The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-07-19
COL. TIMOTHY ]. SHEEHAN
ANSWERS LAST CALL
VETERAN OF SIOUX UPRISING
AND CIVIL WAR sUCcUMBs
AT AGE OF 7s.


Colonel Timothy ]. Sheehan, com
mander of Fort Ridgely during it's
heroic defense against the Sioux in
1862, died last week at his home,
831 Ashland Avenue, ST. Paul,
aged 78. He had been in poor
health for several years, and the weak
ening effects of seven wounds received
during the Civil War had told upon
him. In his career he figured largely
in relations of the white men with
the Minnesota Indians He served
from 1885 to 1889 as agent at the
White Earth reservation, and from
that time until 1907 as deputy United
States marshal, taking up arms for
the last time in 1898 when he took
part in the battle at Sugar Point, on
Leech Lake.
Colonel Sheehan won his place in
history when he withstood an eight
day siege by the determined Sioux
braves. Entering the army as pri-
vate in the Fourth Minnesota in 1861,
he was promoted in February, 1862,
to first lieutenant and assigned to
Company G, Fifth Minnesota, just be-
ing organized. In June, 1862, when
the Sioux went on the warpath, hun
dreds of settlers took refuge at Fort
Ridgely, a short distance above New
Ulm on the Minnesota river. The In
dians under Little Grow headed for
Fort Ridgely to capture it before pro-
fn De-
Lieutenant Sheehan started with
fifty men to the relief of Fort Ridgely,
which was commanded by Captain
Marsh When the Sheehan detach-
ment arrived they found Captain
Marsh had been killed in an expedi-
ton to Redwood agency when forty
four men ran into an ambuscade OF
300 Indians, only thirteen returning
to the fort. Lieutenant Sheehan took
command at the fort and prepared for
| the attack, which came August 90
For eight days the little garrison de.
Tended itself and the women and chill.
dren in it's care. After three days OF
hard fighting the Indians drew off, but
kept the garrison penned in until Au.
gust %, when other troops advancing
caused the Indians to retire, and the
fort was relieved. Lieutenant Shee
han was made captain at once and
went to the front with his regiment
seeing much active service and re
firing lieutenant colonel.
Services were held from the home
at 831 Ashland Avenue and Requiem
High Mass was sung at ST. Luke's
Church by Rev. T. J. Gibbons. Arch
bishop Ireland spoke of the career and
sterling qualities of Colonel Sheehan
as he had learned to know him on the
battlefield and in his home and city
life. His discourse was tribute to
a soldier and hero Archbishop Ire
land was chaplain of the Fifth Min
nesota regiment, which served in the
Civil War and in which Colonel Shee
han held a captains commission al
one time.
Major BENJAMIN II. Randall came
from Winona to attend the funera,
and was an honorary pallbearer Dur
ing the Sioux uprising in 1862 he was
member of the company which fol
eight days defended Fort Ridgely and
many women and children from the
Indian attack. Colonel Sheehan, ther
boy lieutenant, was in command Of
the defense.
Other honorary pallbearers were
Major J. C. Donahower, Captain w
Kittleson, r. I. Holcombe, D. w. Law
ler, United States Marshal W. N
Grimshaw and Captain Charles A
Castle The active pallbearers were
Messrs. Purtell, Warner, Waldorf
Lynch, Newman and Reardon. The
burial took place in Calvary cemetery
and a military salute was fired and
taps sounded by detachment OF the
Sons of Veterans.
Colonel Sheehan was born in County
Cork, Ireland, December 21, 1885, and
came to Minnesota in 1857, settling or
a homestead near Albert Lea. He en-
listed from Albert Lea and returned
there after the war, serving as sher1f
of Freeborn county from 1871 to 1888
While Indian agent at White Earth
he helped in making the Bishop
Whipple treaty in 1885, and the
Henry M. Rice treaty in 1889. He re
tired from public service in 1907 on
account of ill health. He leaves three
sons, jeremiah Sheehan of st. Paul
George w. Sheehan of Chicago, and
Edward Sheehan of Seattle.