In the fall of 1862 a hunting party of Dakota Sioux were hunting in the Minnesota River Valley when they found a basket of eggs. This basket of eggs directly sparked a war that killed hundreds before it was over. The Dakota's had been promised food and provisions by the United States government. At this time this same government was fighting a war for it's very survival and it's promises to the Indians seemed to take a poor second place. In just a few years these proud Dakota's found themselves supplicants for the very food to feed their families. The Indians went on a killing spree to rid their land of the settlers and their spawn. They killed everyone they could find and burned the farm houses and barns. A troop of 150 soldiers from Fort Ridgely was sent to recon the situation. The second morning out, the Dakota Warriors attacked the soldiers at first light. The battle was so fierce that the soldiers at Fort Ridgely could hear the fighting 16 miles away. When the smoke cleared, 147 soldiers had been killed as well as 90 horses. The Indians left two dead on the field of battle. Revenge is best served cold. The Dakota's knew they cold not prevail, and they did not. 303 Dakota's were rounded up scheduled to hang, after they were tried in a military court. Revenge is best served cold. Abraham Lincoln heard of this war during a cabinet meeting. He insisted on reviewing all the records before anyone was hung. President Lincoln issued 263 pardons. He would not hang men who were drawn into a war to fight for their country and way of life. The 38 Dakota's to be hung, put on their war paint and marched, with their heads high, to the scaffolding. They sang their death song and the rope was cut and all 38 Warriors were hung at the same instant. The rope broke on one Indian and he fell to the ground. Two soldiers gently picked him up and took him back up the scaffolding and hung him again. The Indian bodies were buried in a sandbar because the ground in Minnesota was frozen this December day. That night a local doctor had the six foot, four inch Indian Chief Cut Nose, or he who walks on clouds, dug up and brought to the doctor. The doctor skinned Cut Nose and boiled his bones. The skeleton was used as a teaching aid for the doctors two sons, Charles and William Mayo. In the fullness of time the sons built what was to become the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Cut Nose is said to have had a sense of humor. He would have enjoyed the irony. Life is good.
