Edwin D. Steel

Name: Edwin D. Steel Company: D Killed at Fort Abercrombie, September 7, 1862
Birth Date: about 1841	Mustered In Date: February 27, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 22 Residence prior to military service: Mankato, Minnesota
Death Date: September 7, 1862 Place: Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory

Edwin D. Steel Biography and Civil War Narrative

Edwin D. Steel was born about 1841. By the early 1860's he located in Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. He was mustered into Company D of the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a Private on February 27, 1862.

From their home base of Fort Snelling, Private Steel and Company D (under the command of Captain John Vander Horck) were detached to Fort Abercrombie on the Minnesota and North Dakota border. They arrived at Fort Abercrombie on March 29, 1862. After several months of outpost duty at the fort, the fort received news of Indian warfare in Minnesota. In addition to the men of Company D, about 80 residents of the area gathered at the fort. Soldiers and citizens worked together to reinforce the fort defenses. On August 30th, a small band of Dakota Indians raided, driving off the cattle from around the fort. About fifty of the cattle were recovered the next day.

At daybreak on Wednesday, September 3rd, a band of Indians attacked the post. Estimates of the number of Indians varies from 125 to 400. The attack was primarily made on the stables and stock yard from the south. Two stacks of hay were burned and four horses were driven off, stolen, or killed. The fight lasted several hours when the Indians were finally run off. Two Indians had been left dead in the stock yard. Private Steel was wounded in the abdomen and Corporal Nicolaus Hettinger was wounded in the right shoulder.

After scattered fire on September 4th and 5th, the Indians attacked fiercely on September 6th. Two men from the fort were killed and one was wounded. A relief expedition was sent to the fort by Governor Alexander Ramsey on September 6th. But on September 7, Edwin D. Steel died of his wounds. The reinforcements finally arrived on September 23rd. More detailed information about Fort Abercrombie may be found at The Siege of Fort Abercrombie.

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