The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-07
NATIVE BORN DAKOTAN
FOUGHT FOR THE ENGLISH
Chief Yanktonais Batd Against the
1S2For Ruled With Authority the Valley
the James-How Kept His Vow the

When the war of 1912 came on there re-
sided on the Elm river a tributary Sof the
James. in Brown county. a chief Of the
Yanktonais who was in the habit of max
ing trips to the Minnesota valley for the
purposes of trade and who thru the In
fuence of the English traders with whom
he came in contact had acquired a strong
antipathy to the Americans. The Eng
lish interests in the west were reposed in
Colonel Robert Dickson. a ell-known
trader, who had long operated in the west.
with headquarters at Mackinaw. but who
at the breaking out of hostilities was sta
toned at Prairie du Chen.
Even before the war began. the English
in expectation of trouble. had set Dick
son at work to enlist the sympathies of the
Indians. He took up the work vigorously
when the war began and succeeded, as is
well known. in enlisting many Wisconsin
Indians and some Sioux to take UP arms
against the Americans. He met Joseph
Renville down at Kaposia. where he Sc
cured the services Of Wabashaw and Lit-
tie Grow, the elder, and he dispatched
Renvile to the Big Stone lake to solicit
the Indians there.
Twenty-Five Sissetons and some Yank-
tonais joined him. among the latter the
old chief from Elm river and his son. the
latter named Wanotan, or Wanata 1.-THE
rushing man. They joined the English
army and fought at Fort Meigs and San
dusky at the close of the trouble return
Ing to the Dakota home.
Impetuous In Battle.
OF all the Sioux allies, no other one
fought SO valoriously as Wanata. the
South Dakota lad, exposing himself to
greater danger and receiving more
wounds than any other. At that time he
was but 1S years of age and received his
name because Of the impetuosity of his
behavior in battle Soon after the return
the old chief died and was buried near the
home on the Elm, and the young man
at once was raised to the first place in
his tribe. When Major Longs expedition
reached Lake Traverse. at Browns VAL
ley, in 1928. Waotan met him there and
Is thus described by Heating, the his
torian Of the expedition. -.
1.-THE principal interest which we expert
enced In the neighborhood of Lake
Travers. was from an acquaintance with
Wanotan. the most distinguished chief of
the Yankton tribe, which we were in
formed is subdivided into six bands.
He is one Of the greatest men of the
Dakota nation and altho but % years of
age, has already acquired great renown.
At the early age of 1S he exhibited great
Valor in the war against the Americans
and was wounded several times. He was
then inexperienced and served under his
bore a mortal enmity to the Americans
'Wanotan has since learned to form a
better estimate of our nation. He is
aware that it is the interest of his people
to remain at peace with US and woulC
probably in the event of another war be-
tween the. United States and England
take part with the former. Those who
know him will commend his sagacity anC
judgment as well as his vaor He is {
tall man, being inward Of six feet HIGH
His countenance would be esteemed hand
some In any country, his features beins
regular and we'll shaped. There is an in
telligence which beams thru his eye which
Is not the usual concomitant of Indian
features. .-.. Y
"His manners are delightful and re
served; his attitudes are graceful 7ant
easy, tho they are apt to appear studied
When speaking of the Dakotahs, we pur
posely postponed mentioning the frequen
vows they take and their strict adherence
to them, because one of the best evidence
which we have collected on this poin
connects itself with the character o