The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-08-20

Ulm, and soon after the dispersion of
the council the Indians we're seen
passing southwark on the west side of
the river. No demonstrations at the
fort we're made during the day,
Meanwhile, at st. Peter, at 6 P. NJ. on
Monday, news of the outbreak reached
Lieut.. Culver and Agent Galbraith.
Obtaining there during the night fifty
old Harper's Ferry muskets, the COM
pany of recruits in their charge was
armed and small supply of powder
and lead collected. Before morning
courier Sturgis arrived with Lieut..
Ceres dispatches, and, fully advised
of the perilous situation they we're
approaching, at six o'clock Tuesday
morning this gallant party left St.
Peter with barely three rounds of cart
ridges, and twelve hours later had
reached Fort Ridgley, completing it's
roll of defenders. Thus augmented
the effective force at the fort consisted
of ffty-one men of Company B, first
lieutenant, N. X. Culver, second lieu
tenant, T. P. Gere; fifty men of Com
pany G, first lieutenant, j. T. Sheehan ;
fifty men Renville Rangers, James
German commanding; Ordnance Ser
geant Jones, two twelye-pounder
mountain howitzers, one of them un-
der Sergeant James G.. McGrew of
Company B, and one in charge of j.
G. Whipple, an artillerist of experience
during the Mexican War, who had
himself escaped from the lower agency
to the fort. Thus organized the gar
rison was confident of a sturdy defense
should an attack be made.
The fort, which consisted of group
of buildings standing at intervals, sur
rounding an open square ninety yards
across, stood on a spur of the high
prairie tableland which extended from
the northeast toward the Minnesota
river, that stream being about one
half mile to the south. Along the
east and north side of this spur, and
within easy musket range of the fort
long and deep ravine extended south
easterly to the main valley; to the
south, at a distance of about three
hundred yards, ran the line of quite
an abrupt descent to the valley, while
from this line, and nearly opposite the
southwest corner of the fort, another
lateral ravine projected into the spur,
terminating not over three hundred
feet from the buildings on that angle
The buildings on the east, south and
west sides of the square above referred
to we're two-story frame houses erect
ed for officers quarters, excepting 6
one-story storehouse for commissary
supplies, which stood adjacent to the
northwest corner, while on the north
side stood the two-story barracks bull
of stone. In rear, to the north of thu
barracks, was row of log buildings
comprising no uses for families of pos
attaches and the post hospital, while
at the northeast corner, and near the
end of the barracks, stood the pos
bakery and laundry. Thus while con
veniently arranged for occupancy il
time of peace, neither by location o.
construction was the post we'll adapt
ed to repel attack.
Repulsed in the attack made at New
Ulm on the 10Th, Little Grow had de
termined to carry out his original plar
and to attempt the capture of For
Ridgley, and on Wednesday, August
10th, made his dispositions to this end
Knowing the facility of approach at
forded by the long ravine to the east
also that the usual park of the artiller.
was the west line of the buildings, tn
main attacking party was movet
down the river valley to the mouth o
this ravine, thence under it's shelter t.
a point opposite the fort, this move
ment heing executed under cover AM
entirely unobserved. To divert at
tention from the real point of attack
Little Grow himself, at about l o'cloc
P. NJ, made his appearance just out Q
range of the pickets, on the west sid
of the fort, mounted on a pony, an
apparently inviting conference. Sci
geant Bishop, at the time sergeant O
the guard, endeavored to induce hi
nearer approach, but without success
At this juncture the advance of tn
party approaching from the northeas
was discovered by the pickets on tina