The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1937-08-12
Tluo Stone Markers Recall
First Battle of MASSACRE
OUTBREAK STARTED IS
YEARS AGO NEXT
WEDNESDAY

Wednesday marks the dark
anniversary of the Sioux uprising
on the Lower agency near Red
wood Falls and the Redwood
Ferry ambuscade, first engage
ment of the war between the
whites and Indians.
Just rs years ago, Monday
morning, August ID, 1862, the
Sioux rose in pent-up savage fury
brought on through some real and
some imagined mistreatment and
cheating by the whites.
News of the massacre which
began at the trading post of the
agency, the site of the present
Knuepple farm, brought Captain
John S. Marsh with a contingent
of 46 men from Fort RidgeIy to
the scene of the outbreak. Cap
tain Marsh was an uncle of Wal
do Marsh and great uncle of B.
E. Marsh.
At the Redwood ferry opposite
the agency, Marsh was drowned
and "a of his men killed in battle.
The uprising started at z a. m.
on the agency. First devastating
f, Myrick'S trading post, the Ind
ians rushed the homes of white
settlers, killing and wounding all
who were unable to escape. Some
fortunate ones made their way
through the wooded ravines at
the north of the agency plateau
to the Redwood Ferry on the
Minnesota river at the foot of the
bluffs. s..
The ferry site now is reached
through weed grown hardly
discernible roadway which bran
ches off highway 19 about two
miles east of Morton.
Site Is Marked
There stand two stone markers,
one in honor of Charlie Martell,
French ferryman who was killed
while Transporting refugees from
the agency side across the river to
safety and the other to the mem
DRY of Captain Marsh, his inter-
prefer, Peter Quinn and the "a
men killed. :.
Before the soldiers arrived at
the ferry, Martell was dead. They
found the man who had stuck to
! his post until killed, the victim of
! the cruelest savagery. He had been
disembowled and his head, hands
and feet thrust into the cavity.
The news of the uprising
reached Fort Ridgely about 10 a.
m. that day, brought by J. c.
Dickinson, proprietor of a board
ing house at the agency, who had
with him wagon load of refug-
eeS, nearly all women and chill
dren.
Captain Marsh, who was in
charge of the fort, left about 20
of his men as garrison and left
with what historians generally
agree was 46 men and Peter
Quinn, interpreter.
Underestimate Enemy
What Marsh's motive in going
with so small a force to meet
what he must have realized was
a large number of Indians is not
known. He has been characterized
as exceedingly brave, but rash.
Some historians believe that he
thought the trouble was confined
only to the Redwood agency as he
sent message to one of his lieu
tenants informing him that the
Indians were raising hell on the
Lower agency" He had no idea,
it is thought, of the magnitude of
the outbreak but certainly was
well acquainted with Indian life
and action and knew of their dis
content and desperate mood.
Whether or not Marsh knew of
the danger into which he was
leading his small force, it is GER
tain that QUINN, the Interpreter,
was fully aware of the serious
ness. He had had 40 years exper-
fence among the Sioux. 81 do not
expect to return alive" he is re-
ported to have said with tears in
his eyes as he left the fort.
At about p. m. after a forced
march during which they saw
many bodies and met struggling
parties of refugees, the ill fated
troops reached Faribault's hill,
below which the Robert Simmons
farm is now located. AS they
looked across the valley to the
prairie at the agency they saw
several mounted Indians and
were of course, seen. Scores of
the Indians with bows and guns
went to the ferry landing where
it was known the soldiers must
come. Numbers crossed to the
north side of the river and con-
cealed themselves in the willow
thickets there.
One Redskin In Sight
When the command reached
the site only one Indian, Shonka-
ska or White Dog, could be seen
He was standing on the west
bank of the river in plain view.
The water course contains sew
eral bends at the ferry site.
A conversation was held be-
tween him and Marsh through
the interpreter.
Soldiers with Marsh at the time
said that White Dog, as interpret
ed, told him there was no serious
danger, that the company could
cross the ferry in safety and that
the Indians were willing to hold
council at the agency.
Indian friends who were there,
however, said that White Dog
plainly told the interpreter to tell
the captain not to cross and to Ego