Timothy J. Sheehan

Timothy J. Sheehan (December 21, 1836 - July 11, 1913) was an Irish American immigrant, Minnesotan pioneer, a military officer during the American Civil War and Dakota War of 1862, Indian agent, Deputy US Marshal, the Sheriff of Freeborn County, Minnesota, and an early citizen of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Early life Timothy J. Sheehan was born on December 21, 1836 in Cork, Ireland. Orphaned at the age of 2, much of Sheehan's childhood is relatively unknown except for the fact that he was just 14 years old when he emigrated to the United States in 1850. Sheehan first worked as a mechanic in Glens Falls, New York until 1855 before relocating to Dixon, Illinois and working in a sawmill. Sheehan later owned his own plot which he used to build a farm. Before Sheehan could even fight with the 4th Minnesota he was discharged on February 15, 1862 and was commissioned with the rank of First Lieutenant and transferred to the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment on February 19, 1862.

Sheehan served as the First Lieutenant of Company C in the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment under the command of Captain Francis Hall.

Role in the Dakota Uprising In June 1862 Sheehan and the rest of Company C were posted on frontier duty at Fort Ridgely near the Upper Sioux Agency, the Lower Sioux Agency and the city of New Ulm, Minnesota.

According to Sheehan:"On the 14th of July I estimated that there were 6,700 Indians camped near there ; they were in a starving condition, and were constantly prowling around, begging. Went with Lieut. Gere to talk with the agent about issuing provisions to the Indians. He said that he would soon count them and issue rations, and send them back to look after their crops, to stay until he could send for them to receive their pay". Later on July 27, 1862 Sheehan was requested to take a small detachment of men to the headwaters of the Yellow Medicine River in search of Inkpaduta, a Wahpekute war chief who had previously been involved in the 1857 Spirit Lake Massacre with specific orders to "capture and bring them in, alive if possible". Sheehan's search for Inkpaduta was unsuccessful so the force returned to Fort Ridgely. The Dakota people, who had been removed from their tribal land due to several land cession treaties including the Treaty of Mendota and the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux among others, were living in impoverished conditions on the Upper Sioux Agency and the Lower Sioux Agency along the Minnesota River. Winter blizzards paired with a summer drought had led to a poor crop yield for many of the Dakota living on the reservations who had recently been introduced to subsistence farming. Lieutenant Sheehan and a detachment of 25 soldiers were sent to the agency in order to help quell the riot. Sheehan eventually gained permission from Thomas J. Galbraith to issue food to the Dakota, which Galbraith did so with some hesitation.

The Battle of Birch Coulee During the Battle of Birch Coulee Sheehan served in a support role as a messenger and assisted Colonel Samuel McPhail in providing reinforcements to the besieged troops during the battle. For his service and bravery at Fort Ridgely and Birch Coulee Sheehan was promoted to the rank of Captain of Company C on August 31, 1862.

Later Military Career Following the Dakota War of 1862, Sheehan served as the Captain of Company C of the 5th Minnesota when it was sent south to join the rest of the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment in the Western theater of the American Civil War. From December 12, 1862 until September 6, 1865 Sheehan would serve as the company commander of Company C during the Siege of Vicksburg, the Battle of Nashville, the Battle of Spanish Fort, the Battle of Fort Blakeley, and the Battle of Tupelo. Sheehan was later elected to the office of Sheriff for Freeborn County, Minnesota, and would serve as the County Sheriff from 1871-1883. Sheehan also later served as the Indian agent of the White Earth Indian Reservation from 1885-1889, and was the Deputy US Marshal of St. Paul from 1890-1907.

Indian Agent for the Pillager Ojibwe

alt=Battle of Sugar Point historical marker with Sugar Point (aka Battle Point) visible in distance across Leech Lake, Whipholt Roadside Park, Whipholt, Minnesota, USA. During his time as the Indian agent for the Ojibwe at the White Earth Indian Reservation. Sheehan would be shot and wounded during an altercation between forces of the 3rd Infantry Regiment and the Pillager Band of the Ojibwe (Ojibwe: Makandwewininiwag) during what would later be known as the Battle of Sugar Point.

Often cited as "the last Indian Uprising in the United States", the Battle of Sugar Point signaled the end of the so-called American Indian Wars and was arguably the last Indigenous uprising in the State of Minnesota since the Dakota War of 1862. One of the most cited reasons for the hostilities was that the timber being cut by loggers from the Leech Lake Indian Reservation was routinely being fraudulently graded as "dead and burnt wood" which, according to some sources, allowed the loggers to purchase the timber at a reduced price. This, paired with delayed annuities and the frequent arrests of Ojibwe men and women for supposed bootlegging on the otherwise 'dry' reservation, caused further resentment between the Pillager Ojibwe and the United States Government.

One man, Bugonaygeshig (Ojibwe: "Hole/Opening in the Sky/Day"), not to be confused with Hole in the Day (1825–1868), was a local leader and elder of the Pillager Ojibwe community. He had been arrested by Agency Police for bootlegging charges and brought to Duluth, Minnesota, however, due to lack of evidence he was freed and allowed to travel back 135 miles to the Leech Lake Indian Reservation on foot. Following his arrest Bugonaygeshig became increasingly agitated by the depredations of his people.

Bugonaygeshig was later called to be a witness for another bootlegging case in Duluth but failed to appear in court when summoned by a warrant from Sheehan, and the Deputy US Marshal of Walker, Minnesota, Robert Morrison. Noticing that there was a possibility of another trip to Duluth to appear in court, Bugonaygeshig called out for help. The other Ojibwe in Onigum, hearing elder Bugonaygeshig's pleas, surrounded, and gently, yet forcefully secured his release from the Marshal's office.

Role in the Battle of Sugar Point and Wounding During the ensuing chaos 62 year-old Sheehan, who was among the law enforcement and Indian agents at Sugar Point, assisted the 3rd Infantry Regiment in attacking the Pillager Ojibwe.

According to one source, The St. Paul Globe:"Suddenly to our right we heard the voice of Col. Sheehan, of St. Paul, deputy United States marshal. We glanced up and could see the veteran Indian fighter, with his seventy years of age leading an advance by a portion of the right flank.

'You've got them whipped, boys; you've got them whipped. Give it to them, give it to them,' the colonel was yelling at the top of his voice".

Personal life Sheehan married an Irish American women, Jennie Judge (1844–1934), in November 1866. Together the two had three sons; Jeremiah Sheehan, George Washington Sheehan, and Edward Sheridan Sheehan.

The Fort Ridgely State Monument also called the Fort Defenders Monument in Fairfax, Minnesota at Fort Ridgely State Park was dedicated on August 20, 1896 to honor Company C of the 5th Minnesota and the civilian defenders of the fort during the Dakota War. Sheehan's name is on the monument as well as a sculpture of his likeness on the monument's east facing. Sheehan and the Company C roster at Fort Ridgely is listed on the west facing of the monument. Various portraits of Sheehan are held by both the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Digital Library.