The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-13
BROOKE LOCATED IT.
THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF CUBA
CHOSE SITE OF FORT RIPLEY.

Two new faces in the galaxy of por-
traits that hang in the historical society
rooms in the state capitol greeted the
people who attended last nights regular
monthly meeting Of the executive coun-
ell. One portrait Is that of the Hon.
Henry M Rice. once United States SEN
ator for minnesota, pastel painting by
Miss Evelyn c. Russell, and the other
is that of William r. Marshall. fifth gov
ernor of Minnesota, general in the Civil
war. and at one time secretary of tho
historical association. Several resolu-
tons were introduced at the business
meeting of the council over which eX-
Gov Ramsey presided. A resolution in
troduced by Emil Geist asked the assO-
citation to indorse the plan of establish
ing national park at Leech lake. The
resolution was referred to the committee
with approval Judge G. e. Flandrau In
troduced resolution asking the asso-
citation to give Its approval to the pro-
posed plan of setting apart small tract
of land at Fort Ridgely as national
military cemetery. This resolution was
also referred to the committee with APP
prevail. William f, Mason and John A.
Stees were nominated for membership.
The paper for the evening was read by
Rev George c. Tanner, of Faribault.
The title was Early History of Fort
Ripley based on the diary of Rev.
Scion w. Manney. chaplain from 1S4s to
1859 1t was In part as follows:
1t Is the only systematic attempt TO
preserve a history of what took place at
Fort Ripley.
The occasion of the building of Fort
Ripley was as follows:
Indians were removed from Iowa to q
reservation given them In the territory OIL
Minnesota. extending along the west bank
of the Mississippi from the mouth or the
Crow Wing to a. little below Sank Rapids.
Among the obligations assumed by the
United States was the location and con-
struction of a cantonment, and the sta
tioning of q garrison thereat, within the
limits of the new Indian grant near the
mouth of the Crow Wing river Brig
Gen. Brooke, at that time commander or
the military department which embraced
this territory. having received instruc-
lions from the war department, proceed
ed to Crow Wing in the month of NoVem-
Der, 1S48, with a squadron of dragons and
several staff officers; and, after recon-
noitering the country. he decided that the
terms of the treaty with the WinnebaSoes
required that the fort should be located
on the west bank OF the Mississippi. just
below the mouth of the Nokasippt, trib-
utary from the east Capt. Dana. now
Gen. Dana. at that time on duty in Bos-
ton received orders to report to Gen
Brooke. He did so, accordingly, at the
earliest possible moment, and found the
post already located Capt Dana was an
officer In the quartermaster's department.
of the fort. The builder was the Vener-
able Jesse II. Pomroy, who still resides
in st. Paul. The winter was passed in
getting out lumber. In the spring of 1919
one of the companies OF the Sixth infan-
try at Fort Smelling was moved up to the
new site. the commander of which was
named Fort Gaines. in honor of Brig.
Cen E. p Gaines. Nov. 1. 1850. the name
was changed to Fort Ripley in honor of
a distinguished officer of the war of 1872
nan clIpPpintandad the work fAr
two years. The fort was not fully COM
pleted until 1854.
The first commanding officer at Fort
Ripley was Capt. h. s. Todd, who was In
charge from 1S49 to 1854. He was succeed
ed by Maj: Patten. poet and writer on
military science. In 1851 the troops were
removed with the intention of abandon
ing the post. The reserve and the mill
tary stores were actually sold-the form
er at an average of three cents an acre
The sale. however. was not ratified by
the government.
The breaking out of hostilities on the
part of the Indians which occurred inn
mediately on the removal of the troops
led to the restoration OF the garrison.
The post continued to be held for several
years. 1t was a military necessity in
1862. at the time of the Sioux massacre
and 1t was not abandoned until July IL
1877. Besides those already named as in
command were Capt. McCaskey and Capt
Bates who have since won distinction in
the Philippines.
The diary OF the chaplain shows that
the winters of that period were as va
riable as at present. Occasionally the
mercury freezes. In 1855 ne remarks that
the month of April was worse than any
of the winter months had been Frost
came every month that summer
Among the well known and historical
characters of that country was Hole-in-
the1Day. long remembered by all the
early settlers; Emmegahbowh the first
native to receive orders In the Episcopal
church In the United States: Rev James
Il0V6 RrRGk w TO fINn n 81
at Gull lake and Leech lake: Rev 20
Steele Peake, who continued the Indian
work until 1862; Clement Beaulieu and
others The diary tells us of George
Bungo, tall, straight. well-built, very
black. mixed African and Indian. edu-
Gated at Montreal. living among the IN
dians-a man OF the highest integrity.
like Hon. II. M. Rice and others, who were
leading merchants of ST. Paul.
Then there was David O4msted. pFesi-