Dakota War of 1862 begins in Minnesota
- When
- 1862
- Where
- Lower Sioux Agency; New Ulm; Fort Ridgely; Milford Township
- Episodes
- 4
The Dakota War of 1862 began in mid-August 1862 following tensions over treaty payments and food shortages. After killings at Acton, Little Crow led attacks on the Lower Sioux Agency and settlements along the Minnesota River. Dakota forces assaulted New Ulm and Fort Ridgely, prompting Governor Ramsey to commission Colonel Sibley for relief efforts. The conflict involved significant violence against settlers and military engagements in southwest Minnesota.
Episodes
- Attack on Lower Sioux Agency
Little Crow led a surprise attack on the Lower Sioux Agency on August 18, 1862, marking the war's start.
- Attack on Milford Township
Dakota warriors attacked Milford Township on August 18, 1862, killing 53 civilians.
- Battles of New Ulm
Dakota warriors attacked New Ulm, Minnesota, on August 19 and 23, 1862, killing settlers and engaging militia.
- Attacks on Fort Ridgely
Dakota forces attacked Fort Ridgely on August 20 and 22, 1862, prompting military relief efforts.
Background and detail
Outbreak. Following the Acton killings, Little Crow initially advised against war but eventually agreed to lead the warriors. A council declared war, and Little Crow ordered an attack on the Lower Sioux Agency on August 18, 1862. This surprise attack marked the formal beginning of the Dakota War, with subsequent offensives targeting settlements along the Minnesota River valley.
Military Response. On August 19, 1862, Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey commissioned Henry Hastings Sibley as Colonel of Volunteers to lead an expedition up the Minnesota River for the relief of Fort Ridgely. Dakota forces attacked Fort Ridgely on August 20 and 22, 1862, and assaulted New Ulm on August 19 and 23, 1862, killing settlers and engaging militia.
People involved
- Little Crow · Dakota Leader
- Alexander Ramsey · Minnesota Governor
- Henry Hastings Sibley · Colonel of Volunteers
Sources
- Dakota War of 1862 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-07
- Little Crow Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-10
- Battles of New Ulm Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-07
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.