St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-05

Une CUrIitr, ndNC IST~t. - -
O'Connor as 1.-The bogie man" 1t has
been intimated that certain Demo-
Gratis will kick on the appointment
of Col. Sheehan, but evidently they
are not of the class which carries
weight. Marshal OConnor has al
ways enjoyed the reputation-and
deserves it-of knowing just exactly
what he is doing, and it is not within
the range of possibility that ill-fa-
vored kicks" will move him from
this or any other act which he may
in his discretion decide upon. He is
a man who is not moved by impulses,
and although Col. Sheehan has been
regarded as Republican, Marshal
O'Connor undoubtedly had his
OWN GOOD REASONS
for reappointing him. Good Dem
ocrats will let it go at that. 1t will
perhaps cut'little figure with the mar
shall whether they will or will not.
1t is understood that the appointment
of Col. Sheehan was made upon the
recommendation of numerous promi-
nent and influential citizens of all par
ties and classes, noe only because OF his
long experience in and admitted fitness
for the position, but because of his
valuable and gallant services FOR the
state and the country in past historic
times. 800 ak 20
When ex-Marshal Bede reappointcd
Col. Sheehan as deputy, he gave
these as his reasons for his action: II
took especial pleasure in appointing
him." said Mr.. Bede. Indeed, | would
have been glad if it had been possible
for me to have given him a much let
ter position. He is an intelligent gen
tleman, and has demonstrated his su-
perior qualifica lions for his place, and,
besides, l have examined his record
and know that no other man in Mime
sofa has better. His character is
without a stain, and he has hosts of
admiring friends. The history of the
state, especially of the great Indian
rebellion of 1862 has made US all ia
miliar with his great services. 1t was
he who, in August, 1862, when young
man of but twenty-four years of age,
was in command of Fort Ridgely, and,
with but handful of soldiers, held
against hundreds of Little Crow war
riors, the flowers of the great Sioux
army. On two separate days the Indi-
ans assaulted the fort with forces num-
bering ten to his one, but on each occa-
sion he and his gallant little band,
after hours of hard fighting, beat them
off and kept shut against them the
gate to the lower Minnesota valley,
saving the towns of st. Peter, Shakopee
and Mankato from the torch, and their
people from the tomahawk and scalp
ing knife. At that time he was but a
lieutenant, but he was in supreme COM
mand, and it was in his discretion 10
have abandoned the fort and retreatcd
to position of safety and left the coun-
try and the people
TO THEIR FATE.
Indeed, 1 am told that would have
been the military thing for him to have
done. But his fort was full of women
and children and other fugitives from
the great Indian uprising, and, with a
fidelity and intelligence that should
make him immortal, he saw his whole
duty before him, and did it. His post
was surrounded by wall of savages,
| his water supply was cut off, fire ar
| rows ignited his buildings, and no man
could tell what the end would be, hut
Lieut.. Sheehan and his brave COM
rades never faltered, never failed, and
held the fort as the Spartans held the
pass until Gen. Sibley and relief came.
It must have been a goodly sight, and
one l should like to have seen-this gal
liant young officer interposing his stout
shield and sharp sword between those
yelling, murderous hosts of barbarism
and the defenseless people of the lower
| Minnesota. For his gallantry in de-
Tending the fort he was officially
thanked by Gen. Sibley and given its
command. "A few weeks later he and
| his company were sent to the South
where the War of the Rebellion was
then raging, and he added to his repu-
| tation on other fields in that quarter
! coming out Of the service a captain
In the memorable charge of his regi-
| ment, the Fifth Minnesota, at Nash
| Vile, he was foremost in the press, and
leaping upon the enemy's intrench-
ments, with his own hands he waved
the colors of his regiment fairly in The
faces Of the dismayed Confederates
| Since the war he has held several posI-
| lions of trust and responsibility in this
state and under the government, :.nd
has never been found wanting. He IS
now fifty-siX years of age, and a pooi
man, and when such man, with such
a record, asks me for place 1 will give
it to him, and l will not ask and dc
| not care about his politics or his reIi-
gion.'