The Dakota War of 1862: Minnesota's Other Civil War

by Kenneth Carley

While the Civil War raged in the East and South, Dakota Indians in Minnesota erupted violently into action against white settlers, igniting the tragic Dakota War of 1862. Hemmed in on a narrow reservation along the upper Minnesota River, the Dakota (Sioux) were frustrated by broken treaties, angered by dishonest agents and traders, and near starvation because of crop failures and late annuity payments.

Led by Little Crow, Dakota warriors attacked the Redwood and Yellow Medicine Indian agencies and all whites living on their former lands in southwestern Minnesota. They killed more than 450 whites and took some 250 white and mixed-blood prisoners during the 38-day conflict. White civilians and military units commanded by Henry H. Sibley defended towns and forts, pursued warriors, and eventually forced the Indians to surrender or flee westward. The penalties imposed by vengeful whites were swift and devastating. The federal government hanged 38 Dakota men in the largest mass execution in U.S. history, 300 were imprisoned, and the Dakota people were banished from the state.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Native American, Civil War, Military History, American History

112 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2001

About the author

Kenneth Carley was a journalist who wrote for the Ortonville Independent, the Minneapolis Star, and the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune's Picture magazine. He was also the founder and past president of the Twin Cities Civil War Round Table and was named to the citizens' advisory committee of the Minnesota Civil War and Sioux Uprising Centennial commission.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota.

Reviews

[Thomas Isern · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work is a reasonably good summary of events. It makes as good first reading on the Dakota War for someone who needs to get oriented. As a synthetic work, its shortcomings are those of the extant literature, which are worth delineating. First, the work is Minnecentric (I just made up that term and hereby claim it). The war happened to break out in Minnesota, but its actions and repercussions extended far in space and time. Second, and related, there is the conceptual problem indicated by the book's subtitle. This was not a civil war. It was a war between the Dakota people, or rather elements thereof, and the United States. Third, the work is not probing as to the causes of the war. This was a horrific episode for all parties involved. It should not be ascribed to trivial causes, nor should Dakota agency be ignored. The author wishes to tone down the rhetoric and minimize discussion of the horrors of the war. This comes, no doubt, from good motives, but it may get in the way of pursuing the hard questions about the Dakota War.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was the largest mass hanging in U.S. history, ordered by Abraham Lincoln. A short book with a lot of info and photographs, you can read it in a few sittings. It's an older book and a rather straightforward look at the Sioux Uprising. There are probably better books on the subject now, but this is a good introduction. If you've lived in Minnesota, you'll see a lot of familiar names. It's horrifying to learn more about these people behind the names of cities, streets, counties, etc. What happened to the Sioux is tragic, I think more people should know about what happened to them.

[Bryn Lerud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the start of the Indian Wars that culminated at Wounded Knee in 1890. After trading millions of acres of land for money and supplies that failed to arrive in August 1862 a group of Dakota decided to rid Minnesota of white people. They killed between 500 and 800 settlers before being stopped. 38 Dakota were hung in Mankato, the largest mass execution in the history of the US and the rest of the tribe were banished to reservations farther west. This part of history interests me partly because my great great grandparents immigrated from Sweden to near Mankato in 1866. The American myth is that this was empty land waiting to be farmed.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the Civil War raged on in the eastern and southern United States, a storm was building in Minnesota that would culminate in one of the largest massacres between Native Americans and settlers.

August 27, 1862 was the beginning of a five-week war between the Dakota and the citizens of Minnesota. The reasons are many and complex, but near starvation and angered by broken treaties the Dakota attacked settlers in southwestern Minnesota killing around 500 people. The loss of Dakota life is unknown but estimated at twenty-one Dakota lives.

The Dakota War of 1862 is a high-level overview of the war: the cause, the war, and the aftermath. If you have never read about the Dakota War this is a good book to start with.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is unclear to me who the intended reader is (was?). I found this very interesting but also very technical. There is a lot of military speak that I found myself noting down so I could look up definitions later. It was difficult yo even guess at meanings though and I found myself ignoring my ignorance of military speak and forfeiting my relationship with the facts. I was swamped by the amount of Indian history as well. I am from PA and feel very cheated that the American history I was
taught was so negligent! All the names of tribes and bands etc! I also thought the Indian 'uprising' was so massive! And it was a civil war that should be taught as such. (I have no clue how it's mentioned or taught now.)
This book is small but very deep in terms and verbage I was (am) totally unaware of. This seemed to me, not targeted for the average 'joe' like me but more towards someone who knows of military terms and has a good understanding of the war

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tidy 100 page look at one of a series of "Indian Wars" taking place over the 19th century as America expanded westward. It gives a straightforward telling of events with some pretext and aftermath. Lots of names and units, not always the most exhilarating writing style, lots of useful pictures/drawings/maps. I mostly respect this book for being a well done relic of local history that seems to be of an ever dying breed, leaving niche local topics to not have 100 page books but 1 sentence mentions in larger overviews.

[Monica]

Written by a white author in 2001, it includes some dated terminology and perspective, but this can be helpful to compare and contrast with terminology and perspectives from times before and after. The book was helpful to me by providing more detail and chronology than I had absorbed or previously been aware of.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad chapter of our history, no matter how it is viewed. It is important to keep learning about how how the country was truly settled at the demise of the these proud, indigenous peoples who made this land their home, long before it was "settled".

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a very interesting book

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick overview of the Dakota Uprising, it felt reasonably balanced considering it was written in 1976. It did feel like it glossed over the forced march of the peaceful Dakota who surrendered and were imprisoned at Fort Snelling, many of whom died during the winter of 1863. But it does give a good general overview of the conflict and the various skirmishes and conflicts.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of the conflict, although mainly from a Euro-centric perspective.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clear and matter-of-fact. It seems to tell the story of the Dakota War without serious bias...