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Little Crow ("Taoyateduta")
When news of Acton spread to the Lower Sioux Agency, certain Dakota
members asked Little Crow to lead the uprising. He declined at first, but would later take up arms to preserve his
honor. Little Crow assisted in the first Fort Ridgely attack in August of 1862.
Big Eagle ("Wamditanka")
Had been reluctant to join in the war, but found himself at Fort Ridgely
for the second attack with a small group from his village. He would later relate his experiences about the Dakota Conflict
and spoke about the power of the artillery at the Fort. He referred to the fort in one narrative as the "doorway to
the valley" that was kept shut by those who defended the garrison.
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Napoleon Jackson Techumseh Dana
Dana aided in the construction at Fort
Ridgely. He and Major Samuel Woods, who oversaw the building progress, didn't see eye-to-eye. Even though his superiors
accussed him of multiple instances of insubordination, Dana managed to leave the court unscathed.
Lewis Addison Armistead
Lewis Armistead served at Fort
Ridgely as a post commander in the 1850's. He would later resign his commission with the Union and join the
Confederacy during the Civil War. Armistead died while leading his men during "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg.
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Treaty delegation in Washington, 1858. Standing L
to R: Big Eagle, Traveling Hail, and Red Legs. Sitting: Medicine Bottle, Thief, unidentified man.
Both Big Eagle and Medicine Bottle were among the Dakota who were present at the Fort battles.
Photo courtesy of "Popular History of Minnesota" by Norman K. Risjord.
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