9/23/2007:
Today, September 23, marks the 145th anniversary of the final battle of the US-Dakota Conflict of 1862 at Wood Lake, MN. Seven hundred Dakota, led by Little Crow were defeated by General Henry Sibley’s regiments. As a result of this final defeat, Little Crow and 200 followers fled to Devils Lake in Dakota Territory in hopes of recruiting new allies. Little Crow envisioned a grand alliance of the Dakota, Nakota and Lakota, armed and aided by the British through Canada. Together, he hoped, they would sweep Americans from the upper Plains. None, however, answered his call.
Frustrated, Little Crow turned to the Mandan, Arikara and Gros Ventres along the Missouri River hoping to recruit supporters. They responded to the offer by killing eight of Little Crow’s emissaries. Having failed to recruit further support, Little Crow left his sanctuary in Devils Lake and returned to his home in Minnesota.
Written by Christina Sunwall
Sources:
Clodfelter, Micheal. The Dakota War: The United States Army Versus the Sioux, 1862-1865 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1998)
EMuseum @ Minnesota State University Mankato <http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mncultures/littlecrow.html>