Daniel Dills

Name: Daniel Dills Company: C Discharged for disability.
Birth Date: August 6, 1817 Place: Camillus, New York	Mustered In Date: February 17, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 44 Residence prior to military service: Camillus and Ellicottville, New York Vocation prior to military service:
Death Date: July 25, 1900 Place: Albert Lea, Minnesota Burial: Graceland Cemetery, Albert Lea, Minnesota	Mustered Out Date: July 27, 1863 Rank: Private Age: 45 Residence following military service: Albert Lea, Minnesota Vocation following military service: farmer

Daniel Dills Biography and Civil War Narrative

Daniel Dills was born the son of John M. Dills and Rhoda Frayer on August 6, 1817 (or 1819?) in Camillus, New York. On August (or March) 16, 1841, he married Rebecca Ann Harsen, born March 8, 1818. Daniel and Rebecca had at least six children: George E., Charles Henry, Hellen E., John C., Annetta, and Benjamin.

On February 17, 1862, Daniel enlisted in Company C of the 5th Minnesota Regiment along with his 41-year-old brother, Charles, and his 18-year-old son, Charles Henry. As members of Company C, they were sent for garrison duty to Fort Ripley, north of Little Falls, Minnesota, in March 1862. But on June 19, they left with a detachment of 50 men under the command of Lieutenant Timothy J. Sheehan to report to Fort Ridgley, near New Ulm, Minnesota.

Marching about 200 miles via Elk River and Henderson, they reached Fort Ridgley on the evening of June 28th, and reported to Captain John Marsh who commanded the post. On June 29th, the detachment was sent on to the Sioux Agency on the Yellow Medicine River to help preserve order during the annuity payment to the Sioux. They camped at the Lower Sioux Agency along the Minnesota River the night of June 30th, and arrived at the Upper Sioux Agency at Yellow Medicine on July 2nd, reporting to Major Thomas Galbraith, the Sioux agent at that place.

On August 4th, about 800 Sioux warriors surrounded the camp of the detachment and stormed a government supply warehouse, which Dills and the soldiers defended. After annuity goods were distributed to the Indians, 12th, the detachment marched back to Fort Ridgley, arriving on the evening of August 12th. Five days later (August 17th), Lieutenant Sheehan and his detachment began marching back to Fort Ripley to join the rest of their company who had remained there.

News that a massacre was taking place at the Lower Sioux Agency arrived at Fort Ridgley the next morning (Monday, August 18th) so Captain Marsh quickly sent a mounted messenger with orders for Lieutenant Sheehan's detachment to return immediately to Fort Ridgley. Marsh left Fort Ridgley to lead the rescue team at the Lower Sioux Agency and left Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere in command at the fort. When the orders reached Sheehan on Monday evening, Daniel Dills and the rest of the detachment had already marched 42 miles from Fort Ridgley and were setting up camp between New Auburn and Glencoe. They immediately began a forced march back to Fort Ridgley and arrived at the fort on Tuesday. Upon their arrival back at Fort Ridgley, Lieutenant Sheehan took command. Meanwhile, about 2 miles west of the fort, Indians under the leadership of Little Crow were congregated and planning their movements.

On Wednesday, August 20th, while Little Crow approached the fort from the west, a party of 500-600 Indians attacked from the northeast. Soon the fort was surrounded, and the Indians kept up their attack on the fort for five hours, the defenders responding with artillery and muskets. At nightfall the firing ceased and Little Crow withdrew his forces to the lower agency.

Two days later on Friday, August 22nd, Little Crow again attacked Fort Ridgley, this time with a force of 1200-1500 men. For six hours the battle continued, but once again the fort was successfully defended. In the following days, defensive works were strengthened. On Wednesday, August 27th, additional reinforcements arrived.

Dills and Lieutenant Sheehan's detachment of Company C left Fort Ridgley on September 18th to join their companions at Fort Ripley. Company C joined the rest of the 5th Minnesota on December 12, 1862, near Oxford, Mississippi. Daniel was discharged due to disability (chronic dysentery) on July 27, 1863. His brother and son continued to serve in Company C until the end of the Civil War.

Daniel Dills died July 25, 1900, in Albert Lea, Freeborn County, Minnesota, at the age of 82. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery, 101 North Washington Avenue, Albert Lea, Minnesota. Rebecca died July 28, 1913, at age 95 in Freeborn County, Minnesota.

Daniel Dills biographical information and photos by Charles Dills are online at www.charlies-web.com.

Photo of Dan and Rebecca Ann Harsen Dills
Dan Dills medal (front)
Dan Dills medal (back)
Dan Dills grave stone (original)
Dan Dills grave stone (replacement)
Rebecca Ann Harsen Dills grave stone
Rebecca Ann Harsen Dills obituary


Daniel Dills is portrayed by Gene Lau in the Fifth Minnesota, Company C living history group.

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This page is maintained by Tim Bode (timbode@juno.com ). Page created on 3/27/2008. Last modified on 1/30/2010.