6/22/2009:
It was this date, June 22, 1923 that the State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired a small patch of land centered on a lonely hill some seven miles north of Tappen, North Dakota. While the hilltop affords a nice view of the surrounding countryside, there is nothing of obvious historical significance; no fort, no trading post and no farmstead. Nothing but a small marker, sitting atop a semi-submerged granite boulder telling its visitor of the Battle of Big Mound and Colonel Samuel McPhail.
Frustrated by a series of broken promises, as well as a number of other grievances against the United States, bands of the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute Dakota began a series of raids against Minnesota settlers in the late summer of 1862.
While the raids into Minnesota were eventually quelled, many believed that further violence could only be prevented if stern measures were taken with those who had perpetrated the attacks. As a result, in the summer of 1863 federal troops pushed the Dakota deep into Dakota Territory to trap them between two US armies; one pushing from the North and one traveling up the Missouri from the South.
The first Army, commanded by General Henry Sibley crossed into the southeastern corner of present-day North Dakota on July 2nd, 1863, heading north towards Devils Lake. On July 17, Sibley learned that the Dakota had already left the Devils Lake region and were instead moving southwest towards the Missouri. Sibley followed. On July 24th he caught up with his prey near a little hill now known as ‘Big Top.' The Dakota struck first, attacking members of a scouting party. Soldiers, setting up camp nearby, heard the gunfire and immediately began to form their battle lines. As the skirmish unfolded, the US forces worked to secure the high ground from which to launch attacks, fire their cannons and perhaps force the Dakota to surrender.
In charge of protecting the force's western flank was Colonel Samuel McPhail and his First Minnesota Mounted Rangers. As the battle ensued, McPhail wheeled his men to the west and south, stationing himself on a small round a few miles from Big Top. From this butte overlook, McPhail ordered his troops to charge. As his men galloped toward the Dakota, lightning struck, killing one of the soldiers and gravely wounding a number of other men. Undeterred by the ferocity of both their enemy and Mother Nature, the remaining members of McPhail's rangers reformed their lines and resumed the attack, driving the Dakota from the field and deciding the Battle of Big Mound.
Dakota Datebook written by Lane Sunwall
Sources
Clodfelter, Micheal. The Dakota War: The United States Army Versus the Sioux, 1862-1865: McFarland, 1998.
Snortland, J. Signe, ed. A Traveler's Companion to North Dakota State Historic Sites. Bismarck, ND: State Historical Society of North Dakota, 2002.
State Historical Society of North Dakota, "State Historical Society of North Dakota Strategic Long Range Plan" http://www.nd.gov/hist/LRPlan.htm (accessed January 19, 2009).