Millerville History
Millerville Township, Douglas County, Minnesota, USA
The Days of the Indian Outbreak.
Alexandria Post News
© Thursday, July 29, 1897
Page 1
EDITOR POST NEWS -- Having just read the article in your last issue
signed "Joe," I feel moved to say a few words about those early
days myself, having been one of those who fled from the dreaded
Indians. Joe is mistaken in saying that A. M. Darling and N. F.
Barnes remained when the others took their families to St. Cloud.
They went with their families and put them in safety. Mr. Darling
was put in command of the train of refugees which recieved
accessions all along the route, and was known always afterward
as "Capt. Darling." Perhaps "Joe" will remember the trouble he had
with one of the men who refused to allow his wagon to be put into
the circle which formed the corral at Melrose, where an attack
from Indians was feared, and how, after expostulating in vain
with the stubborn neighbor, the Captain called for the boys to
"take hold," and the wagon went in with a rush - and stayed there.
We cannot agree with "Joe" that it was a "foolherdy act" in Mr.
Darling and Mr. Barnes in staying at Alexandria all alone to save
what crops they could. On the contrary, we have heard it described
as a brave and heroic thing for them to do and one who saw it said
it was a most impressive scene when Mr. Darling, stepping out from
the crowd of men who were hurriedly preparing to return to St.
Cloud after the killing of Austin and Lewis, said, "Friends, all
I have in the world is here, and I am going to try to save it, and
if there is a man among you who will stay with me let him step out."
In response N. F. Barnes stepped out and the two men clasped hands.
There were some moist eyes among the men as the two old neighbors,
with their rifles on their shoulders turned and disappeared. For
six weeks they worked with their guns on their backs, never
sleeping twice in the same place, and saved much of their own
stuff and some of their neighbors', as well. At the end of that time
Company B of the 25th Wisconsin Regiment was stationed at Alexandria
and they went after their families. About a year afterward Mr.
Darling moved to Rolla, Mo., where he was killed in his home by
guerillas. His children are well pleased that the effort for the
pardon of the Younger brothers has been defeated, as they have
reason to suppose that these men were among the slayers of their
father. Mr. Barnes was a resident of St. Cloud for some years,
being city justice there for a long while, but was living in
California when last heard from.
E-mail: dwagner2@isd.net
©2003 DJW
Last Modified:
December 6, 2003