Note: The 12-hour field experience that is a part of this course will be guided by instructor Fred Johnson. It originates at Historic Ft. Snelling and covers sites in the Minnesota River valley. It serves both to familiarize participants with sites - many well preserved by local and state historical societies &endash; and as a model for educators interested in leading similar trips with their students. For those class members not opting for the field experience an additional assignment, tailored to the individual's interests...teaching unit, research project, or another project of value to your work will be required.
In this lesson, we will preview the various stops on the itinerary in preparation for next week's actual trip. For those interested, Kenneth Carley's The Sioux Uprising of 1862, Minnesota Historical Society, 1976 provides a readable, overview of the Dakota war, complete with many photos and maps, and is commonly available in libraries. It is for sale at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul.
ITINERARY
Stop 1-Historic Fort Snelling
The class meets in Fort Snelling parking lot at 8:00 AM for the trip.
Fort Snelling is located near the metropolitan airport on the south
side of the Twin Cities. The parking lot is accessible from Minnesota
State Highways #5 and #55. Note: For students living outside the
metro area, it has sometimes been more convenient to meet the group
at St. Peter to begin this trip.
Fort Snelling was built on a bluff above the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota (first known as St. Peter's) Rivers with construction commencing in 1819. For over 30 years it served as the guardian of United States interests in the upper Northwest. It was the center of governmental administration in the years before Minnesota statehood and a haven for Euroamerican traders, explorers and other travelers interested in moving into the interior of the North American continent.
Stop 2-Traverse des Sioux Historic
Site
This site is located near St. Peter in Nicollet County. Accessible
from U.S. Highway 169.
Traverse des Sioux (crossing of the Sioux) was the name of the ancient fording place of the Minnesota River on the trail between the villages of the Dakota. This trail also connected the early Euroamerican settlements at St. Paul and Fort Snelling with the fur trading communities in the upper Minnesota and Red River valleys. It was here in 1851 that the Sisseton and Wahpeton agreed to a treaty which promised to pay the costs of their move to a Minnesota River reservation; establish Indian agencies, and provide for education, as well as annual cash payments. A marker on the north side of the Highway 169 notes the site of the treaty signing. The Treaty Site History Center is located on the south side of Highway 169.
Also on the south side of the highway is the old Traverse des Sioux townsite, platted in 1853. A marked trail takes visitors through the abandoned site. In 1853 this was a thriving village of some 200 residents and the temporary seat of Nicollet County. Three years later there were 70 buildings, including 11 stores, several taverns, and a steam-powered sawmill. Traverse des Sioux lost its bid to become the permanent county seat to St. Peter in 1857, and within a few years the village was largely deserted. Some of the buildings were relocated to St. Peter.
Stop 3-New Ulm
New Ulm is located in Brown County on the Minnesota River. (Note: We
break for a 45-minute lunch at New Ulm)
New Ulm is an example of the Euroamerican communities founded in southern Minnesota following the treaties of 1851. Primarily settled by German immigrants, this southern Minnesota community still carefully preserves its old world heritage.
Stop 4-Milford Monument
Milford Monument, Milford Township, located in Brown County on
state highway #29 , west of New Ulm.
This monument was erected to memorialize 52 settlers killed in Milford township area during the 1862 fighting. Its setting, in the an open prairie expanse among farm fields, provides a reminder of the natural stage upon which the conflict was fought.
Stop 5-Fort Ridgely
Fort Ridgely, located in Fort Ridgely State Park, Nicollet
County, accessible from State Highway #4.
Fort Ridgely was established to give assurance of military protection to Euroamerican settlers moving into Minnesota Territory following the treaties of 1851. Henry Sibley, at the time a Minnesota Territorial congressional representative, recommended the location as an ideal spot from which the government could monitor the Dakota and enforce its Indian policies.
Stop 6-Lower Sioux Agency
Lower Sioux Agency and Interpretive Center, located in Redwood
County, accessible via highway #19 to highway #2 just south of
Morton.
Two Indian agencies, the Lower and Upper Sioux, were operated by the U. S. government between 1854 and 1862 to serve as administration centers on the Dakota reservations established in the 1851 treaties. The Lower Agency was to be the residence of the agent and his staff and the place where annuities would be issued to the Dakota. By 1860 the Lower Agency community was a village of over 100 white and mixed-blood residents. The village had four traders' stores, a number of stables, storehouses, a blacksmith shop, cookhouse, schoolhouse, and a boarding house. There were also living quarters for the physician, interpreter, carpenter, superintendent of schools and nearby Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. About 3,200 Dakota lived on the lower reservation. The major village sites were within a few miles of the agency.
Stop 7-Birch Coulee
Birch Coulee battlefield site, located in Renville County on U.
S. #71 about two miles north of Morton
Birch Coulee was the site of a major battle in Minnesota's own civil war. On August 31, 1862 a party of about 170 men left Fort Ridgely in order to find and bury the victims of the fighting. The burial party camped on this site on September 2 and were attacked by some 200 Dakota soldiers. It took two separate attempts to by relief columns to extricate the party from the Dakota trap.
A note about the itinerary:
This trip includes a vigorous schedule of study stops. We will
make stops at all places on the itinerary and will visit other sites
as time permits. We expect to return by 8:00 p.m.
Assignments:
Complete the following readings found in the course materials
packet mailed to you. Make note of any particular questions
from the readings that you might have. They can be dealt with during
the field experience or in the conference center.
1) Locate as many of the sites listed above as you can by using a map of Minnesota. A highway map is fine. You will also find more detailed maps in books listed in the course bibliography - Folwell and Carley are particularly helpful.
2) Reread Big Eagle's accounts focusing upon the Acton Incident (p.388-9); the attack at Lower Sioux and the fight with Capt. Marsh and his men; and the Battle of Birch Coulee. Note the Dakota methods of warfare in these battles. Pay special attention to Birch Coulee fighting. What kinds of fighting tactics do the Dakota employ?
3) Read Carley's, "Attacks on Ft. Ridgely" and compare that account with that of Big Eagle, who was present during the second attack. Do you see a change in Dakota tactics? To what do you attribute the success of the defenders in fending off the Dakota?
4) For those going on the trip, make special note of any questions you may have about the fighting at Birch Coulee, Ft. Ridgely, New Ulm and Lower Sioux (Redwood). We'll be studying each of these battle sites.
Note regarding
this assignment:
All students in the class, including those not taking part in the
field experience, will participate in this review of our itinerary
and complete the required readings.
For those going on the trip: As course requirement, you are to keep a journal of the trip through the Minnesota River valley and the Dakota War historical sites we visit. Begin your journal after completing the readings for this week. Note any questions you have about the sites in your journal along with observations and other comments. It should make the trip more valuable to you.
FOR THOSE NOT TAKING PART IN THE TRIP: Please remember that your class project must be submitted for approval no later than Nov. 11.
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Updated 4/2/02