The Mdewakanton and Whapekute were shifted into Dakota Territory and held as prisoners of war at Fort Thompson on the Missouri River. The Sisseton and Wahpeton were moved into the Territory of Dakota on the westward side of Big Stone Lake. and thus the prime troublemakers were eliminated from Minnesota. The innocent bystanders to the horrible occurrences of 1862 were the Winnebagos. nevertheless. in the early summer of 1863. without a word of warning to the Winnebagos the United States of America ordered their deportation. A regiment of the United States Army from Fort Snelling. Minn.. descended upon the unsuspecting Winnebagos. called them together at a central point. surrounded them. disarmed them. and took them instanter from their homes under military arrest. Meals were left in preparation in the kitchen. teams hitched to plows were left in the fields. men and women were given no opportunity to collect their simple personal belongings. the entire community was forced. under the effective persuasion of the guns of the cavalry of the United States. to leave their homes as prisoners. These Winnebagos. like all Indians. were accustomed to hardship. yet it was a real hardship even to them to march onehundredandsomeodd miles to Fort Snelling. Minn.. not as refugees. for whom we now weep. but as prisoners of war. Conditions which met them at Fort Snelling were no better. Two small river boats were available for transportation.
Keywords matched
deportation refugees