St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-13
BIRCH COULIE MONUMENT.
COL. SHEEHAN DEFENDS the PRO-
POSED LOCATION
He Wants 1t Placed on the Rem
Vile County Fair Grounds.

Vile County Fair Grounds.
TO the Editor of the Globe.
ST. PAUL, May Ii, 1S94.-As one OF
the parties who took an active part in
the defense of Fort Ridgley and Birch
Coulie, and served during the war that
is notable for the Sioux massacre Of
1862, desire to say that am firmly
convinced in my views relative to the
site OF the monument to be erected In
commemoration of the battle of Birch
Coulie and the states appreciation OF
the services of the men who there sacrl-
feed their lives in the defense Of the
state by suggestions as follows:
That the state. in giving the money.
did not so much regard the place or the
exact particular spot IN which the men
were surrounded as the pivotal fact that
the state appreciated the services OF the
mea, and desired to erect a monument
as suitable reward for their achieve
mentS. A monument means something
to keep in remembrance what is pasta
record. The place is only incidental to
the main achievement, to-wit, the battle
fought. The monument OH Bunker hill
is record of the achievement by the
Continental volunteers.
The monument erected to Gen. Jack
son at New Orleans is one mile FROM
the battle field upon which he whipped
the British. The monument erected 10
Gen. Williams, commemorative of the
Bloody Pond battle, in Warren county.
New York. is mile and half from the
place where that general fell-On the
very edge of the pond. The monument
at New Ulm is now on the Indian line
of battle, and not where the soldiers
and citizens fell in defense OF that
place. The monument erected at Fort
Ridgely to the memory of the fallen
heroes of Company B and Company G,
of The Fifth Minnesota, is not erected
on the spot where those gallant heroes
fell at that devoted post. 1t is the mon
umental event that characteriZes the
affair which determines the proper
location of the emblem of perpetuation
OF such event.
There have been some adverse views
presented relative to the place in which
this record should be erected. A band
OF men hemmed in. in small camp,
Indians surrounding them on all sides
for miles about; it is toe narrow con-
struction to place upon the act of the
legislature that you cannot build mon
ument to hand down upon tablets of
stone, upon high surrounding place
and within short distance of where
the dead lie and were buried, a memo
rial of the achievement. TO place it in
swamp or upon farm, unprotected,
neglected, is unworthy of the men who
fought and died there. Place it on the
county fair grounds. within view of all,
so that the youthful and aged may take
advantage of the education, the patriot
ism to be derived from a commemora-
ton of the patriotic dead and the pa
triotic living. Delay the construction
OF the monument. and the intent of the
legislature is defeated.
Place the monument intended to COM
memorate the battle of Birch Coulie OH
the county fair grounds on the beautiful
knoll near the river. Then it will be in
full view of all paSsers by Oh the
Minneapolis & ST. Louis railway. This
is near the point where Little Crow
organized his band of savageS to COM
nit the massacre. 1t is near this spot
that he ambushed and slaughtered Capt.
Marsh and his company of volunteers.
1t will look over the ground where Little
Crow marshaled his forces and
crossed the river to attack Fort
Kidgely and to massacre the men.
women and children then seeking safety
there. 1t will then be Oh spot from
which can be viewed that other monu-
ment at Fort Ridgely, and embracing in
the view between the two monuments
the historic valley of the Minnesota
river. 1t Will show in perspective the
landscape between Birch Coulie aud
Fort Rldgely. The two monuments
will stand as sentinels facing each
other i'll patriotic devotion, in memory
of the successful defense of those his
toric points.
hope the committee will take IA
vorable view OF my suggestions. l
would also suggest that the name of the
postotfice at Morton he changed to that
of Birch Coulie.
Upon the monument, in my opinion.
Should be engraved the name of Capt.
ii. L. Grant, who was the only commits
stoned officer who could be in command
at Birch Conlie, as ha was the ranking
oflcer, and to my p.r-n,lal knowledge
was placed in commar- hr Gen. H. ii,
Sibley. Hon. Joseph R.lnrown vas only
guide for the command, having been
acquainted with the Indian country.
Col. William Clocks. Judge j. J..
Egan and others will sustain me III my
view as to the services of Capt. Grant.
Col. Crooks was the first one to discover
the firing by the Indians on the be.
sleged people at Birch Coulie. He was
with ME in Gen. Slbley's tent when
Capt. Grant was placed in command of
the forces; and, in fact, made the order
himself.
Again say l hope the monument
viii be located OH the spot indicated on
the county fair grounds in Renyille
county. Yours truly.
I. j. SHEEHAN.