The Dakota War from the

Perspective of White
Settlers

Marina Monsivais, Maya Montemayor, Beck

Phillips, Elena Propst, and Gaby Rodriguez
Before the War
 Document
26
Mr, President,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the despatch of 7th inst. addressed
to me by Private Secretary Nicolay, in accordance with your directions, and in
obedience to the instructions therein contained, I proceed, very briefly, to state my
opinions, as to the final disposition of the remaining condemned Indians and half
breeds still in my custody

I have the honor to be, Mr President,

Very respectfully
Your obt. servant
H. H. Sibley
Brig. Genl. Commanding Beck
 Document 26: Letter From Henry H. Sibley to Abraham Lincoln
Written by Henry H. Sibley; Feb 16, 1863

What It Is: A letter to President Lincoln regarding the remaining Sioux prisoners.

H: The letter was written by Henry H. Sibley who was in command during the 1862 Sioux uprising making him
in charge of the aftermath of the uprising.

A/P/P: The Point of View of this letter is that Sibley feels pressure to protest his men and somehow deal with the 300 Sioux prisoners
in the least dangerous way for his men. Sibley was present at the uprising which angered and influenced him to just kill the Sioux
instead of anything else.

Y: It increased tensions between the settlers and the Native Americans. The U.S. government and settlers are concerned about the
rising tensions between then and the Native Americans.
 Document
ARTICLE 2.
29
The said Med-ay-wa-kan-toan and Wah-pay-koo-tay bands of Indians do hereby cede and relinquish all
their lands and all their right, title and claim to any lands whatever, in the Territory of Minnesota, or in
the State of Iowa.
ARTICLE 4.
1st...2nd...
3d. For a general agricultural improvement and civilization fund, the sum of twelve thousand dollars,
($12,000.)
4th. For educational purposes, the sum of six thousand dollars, ($6,000.)
5th. For the purchase of goods and provisions, the sum of ten thousand dollars, ($10,000.)
6th. For money annuity, the sum of thirty thousand dollars, ($30,000.) Gaby
 Document 29: Treaty of Mendota
Negotiated by Luke Lea (Commissioner of Indian Affairs) and Alexander Ramsey (governor and ex-officio superintendent of Indian
Affairs); Aug 5th, 1861

What It Is: A Treaty between the Med-ay-wa-kan-toan and Wah-pay-koo-tay bands of Dakota and Sioux Indians and the Commissioners
of Indian Affairs

H: At this time there were many treaties being broken between the Native Americans and the White Settlers. The United States at this
time tried to assimilate the Native Americans, and also to try to encourage the Native American's to contribute back to the American
economy in the future.

A/P/P: The purpose of this piece was to try and negotiate the issue before the war of native americans on area that could be settled by
European immigrants and sending the Native Tribes into reservation areas in order to better control them.

Y:The document address the issue of how to keep the native american community from encroaching onto new owned US government
land. With the signing of the Treaty of Mendota along with the earlier Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, most of southern Minnesota
became open to white settlement. In turn it shows control and leadership from the US government that the Natives lack.

Gaby
Government/White
Settlers
 Document 10
The horrible massacres of women and children and the outrageous abuse of
female prisoners, still alive, call for punishment beyond human power to inflict.
There will be no peace in this region by virtue of treaties and Indian faith. It is
my purpose utterly to exterminate the Sioux if I have the power to do so and
even if it requires a campaign lasting the whole of next year. Destroy
everything belonging to them and force them out to the plains, unless, as I
suggest, you can capture them. They are to be treated as maniacs or wild
beasts, and by no means as people with whom treaties or compromises can be
made.
(Letter to Sibley, Sept. 28,1862)
Document 10: Letter from General Pope

Written by General Pope; Sept 28, 1863

What It Is: A letter written to declare the goal of exterminating the Sioux, approving Henry H. Sibleys plan to combat the Native
Americans.

H: At this time mass expansion out west to Minnesota lead to conflict between settlers and Native Americans that live there (the
Dakota and Sioux). Native Americans began to attack white settlements killing, maiming, and kidnapping settlers. The United States
government and the white settlers resorted to forceful and violent to address the issue and punish the Natives.

A/P/P: The purpose of this letter is to urge the total and complete annihilation of the Sioux attacking the settlers. The author
accomplishes this by mentioning the treatment of women and children creating an emotional connection to his audience. He also
refers to the natives as wild beasts and manics.

Y: The document portrays the savage treatment endured by the settlers at the hands of the Natives through providing actions taken
against the settlers by the natives. It also demonstrates the settlers justification for how they punish the natives.
 Document
24
I feel confident if all the Indian outbreaks upon this continent were carefully
examined and honestly probed to the bottom, the whole cause and origin
would be found in the thievish and dishonest conduct of Government Agents
Officers Traders and the vile confederates that procured their appointment and
share their plunder and then gloss over and hide their iniquity. Instead of
annuity payments build them mills, aid them in erecting dwellings, furnish
implements of husbandry, instruct them how to keep these in repair and how to
till the soil.
 Document 24: Letter from George A.S. Crooker to Abraham Lincoln
Written by George A. S. Crooker; Oct 7, 1862

What It Is: A letter to Abraham Lincoln regarding the Sioux uprising in Minnesota.

H: The letter was sent to Abraham Lincoln, who was president at the time of the Dakota Wars, making him the Commander in Chief.

A/P/P: The Point of View of this piece is from the eyes of George Crooker, a white, government official. Crooker advocated that the
Native Americans were not treated equally, and that they need to be given the correct resources in order to live peacefully. George
Crookers point of view is discontented about the way the government helps the Native Americans.

Y: This document is significant because Crooker almost blames the government for causing the war and what they need to do in order
to make it better.
 Document 15
[I] am satisfied in my own mind from the slight evidence on which these are
condemned that there are many others in that prison house who ought not to
be there, and that the honor of our Government and the welfare of the people
of Minnesota as well as that of the Indians requires a new trial before
unprejudiced judges. I doubt whether the whole state of Minnesota can furnish
12 men competent to sit as jurors in their trial. . . . From our Governor down to
the lowest rabble there is a general belief that all the prisoners are guilty, and
demand that whether guilty or not they be put to death as a sacrifice to the
souls of our murdered fellow citizens.
(Letter to Rev. Riggs, Nov. 24, 1862)
 Document 15: Letter From Rev. Thomas Williamson to Rev. Stephen Riggs
Written by Reverend Thomas Williamson; Nov 24, 1862

What It Is: A letter that justifies the punishment of Native Americans

H: Natives were forced onto reservations, leading to tensions between white settlers and natives, and Native Americans raided white
farmers land when the government didnt supply enough resources; the Sioux Uprising was a particularly brutal raid that ended with
many white settlers killed and many natives sentenced to be executed.

A/P/P: The reverend is angry and upset with the natives who killed his neighbors and wants revenge for the innocent blood that the
natives spilled.

Y: This letter gives insight to how the white settlers felt about the attacks, shows how savage the natives could be, and justifies the
execution of some of the members in the tribe who participated in the Sioux Uprising.

Marina
The Native
Americans
Perspective
 Document 14
You have deceived me. You told me that if we followed the advice of General
Sibley, and gave ourselves up to the whites, all would be well; no innocent man
would be injured. I have not killed, wounded or injured a white man, or any
white persons. I have not participated in the plunder of their property; and yet
to-day I am set apart for execution, and must die in a few days, while men who
are guilty will remain in prison. My wife is your daughter, my children are your
grandchildren. I leave them all in your care and under your protection. Do not
let them suffer; and when my children are grown up, let them know that their
father died because he followed the advice of his chief, and without having the
blood of a white man to answer for to the Great Spirit.
(Letter to Chief Wabasha)
 Document 14: Letter of Hdainyanka Written Shortly Before His Execution
Written by Hdainyanka (a Sioux native); No date given

What It Is: A letter written to Chief Washaba (Sioux chief) to call him out for his betrayal of his tribe.

H:Around this time, Native Americans were forced onto reservations; they raided white settler's land and violently fought back. During
one particular attack, the Sioux Uprising, natives attacked and killed white settlers and many Dakota natives were sentenced to
execution.

A/P/P: Hdainyanka's audience is his chief and natives who felt as if they had betrayed by their chief. He uses words such as "deceived"
and "suffer" along with the anaphora of "I have not..." to make his audience understand his pain and situation as an innocent native
sent to die due to blindly following his chief's orders.

Y: This document shows how the real native savages, the ones who actually participated in the attack, went unpunished and how the
deceptive and savage nature of the Sioux chief led to the mass execution.

Marina
 Document 9
I am for continuing the war, and am opposed to the delivery of the prisoners. I
have no confidence that the whites will stand by any agreement they make if
we give them up. Ever since we treated with them their agents and traders
have robbed and cheated us. Some of our people have been shot, some hung;
others placed upon floating ice and drowned; and many have been starved in
their prisons. It was not the intention of the nation to kill any of the whites until
after the four men returned from Acton and told what they had done. When
they did this, all the young men became excited, and commenced the
massacre. The older ones would have prevented it if they could, but since the
treaties they have lost all their influence. We may regret what has happened
but the matter has gone too far to be remedied. We have got to die. Let us,
then, kill as many of the whites as possible, and let the prisoners die with us.
 Document 9: Speech of Hdainyanka in Favor of Continuing War
Written by Hdainyanka; 1862

What It Is: A speech given by Hdainyanka to his peer addressing the war effort.

H: At this time fighting between the settlers and the Native Americans was at an all time high. Hdainyanka was an Sioux tribal man and
an instigator of native american raids on white settlements. These raids were common practices and led to conflict between the
settlers and the Natives.

A/P/P: The audience of the speech is Hdainyankas fellow tribesmen and tribal leaders. Hdainyanka persuades his audience to
continue fighting against the settlers, he accomplishes this by listing examples of suffering that the tribe has faced at the hands of
settlers, such as being starved, robbed, cheated, and killed. He urges all native americans to fight against the settlers till their dying
breath to provide justice for their peoples.

Y: This speech portrays the savage bloodlust the Natives held toward the settlers through their willingness to kill the settlers and their
ability to encourage other natives to kill as many white settlers as possible.
 Document
19
As we came near New Ulm my brother told me the driver was . . . afraid to go
through New Ulm, my heart leaped into my mouth and I crouched down beside
my brother completely overcome with fear. In a short time we reached the
outskirts of the town and the long looked for verdict--- death, seemed at hand.
Women were running about, men waving their arms and shouting at the top of
their voices, convinced the driver the citizens of that village were wild for the
thirst of blood, so he turned the vehicle in an effort to escape the angry mob
but not until too late, they were upon us. We were pounded to a jelly, my arms,
feet, and head resembled raw beef steak. How I escaped alive has always
been a mystery to me.
 Document 19: George Crooks (Wakanajajas) Account of Journey to Prison
Camp
Written by George Wakanajaja Crook; Jan 29, 1909

What It Is: A diary entry by George W. Crook

H: At this time, George Crook (Wakanajaja) was not a powerful native american, but a child who had come from a powerful family.

A/P/P: The purpose of this document is to show the horror of the war, as well as show the natives were not the savages. In the
document, as George Crook was driving through New Ulm, the white settlers were attacking them. George Crooks brother was even
killed, along with many others, showing the anger and the savagery within the settlers.

Y: This document is significant because it shows the capabilities of the white settlers anger, as well as their savage ways by
describing the damage. Contrary to the popular belief, that native americans are savages.
After the War
Document 28

Gaby
 Document 28: Indian Land for Sale
Created by the U.S. Department of the Interior; 1910

What It Is: An advertisement about Indian Land for Sale in the West

H: At this time the Dawes Act was adopted by the US congress and was created in order to assimilate the rest of the NA into society
by giving every member of a tribe a piece of land (allotment). The rest would be sold to European immigrants settling on the borders
of the NA land, were disputes over sources occurred and settlers feared attacks from indians.

A/P/P:This advertisement was intended for settlers that wanted to move further out west in order to gain more opportunities and
economical possibilities were now able to because of the land that now belongs to the US, they are able to sell.

Y: The advertisements uses short and easy to read phrases such as fine lands and easy payments in order to gain interest in
people who are looking to move west. The inclusion of the Native American photograph shows that the Natives who are no longer in
control of the land look unfit to use the resources efficiently in the area.

Gaby
Document 8

Beck
 Document 8: Execution of Dakota Indians in Mankato, Minnesota in 1862
Created by J. Thullen; 1884

What It Is: A painting that shows the execution of the Dakota Indians

H: Following the Minnesota uprising the tensions with Native Americans continued for decades. This painting is highlighting the
injustice of the Native Americas.

A/P/P: The painting was produced to bring attention to the way Native Americans were treated and highlighted the past and current
issues. The goal was to educate people because it was not well known.

Y: The painting brought light to the injustice that was committed and to the citizens and U.S. government. The U.S. government was did
not tell the whole truth about the Dakota Indians and the injustice that was committed was being brought into the peoples eyes.