A Thrilling Narrative of Indian Captivity: Dispatches from the Dakota War of 1862

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.

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

Transcript: Trail 318 Wa-she-choon

Page Images: #318 Wa-she-choon

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 318. WA-SHE-CHOON, or TOON-KAN-SHKAN-SHKAN-MENE-HAY.—Convicted of participating in the murder of LaButt’s son.[1]

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Trial Record October 1862

[Trial #318 – Wa-she-choon, or Toon-kan-shkan-shkan-mane]

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. 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

November 2 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 Wa-she-choon or Toon-kana-shka-mane a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Head Quarters Camp Sibley

29^th October 1862

            Charge and specification against Wa-she-choon or Toon-kan-shkan-shkan-mane a Sioux Indian

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

Specification –In that Wa-she-choon 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

H.H. Sibley

Brig Gen Commanding

Witness

Alek Graham

Prisoner states –

At the Fort I fired one shot in the direction of the store and one struck this side.  I fired three shots at New Ulm.

David Faribault, sworn, says –

I heard the prisoner say a few days after the outbreak he shot La Batte’s son.

Prisoner says –

It was here at this house.  I and another Indian came here (since dead) and found the door shut – returned and saw LaBatte’s son going out.  Saw his clerk here and that is the man David Faribault says I shot my snapped my gun at.  He said he wanted to live.

I had not time to shake hands with him and another Indian shot him with an arrow.  I fired at him, but didn’t hit him.

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 Wa-she-choon or Toon-kan-shkan-shkan-mane, 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]

*****

Riggs Synopsis December 1862

The Riggs “confession” numbered “31” was not made by the man tried as #318, but by another prisoner by the same name. The day the men whose death sentences President Lincoln allowed to stand were selected out of the main prison, another man stepped forward when Washechoon (Toonshkanshkanmane)’s name was called. Defendant 318 lived; the other man was executed in his place. Carrie Reber Zeman

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

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]

*****

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.

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.

Pazekootaymane’s is the twenty-ninth of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 264 Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ni

Page Images: #264 Pa-za-koo-tay-ma-ne

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 264. PA-ZE-KOO-TAY-MA-NE.—Convicted of participating in the murder of a party of eight white men.[1]

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Trial Record October 29 1862

[Trial #264 – Pa-za-koo-tay-mane]

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

Colonel 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 October    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 Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ne a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Headquarters Camp Sibley

29^th October

            Charge and specification against Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ne a Sioux Indian

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

Specification –In that Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ne 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

H.H. Sibley

Brig Gen Commanding

Witnesses

John Moor

Thos Robertson

Alexis LaFrambois

Prisoner states – I was not at the battle of the Fort.  I was not at either battle of the Fort.  I was not at New Ulm. Wacouta told me not to go anywheres and I didn’t go.  I have a gun.

I never went on a war party.

Thos. Robertson, sworn, says –

I haven’t seen this Indian anywheres.

Alexis La Fromboise, sworn, says –

I have heard him (prisoner) say he was at the Big Woods when the fuss broke out and that on his way back when he got to Rice Creek he heard about it.  That he then turned back with others and followed a team with 8 men in it and shot with them and killed them.

He told me this back of Mr. Rigg’s.  He said “we overtook them and killed them.”

Prisoner says –

I don’t recollect of hearing telling anything what witness says.

[Frame 29]

John Moore, sworn, says –

I heard the prisoner was out at the Big Woods when the troubles commenced.

Prisoner states –

I never said I was along.  I said the party told me there were ten who fired into the party and killed them.

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 Pa-za-koo-te-ma-ne, 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]

*****

Riggs Synopsis December 1862

29. Pa-za-koo-tay-ma-ne (One who walks prepared to shoot) says he was out on a war party against the Chippewas when the outbreak took place. When he came back the massacres were over. He did not kill anyone; says his statement before the commissioners was misunderstood. When he was asked whether he was in a war party and fired his gun he replied “Yes;” but it was against the Chippewas,and not the whites.[3]

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

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.

Makatenajin’s is the twenty-eighth of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 254 Ma-kat-e-na-jin

Page Images: #254 Ma-kat-e-na-jin

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 254. MA-KAT-E-NA-JIN.—Convicted of participating in the massacres near New Ulm, and of encouraging the young men to do so.[1]

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Trial Record October 31, 1862

[Trial #254 – Mu-kat-na-jin]

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.

                                                            (signed) H.H. Sibley

Col Commanding

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

October 31 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 Ma-kat-e-na-jin a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Headquarters Camp Sibley

29 October 1862

            Charge and specification against Ma-kat-e-na-jin a Sioux Indian

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

Specification –In that Ma-kat-e-na-jin 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

By order of Gen.l H.H. Sibley

S.W. Fowler Lieut Col.

A.A.A. Gl

Winess

Napay-shne-doota

[c. Frame 940]

Prisoner states –

I was not at the Fort or Birch Coolie.  I got to Wood Lake after the fight was over.

I was at New Ulm.  I went there to take care of my son.  He was killed.  I had no gun at New Ulm.

Na-pay-shan-doota, sworn, says –

I know the prisoner.

I heard the prisoner say that at the Yellow Medicine he got there too late.

Godfrey, sworn says – I saw Godfrey the prisoner with a gun at New Ulm.  I didn’t see him do anything.  I heard the prisoner encouraging the young men to fight.

Prisoner states – I had my son’s gun coming down.

I saw him when the Indians fired on whites who were in a wagon with a flag.  I did not fire.

I dissuaded the young men from fighting.

Godfrey says further – On our way to New Ulm prisoner was along when they were killing the whites and he was encouraging the young men.  He said they were young – to go in – that they had nothing to fear.

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 Ma-kat-e-na-jin, 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]

*****

Riggs Synopsis December 1862

28. Ma-ka-ta-e-ne-jin (One who stands on the earth) is an old man; says he has not used a gun for years; was down at New Ulm, but didn’t kill anyone; had two sons killed; wants to have the truth told.[3]

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

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.

Toonkanyagenajin’s is the twenty-seventh of forty-one trials in this series.

Transcript: Trial 225 Toon-kan-ka-yag-e-na-jin

Page Images: #225 Toon-kan-kay-yag-e-na-jin

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 225. TOON-KAN-KA-YAG-E-NA-JIN.—Convicted of participating in the murder of a white man at the Big Woods.[1]

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Trial Record October 30 1862

[Trial #225 Toon-kan-ka-yag-e-na-jin]

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.

(signed) H.H. Sibley

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 Release Sibley Lower Agency

October 30 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 Toon-kan-ko-yag-e-na-jin a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Charge and specification against Toon-kan-ko-yag-e-na-jin a Sioux Indian

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

Specification –In that Toon-kan-ko-yag-e-na-jin 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

By order of Gen.l H.H. Sibley

S.W. Fowler Lieut Col.

A.A.A. Gl

Witnesses

Alek Graham

David Faribault

[c. Frame 719]

Prisoner states – I fired at one of the battles. (After Faribault testified) He says –I could not fire my gun off.

David Faribault, sworn, says –

Prisoner was off to the Big wood Woods when a white man was killed runnin.  He was on horseback running after him.

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 Toon-kan-ko-yag-e-na-jin, 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]

*****

Riggs Synopsis December 1862

27. Toon-kan-ko-yag-e-na-jin (One who stands clothed with his grandfather) says he was in the battle of Birch Coulee; was also at the battle of Hutchinson but doesn’t know that he killed anyone.[3]

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

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.

Wakantanka’s is the twenty-sixth of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 210 Wa-kan-tan-ka 1

Page Images: #210 Wa-kan-tan-ka

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Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 210. WA-KAN-TA-KA.—Convicted of the murder of a white man not named.[1]

*****

Trial Record October 29 1862

[Trial #210 – Wa-kan-tan-ka]

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. 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

October 28 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 Wa-kan-tan-ka a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Headquarters

Camp Sibley

29th Oct 1862

            Charge and specification against Wa-kan-tan-ka a Sioux Indian

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

Specification –In that Wa-kan-tan-ka 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

H.H. Sibley

Brig Gen Commanding

Witnesses

Hosu-hde [?]

Wakinyan washday

Thos Robertson

David Faribault

[c. Frame 608]

Godfrey sworn, says –

I saw the prisoner down among the Dutch settlements, where they were killing the whites.  On the way to New Ulm, we met 2 wagons coming towards us and the prisoner and two others said they would lay in wait for the wagons.  I and the other Indians went to a house and prisoner and other Indians went to where the wagons were.  I went to where his comrade [?] was standing and found prisoner there.  When I got there I found a white man dead in the wagon and prisoner took out his knife and stabbed the white man. I saw him do it. I heard the guns but did not see the man shot.

Prisoner and others then asked me to drive the team.  I did so.

He took out his knife and showed it to me and said his brother had died lately, and he had now avenged his death.

Prisoner says –

I did fire on the whites as Godfrey says, but didn’t kill anyone.

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 Wa-kan-tan-ka, 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]

*****

Riggs Synopsis December 1862

26. Wa-kan-tanka (Great Spirit) says he was not present of the commencement of the outbreak; was along with the company which came down from New Ulm; saw the men in two wagons killed, but he did not kill anyone; says one witness before the commission testified that he killed one of those men, but the witness lied on him.[3]

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

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.

Napashue/Napesni’s is the twenty-fifth of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 178 Na-pa-shue

Page Images: # 178 Na-pa-shue

*****

Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 178. NA-PA-SHUE.—Convicted of participating in a massacre, and boasted he had killed nineteen persons.[1]

*****

Trial Record October 29, 1862

[Trial #178 – Na-pay-shue]

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. 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 October 29, 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 Na-pay-shue a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Charge and specification against Na-pay-shue

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

Specification –In this that he said Na-pay-shue 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 –was wounded at New Ulm, said he murdered nineteen persons.

H.H. Sibley

Brigadier General Commanding

Witnesses

Wakinyan Washtay

David Faribault

Thomas Robertson

Prisoner states –

I was not at the Fort.  I was not at New Ulm.  I had a sore knee and couldn’t go.

Thos. Robinson, being sworn, states –

I heard the prisoner say the morning after the first massacre that that (his gun) was an old gun, but that he had killed 19 with it.  This was in front of John Moore’s house.  His wife and children were the first ones over at the Beaver Creek massacre.

Wakean-Washtay, being duly sworn, says –

I never heard anything about prisoner.

Prisoner says –

I never fired my gun off.

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 Na-pay-shue, 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]

*****

Riggs Synopsis December 1862

25. Na-pa-shue (One who does not flee) says that at the time of the outbreak he was quite lame; he was not engaged in any of the massacres; he was not engaged in any of the battles, but was forced with others to comedown the Yellow Medicine before the battle of Wood Lake. He dies for no fault of his.[3]

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

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.

Hypolite Auge’s is the twenty-fourth of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 175 Hypolite Ange

Page Images: #175 Hypolite Auge

*****

Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 175. HYPOLITE ANGE, a half-breed.—Confesses that he was one of the party that murdered a white man, and that he fired at him.—(See cases 115 and 138.)[1]

*****

Trial Record October 1862

[Trial #175 – Hypolite Auge]

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. 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 Release opposite the mouth of the Chippewa River

Camp Sibley Lower Agency   October 29 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 Hypolite Auge a half Breed was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Charge and specification against Paulite Hypolite Auge a half Breed Sioux

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

Specification –In that Hypolite Auge 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

H.H. Sibley

Brig Gen Commanding

Witness

Godfrey

[Frame 350]

Prisoner states –

I was one of the party who went cross the river at Little Crow’s village with Campbell, Milord, Etay-ota &c and killed a white man.

I fired last – after he fell.  The white man was standing when I fired.  I was running towards the man when I fired.

That is all I did.

I was in no battle.  I got to Birch Coolie after it was over.

I fired at the white man because I was afraid of the Indians.

The white man was down when I fired.  I fired above him.  I fired as he was falling.

If the white man had been standing I would have fired over him.

Little Crow sent us over for cattle.  My sister was here and that is the reason I didn’t run away from the Indians.  I wanted to be killed with her if she was killed.

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 Hypolite Auge a half Breed Sioux, 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]

*****

Riggs Synopsis December 1862

24. Hypolite Auge is a halfbreed, says he had been a clerk in one of the stores for a year previous to the outbreak; was sent down the Minnesota river with Baptiste Campbell and others by Little Crow; shot the white man but not until he had been killed by others.[3]

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

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.

Hapinkpa’s is the twenty-third of forty-one trials in this series. 

Transcript: Trial 170 Ha-pink-pa

Page Images: #170 Ha-pink-pa

*****

Whiting-Ruggles Summary December 5, 1862

No. 170. HA-PINK-PA.—Convicted of the murder of Garvie.[1]

*****

Trial Record October 28, 1862

[Trial #170 – Ha-pink-pa]

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. 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 Release opposite the mouth of the Chippewa River

October 16 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

Camp Sibley Lower Agency

October 28, 1862

The Military Commission was duly sworn and Ha-pink-pa a Sioux Indian was arraigned in the following charge and specifications, viz

Charge and specification against Ha-pink-pa

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

Specification –In that Ha-pink-pa 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, Birch Coolie, New Ulm, & Wood Lake.

H.H. Sibley

Brig. Gen Commanding.

Witnesses

Jos. LaFrambois

Daniel Renville

Gabriel Renville

Prisoner states –

I was not at New Ulm, the Fort or Birch Coolie.

At WoodLake I stood with the half breeds a long ways off.

When I went to the Big Woods there were 100 in the war party.  I was at Cedar Island with them.  There a horse tramped on my foot and I couldn’t go any farther.

I was smoking my pipe in front of Royer’s house when they shot Garvie.

Daniel Renville, sworn, says –

I heard the prisoner say that he had shot Garvie.  I heard him say distinctly that he had fired on Garvie, and heard him groan.

Prisoner says –

I said I heard the second shot at Garvie and then heard him groan.  I never told last witness what he says.

[Frame 313]

Gabriel Renville, sworn, says –

I heard prisoner say that he shot Garvie with an arrow.

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 Ha-pink-pa, 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]

*****

Riggs Synopsis December 1862

23. Hay-pin-kpa (The Tip of the Horn) is condemned because he boasted of having shot Stewart B. Garvie with an arrow. As it is now known that Mr. Garvie was not shot with an arrow, but with buckshot, it is probably true, as he said before the commission, that he lied about it. This is not the first time that a man has been killed for lying. He now says that they determined to send off all the white people from the Yellow Medicine without killing any. Mr. Garvie refused to go. He did not shoot him. He dies without being guilty of the charge, and he trusts the Great Spirit to save him in the other world.[3]

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