Renville Rangers
| Renville Rangers | |
|---|---|
Gabriel Renville whom the militia was partially named after, along with Joseph Renville, Gabriel's adoptive father. | |
| Active | 1862-1863 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Allegiance | Union Army |
| Type | Mounted Infantry Militia |
| Nickname(s) | "Tokadantee" (Prairie Dogs) |
| Engagements | Dakota War of 1862 |
| Commanders | |
| Akacita | Joseph Renville (Original Leader) |
| Akacita | Gabriel Renville (Successor) |
| Captain | James Gorman (Militia Captain) |
The Renville Rangers were a militia of Dakota and Métis living in Minnesota who took part in the Dakota War of 1862, the American Civil War, and subsequent campaigns against the Dakota under Alfred Sully and Henry Hastings Sibley.
History
The Renville Rangers were a small mounted militia of initially between 15 and 25 Métis men who where were originally formed under the leadership of Joseph Renville in the early 1800's to protect his farmstead and the Lac qui Parle Mission in Chippewa County, Minnesota.[1] According to Métis historian Lawrence J. Barkwell, the militia was also known by the nicknames "Renville’s Soldiers" or “Prairie Dogs" (Dakota: Tokadantee).[1] Joseph Renville adopted Gabriel Renville after Gabriel’s father was killed in 1833 leading a Dakota war party against the Ojibwe. Gabriel Renville would eventually maintain the militia as its hereditary leader, an Akacita (Dakota: Warrior) and continue its use well into the 1860's when it was utilized during the Dakota War of 1862 as scouts for the Union army and the Department of the Northwest.[1]
Involvement in the Dakota Uprising
On August 13, 1862 Gabriel Renville organized a group of Métis men and others who had been employed at both the Lower Sioux Agency and Upper Sioux Agency to form a company of volunteers known as the "Renville Rangers" to volunteer for service in the Union army for the ongoing American Civil War.[2][3] This unit was eventually taken to Fort Snelling by Indian Agent Thomas J. Galbraith along with other volunteers from the Upper and Lower Reservations with an escort from the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment.[2][3][4]
On August 17, 1862 one day before the Dakota War broke out, Lieutenant Timothy Sheehan had left Fort Ridgely with a detachment of 50 men from Company C of the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment in order to sign a treaty with the Ojibwe.[2]
When the attack at the Lower Sioux Agency occurred troops of the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment stationed at Fort Ridgely were warned of the ongoing Dakota revolt. In response to this the commander at Fort Ridgely, Captain John S. Marsh, sent out a scouting party to the nearby Redwood Ferry on the Cottonwood River where the Battle of Redwood Ferry ensued. Captain Marsh had also ordered Lieutenant Sheehan and his detachment to return immediately to Fort Ridgely in order to protect the refugees who had now fled the Upper Sioux Agency and Lower Sioux Agency seeking protection at the fort. Likewise, Thomas J. Galbraith and the Renville Rangers were also recalled to return to the fort to protect it.[2][5]
The Renville Rangers would ultimately take part in the Battle of Fort Ridgely with around 50 total militiamen under the command of 1st Lieutenant James Gorman, the brother of former Territorial Governor Willis A. Gorman.[6] The militia would also take part in the decisive Battle of Wood Lake which ended the Dakota War.
Later units
The Renville Rangers would later be incorporated into several existing Minnesota units when their 3 months of militia service expired by the end of 1862.[7] A good portion of Company I of the 10th Minnesota Infantry Regiment under Captain Martin Juan Severance, and a portion of the 1st Minnesota Cavalry Regiment were made up of volunteers who were originally from the Renville Rangers.[8][9] According to the Adjutant General's Office, Company I of the 10th Minnesota's official nickname was designated as the "Renville Rangers".[10]
Casualties
The Renville Rangers militia would officially lose 1 man killed and 2 men wounded during its service, although their wounded numbers are disputed dependent on the source:
- Private Joseph Fortier (Foertier) was wounded during the Battle of Fort Ridgely.[11]
- Private Alexis Demair was accidentally wounded via friendly fire during the Battle of Wood Lake by a soldier of the 7th Minnesota Infantry Regiment.[12]
- Private Joseph Paro was killed during the Battle of Wood Lake.[13]
Notable people
John McCole - Second Sergeant of the Renville Rangers militia during the Battle of Fort Ridgely and the Battle of Wood Lake. McCole's account of the war can be found in the book Recollections of the Sioux Massacre by Oscar Garrett Wall.[14]
Equipment
During the Battle of Fort Ridgely the Renville Rangers were armed with "Harper's Ferry Muskets" and only 3 rounds of ammunition per man.[15] Although it does not specify these armaments, it is likely referring to the Springfield Model 1842 or earlier flintlock "conversion" muskets, such as the Model 1816 Musket or the later Model 1822 Musket.[15]
References
- ^ a b c Barkwell, Lawrence J. "Renville's Soldiers and the Renville Rangers: The "Tokadantee" or "Prairie Dogs."" (PDF). Louis Riel Institute: 1–7.
- ^ a b c d Carley, Kenneth (2001). The Dakota War of 1862: Minnesota's Other Civil War. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society Press. ISBN 0873513924.
- ^ a b "The US-Dakota War - Essential Civil War Curriculum". www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ Wall, Oscar Garrett (1909). Recollections of the Sioux massacre : an authentic history of the Yellow Medicine incident, of the fate of Marsh and his men, of the siege and battles of Fort Ridgely, and of other important battles and experiences. Together with a historical sketch of the Sibley expedition of 1863. Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection. [Lake City, MN : Printed at "The Home Printery"]. p. 39.
- ^ Wall, Oscar Garrett (1909). Recollections of the Sioux massacre : an authentic history of the Yellow Medicine incident, of the fate of Marsh and his men, of the siege and battles of Fort Ridgely, and of other important battles and experiences. Together with a historical sketch of the Sibley expedition of 1863. Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection. [Lake City, MN : Printed at "The Home Printery"]. p. 69.
- ^ Flandrau, Charles E. (Charles Eugene) (1890). Narrative of the Indian War of 1862-1864 and following campaigns in Minnesota. The Library of Congress. [n.p.] p. 780.
- ^ Wall, Oscar Garrett (1909). Recollections of the Sioux massacre : an authentic history of the Yellow Medicine incident, of the fate of Marsh and his men, of the siege and battles of Fort Ridgely, and of other important battles and experiences. Together with a historical sketch of the Sibley expedition of 1863. Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection. [Lake City, MN : Printed at "The Home Printery"]. p. 86.
- ^ Unknown (1862-12-12). "The weekly pioneer and Democrat". Minnesota Historical Society: 12.
- ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1863-12-04). "The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, December 04, 1863, Image 2". ISSN 2694-4251. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ United States. Adjutant-General's Office; Fallon, John T. (1885). List of synonyms of organizations in the volunteer service of the United States during the years 1861, '62, '63, '64, and '65. New York Public Library. Washington, Govt. Print. Off. p. 63.
- ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1862-10-10). "The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, October 10, 1862, Image 4". ISSN 2694-4251. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1862-10-10). "The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, October 10, 1862, Image 4". ISSN 2694-4251. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ Flandrau, Charles E. (Charles Eugene) (1890). Narrative of the Indian War of 1862-1864 and following campaigns in Minnesota. The Library of Congress. [n.p.]
- ^ Wall, Oscar Garrett (1909). Recollections of the Sioux massacre : an authentic history of the Yellow Medicine incident, of the fate of Marsh and his men, of the siege and battles of Fort Ridgely, and of other important battles and experiences. Together with a historical sketch of the Sibley expedition of 1863. Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection. [Lake City, MN : Printed at "The Home Printery"].
- ^ a b Wall, Oscar Garrett (1909). Recollections of the Sioux massacre : an authentic history of the Yellow Medicine incident, of the fate of Marsh and his men, of the siege and battles of Fort Ridgely, and of other important battles and experiences. Together with a historical sketch of the Sibley expedition of 1863. Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection. [Lake City, MN : Printed at "The Home Printery"]. p. 82.