After the Second Battle of New Ulm ended on the morning of August 24, 1862, the city was nearly in ruins, and fearing it would fall if attacked again, Colonel Charles Flandrau ordered a full evacuation. With food and water low, sanitation poor, disease a threat, and ammunition nearly exhausted after two attacks in six days during the height of the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862, more than 2,000 people left on August 25 for Mankato, 30 miles away. Traveling on foot and horseback, with 153 wagons carrying the injured, sick, and aged, the caravan stretched four miles along the south bluffs of the Minnesota River valley while armed militia guarded its front, flanks, and rear. Hungry, thirsty, and exhausted from the siege, the evacuees moved cautiously, unaware that the Dakota had already retreated upriver to regroup. Most reached Mankato by evening, while a rear guard of 150 militiamen camped near Judson and arrived the next day. From Mankato, many of the injured went on to St. Peter, 10 miles away. When word arrived on September 26 that some of the Dakota had surrendered at Camp Release and turned over all their captives, the evacuees of New Ulm were finally able to return home, though some remained away for a time and others left southern Minnesota permanently.