The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-07-29

of the fort were concerned, and when
sunlight shone upon the prairies every
quarter was closely scanned through
a powerful telescope. At about nine
o'clock the Indians began congregating
on the prairie two miles west of the
fort, mounted, ON foot and in wagons,
where, in plain view from the fort, a
council was held. 1t was addressed
by Little Grow, and the movements
for the day were decided upon. 1t
was while this council was in progress
that cheers of welcome announced the
arrival at the fort of Lieut.. Sheehan,
with his so men of Company c, the
cheers having been gladly for two
reasons-one in thanks for the assis-
lance, and the other to letrthe Indi-
ans know that reinf orcements had ar
rived.
Sheehan Takes Command
Capt. Marsh having been drowned
the day before the entire command
of the defense of the fort fell upon
the senior lieutenant, Mr.. Sheehan. A
courier dipatched on the 18th by Lieut..
.Gere reached ST. Peter with the news
about six o'clock Tuesday morning.
Lieut.. Culver and Agent Galbraith
managed to find so old Harpers Ferry
muskets, and with the so recruits,
turned back Fort Ridgley, arriving
there II hours later. The story, as
given to me by Mr.. Rose and Chas.
Chapel, the latter now custodian OF
the old capitol, and both men whom
have known so long that must re-
gard their statements as absolutely
correct, is that while Lieut.. Sheehan
directed the defense to certain ex-
tent, he never left the commisary
building during the two critical days.
On his arrival at the fort, and his as
sumption of the command, he an
nounced to the defenders: "Give three
cheers for your commander; because
here is where he is going to become
famous" or words to that effect, ut
terly disregarding the seriousness of
the occasion.
At the time of the arrival of his de-
tachment the non-combatants, count
ing this which his detachment brought
in, numbered about 300, and it became
necessary to place them in the best
points of safety. The men of Com
pany B, who were at the fort, had
previously received instructions and
were experts in the use of artillery.
They were detailed to man the guns,
of which three were put into service
one six FOUNDER field piece under
Ordnance Sergeant Jones, two twelve
FOUNDER mountain howitzers in charge
of Sergeant James G. McGrew and j.
C. Whipple, the latter an artillerist of
experience during the Mexican war,
who had himself escaped from the
lower agency the day before and found
refuge at the fort. 1t is said that these
three men. at the guns, did more to
prevent Little Grow from carrying
out his intentions of murder and ra-
pine of the Minnesota valley to the
Mississippi, then did all of Lieut..
Sheehan's exploiting and directing.
which was extremely nil, the minor
officers determining on the strategic
points and giving the orders.
Little Crow at Ridgley
Little Grow, repulsed at New Ulm
returned to Fort Ridgley on Wednes-
day, August 10Th, determined to cap.
ture the fort A little after one o.
clock that day the fighting was re,
newed, but the artillery and infantry
were so superbly managed by the
minor officials that when darkness
came the little garrison had not los
an inch of ground. 1t was during
this afternoon that it became appar
i ent that the Indians were in larg'
enough force to maintain continu
GUS siege, if so disposed, and that al
the artillery ammunition was likel.
to be required, and hence it was de
cided to remove at once into the ston'
building, from the magazine, the am
munition remaining there. This am
! ila.ipnition consisted principally of tn,
supply for the extra feld-pieces. TIL
magazine stood on the open prairi,
to the northwest, and about 200 yard.
distant from the fort, the one quarter
from which the Indians could not ap
proach under cover.
Mr.. Rose was one of the men de
tailed to the duty of bringing in thi.
ammunition, Sergt. McGrew with 8
corps of fighters covering the worl
of the detail. All of the contents Of
the magazine were brought in. Al
dark the firing ceased, but the men re.
manned at their stations. Little Grow
withdrew to the lower agency, with all
| of his cohorts. At midnight rain