Causes of the War

The Lower Sioux Agency building in1897. By Edward Augustus Bromley. "We have waited a long time. The money is ours but we cannot get it. We have no food but here these stores are filled with food. We ask that you, the agent, make some arrangement so we can get food from the stores, or else we may take our own way to keep ourselves from starving. When men are hungry, they help themselves."

Little Crow (Taoyateduta), Mdewakanton Dakota, to agent Thomas Galbraith in 1862

Hunger was widespread throughout Dakota lands in Minnesota.  Since crops had been poor in 1861, the Dakota had little food stored for the “starving winter” of 1861-62. Their reservation supported no game, and increasing settlement off the reservation meant more competition with Euro-Americans hunting for meat. Reports about government agents' corrupt treatment of the Dakota were ignored.  Factionalism continued among the Dakota, as those who maintained traditional ways saw that only those who had acculturated were reaping government support. Finally, a delayed treaty payment made traders nervous, and many of them cut off credit to Dakota hunters. Indian Agent Thomas Galbraith refused to distribute food to the Dakota, and though Dakota farmers shared food with their relatives throughout the summer of 1862, it wasn’t enough.

Four Dakota hunters killed five white settlers at Acton Township, Meeker County, on August 17, 1862. Later, Wambditanka (Big Eagle) identified these young men:

"You know how the war started — by the killing of some white people near Acton, in Meeker County. I will tell you how this was done, as it was told me by all of the four young men who did the killing. These young fellows all belonged to Shakopee's band. Their names were Sungigidan (“Brown Wing”), Kaomdeiyeyedan (“Breaking Up”), Nagiwicakte (“Killing Ghost”), and Pazoiyopa (“Runs Against Something When Crawling”)." 

Some Dakota seized that moment to declare war to reclaim their homelands from the whites who would not keep their promises. In the early morning hours of August 18, they went to war.

Theme:

1862

Topics:

Causes of War
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Bibliography

Anderson, Gary Clayton and Alan R. Woolworth, eds. Through Dakota Eyes: Narrative Accounts of the Minnesota Indian War of 1862. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1988.

Carley, Kenneth. The Dakota War of 1862. 2nd ed. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001.
Clodfelter, Michael. The Dakota War: The United States Army Versus the Sioux, 1862-1865. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Publishing, 1998.
Wingerd, Mary L.. North Country: The Making of Minnesota. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2010.

Resources for Further Research

Primary

Anderson, Gary Clayton and Alan R. Woolworth, eds. Through Dakota Eyes: Narrative Accounts of the Minnesota Indian War of 1862. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1988.

U.S. Dakota War of 1862 Collections. Minnesota Historical Society.
 
US-Dakota War of 1862 History Topic. Minnesota Historical Society Library.
 
Secondary
 
 
History on the Spot cell phone tour: call 877-411-4123 (can be accessed at the historic site as well as from your home phone).
 
 
 

Glossary Terms

Related Images

Scene of the Acton Murders, August 18, 1862

Scene of the Acton Murders, August 18, 1862

An interpretation of the shootout that occurred in Acton, MN, on August 17th, the day before the start of the U.S.-Dakota War. By Dan Nelson, 1909.

Related Documents

T1SS4

George E.H. Day to Abraham Lincoln

...voluminous and outrageous frauds upon the Indians in Minnesota.

George E.H. Day, January 1, 1862

A letter written by George E. H. Day on January 1, 1862. Day was a special commissioner sent from Washington, D.C., to Minnesota in 1861 to report and recommend on the state of affairs between the Indians and the whites. 

Contemporary comment:

Records of the Interior show that warnings like Day's were sent from all over the United States. Unfortunately, they were so common by 1862 that the government was no more alarmed than the father of the little boy who cried, 'Wolf!'-Carrie Zeman, historian; author

Source: Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division (Washington DC: American Memory Project 2000-02)

St Anthony Minn. Jan 1, 1862. Mr President in August last I was appointed Special Commissioner by Mr Dole1 Comm. Ind. Affairs with the approbation of Hon Mr Smith Sec Interior at the request of Hon J. R. Doolittle2 Chairman of the Senate Com. Ind Affairs & Hon. C. Aldrich3 Chairman of House Com. same subject for 100 days only. I visited the Chippewas of the Miss. first-- then of Lake Superior -- held 3 councils with them-- then I visited the Winnebagoes & then the Sioux or Dacotas held 3 more councils travelling all by land (nearly) about 1800 miles in my own wagon driving my mules, often sleeping in the woods & generally without any companions-- distance between stopping places from 20 to 60 miles frequently. Everywhere I have been treated by the present officers of Gov with courtesy & have reciprocated all civilities & enclose herewith a copy of a letter of the Hon Mr Galbraith4 Sioux Agt, for consideration. I have discovered numerous violations of law & many frauds committed by past Agents & a superintendent. I think I can establish frauds to the amount from 20 to 100 thousand dollars & satisfy any reasonable intelligent man that the indians whom I have visited in this state & Wisconsin have been defrauded of more than 100 thousand dollars in or during the four years past. The Superintendent Major Cullen,5 alone, has saved, as all his friends say more than 100 thousand in four years out of a salary of 2 thousand a year and all the Agents whose salaries are 15 hundred a year have become rich. The Indians are decreasing in numbers & yet their payments never increase but year after year have also decreased to each person & in the aggregate. The whole system is defective & must be revised or, your red children, as they call themselves, will continue to be wronged & outraged & the just vengeance of heaven continue to be poured out & visited upon this nation for its abuses & cruelty to the Indian. I most sincerely desire to aid Mr Dole & Hon Mr Smith in revising & perfecting the trade & intercourse laws & regulations with the cooperation such honest men as Judge Doolittle & others who desire that the placing of the Government in the hands of an honest man shall result in honest & free & humane dealings & transactions with the poor defrauded & degraded Indians of our frontiers. Here are a few of the words of the head Chief of Lake Superior Chippeways spoken at my Council Oct 22, 1861, last, "We send him our Great Father-- our profound respects-- We hope his heart is like the Great spirit all benevolence & that he will listen to our requests". At all my councils the Chiefs desire me to make many requests of their Great Father & tell him of many wrongs they had suffered from the Gov Agents and especially Traders the greatest Curse of the Indians and the Curse of the nation for they boast that they can control Congress & have done it Our Senator Rice6 is an old trader with two living indian wives & he has had, during the past administration, with which he was omnipotent, three old Indian-Traders appointed Agents. I never scarcely heard of an honest indian trader -- & then it is understood he is very liberally supported every way by the Traders The whole pack of traders & ex Agents & Superintendent are making war upon me because I have been looking up their frauds & rascalities & because they can neither frighten nor buy me-- each of those means having been ineffectually tried. I was at two of your receptions last summer desired to see you alone but knowing how overwhelmed with cares you was, never called. If I were not poor & had not a family to support I would go to Washington at my own Cost out of love of country & the poor indian. I have written to the Secretary of the Interior & Commr Dole & do not wish this referred to them-- but desire to be requested to go at Gov expense $135, would pay all I think as above stated I could save nearly as many thousands. A suggestion to Mr Dole or any Course you choose would accomplish it. The Indian Traders & Agents nearly if not quite controul our delegation in Congress except Mr Windom7 whom I consider an honest man neither to be bribed nor frightened-- sound as a rock I feel to trust a man who fears God I have the honor to be your obt servant Geo. E. H. Day Special Commr