220 North Minnesota Street
New Ulm, MN, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Frederick W. Kiesling House

Statement of Significance:

The Kiesling House is one of the few existing dwellings built within the first decade of the founding New Ulm in the early 1850’s. It is the only wood frame structure known to be remaining on its original site. The outstanding significance of the building is its association with the Sioux Indian War of 1862. It served as a defensive outpost against the attacking Indians and is one of the few remaining structures associated with the Sioux War remaining in the state.

The structure, located on the first plateau south of the Minnesota River, has been surrounded by the central business district of the community and is easily accessible from its main street. If restored, it is the ambition of local interests to create a small park on the front section of the lot serving as a resting place and pleasant access route to the Kiesling House. It is also the desire of various officials to adapt the Kiesling House to a useful service while preserving its historic integrity. Because of the natural terrain of the lot, it is possible to have two levels of access to the house. Quarters created below the dwelling could be utilized from the rear of the lot without destroying the access or view of the, / Kiesling House from Minnesota Street. It would be possible then to quarter in such a facility some interested organization which would be the custodians of the historic site above.

Specific role of building during the uprising.
During the second battle Of New Ulm on Saturday, August 23, 1862, the house, located near t^^ northeast perimeter of the barricaded area was filled with hay ready for the torch in case it had to be abandoned. Although no specific historical evidence currently available documents whether the house was utilized by the defenders under Charles Plandrau during the fighting, it is likely that the house was. on or near the barricade line and may have sheltered some defenders during the heaviest fighting which claimed 54 dead and 60 wounded.

Tangible reminder of the war in New Ulm:
Due to the extensive losses caused by fires set during the fighting which destroyed 190 structures in New Ulm only a very few pre-uprising buildings remain. The Kiesling House and Post Office building remain at their original locations. One or two other buildings of the period have been moved from their original locations. In the case of the Kiesling House, the city is fortunate in having possession of the house through a donation. The New Ulm Battery is maintained by the city and staffed by community volunteers.

Brief explanation of the uprising:
On August 17, 1862, four Wahpaton Dakotas of the lower Sioux Agency encountered a group of settlers while hunting near Acton Township in Western Meeker County, killing five. The Acton incident is generally cited as being the catalyst in the uprising which eventually took an estimated 357 civilian lives. Causes for the hostilities are varied and complex and involve federal treaties, unstable frontier conditions caused by large influxes of settlers, relocation of the Indian Natl on, annuity payments and general dissatisfaction among some bands and their leaders as to their plight. Ultimately, parties of Dakota otherwise named Sioux under Chiefs Little Crow, Big Eagle, Mankato, Shakopee, Red Middle Voice and others engaged settlers in South Central and Southwestern Minnesota in a series of hostilities. The incidents began August 18, 1862, at the Lower Agency near Redwood Palls which was composed of a small settlement of traders' stores, and various government buildings overlooking the Minnesota River. Righting quickly spread throughout the Minnesota River Valley from the Redwood Perry to New Ulm with the greatest loss of life occurring when settlers were killed in the various townships. On August 19, still somewhat disorganized and leaderless, young and enthusiastic braves by-passed Port Ridgely located between the Lower Agency and New Ulm mooted a weak offensive of about one hundred men on New Ulm which was repulsed by townspeople and reinforcements from St. Peter who arrived toward the end of the fighting. On August 20, Chief Little Crow was able to assume command of a larger fighting force and mount an assault on Port Ridgely which was the immediate refuge of an estimated 250 settlers from adjacent homesteads and trading stores. Word had been dispatched from the Port asking for assistance from St. Peter, Port Snelling and the Governor some 125 miles to the northeast. Troop strength throughout Minnesota was minimal because of the Civil War and the Sioux, aware of this, feeling confident about their triumphs at the Lower Agency and throughout the townships did not move immediately on the Port. As a result, reinforcements from St. Peter arrived before the battle began on August 20. The Port withstood the first day's attack using all available fire power and howitzer artillery. The Sioux withdrew after nightfall. Heavy rain and apprehension of the howitzer shells is cited as deterring the Indians from pressing the battle on the 21st giving the defenders a day to recoup. The fighting resumed the next afternoon with an estimated eight hundred warriors led by Little Crow. The artillery again was credited with repulsing the assault}. Port Ridgely remained apprehensive until five days later when additional reinforcements from St. Paul arrived and evacuation began.

On August 23, the main fighting force of some 650 Sioux attacked New Ulm under the leadership of Mankato, Wabasha and Big Eagle. The community had utilized the three days since the first battle to seek reinforcements from St. Peter, organize its defenses and prepare for the fighting which raged throughout the day. Once again the Sioux were repulsed and withdrew that night appearing only briefly the next day.

The successful defense of Port Ridgely and New Ulm marked the end of the first phase of the uprising. Additional and often bloody battles continued thereafter as the military attempted to subdue the hostile Sioux who were eventually pushed out of the Minnesota River Valley area into the Dakotas and Montana where several battles occurred including one at Killdeer Mountain which scattered the Sioux on July 28, 1864.