For an overview of this series publishing the trial records of the 38 Dakota men executed at Mankato Minnesota on December 26, 1862, see the first post.

Hapan’s is the twelfth of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 24 Ha-pan

Page Images: #24 Ha-pan

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 24. HA-PAN.—Confessed that he was in all the battles and at the murder of Mr. Patville, and that he aided in taking a white woman (Miss Williams) prisoner.[1]

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Trial Record October 1862

[Trial #24 – Ha-Pan]

Proceedings of a Military Commission convened at Camp Release opposite the Mouth of Chippewa River by virtue of the following order

Order No. 55                           viz:

Head Quarters CampRelease

September 28^th 1862

A Military Commission composed of Colonel Wm Crooks of the 6^th Reg., Lieut. Col. Marshall of the 7^th Regiment, Captains Grant & Bailey of the 6^th Reg. And Lieut. Olin of the 3^rd Reg. Will convene at some convenient point in camp at 10 o’clock this morning to try summarily the Mulatto, and Indians, or mixed bloods, now prisoners, or who may be brought before them, by direction of the Col. Commanding and pass judgment upon them, if found guilty of murder or other outrages upon the Whites, during the present State of hostilities of the Indians, the proceedings of the Commission to be returned to these Head Quarters immediately after their conclusion, for the consideration of the Col. Commanding.

The Commission will be governed in their proceedings, by Military Law and usage.

                                                                        (Signed) H. H. Sibley

                                                                                    Colonel Commanding

                                                                                    CampRelease opposite the

                                                                                    Mouth of Chippewa River, Minn.

                                                                                    Oct. 3, 1862

The Military Commission met pursuant to the above order-

Present

Col. Crooks – 6^th Reg. M. V.

Lt. Col. Marshall, 7^th Regt. M.V.     Members

Capt. Grant, 6^th Regt. M.V.

Capt. Bailey, 6^th Regt. M. V.

Lt. Olin – 3^rd Regt. M. V., Judge Advocate

Adjutant Heard – McPhail’s Mounted Rangers – Recorder

The Military Commission was then duly sworn and (Hapan) son of E-a-chan-mo-ni, a Sioux Indian was arraigned on the following charge and specifications

Charge and Specification against Ha-pan, son of E a chan mo ni, a Sioux Indian –

Charge

Murder

Specification – In this that the said Ha-pan, a Sioux Indian, did on or about the 18^th day of August 1862 participate in the murder of Francis Patville, a white

[Frame 192]

citizen of the United States between Fort Ridgely and New Ulm, Minnesota.

Charge 2 – Participation in the murders and robberies committed by the Sioux tribe of Indians on the Minnesota frontier.

Specification – In this that the said Ha-pan, a Sioux Indian, did between the 18^th day of August 1862 and the 28^th day of September 1862 join with and participate in the various murders and robberies committed on the white citizens of the United States residing on the Minnesota Frontier.

[By order of, etc.]

Witness

Ta-zoo

Indian

The charge and specifications being read to the prisoner & he asked what he had to say –

Answered

I have been in all the fights. I don’t remember of killing a white man and that is the reason I am here.  I was at the Patville murder and caught hold of the woman, Tazoo had hold of – to save her life.  I saw the woman in camp – she was the same one Tazoo had hold of (Miss Williams). I got this ring of Hun-re-re-ne.

Ta-zoo states (not on oath)  I know Ha-pan.  He was out hunting &

[Frame 193]

joined the party at the time of the Patville murder. I & prisoner were in the hind wagon – when we saw the white people coming we all jumped out & ran towards them. When we go up the firing had commenced.  The prisoner didn’t go to where Patville was killed, but ran after a girl & caught her by the arm. Another Indian (my brother-in-law) had her by the other arm.

And thereupon the Court found the prisoner guilty & sentence him to be hung by the neck until he is dead was cleared and proceeded with their finding and sentence.

The Military Commission, after due deliberation, find the said prisoner as follows –

Guilty of the specification.

Guilty of the charge, and sentence him to be hung by the neck until he is dead.

                                                [Signatures of Mil. Com][2]

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Riggs Synopsis December 1862

12.  Hapan. –Second Child if a son—says he was not in the massacres of New Ulm nor the Agency. He was with the company who killed Patwell and his companions. He took one of the women. O ya tay wa  killed Patwell.[3]

Transcriptions by Walt Bachman and Carrie Reber Zeman. Page images provided by John Isch.