Wayne Wagner (left) discusses New Ulm’s 1862 history with attendees on Broadway Street during the Brown County Historical Society commemoration week Thursday.

NEW ULM — A walking tour of the New Ulm attack site during the US-Dakota War of 1862 continued the beginning of the remembrance activities Thursday.

The tour started and ended at the Brown County Historical Society, highlighting the historical map of Brown County at the beginning and the art piece showing the second battle of New Ulm at the end. In between, tour guide Wayne Wagner gave the tour and opened with a description of the beginning of the war.

“There are many approaches on how the war actually started,” he said. “Probably as many approaches as people can think of. The Native Americans of Dakota people in this area were on some hard times because of shortages of foods, government actions, and other [related] issues. It was decided it was time to try to drive the white people out of this area. Many of the Dakota leaders did not want to. Little Crow, who was the main leader the Dakota during the war, really didn’t want to go to war. They couldn’t beat the guns and [numbers of] men that would be coming to fight, but the young Dakota warriors [decided] they wanted to go to war.”

One of the stories Wagner told was of Emily Polly. She was told by her mother to stay inside the building she was sheltered to tend to a baby named Ida. That building would be in the same spot as the light brown building next to Frandsen Bank & Trust. For reasons unknown, she attempted to run across the war zone to a building used as a shelter and hospital. She was hit by a stray bullet of friendly fire and died before she could make it. Ida was able to survive, but Polly was the first civilian casualty in the New Ulm battles.

Attendee Kyle Rodriguez cited the Emily Pauli story as one of his favorites from the tour. He gave his overall thoughts on what he learned and retold another story that stuck with him.

“The story of Mr. Castor who went to his bakery to retrieve food,” he said. “He tried to hide it under a buffalo hide to escape the Indians but he ended up being shot by [friendly fire]. [Overall] it’s a really harrowing story of survival, endurance, and people defending their communities and their homes.”

This tour will be given Friday and Saturday from 2-3 p.m. A guided tour of the Pioneer section of the New Ulm Cemetery will be given Sunday at this time. Other activities will include the Kiesling House opening Friday from 12-4 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The New Ulm Battery will be there Saturday until an hour before closing.

The commemoration of the US-Dakota war will conclude Thursday, August 24 with an Bits and Bites of History featuring Jerry Weldy from 7-8 p.m. It will focus on the war of 1862 outside of Brown County and be held at the Brown County History Museum Annex.