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The certainty of a deadly conflict with a barbarous foe, when no quarter is expected, is a most trying test of courage, but, with few exceptions, the situation was heroically accepted. The women and children were hurried to places of safety, the command was got under arms, and the physicians selected rooms for receiving the wounded, Drs. Mayo and McMahon in the Dacotah House, and Dr. Ayers and myself in a store room on the opposite side of the avenue.

Within one hour the large body of Indians who had been forming on the west, were seen to be moving rapidly upon the town. The signals indicated a like approach from the north. When aware of their approach, Colonel Flandrau posted his men upon the slope of one of the terraces on the west, with a line of skirmishers in front. Little Crow was mounted and led his warriors, who were on foot. In a long line with flanks curved forward, they approached in silence within a quarter of a mile of the defenders, when they gave a terrific war-cry and rushed forward upon a run, holding their fire until they had received that of our men, and then delivering an effective volley at close range. The defenders fell back in a panic and the whole line retreated to the barricades. The assault was well executed, and had it been pushed to its limit might have resulted in the capture of the town. But our men soon rallied behind the barricades and buildings, which arrested the onward rush of the Indians and compelled them to seek protection of the outer buildings.

Lieutenant Huey, with seventy-five men, was ordered to the ferry to prevent the Indians from crossing from the north side. Either from a misunderstanding or over-confidence, he crossed his command to the north side of the river, there meeting a large body of the enemy, retreated to Nicollet, and was not seen again until the following day. This unfortunate event was a serious loss to the defense.

The firing from both sides became rapid, sharp and general, the Indians gradually pushing their way in surrounding the town, which they accomplished before midday. They fought with the utmost boldness and ferocity, and with the utmost skill and caution from every hollow and grass patch, and from behind every house and hillock or log.

The crisis came at two p. m., when the Indians fired buildings on both sides of the avenue in the lower part of the town. A strong wind was blowing from the east, and the conflagration threatened the destruction of our only defense. Colonel Flandrau rallied a sufficient force, and charging down the street, drove the enemy from the avenue. But just at this critical time the wind changed to the opposite direction, and clouds, which had been gathering for hours, shed upon our threatened locality a sufficient shower of rain to prevent the further extending of the flames.....(end of sample page)