Houston County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 35 of those read), 1882

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 35 of those read)

On Monday morning, the 18th of August, 1862, at about 9 o'clock, a messenger arrived at Fort Ridgely, from the Lower Sioux Agency, bringing the startling news that the Indians were massacrein g the whites at that place. Captain John S. Marsh, of Company B, Fifth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, then in command, immediately dispatched messengers after Lieutenant Sheehan, of Company C, of the same regiment, who had left that post on the morning before, with a detachment of his company, for Fort Ripley, on the Upper Mississipi, and Major T. J. Galbraith, Sioux Agent, who had also left the fort at the same time with fifty men, afterwards known as the Renville Rangers, for Fort Snelling, urging them to return to Fort Ridgely with all possible dispatch, as there were then in the fort only Company B, numbering about seventy-five or eighty men. The gallant captain then took a detachment of fortysix men, and accompanied by Interpreter Quinn, immediately started for the scene of blood, distant twelve miles. They made a very rapid march. When within about four miles of the ferry, opposite the Agency, they met the ferryman, Mr. Martelle, who informed Captain Marsh that the Indians were in considerable force, and were murdering all the people, and advised him to return. He replied that he was there to protect and defend the frontier, and he should do so if it was in his power, and gave the order "Forward!" Between this point and the river they passed nine dead bodies on or near the road. Arriving near the ferry the company was halted, and Corporal Ezekiel Rose was sent forward to examine the ferry, and see if all was right. The captain and interpreter were mounted on mules, the men were on foot, and formed in two ranks in the road, near the ferry-house, a few rods from the banks of the river. The corporal had taken a pail with him to the river, and returned, reporting the ferry all right, bringing with him water for the exhausted and thirsty men.

Captain Marsh Killed

In the meantime an Indian had made his appearance on the opposite bank, and calling to Quinn, urged them to come across, telling him all was right on that side. The suspicions of the captain were at once aroused, and he ordered the men to remain in their places, and not to move on to the boat until he could ascertain whether the Indians were in ambush in the ravines on the opposite shore. The men were in the act of drinking, when the savage on the opposite side, seeing they were not going to cross at once, fired his gun, as a signal, when instantly there arose out of the grass and brush, all around them, some four or five hundred warriors, who poured a terrific volley upon the devoted band. The aged interpreter fell from his mule, pierced by over twenty balls. The captain's mule fell dead, but he himself sprang to the ground unharmed. Several of the men fell at this first fire. The testimony of the survivors of this sanguinary engagement is, that their brave commander was as cool and collected as if on dress parade. They retreated down the stream about a mile and a half, fighting their way inch by inch, when it was discovered that a body of Indians, taking advantage of the fact that there was a bend in the river, had gone across and gained the bank below them.

The heroic little band was already reduced to about one-half its original number. To cut their way through this large number of Indians was impossible. Their only hope now was to cross the river to the reservation, as there appeared to be no Indians on that shore, retreat down that side and recross at the fort. The river was supposed to be fordable where they were, and, accordingly, Capt. Marsh gave the order to cross. Taking his sword in one hand and his revolver in the other, accompanied by his men, he waded out into the stream. It was very soon ascertained that they must swim, when those who could not do so returned to the shore and hid in the grass as best they could, while those who could, dropped their arms and struck out for the opposite side. Among these latter was Capt. Marsh. When near the opposite shore he was struck by a ball, and immediately sank, but arose again to the surface, and grasped the shoulder of a man at his side, but the garment gave way in his grasp, and he again sank, this time to rise no more.

them who were unable to cross remained in the grass and bushes until night, when they made their way, also, to the fort or settlements. Some of them were badly wounded, and were out two or three days before they got in. Two weeks afterward, Josiah F. Marsh, brother of the captain, with a mounted escort of thirty men - Lis old neighbors from Fillmore county - made search for his body, but without success. On the day before and the day after this search, as was subsequently ascertained, two hundred Indians were scouting along the river, upon the the very ground over which these thirty men passed, in their fruitless search for the remains of their dead brother and friend. Two weeks later another search was made with boats along the river, and this time the search was successful. His body was discovered a mile and a half below where he was killed, under the roots of a tree standing at the water's edge. His remains were borne by his sorrowing companions to Fort Ridgley, and deposited in the military burial-ground at that place.

This gallant officer demands more than a passing notice. When the Southern rebellion brokeout, in 1861, John S. Marsh was residing in Fillmore county, Minnesota. A company was recruited in his neighborhood, designed for the gallant 1st Minnesota, of which he was made first lieutenant. Before, however, this company reached Fort Snelling, the place of rendezvous, the regiment was full, and it was disbanded. The patriotic fire still burned in the soul of young Marsh. Going to La Crosse, he volunteered as a private in the 2d Wisconsin regiment, and served some ten months in the ranks. In the following winter his brother, J. F. Marsh, assisted in raising a com* pany in Fillmore county, of which John S. was elected first lieutenant, and he was therefore transferred, by order of the Secretary of War, to his company, and arrived at St. Paul about the 12th of March, 1862. In the meantime, Captain Gere was promoted to major, and on the 24th Lieutenant Marsh was promoted to the captaincy of his company, and ordered to report at Fort Ridgely and take command of that important frontier post. Captain Marsh at once repaired to his post of duty, where he remained in command until the fatal encounter of the 18th terminated both his usefulness and life. He was a brave and accomplished soldier, and a noble man,

Foiled in their attack on New Ulm by the timely arrival of reinforcements under Flandrau, the Indians turned their attention toward Fort Ridgely, eighteen miles north-west. On Wednesday, at three o'clock P. M., the 20th of August, they suddenly appeared in great force at that post, and at once commenced a furious assault upon it. The fort is situated on the edge of the prairie, about half a mile from the Minnesota river, a timbered bottom intervening, and a wooded ravine running up out of the bottom around two sides of the fort, and within about twenty rods of the buildings, affording shelter for an enemy on three sides, within easy rifle or musket range.

The first knowledge the garrison had of the presence of the foe was given by a volley from the ravine, which drove in the pickets. The men were instantly formed, by order of Lieutenant Sheehan, in line of battle, on the parade-ground inside the works. Two men, Mark M. Grear, of Company C, and William Goode, of Company B, fell at the first fire of the concealed foe, after the line was formed; the former was instantly killed, the latter badly wounded, both being shot in the head. Robert Baker, a citizen, who had escaped from the massacre at the Lower Agency, was shot through the head and instantly killed, while standing at a window in the barracks, at about the same time. The men soon broke for shelter, and from behind boxes, from windows, from the shelter of the buildings, and from every spot where concealment was possible, watched their opportunities, wasted no ammunition, but poured their shots with deadly effect upon the wily and savage foe whenever he suffered himself to be seen.

The forces in the fort at this time were the remnant of Company B, 5th Regiment M. V., Lieutenant Culver, thirty men; about fifty men of Company C, same regiment, Lieutenant T. J. Sheehan; the Renville Rangers, Lieutenant James Gorman, numbering fifty men, all under command of Lieutenant T. J. Sheehan.

Sergeant John Jones, of the regular army, a brave and skillful man, was stationed at this fort as post-sergeant, in charge of the ordnance, and took immediate command of the artillery, of which there were in the fort six pieces. Three only, however, were used - two six-pounder howitzers and one twenty-four-pounder field-piece. A sufficient number of men had been detailed to work these guns, and at the instant of the first alarm were promptly at their posts. One of the guns was placed in charge of a citizen named J. C. Whipple, an old artillerist, who had seen service in the Mexican war, and in the United States navy, and had made his escape from the massacre at the Lower Agency, and one in charge of Sergeant McGrew, of Company C; the other in charge of Sergeant Jones in person. In this assault there were, probably, not less than five hundred warriors, led by their renowned chief, Little Crow.

So sudden had been the outbreak, and so weak was the garrison that there had been no time to construct any defensive works whatever, or to remove or destroy the wooden structures and haystacks, behind which the enemy could take position and shelter. The magazine was situated some twenty rods outside the main works on the open prairie. Men were at once detailed to take the ammunition into the fort. Theirs was the post of danger; but they passed through the leaden storm unscathed.

In the rear of the barracks was a ravine up which the St. Peter road passed. The enemy had possesion of this ravine and road, while others were posted in the buildings, at the windows, and in sheltered portions in the sheds in the rear of the officer's quarters. Here they fought from 3 o'clock until dark, the artillery all the while shelling the ravine at short range, and the rifles and muskets of the men dropping the yelling demons like autumn leaves. In the meantime the Indians had got into some of the old out-buildings, and had crawled up behind the hay-stacks, from which they poured heavy volleys into the fort. A few well-directed shells from the howitzers set them on fire, and when night closed over the scene the lurid light of the burning buildings shot up with a fitful glare, and served the purpose of revealing to the wary sentinel the lurking foe should he again appear.

The Indians retired with the closing day, and were seen in large numbers on their ponies, making their way rapidly toward the Agency. The great danger feared by all was, that, under cover of the darkness, the savages might creep up to the buildings and with fire-arrows ignite the dry roofs of the wooden structures. But abjut midnight the heavens opened and the earth was deluged with rain, effectually preventing tho consummation of such a design, if it was intended. As the first great drops fell on the faces upturned to the gathering heavens the glad shout of "Rain! rain! thank God! thank God!" went round the beleaguered garrison. Stout-hearted, strong-armed men breathed free again; and weary, frightened women and children slept once more in comparative safety.

In this engagement there were two men killed, and nine wounded, and all the government mules were stampeded by the Indians. Jack Frazer, an old resident in the Indian country, volunteered as a bearer of dispatches to Governor Ramsey, and availing himself of the darkness and the furious storm, made his way safely out of the fort, and reached St. Peter, where he met Colonel Sibley and his command on their way to the relief of the fort.

Rain continued to fall until nearly night of Thursday, when it ceased, and that night the stars looked down upon the weary, but still wakeful and vigilant watchers in FortRidgely. On that night a large quantity of oats, in sacks, stored in the granary near the stable, and a quantity of cordwood piled near the fort, were disposed about the works in such a manner as to afford protection to the men, in case of another attack. The roof of the commissary building was covered with earth, as a protection against fire-arrows. The water in the fort had given out, and as there was neither well nor cistern in the works, the garrison were dependent upon a spring some sixty rods distant in the ravine, for a supply of that indispensable element. Their only resource now was to dig for water, which they did at another and less exposed point, and by noon had a supply sufficient for two or three days secured inside the fort.

In the meantime the small arm's ammunition having become nearly exhausted in the battle of Wednesday, the balls were removed from some of the spherical case-shot, and a party of men and women made them up into cartridges, which were greatly needed. Small parties of Indians had been seen about the fort, out of range, during Thursday and Friday forenoon, watching the fort, to report if reinforcements had reached it At about 1 o'clock in the afternoon of Friday, the 22d, they appeared again in force, their numbers greatly augmented, and commenced a furious and most determined assault. They came apparently from the Lower Agency, passing down the Minnesota bottom, and round into the ravine surrounding the fort As they passed near the beautiful residence of R H. Randall, post sutler, they applied the torch and it was soon wrapped in flames. On came the painted savages yelling like so many demons let loose from the bottomless pit; but the brave men in that sore pressed garrison, knowing full well that to be taken alive was certain death to themselves and all within the doomed fort, each man was promptly at his post

The main attack was directed against that side of the works next to the river, the buildings here being frame structures, and the most vulnerable part of the fort. This side was covered by the stable, granary, and one or two old buildings, besides the sutler's store on the west side, yet standing, as well as the buildings named above. Made bold by their augmented numbers, and the non- arrival of reinforcements to the garrison, the Indians pressed on, seemingly determined to rush at once into the works, but were met as they reached the end of the timber, and swept round up the ravine with such a deadly fire of musketry poured upon them from behind the barracks and the windows of the quarters, and of grape, canister and shell from the guns of the brave and heroic Jones, Whipple, and McGrew, that they beat a hasty retreat to the friendly shelter of the bottom, out of musket range. But the shells continued to scream wildly through the air, and burst around and among them. They soon rallied and took possession of the stable and other out-buildings on the south side of the fort, from which they poured terrific volleys upon the frail wooden buildings on that side, the bullets actually passing through their sides, and through the partitions inside of them Here Joseph Vanosse, a citizen, was shot through the body by a ball which came through the side of the building. They were soon driven from these buildings by the artillery, which shelled them out, setting the buildings on fire. The sutler's store was in like manner shelled and set on fire. The scene now became grand and terrific. The names and smoke of the burning buildings, the wild and demoniac yells of the savage besiegers, the roaring of cannon, the screaming of shells as they hurtled through the air, the sharp crack of the rifle, and the unceasing rattle of musketry presented an exhibition never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it.

The Indians retired hastily from the burning buildings, the men in the fort sending a shower of bullets among them as they disappeared over the blufls toward the bottom. With wild yells they now circled round into the ravine, and from the tall grass, lying on their faces, and from the shelter of the timber, continued the battle till night, their leader, Little Crow, vainly ordering them to charge on the guns. They formed once for that purpose, about sundown, but a shell and round of canister sent into their midst closed the contest, when, with an unearthly yell of rage and disappointment, they left. These shots, as was afterwards ascertained, killed and wounded seventeen of their number. Jones continued to shell the ravine and timber around the fort until after dark, when the firing ceased, and then, as had been done on each night before, since the investment of the fort, the men all went to their several posts to wait and watch for the coming of the wily foe. The night waned slowly ; but they must not sleep; their foe is sleepless, and that wide area of dry shingled roof must be closely scanned, and the approaches be vigilantly guarded, by which he may, under cover of the darkness, creep upon them unawares.

Morning broke at last, the sun rode up a clear and cloudless sky, but the foe came not. The day passed away, and no attack; the night again, and then another day; and yet other days and nights of weary, sleepless watching, but neither friend nor foe approached the fort, until about daylight on Wednesday morning, the 27th, when the cry was heard from the look-out on the roof, "There are horsemen coming on the St. Peter road, across the ravine!" Are they friends or foes? was the question on the tongues of all. By their cautious movements they were evidently reconnoitering, and it was yet too dark for those in the fort to be able to tell, at that distance, friends from foes. But as daylight advanced, one hundred and fifty mounted men were seen dashing through the ravine; and amidst the wild hurras of the assembled garrison, Colonel Samuel McPhail, at the head of two companies of citizen -cavalry, rode into the fort. In command of a company of these men were Anson Northrup, from Minneapolis, an old frontiers-man, and R. H. Chittenden, of the First Wisconsin Cavalry. This force had ridden all night, having left St. Peter, forty-five miles distant, at 6 o'clock the night before. From them the garrison learned that heavy reinforcements were on their way to their relief,, under Colonel (now Brigadier-General) H. H. Sibley. The wornout and exhausted garrison could now sleep with a feeling of comparative security. The number of killed and wounded of the enemy is not known, but must have been considerable, as, at the close of each battle, they were seen carrying away their dead and wounded. Our own fallen heroes were buried on the edge of the prairie near the fort; and the injuries of the wounded men were carefully attended to by the skillful and excellent postsurgeon, Dr. Alfred Muller.

We close our account of this protracted siege by a slight tribute on behalf of the sick and wounded in that garrison, to one whose name will ever be mentioned by them with love and respect. The hospitals of Sebastopol had their Florence Nightingale, and over every blood-stained field of the South, in our own struggle for national life, hovered angels of mercy, cheering and soothing the sick and wounded, -smoothing the pillows and closing the^ eyes of our fallen braves. And when, in after years, the brave men who fell, sorely wounded, in the battles of Fort Ridgely, Birch Coolie, and Wood Lake, fighting against the savage hordes who overran the borders of our beautiful State, in August and September, 1862, carrying the flaming torch, the gleaming tomahawk, and bloody scalping-knife to hundreds of peaceful homes, shall tell to their children and children's children the story of the "dark and bloody ground" of Minnesota, and shall exhibit to them the scars those wounds have left; they will tell, with moistened cheek and swelling hearts of the noble, womanly deeds of Mrs. Eliza Muller, the "Florence Nightingale" of Fort Bidgely. [Mrs. Muller several years since died at the asylum at St. Peter.]

Sergeant John Jones

We feel that the truth of history will not be fully vindicated should we fail to bestow upon a brave and gallant officer that meed of praise so justly due. The only officer of experience left in the fort by the death of its brave commandant was Sergeant John Jones, of the regular artillery; and it is but just to that gallant officer that we should say that but for the cool courage and discretion of Sergeant Jones, Fort Ridgely would, in the first day's battle have become a funeral pyre for all within its doomed walls. And it gives us more than ordinary pleasure to record the fact, that the services he then rendered the Government, in the defense of the frontier were fully recognized and rewarded with the commission of Captain of the Second Minnesota Battery.