7th Minnesota Infantry Regiment
The 7th Minnesota Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army that served in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.
7th Minnesota Infantry Regiment Battle Flag
An artist's depiction of the death of Sibley aide Lt. Beaver of the 7th Minnesota Infantry after the Battle of Stony Lake On July 29, 1863.
Veterans of the 7th Minnesota, taken in 1905.
Fort Ridgely was a frontier United States Army outpost from 1851 to 1867, built 1853–1854 in Minnesota Territory. The Sioux called it Esa Tonka. It was located overlooking the Minnesota River southwest of Fairfax, Minnesota. Half of the fort's land was part of the south reservation in the Minnesota river valley for the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute tribes. Fort Ridgely had no defensive wall, palisade, or guard towers. The Army referred to the fort as the "New Post on the Upper Minnesota" until it was named for two Maryland Army Officers named Ridgely, who died during the Mexican–American War.
Fort Ridgely in 1862
1841 smoothbore 6-pounder. None of the Fort Ridgely artillery remains on site.
Lt. T. J. Sheehan commander C Company 5th Minnesota Infantry posted to Fort Ripley. He was sent to Fort Ridgley to assist administration duties at the Upper Sioux Agency for B Company. He assumed command of the fort after Ridgely's commander died at Redwood Ferry.
2nd Lt. Gere was at the Lower Sioux Agency when hostilities broke. He became senior officer of the garrison when the fort commander died. Lt. Sheenhan relieved him by rank upon his return to Fort Ridgely to aid the fort's defence. Lt. Gere would receive a Medal of Honor for later actions.