Little Crow (Eastman's Biography)

Q: Who was Little Crow?

Little Crow was a Mdewakanton Dakota (Santee) Sioux chief who led his people during the Dakota War of 1862.

Q: Why did Little Crow start the Dakota War of 1862?

Little Crow had been trying, since 1851, to get the US government to make good on promises made by treaty to the Dakota and had failed. His people were starving and restricted to a poor tract of land. Little Crow did not want to fight but felt he had no options left.

Q: Who won the Dakota War of 1862?

The US government won the Dakota War of 1862 after Little Crow was defeated at the Battle of Wood Lake in September 1862.

Q: How did Little Crow die?

Little Crow was shot and killed by a White settler and his son on 3 July 1863 while picking raspberries. His body was then mutilated, and his remains were put on display by the Minnesota Historical Society until his family negotiated their return in 1871.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

Little Crow (Taoyateduta, also known as Little Crow III, l. c. 1810-1863) was a Dakota Sioux chief best known as the leader of the Mdewakanton Dakota (Santee) Sioux during the Dakota War of 1862. After years of trying to maintain peaceful relations with the Euro-Americans, despite every broken treaty, Little Crow was left with no choice but to declare war.

More about: Little Crow (Eastman's Biography)

Timeline

c. 1810 - 1863
Life of Dakota Sioux chief Little Crow.
1846
Little Crow becomes chief of the Mdewakanton Dakota Sioux in modern-day Minnesota.
1851
Little Crow signs the Treaty of Mendota with the US government ceding Dakota land for over $1 million, which is never paid.
1858
Little Crow leads a delegation to Washington, D.C., to address the broken treaty.
1862
Little Crow agrees to lead his people in the Dakota War of 1862.
18 Aug 1862
The Dakota War of 1862 breaks out in Dakota Territory, modern-day Minnesota, USA, reluctantly led by Little Crow after he had exhausted negotiations with White settlers and the US government for promised provisions and fair treatment. The Dakota were starving and rose in a revolt that was suppressed by 26 September and left over 100 Dakota and over 70 White settlers dead. The war also resulted in the largest one-day mass execution in US history when 38 Dakota were hanged by order of President Abraham Lincoln in Mankato, Minnesota.
23 Sep 1862
Little Crow is defeated at the Battle of Wood Lake, ending the Dakota War.
3 Jul 1863
Little Crow is shot and killed by a White settler and his son.