Dakota Rise Up In Minnesota
Chase May Extend to Dakota Territory
Mankato, Minnesota
December 28, 1862
By order of President Abraham Lincoln, thirty-eight Dakota have been executed by hanging today. The government determined that they had participated in the Dakota uprising of this past summer.
Suffering from lack of food and facing another winter, the Dakota asked that the government provide treaty-guaranteed provisions and money. In July about 4,000 Dakota moved on the agency not far from Fort Ridgely and demanded what was due to them.
Mass Execution of 38 Dakota on the Dy After Christmas. By John Stevens
Although the goods were there, the agent, afraid of showing weakness, refused to distribute them because the money had not yet arrived. Angry, Dakota warriors began to attack farms and towns, killing 757 white settlers and townspeople. Thousands of whites have fled Minnesota, many to Iowa.
Enduring continued raids, Minnesotans demanded government protection and action. But, with the Civil War raging in the East, the army encouraged the state to raise a militia to be commanded by generals Alfred Sully and Henry Sibley.
Because so many Dakota have fled to Canada and Dakota Territory, the military will wait until next spring to round up the Dakota who were responsible for the Minnesota uprising.
By Dr. D. Jerome Tweton
Source
Originally published as The North Star Dakotan student newspaper, written by Dr. D. Jerome Tweton and supported by the North Dakota Humanities Council