Monthly Archives: January 2016
On The Sioux Trail: New Ulm & Fort Ridgely
U.S. – Dakota War of 1862, Part IV
The First battle of New Ulm, painting by Michael Eischen
On 19 August 1962, 100 Dakota warriors attacked the town of New Ulm, which lies at the confluence of the Minnesota and Cottonwood Rivers. Six settlers were killed, and five wounded from the gunfire unleashed from the bluffs behind the town. The residents had been warned of a potential attack, and had barricaded the town’s center.
Fort Ridgely in 1862
On 20 August, 400 Dakota warriors attacked Fort Ridgely and its 210 soldiers. Private Mark Greer, Co.C, was the first casualty. By the end of the day, five soldiers were killed and fifteen wounded.
Fort Ridgely ammunition storage hut
The next day, thunderstorms swept through the Minnesota River Valley, and the Dakota did not attack, although they did ambush a relief party that was sent from the Fort to New Ulm. When the rains subsided on the 22 August, the Dakota ranks had swelled to 800 warriors. The first attack was repelled, and several smaller attacks on the fort continued throughout the day. Another all out attack came in the evening hours, which was eventually repelled by setting the outer buildings on fire keep the Dakotas from making their way through the defenses.
Fort Ridgely today
Fort Ridgely remained in siege until the 27th, when Colonel Henry Sibley arrived with 1400 militia.
A remaining foundation at Ft Ridgely
On 23 August Dakota warriors once again attacked New Ulm, this time in enough numbers to surround the town. By now over 1000 residents were barricaded in the town center, along with around 300 citizen soldiers. The defenders of the town started to burn down buildings outside of the town center. In all, 190 buildings were torched in order to create an open space without cover. By afternoon of the 24th, the Dakota had withdrawn, and on the 25th the residents of New Ulm left for Mankato under military escort.
The Frederick W. Kiesling house in New Ulm, MN. One of only three buildings to survive the Dakota attack in 1862. Today, it is the only wood-framed building of the war, to still be standing in its original location.
Silence is Profit
One of the best messages yet from a company Christmas card:
“Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.”
After all, it worked for Colonel Nicholson…
The usage in this case may not have been in the spirit of the initial intent by Frank Ocean.
On The Sioux Trail: Lower Sioux Agency
The U.S. – Dakota War of 1862, Part III
The Lower Sioux Agency warehouse
At 7am on 18 August 1862, Dakota warriors, led by Little Crow, attacked the Lower Sioux Agency. Andrew Myrick, who previously had issued the “Let them eat grass statement”, was one of the first to be killed. He was discovered trying to escape from a second floor window of the warehouse building pictured above. Myrick’s body was later found with his mouth full of grass.
Battle of Redwood Ferry marker
Employees and civilians fled the Agency, crossing the Minnesota River at the Redwood Ferry, and headed for Fort Ridgely, which was 13 miles downstream. When news of the attack reached the fort, Captain John S. Marsh left Ridgely with 47 men and set off for the Lower Sioux Agency. Company B was ambushed at the Minnesota River near the Redwood crossing. 24 soldiers were killed, five were wounded and one drowned; with Captain Marsh among the casualties.
War parties attacked settlers throughout the Minnesota River Valley the entire day, with an estimated 160 killed, and the towns of Milford, Leavenworth and Sacred Heart burned. Over 100 settlers, mostly women and children are taken hostage.
Granite Falls
Along the Minnesota River, just past Granite Falls, and next door to the Yellow Medicine County Historical Museum, is (was) the world’s oldest exposed rock. At 3.8 billion years old, the rock was exposed when Glacial Lake Agassiz emptied into the ocean during the last Ice Age.
Some zircon crystals from the Jack Hills in Australia have recently been dated at 4.4 billion years old.
Henry Ford Museum: Racing
Henry Ford built the Ford ‘999’ in 1902, but he was afraid to drive it, so he hired famed bicycle racer Barney Oldfield to get behind the wheel. Oldfield won many races in the ‘999’ and went on to become one of the country’s first nationally recognized race drivers. The car’s success also established Henry Ford and helped to set up the formation of The Ford Motor Company. Engine: Ford, inline 4-cylinder, atmospheric overhead intake values and side exhaust valves, 1155 cu. in., 70 hp (est.)
The 1906 Locomobile “Old 16” was the first American car to win an international race, when it won the Vanderbilt Cup in 1908 with George Robertson behind the wheel. “Old 16” cost $20,000 to build. Engine: Locomobile inline 4-cylinder, overhead intake valves, side exhaust valves, 990 cu. in., 120 hp
This 1933 Willys drag racer was (re)built in 1958 by “Ohio George” Montgomery. Between 1959 and 1966, Montgomery and his Willys “Gasser” won their class at the National Hot Rod Association national championships six times. Engine: Ford V-8, single-overhead cam V-8, 427 cu. in., 850 hp (est.)
Jerry Unser’s 1956 Ford F100 and Bobby Unser’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb racer. Bobby Unser had won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb twice before he drove this racer to victory in 1959. He would drive this car to victory 6 more times, winning the Pikes Peak Hill Climb nine times out of 13 years.
Buck Baker drove this 1956 Chrysler 300-B during his NASCAR driving championship that same year. Team owner, Carl Kiekhaefer, won 22 out of 41 races that year, including 16 in a row. Kiekhaefer left racing after dominating the 1955-56 seasons. Engine: Chrysler V-8, overhead valves, 354 cu. in., 355 hp
In 1965, brothers Bob & Bill Summers took Goldenrod to the Bonneville Salt Flats and shattered the land speed record for wheel driven cars hitting 409.277 MPH. Goldenrod’s record stood until 1991. Engines: Four Chrysler “Hemi” V-8s, overhead valves, 426 cu. in., 600hp each
A.J. Foyt won 13 of the 26 races he entered driving this car, which was powered by the 4-cylinder Offenhauser engine. An “Offy” powered car took the victory lap in 27 Indianapolis 500’s between 1935-1976. Engine: Meyer and Drake “Offenhauser” inline 4-cylinder, double overhead camshaft, 255 cu. in., 400 hp
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