Minnesota Historical Society
Fort Ridgely Historic Site
Commissary Exhibits
Reviewed on September 26, 2015
Updated on June 4, 2018
Items of Interest
NOTE: Text labels have been removed from the small diorama at Fort Ridgely. These labels contained 23 incorrect and 6 disrespectful statements.
The exhibits include Fort Ridgely history, Fort Ridgely in the Dakota War of 1862, period ordnance including a 12-pounder mountain howitzer and ammunition, period food, clothing, supplies and equipment including a “Sibley Tent,” period photos of Fort Ridgely and the Civil War, results of excavations done in 1936-37 and 1972 and CCC reconstruction work done in the 1930s.
This review will focus only on the Dakota War of 1862 information.
I believe that some of the panels in this exhibit were moved here in 2001 from the Lower Sioux Agency Historic Site when its exhibits were updated.
Four other reviews of Fort Ridgely products have been posted to this blog:
Fort Ridgely Historic Site Sign
Fort Ridgely Trail Signs
MHS Fort Ridgely Information Website
Fort Ridgely Introduction Video
General Comments
- Disrespectful – Fort Ridgely Historic Site is one of the most significant historic sites in the State. Its exhibits need to be updated and corrected.
- One panel states that there were 180 defenders during the 2 battles in 1862. This is correct. The Fort Ridgley Site Sign and the MHS Fort Ridgely Information Website state that there were 280 defenders. This is not correct.
- The exhibit is an olio of items added over the years. There are exhibits that have little to do with the fort.
- Incorrect – There is a main diorama in the back room showing the layout of the fort and descriptions of the buildings. However, there are other layouts and building descriptions on site that are not consistent with this main diorama. It is confusing.
- Incorrect – I cannot find a good discussion anywhere on this site of the first and second battles.
- Unbalanced – I cannot find any items in the back room related to the Dakota Indians except for short descriptions and paintings of the battles.
Most Objectionable Statements
“Myrick is eating grass”
- What does this mean? This sentence is provided with no interpretation.
[Portrait of an Indian with a narrative of White Dog below]
- Is this White Dog? Who is the artist and what is the date?
The morning after the Jones family was killed…Dakota attacked the Lower Agency…A ferryman whose name is unknown carried 47 agency residents safely across the river before losing his own life in the conflict.
- Disrespectful – More is known about this ferryman (or ferrymen) than is given here. See Connors, “The Elusive Hero of Redwood Ferry.”
Hearing of the attack, Fort Ridgely soldiers set out for the Lower Agency, but were ambushed at Redwood Ferry. More than 20 men, including the fort’s commander, Captain Marsh, were killed.
- 24 men from Fort Ridgely died as a result of the battle at Redwood Ferry.
The first Dakota attack on the thriving German community of New Ulm came on August 19. Forewarned, the citizens formed a militia…
- I believe that New Ulm already had a militia before the Dakota War started.
A few houses at the edge of town were burned before a thunderstorm ended the skirmish.
- There is confusion as to when this happened. This was the 1st battle of New Ulm.
About 650 Dakota under Mankato, Wabasha and Big Eagle surrounded the town, occupied many of the outlying buildings, and prepared to storm the barricades.
- This was the 2nd battle of New Ulm.
- Incorrect – I cannot find that Chiefs Mankato and Wabasha were present in the 2nd battle.
As word of the attacks spread through the Minnesota River valley, refugees poured into Fort Ridgely, about 13 miles down river from the Lower Agency. Although the Fort offered better protection than an isolated farm, it was not designed to resist a major attack. The cluster of buildings was…surrounded on three sides by deep ravines…
- Incorrect – According to a steamboat river mileage chart, Fort Ridgely was about 30 miles downriver from the Lower Agency.
- Incorrect – The Fort Ridgely video states that the fort was surrounded on 2 sides by ravines. Which is correct?
The Dakota first attacked Fort Ridgely on Wednesday morning, August 20, returning on August 22 with a much larger force of about 800. In both attacks they were held off by 180 defenders of the Fort…
- Here it states that there were 180 defenders. This is correct. The Fort Ridgely Site Sign and the MHS Fort Ridgely Information Website state there were 280 defenders. This is incorrect.
[Painting of the attack on Fort Ridgley]
Chronology of the second battle of Fort Ridgely, August 22, 1862
1. First major attack launched from northeast ravine at 1:00 p.m.
- Incorrect – I believe the 2nd battle started about 2 p.m.
2. Indians gather at southeast ravine and take possession of stables and sutler’s store.
3. Sergeant McGrew fires at Sutler’s store and it goes up in flames.
4. Ordnance Sergeant Jones fires cannon through headquarters building door and destroys stables.
- Incorrect – They took possession of the Sutler’s store after Jones destroyed the stables.
- Incorrect – Jones fired 2 red-hot cannon balls through the building center hallway.
Most of the upper Dakota fled before Sibley’s army and spent the winter of 1862-63 in the Devil’s Lake area of Dakota Territory. In the spring of 1863, a campaign to kill or capture these Indians was planned, using troops command by Henry Sibley and Alfred Sully.
- Incorrect – Sibley and Sully were seeking to punish the hostile Dakota who had committed crimes during the Dakota War.
[Large Diorama and text] – Fort Ridgely layout
9. Log Houses – …the building on the far west was the home of Ordnance Sergeant John Jones and his family prior to the 1862 Dakota War.
- Incorrect – According to a trail sign, the building on the far east was the home of Jones and his family. Which is correct?
18. Redwood Ferry Trail – The Redwood Ferry was the nearest point at which soldiers stationed at Fort Ridgely could cross to the western side of the Minnesota River.
- Incorrect – They also had a Fort Ridgely Ferry crossing. When the river level was low, they could cross the Minnesota River in two places near Fort Ridgely.
- This road also went to the granite quarry.
[Small Diorama]
[Small Diorama] – Officers’ Quarters
In this building the bachelor officers lived. The building was 97’ x 38’ with eight rooms. Usually one man was billeted in each room.
- Is this correct? Was there one man to a room?
The rooms were heated by fireplaces and probably contained a bed, stand with wash basin, a straight back chair, small table or desk, a lounging chair, and a wardrobe cabinet.
- Is this correct? I doubt that each room had a fireplace.
The officer’s mess was in the building on the opposite side of the yard.
- Is this correct?
Lt. Timothy J. Sheehan – Brought Co. C down from Fort Ripley to assist Capt. Marsh. Became Commanding Officer after death of Marsh
- Incorrect Sheehan became CO when he returned to Fort Ridgely on Tuesday. Lt. Gere was CO when Marsh died.
[Small Diorama] – Headquarters’ Building
Buildings similar to this are still standing today at Fort Larned, Kansas.
- Is this correct?
The Dakota War of 1862 