August 17, 1862

This conflict, also referred to as the Sioux Uprising, the Dakota Uprising, or Little Crow's War, was a violent clash between the United States and several eastern bands of Dakota, collectively known as the Santee Sioux. Let's delve into the causes, key events, and aftermath of this intense six-week conflict.

The Dakota War of 1862 erupted due to a combination of factors, including the Dakota people's desperate situation. Facing starvation and displacement from their lands, tensions between the Dakota and white settlers reached a breaking point. On August 17, 1862, four young Dakota men, driven by hunger and frustration, killed five settlers near Acton Township, Minnesota. This incident triggered a broader conflict as Dakota warriors, led by Chief Little Crow, decided to launch an attack on white settlements in the Minnesota River valley the following day.

On August 18, 1862, Dakota warriors attacked the Lower Sioux Agency, killing several traders and government workers. The violence quickly spread, with Dakota forces targeting settlements throughout the region. Over the next five weeks, the conflict resulted in the deaths of hundreds of settlers and the displacement of thousands more. Settlements such as Milford, Leavenworth, and Sacred Heart were nearly wiped out as Dakota warriors sought to drive all settlers out of the Minnesota River valley.

The war saw significant battles, including the Battle of Redwood Ferry, the attacks on Fort Ridgely, and the siege of New Ulm. Despite initial successes, the Dakota forces faced a determined response from Minnesota's militia and volunteer forces. Governor Alexander Ramsey called upon former Governor Henry Hastings Sibley to lead the military response. Sibley's forces, bolstered by reinforcements, eventually defeated the Dakota at the Battle of Wood Lake on September 23, 1862. This victory marked the turning point in the conflict.

Following the defeat, Little Crow and a group of his followers fled to the northern plains of Dakota Territory and Canada. The U.S. military captured many Dakota fighters and took hundreds of "mixed-blood" and white hostages. On September 26, 1862, at Camp Release, the Dakota Peace Party handed over 269 hostages to Sibley's troops, effectively ending the war.

In the aftermath of the conflict, the U.S. government and the State of Minnesota took severe actions against the Dakota people. A military commission sentenced 303 Dakota men to death. President Abraham Lincoln intervened, commuting the sentences of most but approving the execution of 38 Dakota men. On December 26, 1862, these men were hanged in Mankato, Minnesota, in the largest mass execution in U.S. history.

The consequences for the Dakota people were devastating. They were exiled from their homelands, forcibly relocated to reservations in the Dakotas and Nebraska. The State of Minnesota confiscated and sold all remaining Dakota land within its borders. The war and its aftermath left a lasting legacy of trauma and displacement for the Dakota people.

In recent years, efforts have been made to acknowledge and atone for the injustices suffered by the Dakota. In 2012 and 2013, Minnesota's government repudiated Governor Ramsey's call for the extermination of the Dakota people. In 2019, an official apology was issued to the Dakota for the trauma inflicted on them by state government actions.

As we reflect on the Dakota War of 1862, it serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of broken promises, displacement, and cultural misunderstandings. It also underscores the resilience of the Dakota people in the face of such adversity.