The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-03
and lasted, nearly

or september ana IaSted. nearly
all that day.
On September % General sibley
was attacked at Wood Lake He
had intended crossing the Yellow
Medicine river to await the arrival
of Colonel Rogers company from
New Ulm. About seven o'clock in
the morning the camp was attacked
by about 300 Indians, who suddenly
made their appearance and dashed
down toward us whooping and yell.
ing in their usual style and firing
with great rapidly. The Renville
Guards, under Lieutenant German,
went out to check them. and Major
Welch of the Third Regiment. was
instantly In line with his command,
his skirmishers in the. advance, by
whom the savages were CALAMITY
met, and, after a conflict of seri.
ous nature, repulsed. Meantime an
other portion of the Indian force
passed down with view to out
flank the Third Regiment, and Lieu
tenant Colonel Marshall. with five
companies of the Seventh Regiment,
who was ably seconded by Major
Bradley, advanced to it's support
with one six-pounder. under the
command of Captain Hendricks, and
also two companies of the Sixth
Regiment to REINFORCE him. Lieu
tenant Colonel Marshall advanced
at double-quick amid shower
Of balls from the enemy, which for
tunately did little damage to his
command, and after a few volleys
he led his men to charge and
cleared the ravne of the savages.
Major MoLaren, with Captain Will
sons company. took position on the
extreme left of the camp, where he
kept at bay party of the enemy
who were endeavoring to gain the
rear of the camp. and finally drove
them back. The battle ragged for
about two hours. the six-p0under
and the mountain howitzer being
used with great effect, when the In
dians, repulsed at all points with
great loss. retired precipitately.
This was the last engagement of
any Importance of the war. Little
Crow retired completely out.general.
ed and effectively whipped.
Story Sent in BY Hero.
One of the heroes and really the
man who saved Fort Ridgely from
the savages is Colonel T.. ]. Shee-
han of st. Paul. Following is the
report he made to the commanding
officer:
Attack on Fort Ridgely. Mimi,
Lieutenant Sheehan's report. Head.
quarters Fort Ridgely, Minnesota.
August 26, 1862. To General Hal.
lock. Commander-in-Ch Chief: have
the honor to- report that this post
was assaulted by large force OF
Sioux Indians on the twentieth in.
slant. The. small remnant of Com
pany B, Fifth Regiment, Minnesota
Volunteers, and the Renville Rang.
ers, a company just organized for
one of the regiments, of this state,
We're the only, troops ! had under
my command for it's defense, and
nobly did they do their duty. The
engagement lasted until dark, when
the Indians, finding that they could
not effect Judgment, which was
prevented in a great measure by
the superior fire of the artillery, un.
der the immediate charge of Ord
nance Sergeant ]. Jones, United
States army, which compelled them
to evacuate the ravines by which
this post Is surrounded, they with.
drew their force and the gallant
little garrison rested on their arms
ready for any attack.
During the night several people,
the, remnants of once thriving fam.
lies. arrived. at the post in most
miserable condition. Some were
xpnl4n1aH h,,r y
ing. made their escape from their
burning dwellings, which had been
fired by the Indians.
The people in the immediate vi.
cinity fed to this post, and were
organized and armed as far as prac.
ticable. to add In its defense.
On the twenty-second instance the
Indians returned with much larg-
er force, and attacked us on all
sides; but the most determined at.
tacks were on the east and west
corners of the fort. which are in
the immediate vicinity. of ravines.
The west corner was also covered
by. stables and log, buildings. which
afforded the Indians great protec.
ton, but. in order to protect the
garrison, ordered them, to be de.
stroyed, Some were fired by ar
tillery, and the balance nv the
Renville Rangers, under the com
mand Of First Lieutenant j. Cor
man, to whom and the men under
bis command ere "r'it is due
for their gallant conduct.
The balls fell thick all over and
through the wooden buildings erect
ed for officers quarters. Still the
men maintained their ground. The
indians then prepared to carry the
post by Storm, but the gallant con-
duct of the men at the guns par
alyzed them and compelled them to
withdraw, after one of the most de.
termined attacks made by Indians
on a military post.
The men OF Companies p ara e
Fifth Regiment, of Minnesota Yolun-
teers, aided by citizens, did good
execution. and deserve the highest
praise for their heroic conduct. y
i beg leave also to bring to your
notice DR.. Muller the acting assist
ant surgeon OF this post, who, as
sisted by his most excellent wife,
attended to the wounded promptly,
and | am happy to say that under
his careful treatment most of them
are progressing favorably.
2 Mr.. Wykoff, of the Indian depart
ment. with many other citizens, rem
dered efficient service.
Our small ammunition nearly fail.
ing. on consultation with Ordnance
Sergeant ]. Jones, ordered the