Sauk County Wisconsin - Genealogy
History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 371-373
INDIAN SCARE AT SANDUSKY
FORT HART
On a Saturday evening, shortly after the New Ulm massacre of Minnesota, when the people living on the frontier were excusably nervous, a Mrs. STAMBAUGH, living a mile and a half north of the village of Sandusky, seeing, as she supposed, a party of Indians pass through the woods by her place, took her little ones and fled to Mr. HART's, a near neighbor, and sought protection. On hearing her story the news soon spread, and by common consent the neighboring settlers gathered with their wives and children at the HART place, taking with them only such weapons and household goods as they could conveniently carry. Here they made a stand, determined to seal their lives as dearly as possible.
FORT HART was soon in readiness to resist an attack. Windows and doors were barricaded, weapons, from rifles to pitchforks, placed at hand. A young man living further south, and who happened to be at Mr. HART's house mounted his horse and made a bold push for home. On the way he spread the alarm, without stopping to enter into particulars. As he passed Mr. REEVE's house he made a warning cry: "Oh, Harvey, the Indians are coming! The woods are full of them!"
He rose on like the wind. This naturally excited REEVE's fears and he began instant preparations to fortify his dwelling also. Bullets were run, rifle loaded, corn knives and scythes placed within reach. Barricades were erected, and the general aspect of the place began to look as though anything but a large band of Indians had no business here. About this time, neighbor Joseph POWELL put in appearance at the REEVE fortress. He and REEVE determined to do a little reconnoitering in the HART neighborhood. At great risk of being shot for redskins they succeeded in gaining admission to this formidable place.
Here they found about thirty men, women and children all crowded into one small room, the floor covered with bedding and such household goods as the refugees in their fright had brought with them. Women and children were pale and trembling, men nervous yet pretending to be cool. All sorts of weapons had been pressed into service, from flintlock rifles to brush scythes. It was certain that no scalps would be taken here without a desperate struggle. One old man, with more bravado than the others, pulled open the door and cried outing defiance - "Cone on, ye bloodthirsty savages!" but quickly closed the door for fear of being taken at his word.
Captain REEVE and veteran POWELL, watching an opportunity when no painted warriors were in sight, stole back to the protecting of their families. Greatly to Mr. POWELL's concern, he found his home deserted. It was plain wife and little ones were in the hands of the merciless savages. In fear and trembling he made a close search of the premises, expecting every moment to stumble upon the mutilated remains of his loved ones. But finally a faint voice from the loft of his log barn reached him. Greatly to his relief he found them all safely hidden away under the hay.
Mr. REEVE, in order to allay the fears of his family, pretending to doubt the actual presence of any Indians, and went to bed, but not to sleep. His wife, not satisfied with this arrangement, spent the long night in anxious waiting. She was positive that, if they were permitted to live till another day, they should go back to Ohio at once. The long night passed without unusual sound. The clear light of day brought with it confidence and hope. The garrison at Fort HART ventured on an investigation. It was then discovered that Mrs. STAMBUAGH's ferocious Indians were only three innocent hunters, who, in passing her place at dusk, by their bronze faces and buckskin suits, had caused her to mistake them for Indians.
And thus ended the Indian scare of Sandusky and the siege of Fort HART!
Submitted by Carol