New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1908-08-19

VI tIlS siege dIlu uelcuSS VI OIU IsluSS-
ly in 1862, but concerning the founding
and history of the post prior to that
time there are few indeed who have
anything like complete or accurate
knowledge. The following, therefore,
from the ST. Paul Pioneer Press will
be of interest.
The fort, which was destined to be-
come one of the most famous posts in
the west was established by the feder-
al government to give protection to
the outlying settlements along the
Minnesota frontier. After the signing
of the treaty of Traverse des Sioux
settlers OF all nationalities poured into
the new country, and in January 1858,
Col. Frances Lee and Capt. Napoleon
J. T. Dana selected site for new
fort on the Minnesota river Suisse
quently Major Joseph r. Brown, who
framed Minnesota's organic act and
who gave the state it's name, made al
official recommendation as Indian
agent that the fort be moved to the
Lower Sioux agency, near the present
village Of Morton. Had that sugges-
ton been followed the great massacre
Of August, 1862, might, perhaps, have
been averted, but it was lost in the red
tape at Washington and the site origi-
nally chosen was adopted. 1t was
christened Fort Ridgely in honor of
Maj. Randolph Ridgely, an officer of
the Mexican war who was killed at the
battle of Monterey.
The fort was built by two companies
of the Sixth United States infantry
which were transported from Fort
Smelling by the steamer West Newton
and reached the place designated on
the evening of April 30, 1858, and by
a third company which arrived week
later under command of Capt. Samuel
Woods, who had built Fort Dodge at
Lizard Fork, Iowa, in 1851. Capt.
Dana had charge of the construction
and in the next eight years there were
stationed at the post N ore than score
Of officers who were destined to win
high rank and great military distinc-
tion in the War of the Rebellion, no
less than seventeen of them becoming
general officers in either the northern
or southern armies.
Capt. Dana himself became colonel
Of the famous First Minnesota and
later brigadier general; Capt. James
Monroe, who was the first post COM
mandant, died early in the war as
colonel of a New York regiment;
Lieut.. Kelton, the first post adjutant
and commissary, served on Gen. Hal
leck's staff and likewise as adjutant
general of the Union army, and Lewis
A. Armstead, who was Capt. Woods
first lieutenant, rose to the rank of a
brigade commander in the service of
the Confederacy. He it was who was
killed while leading one of Pickett's
brigades in the terrible charge at Get
tysburg.
Soon after the completion OF the fort
the three companies of the Sixth were
relieved by the Second under Col.
Abercrombie, the officer who selected
the site for Fort Abercrombie in 1858.
OF the officers Of this regiment, Col.
Abercrombie became a major general,
commanding the union forces at
Darnstown, Maryland, in 1861, Capt.
Hannibal Day rose to the rank of
colonel, Capt. Frederick Steele was
made major general, Lit. Ruggles
succeeded Kelton as adjutant general
and Capt. Alfred Sully was promoted
to be a brigadier and led the expedi-
ton against the Sioux in 1853.
Similar distinction came to the off,
GERS of the Tenth regiment which was
sent to relieve the Second during the
administration of Jefferson Davis as
secretary of war. Thus Capt. Barnad
Bee and Capt. John Donovant became
generals in the Confederate army and
Col. Alexander brigade officer for
the Union forces. Bee was killed in
the first battle of Bull Run. Other
Southerners who won stars in the
cause of the Confederacy were Capt.
John G. Pemberton and Lieut.. II. D.
Hill. Hill became brigadier, while
Pemberton rose even higher. AS a
major general he had the misfortune
to be assigned to the defense of Vicks-
burg and was compelled to surrender
that valuable gateway to the Missis-
sippi to Gen. Grant in 1868.
Col. Morris, who was placed in COM
mand of the post when it was made a
school of artillery practice, served as
a general at Fort McHenry, and sever
al of the officers under him reached as
high and even higher rank Capt
Timothy Sherman, Lieut.. Tyler, Lieut.
Dana and Capt. De Russy became
generals and Lieuts. Bingham, Hud-