The Sioux Uprising of 1862
Another Major Event That Occurred During the Lincoln Presidency
May 29, 2009
Abraham Lincoln's presidency (1861-65) is so intrexicably linked to the Civil War that the other events that occurred during this time are often overlooked. One of these events is the Sioux Uprising of 1862. Relations between whites and Native Americans were contentious, to say the least. Lincoln, whose grandfather was killed by Indians and who had served in the Black Hawk War in 1832, took time from his extremely busy schedule to deal with this conflict. His response to the aftermath of the uprising would prove to be deeply personal.
The Roots of a Conflict
What would become known as the Sioux Uprising began on August 17, 1862, when a hunting party comprised of four Sioux Indians left their Dakota Territory reservation and entered the new state of Minnesota, which had been admitted to the Union in 1858. Here, the four Sioux killed five white settlers out of anger for the U.S. government's delay in sending annuity payments to the Sioux people in exchange for the movement of reserved lands. White settlers in the Minnesota River Valley retaliated, and a full-scale war broke out. In response, President Lincoln sent General John Pope-- who had been banished to the area as punishment for the Union Army's loss of the Second Battle of Bull Run-- to command U.S. troops in battle against the Sioux. On September 23, 1862, Pope led his troops to victory over the Sioux militants by entrenching and outnumbering them. More than 100 whites-- mostly women and children-- were taken captive during the uprising. The majority of these captives survived the conflict.
President Lincoln's Response to the Sioux Uprising of 1862
After the uprising, Minnesota whites demanded the capture and execution of more than 300 Sioux warriors. President Lincoln held racist views toward Indians, but he also had a strong sense of justice. Even though he was consumed with winning the Civil War, Lincoln reviewed every single charge brought against each Sioux warrior who was given a death sentence by U.S. military tribunals. He even went so far as to host a reception for a delegation of Indians at the White House. In the end, only 38 Sioux were hanged in connection with the uprising. (This was still the largest mass execution in U.S. history.) Lincoln's decision ultimately cost him the support of many angry white settlers. Lincoln responded to detractors by saying that he would not hang innocent men in order to receive votes.
Source:
Various Authors. "Sioux Uprising,1862," excerpted from Abraham Lincoln: An Illustrated History of His Life and Times, p. 106. New York: TIME Books, Time Inc., 2009.
