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.

Tatayhdedon’s is trial thirty of forty-one in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 279 Ta-tay-hde-don

Page Images: #279 Ta-tay-hde-don

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 279. TA-TAY-HDE-DON.—Convicted of participating in the massacre at Beaver creek, and of taking captive a white woman.[1]

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Trial Record November 1, 1862

[Trial #279 – Ta-tay-hde-don]

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.

H.H. Sibley

                                                            Commanding Military Expedition

Head Qtrs. Camp Release Min. Oct. 15 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 Sibley Lower Agency

Nov 1st 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 Ta-tay-hde-don a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Charge and specification against Ta-tay-hde-don a Sioux Indian

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

Specification –In that Ta-tay-hde-don 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 in the Battles of the Fort, Birch Coolie, New Ulm, and Wood Lake and Beaver Creek murders.

H.H. Sibley

Brig Gen Commanding

Head Quarters Camp Sibley

29 October 1862

Witnesses

John Moor

Thos Robinson

David Carrothers

Prisoner states –

I never did anything bad in my life except a good while ago, when I ran after a chicken at Mendota but couldn’t catch it.  I went to church when I was young.  I was in two battles – with arrows – a cannon ball bounded and scattered the earth near me and I ran.

I was not at the Fort.  I was at Birch Coolie.  I am a coward and kept out of danger.

John Moore, sworn, says – He had a horse and a girl whom he took prisoner.  He was in the massacering on Beaver Creek.

Thos. Robertson says – He had Miss White in his tent.

David Carrothers, sworn, says – Prisoner was one of the 12 [?] who surrounded us at Beaver Creek and took the prisoners.  He had a single barreled shotgun.

[Frame149]

Prisoner says –

I was one of a party who came up from below.

David Carrothers further says –

They murdered a number there.

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 Ta-tay-hde-don, 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

30. Ta-ta-hde-dan (Wind Comes Home)says the man of Rice creek were the authors of the outbreak; tried to keep them from killing white people, but only succeeded partially.[3]

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Williamson translation of last letter

[The name given for the author of this letter, as rendered in the transcription of the source at MHS, matches none of the names of Dakota men short-listed for execution in 1862. Nor does Williamson’s translation of the name as “Passing Wind” match.However Williamson identified the letter as having been written by one of the men executed on December 26, 1862. I am placing this letter in the records of this case only as a hypothesis. If you have any information shedding light on this question, please contact me. CRZ.]

Passing Wind to His Arrow December 25, 1862

My younger brother I wish you to pray to the Great God and listen to the missionaries. My sisters I wish you to do the same.

Tatehihohe [4]

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