Manuscripts Collection
The collections deal with such aspects of the U.S.-Dakota War as accounts of raids and killings, construction of fortifications, the siege of New Ulm, experiences of hostages taken by the Dakota, the release of many of them at Camp Release, experiences of soldiers who served as members of Minnesota infantry regiments in action against the Dakota, the execution at Mankato of 38 Dakota convicted of murder, and the subsequent Sibley and Sully punitive expeditions into western Minnesota and Dakota Territory. A few of the collections offer insight into the background and causes of the war.
The collections are arranged alphabetically by the name of the principal participant about whom they contain information, who may or may not be the author of the materials.
These documents are organized into the following sections:
Originals are closed. Access and use requires the curator's permission. Please consult the reference staff for more information.
Saint Paul : Minnesota Historical Society, 1994.
Microfilm available on interlibrary loan, and for sale to Minnesota residents and institutions, from the Minnesota Historical Society. Inquiries regarding purchase by non-Minnesota residents and institutions should be directed to LexisNexis.
These collections were all received separately, or removed from groups of unrelated materials. Several were submitted for a Minnesota Tourism Bureau contest in 1933.
Accession numbers: Accession numbers for each specific collection within this compilation are noted within the detailed description for each collection.
Catalog ID number: 1716531
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Typescript made by Elizabeth Stubbs.
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
They include a biographical sketch (undated); invitation to the White House (1863); discharge papers; U.S. Volunteers, 2nd Regiment muster‑in roll (1865); promotions; letters from him to the St. Paul Pioneer Press (1883) and the North Dakota Historical Society (1914) about the Sully Expedition, particularly the battle of White Stone Hills; appointment as brigadier general of the Minnesota National Guard (1885); and 14 clippings (1908‑1916) containing biographical sketches and obituaries.
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
The report recounts the historical background and early events of the U.S.-Dakota War and describes the battle (September 23, 1862) in detail. It also corrects several errors in Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars regarding the battle.
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Describes Paulson's experiences as captain in the 9th Minnesota Infantry, Company H, while on march with the 1863 Sibley Expedition, including the daily tedium, extreme heat, and a battle with the Dakota (July 24).
Digital version
The diary (May 6‑September 12), kept while on march with the Sibley Expedition, details miles covered daily, topography, camp routine, and battles at Big Hills, Dakota Territory (July 24, and 26) and near the Missouri River (July 29‑31). It includes a muster roll of Company F.
The letters (1864), from Captain Horace B. Wilson, Camp Buford (Helena, Arkansas), to Mary Pettibone of Redford, Michigan, describes her husband's death from dysentery, the visit of John's brother Heman to the camp, and actions Mary should take to obtain John's pension and back pay.
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Pages 1 through 63 (original) cover the company's march from Sauk Centre into the Badlands of western Dakota Territory and back to Fort Snelling (May 22-October 17), particularly detailing the countryside; forts and trading posts; escorting an emigrant train from Camp Pope to Yellowstone; rescuing the James L. Fisk emigrant train (September 9-11); Indian encounters, including the battle of Killdeer Mountain in western Dakota Territory (July 28-29); and desertions, hardships, and buffalo hunts. Pages 64 through 71 cover their journey by barge, train, and on foot to Chicago, Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee (October 18-November 5). There is a partial letter written in Nashville (May 7, 1865).
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
John L. Wakefield and family photographs are found in the Collections not Microfilmed series.
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
Digital version
There is also a photocopy of a 1961 letter from William R. Marsh, great nephew of Captain John S. Marsh, detailing the Civil War service of Marsh and his brother, Josiah, and remarking on John's August 18, 1862 death at the Lower Sioux Indian Agency ferry site. The original was loaned by R. B. Dunsworth, St. Paul, Minnesota.
It was also customary for a guard of soldiers to be present at the annual payment. The 1862 guard consisted of parts of two companies of the Fifth Minnesota Volunteers, approximately 100 men, commanded by Lieutenant Timothy J. Sheehan. On August 4th, 500 Dakota, mounted and on foot, surrounded the soldiers' camp. At the same time, other Dakota broke open the warehouse door and began removing sacks of flour. Sheehan's men trained a loaded howitzer at the warehouse door while Sheehan, a sergeant, and sixteen men moved past the Dakota to the warehouse. Following discussion with Galbraith, the Dakota were given pork and flour and the leaders agreed to a council meeting.
On August 5th, Agent Galbraith sent a letter to Sheehan stating his lack of trust in the military's interpreter, Peter Quinn, and requesting his removal from the reservation and delivery to Captain John S. Marsh, Sheehan's superior officer at Fort Ridgely. Sheehan instructed Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere to proceed at once to Fort Ridgely with Quinn and request Marsh to come immediately to the agency. Gere left the agency at four that afternoon, reaching the fort at three the morning of the sixth. Marsh reached the agency at 1:30 that afternoon.
Following a meeting with the Dakota on August 7th, it was agreed to release all goods and provisions and to recall the Dakota when the annuity money arrived. Over the next three days, the goods and provisions were distributed and the Dakota left the area. On the eleventh, the detachment returned to Fort Ridgely.
Seven days later, on August 18th Captain Marsh was drowned and Interpreter Quinn killed at the Lower Sioux Indian Agency (Redwood Indian Agency) ferry site during the first day of fighting in the Dakota Conflict.
Digital version
Digital version
John L. Wakefield biographical memorabilia is found in the Microfilmed Papers series.
Digital version
Digital version
Includes separate folders for Earle, Ezmon W.; Flandreau, Charles E.; and Goodell, B.H.
Includes separate folders for King, Josiah Ridgate; McFall, Orlando; Minnesota Historical Society. Statistics...; and Minnesota Infantry. 5th Regiment. Company B.
Includes separate folders for Robertson, Thomas A.; Sidwell, Aaron M.; and Wall, Oscar Garrett.
Includes separate folder and 1 volume for Workman, Harper M.
After microfilming, oversize material was separated for proper storage purposes.