On September 28, 1862, two days after the Indian surrender at Camp Release, a commission of military officers began trying Dakota men accused of participating in the war. Several weeks later the trials were moved from the Lower Sioux Agency. As weeks passed, trials weer handles with increasing speed.
On November 5, 1862, 303 were sentenced to death and 16 given prison terms.
At this time, President Lincoln got involved and decreed that only those involved in rape and massacring whites should be put to death. That lowered the number to 39.
At 10 AM December 26th, 38 Indians were led to the specially constructed scaffold. One was given a reprieve at the last minute. An estimated 4,000 spectators were on hand to witness and were not too well disposed to the Indians. To keep the peace, the commander of the executions had banned the sale of all alcohol sales or consumption within a ten mile radius of Mankato.
The Hangings. --Old Secesh
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