The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-09-18
rHE sIEcE or roRr RIpeELY.

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THE SIEGE or FORT RIDGELY.
Lisut'"ont SaumGns Official Report
GalISnI DsfsSss of1s Post Agdinst an
OvsrDhsEmiag Force Of Siour.
WAsHISoroN. September 1.-THE fol
lowing dispatches have been received at
headquarters Of the army;
HEADQUARTERS, Fl. .RlDGELY, MINI.
August 26
To Gen. HalLsck, Commander in Chief;
I have the honor to report that this post
was assaulted by large force Of Sioux
Indians. on the 10th instant. A small
remnant Of Company B. 9th regiment
Minnesota Volunteers. and the Renvills
Rangers. company jus! organized for
one ot the regiments oil this State, were
the only troops l had under my command
for i's defense. and nObly did they do
their duty. g
Finding that they could not effect q
lodgmsnt which vas prevented 10 great
measure by the superior FIRE Of artillery
under the immediate charge of Ordnance
Sergt ] Jones, U s. "A which compel
cd them 10 svacuats the ravines BY
which this post is surrounded, ,hoy with
drew their foIces. and the gallant little
garrison rested on their arms ready Tor
any attack during the night. Several
people. remnants Of once thriving fami>
lks,Arrivsd ct this place in the most u is
erable condition. .s,E D. .a ...
Some we're wounded and severely burn
I'd. having made :heir escape from their
dWslliugs. which had been fred by the
Indiaus. The people in the immediate
vicinity fed to This post. and were organ
ICED and armed, as Tar as practicable, 10
aid 10 iIs defense. .'.. 0.r. t..
On the 92d inst. the Indians returned.
with . much larger force, aud attacked
Us on oil sides. but the most determined
attacks we're on the east and west corners
OF the fort, which are In the vicinity of ra.
vines. ...I
The west corner was also covered by
stables and log buildings, which afforded
The lDdians greSt protection; and 10 or
der 10 protect the garrison lordersd them
TO be dpslroyed. Some were fred by
artillery and the balance BY the RsnvilIe
Rangers. under command Of lsL Lieuten-
ant J. German. 10 whom. and the men
under bis command. great credit ia due
for their gallant conduct .
The balls fell thick over aud through
the wooden building. erected for officers,
quarters. still the men maintained their
ground. ...r. ... ..r
lbs Iadiabs then prepared to carry the
post by storm, but the galent conduct of
tho men at the guns psralyzed them. and
compelled them to withdraw after one of
the mos. determined attacks made by In.
diane on MILITARY posi-.
The men of Companies B and G. Fish
regiment Minnssots volunteers, aided
BY citizens. did good execution. and de
serve the highes! praise Tor their heroic
conduct. ..., .rt
Mr.. Wykof. Of the Indian Department.
with many other oiiissns. rendered eff :
ciont service. Our email arm ammuni'
tion nearly failed. r.a..
/ on consultation with Ordnance Ser.
geant jones'. I ordered the balls to be
removed from some Of tho spherical case
shot. aud many Of the balls fred by the
Indians were collected aud re cast.
The ammunition was prepared by q
party Of men aud ladies organized for
the purpose. who worked night and
day. until good supply was oblsihed
The buildings composing the garrison
proper ar. still up, but they are very
much wrecked. All the outbuildings, ,ex-
cept the guard house and magazines, were
entirely destroyed. Most ofths mules and
oxen belonging to The Quartermaster's
Department we're taken by the Indians.
and We we're left with a soau, supply Of
transportation.
] adopted every possible means 10 my
power for defense, by erecting barricades,
covering the storehouse with earth to
guasd against Ere from the arrows, which
we're thrown with the determination to
make . complete sacrifice Of every thing
but the men's quarters and s,orehouses,
which ware atone buildings. and were
savSd.
/ also incloss list Of killed and wound,
ed-.hVse killed and thirteen wounded.
Very respectfully.
Your obedent servant.
H' T. J. SHUMAN.
Fret Lieut.. Go. @, 9Th Reg. Miun. Vols,