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.

Chaskaydon’s is the twentieth of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 121 Chaskay-don

Page Images: #121 Chaskay-don

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 121. CHASKAY-DON, or CHASKAY-ETAY.—Convicted of shooting and cutting open a woman who was with child.[1]

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Trial Record October 1862

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 Camp Release 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.

By order of the Colonel Commanding Military Expedition

(signed) S.H. Fowler

A.A.A. Genl

Head Qtrs. Camp Release Min. Oct. 18 1862

Order No. 65

I. The Military Commission of which Col. Wm Crooks 6^th Regt Minn Vols is President will reconvene tomorrow at 10 Oclock AM or as soon thereafter as practicable and proceed with the business before it.

II.Lieut. Col. Wm R Marshall 7^th Minn Vols being absent on duty Maj. Gen Bradley of the seventh is hereby detailed to fill the vacancy thus occasioned.

By order of Gen.l H.H. Sibley

S.W. Fowler Lieut Col. A.A.A. Gl

Camp Release opposite the mouth of the Chippewa River

October 30^th[?] 1862

The Military Commission met pursuant to the above order-

Present

Col. Crooks – 6^th Reg. M. V.

Maj. Bradley, 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 duly sworn and Chaska-don or Chaska-etay-good a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Charge and specification against Chaska-don or Chaska-etay-good a Sioux Indian

Charge –Participation in the murders, outrages & robberies committed by the Sioux Indians on the Minnesota frontier

Specification –In that Chaska-don or Chaska-etay-good a Sioux Indian did join with and participate in the murders robberies and outrages committed by the Sioux Tribe of Indians on the Minnesota frontier between the 18^th day of August 1862 and the 28^th day of September 1862 and particularly at the Battles of the Fort, New Ulm, Birch Coolie, & Wood Lake.

By order of Gen.l H.H. Sibley

S.W. Fowler Lieut Col.

A.A.A. Gl

Witnesses

David Faribault

Alex LaFrambois

Lewis Taylor Co. E [?] Guards

Prisoner states

I fired 1 shot at the Fort at the gunners.

At WoodLake I fired one shot.

Lewis Thiele sworn says:

Prisoner shot a woman that was with child and then cut her open, at Redwood.  I have known prisoner for a year.  He has been frequently at my house.

And there upon the case being closed the Commission was cleared and proceeded with their finding and sentence.

The Military Commission after due deliberation on the foregoing, the evidence being closed and Commission was cleared and proceeded with the finding and sentence.

The Military Commission find the prisoner, the said Chaska-don or Chaska-etay, a Sioux Indian, 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

Riggs did not conduct a death-row interview with defendant 121, Chaskaydon/Caske Ite because another defendant was wrongly selected out for execution when Chaskaydon’s name was called. The Riggs “confession” numbered “20” was made by the wrong man so I have not included it with Chaskaydon (trial 121)’s case. Although Lincoln made out the hanging order using both names and trial numbers, none of the Dakota men in prison knew the number under which they had been tried.  –Carrie Reber Zeman

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