Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of Fort Ridgely

Battle of Fort Ridgely was a battle fought on 20 August 1862 at Nicollet County, in what is now Minnesota, United States; it lasted 2 days. It was part of the Dakota War of 1862. The recorded result: United States victory. Recorded strength: 210 (August 22) against 400–600 (August 20); 800–1,000 (August 22).

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Oil painting depicting Fort Ridgely in 1890. Painter: James McGrew Art Collection, Oil 1890 Location no. AV1986.5.2 Negative no. 61647
Oil painting depicting Fort Ridgely in 1890. Painter: James McGrew Art Collection, Oil 1890 Location no. AV1986.5.2 Negative no. 61647. James McGrew, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought20 August 1862lasted 2 days
WhereNicollet County, Minnesota, United States44.451N, 94.731W
OutcomeUnited States victory
BelligerentsUnited StatesagainstSantee Sioux
Casualties and losses3 killed; 1 mortally wounded; 13 woundedand2 confirmed killed; 5 confirmed wounded
Battlefield todayFort Ridgely battlefieldNPS site MN001, 2,557 acres studied, 474 core
Part ofDakota War of 18621862

Where it sits in the Dakota War of 1862

Battle of Lower Sioux Agency, 1862Battle of Redwood Ferry, 1862Battles of New Ulm, 1862Battle of Fort Ridgely, 1862Battle of Birch Coulee, 1862Battle of Acton, 1862Battle of Wood Lake, 186218621862Battle of Fort Ridgely, 1862
7 placed engagements of the Dakota War of 1862 in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date20 August 1862
to 22 August 1862
PlaceNicollet County, Minnesota, United States
44.451N, 94.731W
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength210 (August 22)400–600 (August 20); 800–1,000 (August 22)
Casualties and losses3 killed; 1 mortally wounded; 13 wounded2 confirmed killed; 5 confirmed wounded
Commanders
  • Timothy J. Sheehan
Battle of Fort RidgelyBattle of Fort RidgelyBattle of Redwood FerryBattle of Lower Sioux AgencyBattle of Birch CouleeBattles of New UlmBattle of Redwood FerryBattle of Lower Sioux AgencyBattle of Birch CouleeBattles of New Ulm20 km44.451N, 94.731W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. The dashed outline is the battlefield study area mapped by the NPS American Battlefield Protection Program. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1862

The National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program maps this as the Fort Ridgely battlefield (site MN001): a study area of 2,557 acres, with a core area of 474 acres where the fighting was concentrated.

Battle of Fort Ridgely is one of 3,507 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 1,148 in present-day United States (11 in Minnesota).

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4871052, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Fort Ridgely, revision 1379093905, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Battlefield boundary and area from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (public domain). Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.