The Spirit Lake Massacre and the Captivity of Abbie Gardner

by Abbie Gardner-Sharp

Long considered one of the best of the captive narratives from the 19th century, Abbie Gardner's thrilling and graphic tale of her abduction by a band of Santee Sioux in 1857 will captivate you from beginning to end. Barely 14 years old, her family was butchered before her eyes and she witnessed the deaths of two other women captives before her release by Chief Inkpaduta.

Gardner suffered years of illness after her return to white culture but eventually made a successful and prosperous life with a family. This book went through seven editions in her lifetime and she eventually purchased the cabin and property from which she was abducted and turned them into a tourist attraction. The cabin still stands today near Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Told from the view of a woman looking back three decades to her traumatic experience, Gardner used notes she had written down in the intervening years as well as public documents to produce a highly-readable and compelling narrative.

For the first time, this long out-of-print volume is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones.

Be sure to LOOK INSIDE by clicking the cover above or download a sample.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Memoir, American History

201 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lin F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written in the late 19th century, about 30 years after the events that the author describes, and which happened to her as a 13 or 14 year old girl. The writing reflects the time, in both diction and attitudes towards Native Americans. It's difficult to review a book such as this, but I will say that the inclusion of reports by military leaders who aided in the search and rescue were a bit tedious, as well as the author's inclusion of endless lists of minor participants in the event, including where they lived at the time that she wrote the book.

Her description of the massacre and deaths is quite graphic, and I was especially moved by the death of Mrs. Thatcher, who was one of the other captives. The most interesting parts of the book were her descriptions of life as a captive and the daily routines of the Natives who captured her. The negotiations to purchase her freedom were also very interesting.

The book ends with a set of letters from different people in official capacities who were certifying that the story she told and the contents of the book were true. That's not something I've ever seen before in what I would describe as a memoir.

[Ron Chinchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable story and quite frightening to read. Ms Gardner was certainly one remarkable woman and its a shame that the story of the Spirit Lake massacre is not better known. Remarkable that she can become so forgiving after experiencing such horrors, and to be so supportive of the Native American cause, by recognising that the perpetrators of this horrible act, were a product of issues affecting the Indian tribes as Europeans moved west. Its an excellent peek at humanity in its different behavioural expressions, from being horridly brutal and unsympathetic, to compassionate and heroic as the Indian people of that time were shown to be. I only gave it 4 stars because it became repetitive towards the end, but its an eye opening story well worth reading. Sent shivers down my spine at times. Showed how different the World these people lived in, was compared to today, at least in developed nations.

[Malinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a Sioux attack on pioneering families, in the area of Spirit Lake and Lake Okoboji, in Northwest Iowa. Abbie Gardner recalls the brutal attack of her family and neighbors and recounts events while she was held captive by a ban of Sioux warriors at the age of 13. At times, this book was a bit slow with very detailed descriptions of the landscape and wildlife. Likewise, her descriptions of the various military personnel and the play by play of their experiences seemed to drag a bit. Being an Iowa native, I found this book to be very interesting. I was able to learn more about this obscure massacre and details about Sioux/Dakota customs.

[Megan Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This recount of the tragic event of the Spirit Lake Massacre is packed with detailed recollections. The author did an amazing job of using a fine tooth comb explaining the events as they happened. I did have to step away from the book for a breather. It was so detailed that sometimes it was hard to deal with. That's just how well it was wrote. It's worth a read even if you emit the gory details. The book is packed full of information that I didn't even know existed about my own state.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up 15 miles from where this happened and visited the Gardner cabin for the first time on a field trip in elementary school. In addition, I’ve always been told that my great-grandmother knew and corresponded with Abbie Gardner. Putting aside my personal connections to these events, it’s still a 5 star account of an important event in Iowa and Minnesota history. It’s a fascinating story that I should have read years ago.

[Carrie L. Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed Experience of a Young Captive

This is a heartbreaking reality and historical text by a very young unfortunate girl. Her father kept moving the family westward, unfortunately into an exceptionally dangerous enemies realm.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Live 30 miles away..........have visited the
site several times. Unreal this happened
so close to home.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary account with thorough sources and collaborating statements by witnesses/rescuers.
Sadly, this event became overshadowed by the Dakota Uprising in 1862 and is barely known about today.
Taken for the times this memoir was written in, I can only marvel at Abbie's honesty covering her emotions, fears, prejudices, and most of all, her recounting of how absolutely brutal the murders of her family and neighbors were. Did she stop short of recounting further atrocities during her captivity? Gratefully, yes. For a woman of the 19th century, this would be expected.
That she was able to recognize she was dealing with what is now known as PTSD, attempt to deal with it as best she could, live her life in spite of it, including continuing to love the place where she lost all she held dear enough to live there again in her later years, is amazing to me.
Revisionists will tell us that Inkpaduta and his sons were fine warriors. Anyone who's taken the time to study what contemporary Dakotas felt about his band will realize this is on its face, untrue. Warriors they may have been; fine, they were not.
There are multiple layers to his relationship/dealing with members of his nation; one thing is certain: he left the land he'd lived on throughout his life and never returned. Not simply because the U.S. Govt sought him, but also because many of his own people would have given him up, willingly.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abbie Garner was a interesting post-mortem examination of moral ethics when it comes to dealing with the death of your entire family by a Sioux raiding party. She was captured and enslaved by the Sioux indians, and seems as though she struggled with her rage versus forgiveness towards the Sioux tribe. She ran the gambit referring to the Sioux as Indians, savages, and monsters while comparing their response to different situations as like pigs and monkeys. She described the savage treatment of women and hideous atrocities committed against children. She talked about how the Sioux killed buffalos, cracked open the skulls and ate the raw warm bloody brain. She paints a picture of an warlike civilization that had no compassion to anyone outside of their tribal structure. After reading this book and other books about captives, my fairytale delusions created by Hollywood has been forever altered to a divisive stance towards the narrative to deceive the masses.

[R.E. Admore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is this an account of Abbie Gardner's captivity in her own words, she included several historical documents related to to the massacre, her captivity, her rescue, and later years in her life. It is one of the better accounts of captivity that I have read. At times, it is difficult to read about the atrocities that were committed. Of the four young women captured (Abbie was about fourteen at the time), two were rescued and two were killed by their captives. The two who survived were rescued by indigenous people who risked their lives to do so. For someone seeking understanding of the native/settler conflicts and life at that period of time this is a good reference. I do question the accuracy of some of her observations, but many of them are corroborated by other authors. Of course, this is only one document and many others must be considered to understand both sides of the conflict.

[Daron Ruckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad story

An experience so difficult to imagine in today's times of sheltered lives and relative ease. It was a time of great animosity between Native Americans and America's push westward changing many lives for better or worse. It is difficult to understand the Natives atrocities but their way of life was endangered. Also difficult to understand why all Natives we're grouped together and suffered revengeful atrocities by settlers when they were trying to live peaceful lives with the whites. I hope we can learn from this sad story.

[Kip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really only of interest to hard core American Indian buffs, students of Midwest history, or those with interest in this specific event. Abbie was one of the kidnapped girls/women later freed from the Souix by US soldiers. It's a first-hand account, mostly sanitized of the more brutal parts of her captivity, as fit the writing mores of the day.

[Teresa Crancer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very historically factual and engaging work.

Annie Gardner-Sharp not only tells the personal story of her capture and enslavement, she recaptures all of the surrounding frontier life and the history with Native Americans involved in the massacre. This is a great chapter of American history.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story

A good read and a real eye opener on the atrocities during the massacres by the band of Sioux Indians. Native Americans as they are called now. I would've liked more details on her husband and children plus her sister and her family. She didn't reveal much about her sister's life. Were there any photos? If yes that would be a nice addition.

[Ginny Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this history so interesting. Such a horrible ordeal for Abbie Gardner to endure. She was a very strong woman. I'm so glad she was able to search out one of her rescuers. I'm also glad she was able to buy back the land where her log cabin stands near Spirit Lake, IA.

[Marieta Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written. I appreciated her honesty and descriptions, and her concern about verifying everything she wrote about. Though having grown up in a different part of Iowa, I've long heard about the massacre, I am glad to read an account by someone who was there. Her fortitude was amazing.

[Irene Moyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing true account, 1st hand

I read this so fast! A bit dated but so is the writing in Little Women. Horrific depiction of Indians almost all the time, but historically unsurprising. For someone who suffered horribly, she was rational and simple moved forward with her survival.

[Janet Balhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

History of the settling of Iowa.

I liked reading this true story of the survivor of the Spirit Lake Massacre. Have several points of view that I found interesting.

[Rosemary Kellogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could hardly put this book down. It was well written and very descriptive. I found it fascinating Abby was so strong and the hardships she had to face. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[Rebecca Tackett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Repeats

The writer repeats and has testimony repeating same story. I think book could be reconstructed and be more interesting. I like the history that's displayed.

[Pleunig · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't make her experience up! The strength she showed as a 13 year old is amazing!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Spirit Lake Massacre and the Captivity of Abbie Gardner by Abbie Gardner-Sharp is a powerful, harrowing, and deeply compelling firsthand account that left a lasting impression on me. Written decades after the events it describes, this narrative balances raw emotional truth with careful reflection, creating a work that is both gripping and historically significant.

Gardner recounts her captivity with stark honesty, never shying away from the terror and grief of witnessing unimaginable violence at such a young age. What makes this account especially impactful is its clarity and restraint—she allows the facts, her memories, and the weight of lived experience to speak for themselves. The result is a narrative that is haunting without being sensationalized.

Equally compelling is the perspective of time. Writing as an adult looking back on her teenage self, Gardner weaves in documentation and personal notes to create a cohesive, readable story that feels remarkably accessible for a 19th-century work. Her resilience shines through not only in her survival, but in her life afterward—her determination to reclaim the site of her trauma and preserve its history adds a profound layer of meaning to the book.

This is not an easy read, but it is an important one. It offers insight into frontier life, captivity narratives, and the long-term impact of trauma, all through the voice of a woman determined to ensure her story was not forgotten. A gripping and essential piece of American history that fully earns its five stars.

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember briefly learning about the Spirit Lake Massacre when I was in school. I knew it happened in Iowa, but I guess as a child growing up there, I didn't realize how "close to home" this actually was. Having deep family connections to nearly every Iowa county and settlement mentioned, this first-hand account of the author's captivity and witness to such horror has changed the way I view the landscapes around home. I've always known about the Sioux tribes, but here, we are reminded (as the book says), there are good and bad in every tribe and race, which makes this book just as relevant today as when it was composed. Inkpaduta and his warriors were bad, and yet it was only with the help of other tribes and Natives that Miss Gardner was ransomed. Sometimes dry reading, but incredibly thorough and verified. One would be amiss to count this only as a book of savagery. It is also a book of all the good that can be found, too. Life on the plains in the mid-19th century was only for the brave - both those naturally so, and those forced to be so. Abbie Gardner was incredibly brave.

[Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

History of the spirit Lake Massacre and captivity of Miss Abbie Gardner

A must read for any student of American History and anyone interested in the indomitable nature of the Human endurance and the depth of depravity and cruelty that was encountered by pioneers during the push to bring civilization to untamed parts of the US.

The historically verifiable story is told by Miss Abbie Gardner who was unfortunately captured and made a slave until she was ransomed in exchange for horses, blankets, etc.

In her own words, Miss Gardner describes the effects of the slavery forced on her: “No words can express, or imagination conceive, my situation at this time. Hope gone, physical vitality and energy exhausted, I was bruised, sore, and lame in every part of my body. It seemed impossible for me to get rested. Although twenty-eight years have passed since then, I have not recovered from the fearful strain upon my physical and nervous system.”

[Mindie Burgoyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir written by an Iowa woman who was taken captive by Santee Sioux at age 14 after entire family was massacred in front of her. She tells the horrid details of that experience as well as the harrowing trials she had in captivity. While that content is tough to read, she also details her life once captured. She’s able to reconcile much of her anger, and is even able to purchase the cabin where the massacre occurred and convert it into a museum. This is an amazing first hand account.

[Jeanie Lydick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Massacre

This true story tells what happened in North West Iowa in Okoboji and Spirit Lake areas regarding the massacre of several families and the enslavement of four women. One was only 13 years old and the author of this book, Abbie Gardener Sharp. She and one other were rescued and two were killed. This story is very well written and so engrossing. I did not want to stop reading. I recommend this book highly.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

Repetitive

Much of this narrative was very repetitive. The author experienced a traumatic time in history but the style of storytelling was stilted and boring to me. . Many paragraphs listing names of people didn't add much value to the storyline. I found myself skipping a good portion of the book. I would not recommend

[Laura Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is interesting, especially if you’ve been to the area. That being said, it’s pretty repetitive and oddly structured at times. Also, seriously jarring to read a lot of the descriptions through a “modern” lens; that being said I do understand I’m reading a victim’s account… just an interesting contrast there!

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio, & was easy enough to follow along....