Battle of Fort Ridgely facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Fort Ridgely |
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| Part of the Dakota War of 1862, American Civil War | |||||||
 Fort Ridgely burning (1890 oil painting) |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
Santee Sioux | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Capt. John S. Marsh Lt. Timothy J. Sheehan |
Chief Little Crow | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Companies B and C 5th Minnesota Infantry Renville Rangers |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 210 (August 22) | 400-600 (August 20) 800-1,000 (August 22) |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 3 killed 1 mortally wounded 13 wounded |
2 confirmed killed 5 confirmed wounded |
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The Battle of Fort Ridgely was an important early fight in the Dakota War of 1862. This battle happened in Minnesota. Fort Ridgely was built between 1853 and 1855. It was the only military base between the Dakota Reservation and the new settlers. In August 1862, about 76 soldiers were at the fort. They were led by Captain John S. Marsh. He had fought in the Civil War before.
Contents
Why the Battle Started: The Background
On August 18, 1862, Dakota men attacked the Lower Sioux Agency. This agency was in Renville County, Minnesota. The Dakota people were very hungry because they had not received their promised food. They had come to trade for food that was being held back.
Events at the Agency
White leaders at the agency discussed giving the Dakota some food. The main agent was against it. But others convinced him to give a small amount of pork and flour. He said the food would only be delivered the next morning. Also, the Dakota had to return to their reservation right away.
The Dakota men had been peaceful, but they were well-armed. Many white men at the agency felt uneasy. They started to leave and head home.
Fighting Begins
Soon, fighting broke out. Some Dakota men chased the settlers who left. Others stayed to fight those hiding in the agency building. Within a few hours, about 20 white settlers were killed. Ten others were captured. Some settlers escaped and headed for Fort Ridgely. Others tried to reach their homes and families.
News Reaches Fort Ridgely
Mr. J.C. Dickinson was one of the first to escape. He took his family to Fort Ridgely in a wagon. At first, no one at the fort believed his story. But more settlers arrived, confirming the attack. Captain John S. Marsh then believed them.
Captain Marsh ordered a 12-year-old drummer, Charles M. Culver, to sound the alarm. About 74 soldiers gathered. Captain Marsh chose 46 men and an interpreter, Peter Quinn. They set out for the agency. Quinn and about 10 soldiers were killed quickly.
Captain Marsh's Fate
By late afternoon, Captain Marsh had only eleven men left. Twenty-four of his soldiers had been killed. Marsh decided to go back to the fort. He tried to lead his men across the Minnesota River. Marsh was a strong swimmer, but he got a cramp. He drowned. Sergeant John F. Bishop then led the remaining eleven men back to the fort. They arrived before midnight. This was when the Battle of Fort Ridgely truly began.
Reinforcements Arrive
Before Marsh left, he had sent a message to Lieutenant Sheehan. Sheehan was returning to Fort Ridgely with 50 men. When Bishop and Sheehan met, they sent a soldier to warn Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey about the uprising.
More help arrived at Fort Ridgely. Lieutenant Norman K. Culver and others recruited volunteers in St. Paul. These volunteers, called the "Renville Rangers," came to reinforce the fort. About 50 white men, who were going to join the Civil War, also came to Fort Ridgely. They brought rifles and ammunition. In total, about 70 Minnesota citizens volunteered. Some were women or relatives of soldiers. The number of people defending the fort grew to over 200.
The Battle for Fort Ridgely
On August 20, Lieutenant Timothy J. Sheehan was in charge of Fort Ridgely. Captain Marsh, the previous commander, had died two days earlier. The fort had many volunteers. An estimated 400 Dakota warriors attacked.
First Attacks
The first shots killed Private Mark M. Greer. Corporal William Good was wounded in the head. He was thought to be dead but survived. Sergeant Bishop commanded the guards. Several soldiers were wounded. Private William H. Blodgett was wounded in his spine but kept fighting. By the end of the battle, three soldiers were killed. Thirteen others were wounded.
Preparing Defenses
The next day, it rained. The men and women at the fort worked to strengthen its defenses. Ordnance Sergeant Jones positioned three six-pound cannons, two twelve-pound cannons, and one twenty-four-pound cannon. These cannons would be very important.
For two days, settlers from miles around had been trying to escape. The Dakota had searched for food and goods. Some women and children were taken. Most settlers were killed rather than captured.
The Main Attack
On August 22, about 800 Dakota warriors attacked the fort. The first attack was pushed back. There were small fights throughout the day. Towards evening, the Dakota launched a more serious attack from the north.
Lieutenant Sheehan had to order the buildings on that side to be set on fire. This was to stop the Dakota from sneaking into the fort through them. It is said the buildings burned with a greenish smoke. Chief Little Crow's men kept up their attack until August 27. That's when Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley arrived with 1,400 soldiers from Fort Snelling. This ended the siege.
After the Battle: What Happened Next
After the Battle of Fort Ridgely, small groups of Dakota continued to attack settlements. This went on until September 23. It's estimated that about 500 settlers, militia, and soldiers were killed in the uprising.
Governor Alexander Ramsey offered a reward for Dakota men. Later, President Abraham Lincoln reduced the number of condemned men. Thirty-eight Dakota men were executed on December 26, 1862, in Mankato, Minnesota. This was the largest mass execution in U.S. history. Two more men were later brought back from Canada and executed in 1864. Governor Ramsey's replacement increased the reward. The state paid $500 for Chief Little Crow's body, which was displayed for many years.
Images for kids
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Fort Ridgley.png
The ruins of historic Fort Ridgely
