The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-09-02
OLD FORT RIDGIfY HISTORY.
"reminiscences of MinnesOta's Most Fa-
NOUS Frontier Post.

Under the terms Of treaty of
Traverse des Sioux the annuities
promised the four principal tribes of
the Sioux nation was due in July.
The previous winter had been Sc.
we're one and the Indians were in
desperate straits when they assem-
bled at the agency to demand their
goods and money. Starvation threat
ened them; they had suffered by the
usurious methods of the traders and
i they were angered by the delay in
the arrival of the money. These
Il grievances doubtless bred dissatis-
faction and discomfort, and the
knowledge that thousands of men
were being sent to the battlefelds of
the South appealed to the savages
as an opportunity to recover the
lands from which they were being
! driven. About this time, also,
foolish whites spread the rumor that
the government was on the verge of
destruction, and the Indians saw
confirmation of it when Agent Gal
braith organized a company of half
breeds for southern service, they
reasoning that the federal forces
were hard pressed if it were neces-
sary to call on them for assistance.
These things, and the belief of the
Indian in his physical superiority
over the white, seemed to promise
success for a general uprising, and
the more impetuous were ripe for
revolt.
When the annuity Indians assem-
bled they were accompanied by large
bands of Yanktonais, Cut-heads and
Winnebagoes, and towards the end
of June, 1862, it was deemed pru-
dent to send Lieut.. T. J. Sheehan and
fifty men of Company C, Fifth Min
nesota, from Fort Ripley, they re-
porting to Capt. Marsh on June SO.
i Twod days later they were sent to the
Upper Sioux agency on the Yellow
Medicine river, where they remained
for more than a month.
/ Early in August the situation be-
came acute, and on the 9Th the starv-
ing Indians broke down the doors of
warehouse at the agency and tried
to take the provisions it contained
They were driven off by Lieut.. Shee-
han and his men, but they succeeded
in obtaining a promise from Agent
Galbraith to distribute the provi-
sions. This issue was made on the
9Th and 9th, and on receiving it the
Indians agreed to return to their
homes and await the arrival of the
annuity money. They dispersed on
the 10th and a day later Lieut.. Shee.
han marched his command back tc
Fort Ridgely. Up to this time the
Indians at the Lower Sioux agency
had taken no part in the threatening
demonstrations, and as all signs OF
trouble seemed to have vanished
Lieut.. Sheehan and his detachment Of
fifty were ordered back to Fl. Ripley
. They left Fort Ridgely on the morn
ing of Aug. 18th, and the same day
Lieut.. Culver, the second in com
mand, took six men and company
of recruitsand started for Fort Smell
ling. This left Fort Ridgely with {
garrison consisting of Capt. Marsh
Lieut.. Gere and seventy-six men.
} At ten o'clock on the morning Of
Monday, the 18th, j. G. Dickinson
rode into the fort and announced
that the Sioux had gone on thu
warpath and that a wholesale mas
sacre was in progress at the lowel
agency, rumor which was soo1
confirmed by the arrival of a party
of refugees and wounded man
Capt. Marsh sent a mounted mes
senger to recall Lieut.. Sheehan, ant
then started for the agency will
forty-six men. They were ambushe(
within sight of the agency building
half of the men were killed, ant
capt. Marsh was drowned in at
tempting to ford the river. O.
the % survivors who reached tn,
fort, five were wounded.
When Capt. Marsh led his ill-fatet
command away he left Lieut.. Ger
and 20 men at the fort.
The young officer spent an anxiou
day. About noon the long expected