the bandits went to the river opposite Andrew Andersen’s house and called
to him to bring over his horses, that they were after the robbers. He took
the hint however and ran the horses off. The robbers then passed up the
river to the next house and crossed at a ford; then passed through
Anderson’s cornfield to a granary, then seeing teams that Mr. Horace
Thompson, President of the First National Bank of St. Paul, had out
hunting, they started east toward them, but Mr. Thompson and his son put
coarse shot in their guns and faced them, seeing which the robbers turned
north down the bluff and crept along in a band in the brush to the bank of
the river.
Sheriff Glispin, and others, came down to Andersen’s house, and citizens
arriving, the Sheriff posted pickets along the bluff on the south side of
the river, to watch the robbers. Among these, August Fedder and Wm.
Shannon were by the house, Ole Stone on the bluff, and G. W. Green on a
point east of the picket line on the north side. At this time J. Dolittle
came down and said the guards at his house had gone, and the Sheriff, T.
L. Vought and Dr. Overholt returned there to see to it, and the latter was
stationed there by the Sheriff.
Meanwhile citizens were arriving on the north side of the river, and some
of them saw the robbers go into the brush. About 1 o’clock Capt. W. W.
Murphy arrived and having definitely ascertained where the villains were,
and also that the citizens were unorganized, all willing but no one
deciding what to do, he appeared to take in the situation immediately and
at once took command and found every one well pleased to obey. After
giving directions concerning the horses, he led forward to the north bank
of the river, the stream being about 20 feet wide, and the prairie
reaching to the water edge. Here he posted the men at equal distances,
each with instructions how to act. The names of the men so posted were
Geo. P. Johnston, T. Toren, W. H. Borland, C. Pittis. D. Campbell, Geo.
Carpenter, Joe Crandall, H. Juveland, H. H. Winter, Chas. Ash, E. H. Bill,
E. A. Loper, J. E. Smith, D. Brayton, J. A. Gieriet, Jack Delling, W. H.
H. Witham, Robt. Shannon, W. Bundy, Isaac Bundy, G. Christopherson, and in
a few moments these were joined by F. D. Joy, G. W. Yates, H. P.
Wadsworth, O. C. Cole and several others.
[DIAGRAM OF THE BATTLE FIELD AT MADELIA.]