Us dAKOTA wAR

BAKER fARM MASSACRE

The Baker farm massacre took place in a farm near Acton (not far from Lichfield). This marks the beginning of the war, even though it wasn't the first battle. After the massacre many whites in the area feared they were next. After that America took action and faught against the Natives.

Four Dakota Indians were hunting for food and had come up empty handed. They noticed a basket of eggs near a farm and when one Indian reached to take the eggs, another one stopped him. The morals of the event were heavy in his head and he advised his friend to not take the eggs because they were not rightfully his and had belonged to the farmer.

When questioned about if he feared the white man, the Dakota man stated that he would kill any white man that stood in his way if he had the company of his brothers.

The four Dakota marched into the farm and killed the five white settlers that resided at the farm.The farm that this happened at was the Baker Farm.

BATLLE OFWOOD LAKE

On September 23, 1862 United States troops were lead by colonel Henry Sibley where they defeated Taoyateduta (Little Crow III)'s force at the battle of wood lake, which marked the end of the US Dakota War of 1862. The native camped out on the shores of Lone Tree, also known as battle lake (wood lake was located 3 mi. Away). The battle was an basically an accident that started when Sibley's men went to search for more food.

As their wagons moved across the prairie (where the natives were hiding in the grass) they startled some natives which caused this battle. The battle was done within two hours. The badly outnumbered Dakota forces had succumbed to Sibley's superior firepower. Knowing that they had been defeated, Taoyateduta and his men fled into the countryside.

The veterans of the Third Minnesota and Sibley’s militia forces eventually drove the Dakota from the field. Over the course of this battle seven white soldiers were killed and 33 were wounded. Fifteen Dakota, including chiefs Makato and Mazamani, were killed during or after this battle, which effectively ended organized Dakota war efforts in Minnesota.

HOW THEY TIE TOGETHER

Both of these events mark the beginning and end of this six-week war. Over 600 white people were killed, just over 70 were soldiers, and about 50 more were armed civilians. The others were unarmed civilians--mostly young men, women, and children who were recent immigrants to Minnesota.

Whites Killed
Children - 30%
Adults (20-40)- 40%
Soldiers and Elders - 30%

Native Deaths
The Government didn't record the natives death but they estimated anywhere from 75-100 native deaths (not counting the hangings) More than one-quarter of the Dakota people who surrendered in 1862 died during the following year.

RESOURCES

• http://dakotawicohan.com/about/history
• http://www.mnopedia.org/event/battle-wood-lake-september-23-1862
• http://minnesotaghosts.com/index.php/library/mnhistory/82-the-sioux-uprisin...
• http://usdakotawar.org/history/battle-wood-lake#sthash.Cj0XQVnN.dpuf
• http://usdakotawar.org/history/aftermath