Hanging of 38 Dakota men at Mankato

When only two men were found guilty of rape, Lincoln expanded the criteria to include those who had participated in “massacres” of civilians rather than just “battles.” He then made his final decision, and forwarded a list of 39 names to Sibley.

Anxious to not act with so much clemency as to encourage another outbreak on one hand, nor with so much severity as to be real cruelty on the other

The trials of the Dakota were conducted unfairly in a variety of ways. The evidence was sparse, the tribunal was biased, the defendants were unrepresented in unfamiliar proceedings conducted in a foreign language, and authority for convening the tribunal was lacking.

neither the Military Commission nor the reviewing authorities recognized that they were dealing with the aftermath of a war fought with a sovereign nation

On December 26, 1862, 38 Dakota men were hanged at Mankato.

Following the mass execution on December 26, it was discovered that two men had been mistakenly hanged.

On November 5, the commission completed its work. 392 prisoners were tried, 303 were sentenced to death, and 16 were given prison terms.

The Dakota then attack settlements along the Minnesota River valley, killing hundreds of white settlers in the first few days.

Annuity payments are late again, and the traders refuse to extend further credit.

the Senate replaces “in perpetuity” with “at the discretion of the President.”

In August 1862, with the Dakota facing starvation, some tribal factions attacked white settlements