Stephen Van Buren

Name: Stephen Van Buren Company: B Veteran; promoted Corporal, Sergeant
Birth Date: About 1841 Place: Unknown	Mustered In Date: January 17, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 21
Death Date: Unknown Place: Unknown Burial: Unknown	Mustered Out Date: September 6, 1865 Rank: Sergeant Age: about 24

Stephen Van Buren Biography and Civil War Narrative

Stephen Van Buren enlisted as a private in Company B of the 5th Minnesota Regiment on January 17, 1862, at the age of 21. The first order of duty for Company B was to report to Fort Ridgley, near the Minnesota River. They left Fort Snelling at noon on March 22, 1862, under the command of First Sergeant Thomas P. Gere. Through the snow they traveled up the Minnesota Valley, stopping at the Scott County cour house at Shakopee the evening of the 22nd, passing through Belle Plaine, and Le Sueur, Minnesota on the 23rd. They crossed the Minnesota River on the ice at Traverse de Sioux after dark and spent the night of the 23rd at the Nicollet County court house at St. Peter. The company reached La Fayette, Minnesota, on the 24th--18 miles from their destination. They arrived at Fort Ridgley at noon on March 25th, serving garrison duty and continuing their military instruction and drills. The company was especially well-trained in skirmishing and received additional training in artillery.

On August 18th, word was received at Fort Ridgley that a massacre of whites was taking place at the Lower Sioux Agency. Company B's Captain John S. Marsh, who had joined the Company on April 16, immediately led a rescue party of 46 men, including Stephen Van Buren, and an interpreter to the Lower Sioux Agency. About three miles out of Fort Ridgley, the party was overtaken by following wagon teams carrying extra ammunition and otherwise empty wagons. Picking up the marching rescue party, the wagons continued on toward their destination, passing fleeing citizens, burning houses, and mutilated corpses. About six miles out of Fort Ridgley, the rescue team continued on by foot. When the rescue party reached a ferry crossing on the Minnesota River shortly after noon, the Indians ambushed them from all sides. The battle ensued for several hours with nearly half of the rescue team killed as well as even more Indians. Thinking that the only escape was to cross the river to the west bank, at 4:00 Captain Marsh led the way, wading over half the distance of the 50-yard wide river. When the water became too deep to wade, he attempted to swim the remainder of the river, but soon found himself sinking. In response to Captain Marsh's cries for help, Private Van Buren and two others went to his aid. One of the others, Private John Brennan, was able to reach their leader, but was unable to keep hold, and Captain Marsh was swept under and drowned.

Sergeant John F. Bishop took command of the remaining team: three corporals and eleven privates. The survivors found their way back to Fort Ridgley after dark. In all, 24 men died and five were wounded.

Stephen Van Buren continued with Company B as they returned to Fort Snelling escorting captive Indians on November 9. The company rejoined the rest of the 5th Minnesota Regiment near Oxford, Mississippi, on December 12, 1862.

Private Van Buren was promoted to Corporal and ultimately to Sergeant. He re-enlisted as a veteran and was mustered out with his company on September 6, 1865.

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