At the time of the outbreak of the 1862 war, the nearby military outpost, Fort Ridgley, was manned by Company B of the 5th Minnesota Regiment, under Captain John Marsh. About half of the company remained at the fort under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere while Captain Marsh's rescue party (the other half of the company) made their way toward the Lower Sioux Agency on August 18, 1862. After the rescue party was ambushed at the Redwood Ferry crossing, Captain Marsh drowned in the Minnesota River. The survivors of Company B, along with half of Company C and numerous civilians, defended themselves against Sioux attacks at Ft. Ridgley on August 20 and 22. Thomas P. Gere, who later became Adjutant of the 5th Minnesota Regiment, would receive a Congressional Medal of Honor for capturing the battle flag of the 4th Mississippi Regiment at the Battle of Nashville on December 16, 1864.
At the time of the outbreak of the 1862 war, the nearby military outpost, Fort Ridgley, was manned by Company B of the 5th Minnesota Regiment, under Captain John Marsh. About half of the company remained at the fort under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere while Captain Marsh's rescue party (the other half of the company) made their way toward the Lower Sioux Agency on August 18, 1862. After the rescue party was ambushed at the Redwood Ferry crossing, Captain Marsh drowned in the Minnesota River. The survivors of Company B, along with half of Company C and numerous civilians, defended themselves against Sioux attacks at Ft. Ridgley on August 20 and 22. Thomas P. Gere, who later became Adjutant of the 5th Minnesota Regiment, would receive a Congressional Medal of Honor for capturing the battle flag of the 4th Mississippi Regiment at the Battle of Nashville on December 16, 1864.