Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-02-12
A WHOLESALE HANGING
Story Of the Hanging Of 81 Indians at Mankat0, hnn
After the Great Sioux Massacre
Dec. 26, 1862

Editor Tribune: Having paTtlci-
pated in the Indian war OF 1868, and
being one of the guards who stood
around the scaffold at Mankato dur
ing that famous execution,I deem it
proper to write brief account of the
historic events leading up to that
tragic scene. Il: 4
During the month Of August, 1862,
the Sioux Indians of the upper Min
nesota river initiated massacre OF
white settlers, which stands proml-
Inent in the bloody drama which has
Eattended the advance of civilized man
across the continent |
More than one thousand white set
tiers were slain by the sayages, on |
the frontier settlements of Minnesota |
and the two Dakotas; and an Indian
war was precipftated along the west
| ern frontier with scarcely any warn |
ing. >~s -. .s4.s
The battles of Birch Coolie, Fort
Ridgeley, New Ulm and Wood Lake,
, were fought and the Indians driven
back to Big Stone lake and the plains
;. of Dakota The battle of Wood Lake
was fought on the 23rd of September,
, land the defeated savages were driven
. back to Big Stone lake, leaving their
twhite captives with an insurgent band
:, LOT friendly Indians who negotiated
: terms of surrender with General Slb-
Hey, who was advancing with his
. forces of Minnesota troops. Our army
LOT eight hundred men pushed on to
, Camp Release, where the "friendlies'
twere encamped on the banks of the
minnesota, to prevent the killing OF
the white captives by Little Crow and
;, his hostile warriors. They came into
our hands on the 9th of September,
- sad wrecks of humanity.
81 The white female captiyes had
Il dressed themselves up as best they
4 could, to meet the rescuing army;
n weeping ait the sight of the soldiers,
. who wrapped army blankets around
vs- their haIf-clad forms and placed them
Mt within our protecting lines. The sol
,d diers encampment was about one
he quarter mile from that of the Indians
tic which was commanded by our cannon
ia We found one hundred and twenty
or six white women and children, sever
~ al mixed bIoods, and one white maj
who were prisoners in the Indial
camp. George Spencer, the whit
il, man, was found wounded by an In
nd dian friend. who took him to hi
nj Hodge and saved his life.
ms He had rescued a young Sioux wal
is rior from band Of Chippewas, befor
AL the massacre, and his life was save
md for that friendly act.
no Spencer was subsequently appoin
lys led Indian agent, at the Whetston
,,sa agency, on the Great Sioux reserv
NJ ton and was superseded by an arm
ren Ioficer during President Grants a
NV ministration.
After the capture Of the Indians |
10 Camp Release, military commissie
80 composed of officers OF General 81
"a tIey's command was appointed, to t
10 those warriors who had participate
e. lin the massacre of white settlers; al
,,.raI as the wheels of the commission we
laps pun IN no 'laEI' ene a'saseu ..l
-, multiplied, until more than three hu
,,La dred warriors were condemned; up
what was considered good evideHt
s AT the close OF their work the militia
commission turned over their dndin
Ito General Sibley for his approx
son, Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel M
yfoDf, shall OF the Sixth Minnesota infant
IL sstarted out with the Indian WON
d.; land children who were captured,
Win Fort Smelling; and the main comma
hard lof Sibley's forces moved out on
march for Mankato. The condemn
Co, warriors were chained together,
1000. Ipairs, and hauled In government y
yhas. ons. When the command pas
New Ulm, the inhabitants were
vii gagged In disinterring the dead
! IN liens, who were buried in the str,
Bath for reburial In more appropri
gorge burial place. Seeing US passing
they rushed forth with clubs, stol
over knives and guns, to attack the pris
,rpor- iers, who were the brutal murder
c. OF their dead relatives.
" Many Of them, including the +,
grade negro. Godfrey, were known
Obey, 1.-THE settlers at New Ulna, and I
crouched low in the wagons as I
\ Co, were wairled past the infuriated
!. In habitants.
Claus The number of prisoners tried
!. VI. 1.-THE commission we're over four
rnold. dred Of whom three hundred
b. three were sentenced TO death
d. N. eighteen to imprisonment.
Is, il. The records Of the testimony
Is. Il. sentences Of the Indians was sen
IamAs President Lincoln, who finally ord