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| This Day in History – Dec. 26, 1862: 38 Dakota Men Executed by Order of Abraham Lincoln |
| 2023-12-26 |
| [Native News] This Day in History: Dec. 26, 1862 —Most commonly revered as the United States President who freed the slaves, Abraham Lincoln is known for something different in Indian Country. On this day 160 years ago, 38 Dakota men were hanged following orders from Lincoln in the largest mass-hanging in U.S. history. The execution happened in Mankato, Minnesota in front of some 4,000 spectators. Some historical accounts say that the men each held hands and sang a traditional Dakota song in the moments leading up to their deaths. Often erased from history, the men’s hangings were direct consequences of the U.S. and Dakota War of 1862. The war was the result of broken treaties and broken promises from the U.S. government after Dakota land continued to be diminished. The war lasted for over 37 days and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 77 U.S. soldiers and 29 Dakota warriors. The U.S. took more than 2,000 Dakota leaders into custody where many were eventually sentenced to prison, and others to death. Lincoln ended up only approving the execution of Dakota leaders who were proven to have committed civilian massacres. While the 38 men approved for execution were awaiting their demise, 3,000 other tribal members and prisoners were being sent to Fort Snelling. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #11 Yeah. But I don't have to be a savage myself. I can respect Manco, Dirty Harry, Paul Kersey without wanting to be them. But the Falling Down guy. Yeah, I could be him... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2023-12-26 18:58 |
| #10 The death sentence is handed out daily on our streets, businesses, homes, and schools. No due process, no appeal. You lock up yourself and love ones at night, they don't. You don't venture in to certain parts of cities. Only demonstrates who has real power in our society. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2023-12-26 18:45 |
| #9 As a crime reporter, I definitely saw people who deserved execution. I never, ever saw a system up to handing that punishment out justly. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2023-12-26 17:51 |
| #8 However, it does reduce recidivism |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2023-12-26 17:33 |
| #7 ^i agree. no death sentences only long term penal labor |
| Posted by: irish rage boy 2023-12-26 16:14 |
| #6 You are willing to make examples or you aren't. Psychologically, I think execution deters only the executed. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2023-12-26 14:22 |
| #5 ^Just without: UN, CNN, WHO, MSF. p.s. Did the Dakota braves hid behind their women & children? |
| Posted by: Grom the Reflective 2023-12-26 14:19 |
| #4 Now for the rest of the story - On August 17, 1862, four young native men killed five white settlers in Acton, Minnesota.[10] That night, a faction led by Chief Little Crow decided to attack the Lower Sioux Agency the next morning in an effort to drive all settlers out of the Minnesota River valley.[8]: 12  In the weeks that followed, Dakota men attacked and killed hundreds of settlers, causing thousands to flee the area,[11]: 107 and took hundreds of "mixed-blood" and white hostages, almost all women and children.[12][13] The demands of the Civil War slowed the U.S. government response, but on September 23, 1862, an army of volunteer infantry, artillery and citizen militia assembled by Governor Alexander Ramsey and led by Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley finally defeated Little Crow at the Battle of Wood Lake Sort of like October 7 now isn't it. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2023-12-26 14:14 |
| #3 The Eurine Con-servative will chime in with a whiney excuse shortly. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2023-12-26 11:34 |
| #2 Ya, I am slowly trolling the waters! |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2023-12-26 11:03 |
| #1 I wonder if Europ feels guilt for eradicating the Vikings, or the Carribean for eliminating pirates, or.... Are we the only nation that has institutional guilt here??? |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2023-12-26 11:00 |