The Dakota War: Chase

A six-week war with the Dakota in 1862

devastated the Minnesota River Valley.

303 Indians were sentenced to die. 38 were hanged.

The Dakota people were banished from Minnesota,

thousands, led by Little Crow,

escaped into the Dakota Territory,

but the thirst for vengeance in Minnesota

could only be quenched by chasing down and punishing

the Indian leader and his warriors.

Sibley, the war is over,

but the people of Minnesota are demanding revenge.

Well, we got a good start on that, Governor.

38 of the murderers were hung in Mankato

and in the spring, the ones that Little Crow left behind,

will be taken to the Dakota Territories.

So that'll get rid of another 1,600 for you, Governor.

Well, you know, Lincoln did get it right at one point.

The law says that any Lakota in Minnesota

need to be moved beyond the boundary of any state.

So I ask him, exterminate 'em all or move them out.

I prefer the former.

Well, Lincoln said himself,

he won't hang men by the hundreds.

But he wasn't here.

He didn't see the horrors that the Indians committed.

Hundreds of civilians killed. Minnesota desolate.

It's not over.

What do you mean, Governor?

Trials, executions, relocations. They're not enough.

I've heard the worst of them have fled

to the Dakota Territory with Little Crow,

and I need you to lead an expedition into Dakota Territory

and bring Little Crow back.

Governor, I'm ready to retire.

I'm not a soldier, I'm a businessman.

I was a governor before you.

I'm suited for business and politics, not soldiering.

Now, I took your appointment and I fought the campaign.

I did my duty, and I'm ready to go home.

But we're not ready for you to go home.

And General Pope agrees,

the people of Minnesota respect you, they admire you.

You are the person we need to lead this expedition.

All right. If I must, I will.

But I'm not enthusiastic about this.

Don't worry, you'll have help.

General Pope and I have developed a plan.

Now, we hear the Dakota have left for Devil's Lake.

We want you to go to Devil's Lake and find them,

and if they're not there,

they've probably moved on toward the Missouri.

So we want you to follow them to the Missouri

and the Lakota.

How many men will I have in my command, Governor?

You'll have 4,000 infantry,

but you'll also have some help.

General Sully will bring his 3,000 cavalryman

up to Missouri to rendezvous with you.

General Sully? West Pointer, fought at Bull Run.

I understand he's a serious commander, Governor.

The general's general.

Now I expect you'll be pushing them west,

and then Sully will be coming in from the east

to cut them off.

Siding with McClellan and his dust up with Lincoln

wasn't very smart.

Got him exiled out here along with the general.

Pope's mistake was losing at Bull Run.

Lincoln cleaned House.

All those people, he felt let him down,

he sent 'em off to the frontier hinterlands, like Minnesota.

So, you want me to march West, hunt down Little Crow.

I hope Sully is up to it.

It's a different type of warfare, Governor.

Don't worry about Sully. He's a professional.

By June, I want you headed to Dakota Territory.

That's months from now, sir.

Well, we've gotta wait for better weather

and the grass to grow.

Horses need forage.

Hello, Sunset.

I was just wondering, are you waiting for somebody?

They're Dakota children in the school.

I wanted to make sure they made it home from the class.

Oh.

You know, I heard that you were planning to go out

to the Dakota Territory soon.

I believe so. Yes.

Aw, kids are gonna miss you a lot.

You know, you've been a big help to us.

I hope so. However, I must join my husband.

Yeah.

But by the way, do you know exactly

where you're gonna end up out there?

Near the Missouri River. That's all I know.

There's somebody out there I'd like you to talk to.

Who is that?

My sister.

She has a pretty big ranch out there.

Everybody knows her. Her last name is Collins.

Why would she want to speak with me?

Well, she's sort of made it her place

to try to help the Dakota who've been pushed out of here,

and she believes it's time to start up a school out there

for the Dakota children.

Why would she do this?

Well, who knows?

Maybe she just thinks it's the right thing to do.

You could be very helpful to her, you know?

You could continue the work you've started here.

Thank you for telling me this, Ms. Woodbury.

Oh sure, sure.

I do wish you the best in all of your endeavors.

Well, Givens, I hope help gets here quick.

I don't like the sound of this.

But Little Crow did warn us.

He said they'd be coming.

It's too soon.

Well, it better be a regiment then.

We're not getting a regiment.

All three forts on the frontier

don't have that many men altogether,

and I'm just getting my rangers together.

The Dakotas are hungry. They need food.

We don't even have an exact count of how many they'll be.

There could be Chippewa or Yanktons from the Dakotas.

Soldiers are coming. I'll have 'em do a count.

Ms. West, the Colonel has been expecting you.

Thank you for your response to my request, Ms. West.

I trust you're settling into the Dakota Territory?

Yes, the school is open now.

What's the composition of your school?

Composition?

Your students? Are they all Dakota?

Well, they are a mix of Dakota and white students.

Is that why you've invited me here, Colonel,

to discuss the composition of our classrooms?

You've been here for a while now,

and I thought maybe you might answer a few questions for me.

Regarding?

Regarding the whereabouts of certain Dakota individuals.

I understand. I'll do the best I can.

Three of these individuals are Dakota chiefs

from the central area of Minnesota.

Colonel, I am not well versed in tribal affairs.

I work with children.

Please tell me if you know the whereabouts

of one Red Middle Voice.

I have heard of Red Middle Voice, but I've never met him.

How about Chief Little Crow?

I have not seen Chief Little Crow since before the war.

Fine. How about Traveling Hail?

I have met Traveling Hail.

The father of one of my students was a follower of his.

What was the student's name?

Johnny.

Johnny? What was his Indian name?

Traveling Star.

Ms. West, since you've been in Dakota,

have you seen Traveling Hail or Traveling Star?

No, I have not.

Thank you.

There's one more individual I'd like to discuss with you.

Alright.

Do you know the whereabouts of one Nathan Cates?

You are looking for Nathan?

We are.

Obviously not for the same reasons

we're looking for the others.

I have not seen Nathan since we arrived here.

Yes, we heard that you left Minnesota together.

That is true. But he went to see family.

He had a death in the family.

His family in Virginia?

No. His family in Indiana.

Ms. West, I need complete honesty

in regards to this next question.

That is why I'm here, Colonel.

Are you aware that Nathan Cates

is an agent of the Confederacy?

What?!

Are you aware that Nathan Cates

is an agent of the confederate states of America?

But that's impossible.

He fought alongside your soldiers at Fort Ridgeley.

Yes.

It's obvious to us that Mr. Cates is very good

at concealing his true identity.

I am sorry, Colonel, but I simply do not believe you.

You'll believe what you choose to believe, Ms. West.

However, if you happen to learn the whereabouts

of Mr. Cates or Traveling Star or Traveling Hail

or Little Crow or Red Middle Voice,

then by all means please let me know as soon as possible.

Of course, I will.

Are you serious, Emily? He said that about Nathan.

Yes. Things are really bad now.

Well, where's Nathan now?

He's supposed to come back in two days, possibly tomorrow.

And I'm afraid I have even more bad news.