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How did Chief Little Crow lead Dakota resistance in Minnesota in 1862?

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A Cheyenne River Sioux dancer in colorful traditional regalia performs during the Grand Entry at a powwow, with an American flag and other participants in the background. — Oceti Sakowin A member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe performing during the Grand Entry at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Fair Rodeo and Powwow, Eagle Butte, South Dakota, September 4, 2016.

Chief Little Crow (Taoyateduta), a Mdewakanton chief, led the Dakota resistance in 1862 after being persuaded by a soldiers’ lodge—a traditional group that encouraged resistance to assimilation—to support an offensive against Euro-American settlers.12

The conflict was precipitated by the U.S. government’s failure to deliver treaty-mandated payments and food, which left the Dakota starving after a poor harvest and a harsh winter. Following the killing of five settlers by Dakota hunters on August 17, 1862, Little Crow reluctantly agreed to lead the uprising. On August 18, he directed warriors in an attack on the Redwood Agency, marking the start of a six-week campaign.132

Under his leadership, Dakota warriors attacked isolated farms and settlements, including New Ulm and Fort Ridgely. However, the Dakota were eventually outmatched by U.S. forces, notably at the Battle of Wood Lake in September, which led to the collapse of the resistance and the subsequent mass execution of 38 Dakota men.13