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Friday, July 25, 2003
Spoke with the native American lady at the "Forbidden Deli" today when I was buying some chocolate chip cookies. I asked her for details on the executions that Lincoln allowed which she had mentioned in our earlier conversation. She indicated that it was in Mankato, MN. I indicated that I was interested and planned on looking up some information on what occurred.
Since she hadn't told me the native American tribe or any other information, I searched on Mankato Indian Execution and hit pay dirt:
Dakota Indians cede lands to U.S. for around $2.675 million in cash and annuities.
Annuity payments made late (or not at all) due to the civil war, dishonesty, corruption etc.
The numbers reported on this site indicate that around 500 Americans (including settlers, women, children, as well as troops???) are killed by the Dakota, while Dakota losses are reported as 60.
Approximately 1200 Dakota men, women and children are taken into custody. Another 800 Dakota surrender to American forces.
Five-member military commission appointed to "try summarily" Dakota for "murder and other outrages" committed against Americans.
President Lincoln directs that no executions be made without his sanction.
A total of 393 trials is are conducted. In all, 323 Dakota are convicted and 303 are sentenced to be hanged.
Lincoln receives the names of those condemned. Lincoln asks for "a full and complete record of their convictions" and "a careful statement" indicating "the more guilty and influential of the culprits."
General Pope (in charge) forwards records of the trials to President Lincoln, together with a letter urging Lincoln to authorize the execution of ALL the condmned and warning of mob violence if the executions did not go forward.
Several hundred civilians, armed with hatchets, clubs, and knives, attack the camp where the condemned Dakota are being held, but are surrounded and disarmed by soldiers.
President Lincoln issues an order allowing only 39 of the planned executions to go forward. The execution of one additional condemned man is suspended later after new evidence casts doubt upon his guilt.
The 38 Dakota are allowed to meet with their families for the last time on December 24th, 1862.
On December 26th the condemned are led to the scaffolds in Mankato and executed.
From this information, it does not appear to me that Lincoln was fool-hardy, nor did he thirst for blood and allow the execution of these 38 individuals "because they were Indian."
7/25/2003 03:50:00 PM by Todd Bacon
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