The Battle of Acton (also referred to as the Battle of Kelley's Bluff) was a battle between the United States Army and Little Crow's band of Dakota warriors during the Dakota War of 1862. Following the defeats at Fort Ridgley and New Ulm, Chief Little Crow led an incursion north out of the Minnesota River Valley into central Minnesota. A detachment of the Tenth Minnesota Infantry Regiment commanded by Captain Richard Strout was sent to protect the citizens of Meeker County.
On September 2, the detachment made camp near the town of Acton. Strout was warned overnight that the Dakota were encamped with 100-300 men nearby. Marching southeast on September 3, 1862, Strout's men were attacked by Little Crow's men from the front, rear, and flanks multiple times, but managed to reach the relative safety of the stockaded town of Hutchinson.
After being repulsed at Fort Ridgely and New Ulm, Dakota leaders Little Crow, Mankato, and Big Eagle planned their next course of action. Little Crow wished to strike north into the Big Woods. He believed the local settlements to be lightly defended and that supplies such as grain and livestock were plentiful.[1] Success in the Big Woods may have also allowed Little Crow to fall on the northern flank of Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley at Fort Ridgely. Gray Bird, Mankato and Big Eagle, however, chose to continue their campaign along the Minnesota River.[1]
Realizing the vulnerability of the settlers of central Minnesota, the U.S. Volunteer Army preemptively dispatched mustering units from Fort Snelling to reinforce and protect the frontier. Among these was Captain Richard Strout's detachment of the Tenth Minnesota Infantry Regiment. On this journey, Strout's company comprised of 64 men,[2] most of whom originally enlisted for the Civil War or were civilian volunteers seeking to protect their communities. Strout's command marched on orders to patrol the areas around Hutchinson, Acton and Forest City, dated August 24.[3] On September 2 they camped 2½ miles northwest[4] of the home of Robinson Jones, where the murder of Jones and several others by four young Dakota men on August 17, in what was later termed the Acton Incident, had shed the first blood of the conflict.
Battleedit
Over the night of September 2–3 messengers from Forest City warned Strout that hostile Dakota were camped nearby with 100–300 warriors.[2][5] A party of ten Dakota observed the exchange from a nearby house and hurried back to alert Little Crow that the Minnesotans had been warned.[2] With the element of surprise lost, the Chief waited until morning to attack. Strout prepared his company to march at dawn, and stepped off heading southeast along the Pembina-Henderson trail, with 25 miles between his command and the fortified town of Hutchinson.[4]
As Strout's command came near Long Lake, they observed the glistening of gun barrels in the distance. Strout initially believed this to be a relief column;[2] this was not the case. The scouts ahead of the column on Kelley's Bluff soon heard gunfire and war cries as enemy warriors burst forward. 20 men of the detachment charged with bayonets up the bluff;[6] giving time for the rest of the men to come up and fight from higher ground. Once all of Strout's command was in position, the only thing left to do was to decide on whether to fall back on Hutchinson or fight entrenched on the Bluff. Some scouts including Albert H. DeLong, a well-known local frontiersman,[6] already left the field in an effort to bring reinforcements from Hutchinson.
Strout decided that remaining on Kelley's Bluff would fatally isolate his company. The dead were left behind and the wounded were loaded on wagons.[6] The Tenth continued their retreat unmolested until they reached Cedar Mills. Strout's column was then attacked in the front, rear, and flanks by Dakota fighting both on foot and horseback. Food and supplies loaded in the wagons were dumped in exchange for speed. Despite their lack of training and experience, the Minnesotans fought well and poured several volleys into the enemy.[2] The Santee-Sioux then circled around once more to the rear of the column and sewed panic among many of Strout's men. He managed to rally them, and finally broke through the line entirely. However, the detachment continued to be attacked in a six-hour running battle along the final eight miles to Hutchinson.[2] Relief finally arrived when DeLong returned with a group of militia from there.
Aftermathedit
As his column arrived in Hutchinson, Strout immediately assumed command of the settlement's defenses.[5] The Captain would count 3 killed and 15 wounded outright, but some estimates put the number of wounded as high as 18 or 23.[5][2] At least two-three of the wounded men would die of wounds after the battle in the Hutchinson Hotel being used as a hospital.[6][2] Dakota casualties are unknown. The next day, Little Crow attacked the settlements of Hutchinson and Forest City, burning and looting numerous outlying buildings but failing to breach either town's defenses, forcing the Chief to withdraw southwest to friendlier ground. Captain Strout's company of the Tenth Minnesota would later become Company B of the Ninth Minnesota Infantry Regiment.[2]
Soldiers Killed in the Battle of Actonedit
The Ninth Regiment's history lists the following as killed in action or died of wounds from the Battle of Acton:[2]
Alva Gretchell
Abner C. Bennet
Frank J. Beadle
George W. Gideon
N. E. Weeks
Referencesedit
^ abAnderson, Gary Clayton (October 17, 2019). Massacre in Minnesota: The Dakota War of 1862, the Most Violent Ethnic Conflict in American History. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN978-0-8061-6434-2.
^ abcdefghijEggleston, Michael A. (June 26, 2012). The Tenth Minnesota Volunteers, 1862–1865: A History of Action in the Sioux Uprising and the Civil War, with a Regimental Roster. Jefferson, NC London: McFarland & Company. ISBN978-0-7864-6593-4.
^Bryant, Charles (November 22, 1864). A history of the great massacre by the Sioux Indians, in Minnesota : including the personal narratives of many who escaped. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 205. ISBN978-1535332224.
^ ab"Battle of Acton Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
^ abc"The U.S-Dakota War of 1862 and the Battle of Acton". Tri-County News. p. 1.
^ abcdBrian (July 9, 2018). "A Real Frontiersman". Mcleod County Historical Society & Museum. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
December 18, 2023
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The Battle of Acton also referred to as the Battle of Kelley s Bluff was a battle between the United States Army and Little Crow s band of Dakota warriors during the Dakota War of 1862 Following the defeats at Fort Ridgley and New Ulm Chief Little Crow led an incursion north out of the Minnesota River Valley into central Minnesota A detachment of the Tenth Minnesota Infantry Regiment commanded by Captain Richard Strout was sent to protect the citizens of Meeker County Battle of ActonPart of Dakota War of 1862 American Civil WarBattle of Acton Historical MarkerDateSeptember 3 1862LocationActon Minnesota Meeker County Minnesota45 05 03 N 94 39 39 W 45 08417 N 94 66083 W 45 08417 94 66083ResultSee AftermathBelligerents United StatesSantee SiouxCommanders and leadersCaptain Richard StroutChief Little CrowUnits involvedStrout s Detachment 10th Minnesota Infantry RegimentLittle Crow s BandStrength64100 300Casualties and losses3 Killed15 23 WoundedUnknown The Frontiersman Albert H DeLongOn September 2 the detachment made camp near the town of Acton Strout was warned overnight that the Dakota were encamped with 100 300 men nearby Marching southeast on September 3 1862 Strout s men were attacked by Little Crow s men from the front rear and flanks multiple times but managed to reach the relative safety of the stockaded town of Hutchinson Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 3 1 Soldiers Killed in the Battle of Acton 4 ReferencesBackground editAfter being repulsed at Fort Ridgely and New Ulm Dakota leaders Little Crow Mankato and Big Eagle planned their next course of action Little Crow wished to strike north into the Big Woods He believed the local settlements to be lightly defended and that supplies such as grain and livestock were plentiful 1 Success in the Big Woods may have also allowed Little Crow to fall on the northern flank of Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley at Fort Ridgely Gray Bird Mankato and Big Eagle however chose to continue their campaign along the Minnesota River 1 Realizing the vulnerability of the settlers of central Minnesota the U S Volunteer Army preemptively dispatched mustering units from Fort Snelling to reinforce and protect the frontier Among these was Captain Richard Strout s detachment of the Tenth Minnesota Infantry Regiment On this journey Strout s company comprised of 64 men 2 most of whom originally enlisted for the Civil War or were civilian volunteers seeking to protect their communities Strout s command marched on orders to patrol the areas around Hutchinson Acton and Forest City dated August 24 3 On September 2 they camped 2 miles northwest 4 of the home of Robinson Jones where the murder of Jones and several others by four young Dakota men on August 17 in what was later termed the Acton Incident had shed the first blood of the conflict Battle editOver the night of September 2 3 messengers from Forest City warned Strout that hostile Dakota were camped nearby with 100 300 warriors 2 5 A party of ten Dakota observed the exchange from a nearby house and hurried back to alert Little Crow that the Minnesotans had been warned 2 With the element of surprise lost the Chief waited until morning to attack Strout prepared his company to march at dawn and stepped off heading southeast along the Pembina Henderson trail with 25 miles between his command and the fortified town of Hutchinson 4 nbsp Chief Little Crow nbsp Captain Richard StroutAs Strout s command came near Long Lake they observed the glistening of gun barrels in the distance Strout initially believed this to be a relief column 2 this was not the case The scouts ahead of the column on Kelley s Bluff soon heard gunfire and war cries as enemy warriors burst forward 20 men of the detachment charged with bayonets up the bluff 6 giving time for the rest of the men to come up and fight from higher ground Once all of Strout s command was in position the only thing left to do was to decide on whether to fall back on Hutchinson or fight entrenched on the Bluff Some scouts including Albert H DeLong a well known local frontiersman 6 already left the field in an effort to bring reinforcements from Hutchinson Strout decided that remaining on Kelley s Bluff would fatally isolate his company The dead were left behind and the wounded were loaded on wagons 6 The Tenth continued their retreat unmolested until they reached Cedar Mills Strout s column was then attacked in the front rear and flanks by Dakota fighting both on foot and horseback Food and supplies loaded in the wagons were dumped in exchange for speed Despite their lack of training and experience the Minnesotans fought well and poured several volleys into the enemy 2 The Santee Sioux then circled around once more to the rear of the column and sewed panic among many of Strout s men He managed to rally them and finally broke through the line entirely However the detachment continued to be attacked in a six hour running battle along the final eight miles to Hutchinson 2 Relief finally arrived when DeLong returned with a group of militia from there Aftermath editAs his column arrived in Hutchinson Strout immediately assumed command of the settlement s defenses 5 The Captain would count 3 killed and 15 wounded outright but some estimates put the number of wounded as high as 18 or 23 5 2 At least two three of the wounded men would die of wounds after the battle in the Hutchinson Hotel being used as a hospital 6 2 Dakota casualties are unknown The next day Little Crow attacked the settlements of Hutchinson and Forest City burning and looting numerous outlying buildings but failing to breach either town s defenses forcing the Chief to withdraw southwest to friendlier ground Captain Strout s company of the Tenth Minnesota would later become Company B of the Ninth Minnesota Infantry Regiment 2 Soldiers Killed in the Battle of Acton edit The Ninth Regiment s history lists the following as killed in action or died of wounds from the Battle of Acton 2 Alva GretchellAbner C BennetFrank J BeadleGeorge W GideonN E WeeksReferences edit a b Anderson Gary Clayton October 17 2019 Massacre in Minnesota The Dakota War of 1862 the Most Violent Ethnic Conflict in American History Norman University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 978 0 8061 6434 2 a b c d e f g h i j Eggleston Michael A June 26 2012 The Tenth Minnesota Volunteers 1862 1865 A History of Action in the Sioux Uprising and the Civil War with a Regimental Roster Jefferson NC London McFarland amp Company ISBN 978 0 7864 6593 4 Bryant Charles November 22 1864 A history of the great massacre by the Sioux Indians in Minnesota including the personal narratives of many who escaped CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform p 205 ISBN 978 1535332224 a b Battle of Acton Historical Marker www hmdb org Retrieved September 14 2023 a b c The U S Dakota War of 1862 and the Battle of Acton Tri County News p 1 a b c d Brian July 9 2018 A Real Frontiersman Mcleod County Historical Society amp Museum Retrieved September 16 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Acton amp oldid 1189888465, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
