U.S.-Dakota War anniversary
Summer’s events ‘commemorating’ those who died The Defenders Monument on the boulevard of New Ulm, Minn.’s, Center Street was dedicated Aug. 22, 1891, “to honor the memory of the defenders who aided” New Ulm during the U.S.-Dakota War.
Richard Siemers
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THE LAND, FEBRUARY 17, 2012
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By RICHARD SIEMERS The Land Correspondent One hundred and fifty years ago the United States was involved in its great Civil War. Many Minnesota men were off fighting in Virginia and Tennessee. But all was not quiet back home. Minnesotans were involved in their own kind of civil war, a fight between settlers, U.S. army soldiers and the Dakota Indians. We are commemorating the It is known as the U.S.-Dakota War of people who 1862. This summer died in that Brown County, scene war. Many relof much of the fightatives of those ing, is recognizing the people are still 150th anniversary of the conflict with around. numerous events. — Bob Burgess “We are commemorating the people who died in that war,” said Bob Burgess, director of the Brown County Historical Society, which has offices at the Society’s museum in New Ulm. “Many relatives of those people are still around.” The reasons for the conflict are complex. The Dakota had grievances about broken promises by the U.S. government, shortages of food, dishonest agents and a callous trader who remarked that if they were hungry, they could “eat grass.” That remark coupled with a delay in goods and cash due to the Dakota may have been the most immediate cause. Whatever specific causes might See ANNIVERSARY, pg. 9A
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