Fort Ripley (Minnesota fort)
Fort Ripley was a United States Army outpost on the upper Mississippi River, in mid-central Minnesota from 1848 to 1877. It was situated a few miles from the Indian agencies for the Ho-Chunk and Ojibwe in Iowa Territory and then the Minnesota Territory. Its presence spurred immigration into the area and the pioneer settlement of Crow Wing developed approximately 6.75 miles (10.86 km) north of the fort. The post was initially named Fort Marcy. It then was renamed Fort Gaines and in 1850 was renamed again for distinguished Brigadier General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley of the War of 1812. It was the second major military reservation established in what would become Minnesota.
View of Fort Ripley from across the Mississippi River
Lt. T. J. Sheehan Executive officer of C Company 5th Minnesota Infantry posted to Fort Ripley. Was sent to Fort Ridgley to assist administration duties at the Upper Sioux Agency for B Company. He assumed command of Fort after the hostilities broke out.
Bronze 12-pdr howitzer Fort Ripley had four.
(Bad-Boy) or Qui-Wi-Sain-Shish, Gull Lake Chippewa-Chief who fled to Fort Ripley when Chief Hole-in-the Day learned that he supported the "whites".
The Territory of Minnesota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1849, until May 11, 1858, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Minnesota and the western portion became unorganized territory and shortly after was reorganized as part of the Dakota Territory.
The nine original counties of the Minnesota Territory extended into what became North Dakota and South Dakota (left)
Minnesota Territory Centennial stamp, issued in 1949 in recognition of Minnesota's unique Métis oxcart traders.
Image: Alexander Ramsey Brady Handy
Image: Willis Gorman
