Bitterly Cold Remembrances
A small and hardy group riders are braving the bitter winter weather today, approaching the South Dakota/Minnesota border on their way to Mankato.The horsemen seek continued recognition of the 1862 massacre by mass hanging of 38 Dakota Indians near Mankato in 1862. It is considered the largest mass execution in U.S. history, although I'm uncertain how that ranking compares with the execution at Wounded Knee 28 years later. Perhaps the distinction is that the Dakotas were warriors accused of crimes related to the 1862 Uprising. President Lincoln then intervened and stopped the execution of another 265 Indians.
The Bigfoot Ride, which memorializes Chief Big Foot's historic trail from Mobridge to Wounded Knee in the winter of 1890, is also currently underway in West River country. It generally gets a lot of media attention. But the Dakotas' Lower Brule to Mankato Ride has a lower profile. Here's a good Web site with film, blogs and more history of the 1862 ride.
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For those of us who have been reading the history of this horrible event…there’s a great book out…Through Dakota Eyes…Narrative accounts of the Minnesota Indian War of 1862. It is edited by Gary Clayton Anderson and Alan R Woolworth. It’s put out by the Minnesota Historical Society Press… Another wonderful book was written by Dr. Elden Lawrence who has lived at Sisseton and Peever…. The Peace Seekers…Indian Christians and the Dakota Conflict. The book from Pine HIll Press….Good Luck to all the riders….I wish I could be at the Lower Agency when you arrive…and could be a Mankato when you arrive there….. Lets all hope your mission and “dream” is successful.
GP
Comment by gp — December 18, 2008 @ 10:21 am