were exchanged. When Horning shot, Hole-in-the-Day fell. We afterward learned that he was confined to his tepee for several days, and we supposed he was wounded, though we could never learn positively, for an Indian considers it a great disgrace to be wounded, and will keep it secret if possible. Having failed in capturing the object of our chase, we returned to the fort, and Sergeant Stacy started for St. Paul to advise the governor of the situation, and ask for reinforcements. Mounted upon a mule, the sergeant made good time, and reached St. Cloud in time to catch the stage for St. Paul. Upon our return to the fort, the ordnance sergeant was ordered to move the howitzers into the block houses, and instruct the soldiers how to use them. This move, as was afterward learned, saved us an attack, and consequently our scalps, for had the Indians made a determined effort we could not have success fully resisted it. Hole-in-the-Day had sent scouts to watch our movements, and when they reported that we had moved the big guns from the river bank to the block houses they were puzzled, and concluded to wait until the Red Lake Indians joined them, notwithstanding they had two hundred and seventy-five warriors at Gull Lake, only twenty-five miles from the fort. It is a matter of history that the outbreak of the Sioux was hastened by a few wild young bucks who commenced their depredations before the older ones were ready to strike. A similar state of affairs existed among the Chippewas. They were not ready to attack, but the early depredations and the timely information furnished by old Bad Boy put us on our guard, which, together with the fear an Indian entertains for a big gun, saved the whole northern part of the state from their murderous designs. Agent Walker with his family started for St. Paul, and when a few miles from St. Cloud committed suicide, whether from fear or remorse no one ever knew. Immediate steps were taken to strengthen our position. Martial law was declared. All white citizens were ordered to take refuge at the fort and assist in its defense. An additional stockade was commenced and barriers placed at the opening between the buildings. Gov. Ramsey immediately ordered Capt. Tattersall, Company H, Sixth Minnesota, Capt. Libby, Company G, Seventh Minnesota, and Capt. Burt, Company C, Seventh Minnesota, to go to our relief. They arrived at the fort about the last of August. Capt. Hall having heard of the trouble hastened his return and resumed command of the post before reinforcements arrived. The Red Lake and Leach Lake Indians joined Hole-in-the-Day, making his force number about five hundred warriors, who moved their camp from Gull Lake to near the agency on the west bank of the Mississippi, north of the Crow Wing Biver, and about ten miles from the fort. The junction, however, was too late, as reinforcements were within reaching distance of the fort. Immediately following the troops came Mr. Dole, commissioner of Indian affairs, accompanied by C. W. Thompson, superintendent of Indian affairs for Minnesota, John G. Nicolay, President Lincoln's private secretary, and several persons of less note from Washington and other Eastern cities, making a party of about thirty. Com. Dole sent a messenger to his royal highness Hole-in-the-Day, requesting an audience, to which the wily chief gave assent. It was arranged that a council should be held at Crow Wing village the next day, to which place the commissioner went, accompanied by his body guard, one company of infantry and a detachment of Company C, Fifth Minnesota, all under command of Capt. Hall, to meet, as they supposed, the chiefs of the various tribes. Imagine our surprise when we found ourselves surrounded by the whole force of Indians. The situation was anything but pleasant, but fortunately Hole-in-the-Day, who was a very shrewd fellow, expecting to gain more by diplomacy than by war, was willing to concede to the demand of Capt. Hall, that the Indians who had taken possession of the road leading to the fort "must withdraw or they would be blown to ----- in five minutes." The commissioner was not ready to treat with them at such disadvantage, and by various pretexts adjourned the council until the next day, when we took the precaution to increase our force one company of infantry and a six-pound howitzer. It was whispered that there would be some fun that day, but not an Indian appeared upon the scene. The Indian traders and some of the Indians had taken a dislike to Agent Walker, and when they learned of his death one cause of their trouble was removed. Knowing that their game had been checkmated, they were only too willing to negotiate with Com. Dole for a treaty of peace and disperse. Com. Dole returned to Washington, the citizens to their houses and the soldiers went South to take part in the War of the Rebellion. |
