Battle of Big Mound

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Battle of Big Mound
Part of the Dakota War of 1862
Date July 24-25, 1863
Location Kidder County, North Dakota
Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States of America Santee Sioux
Teton Sioux
Commanders
Henry Hastings Sibley Inkpaduta
Strength
3,000  ?
Casualties and losses
 ? 13
 
Operations Against the Sioux in North Dakota

The Battle of Big Mound was a United States Army victory over the combined Santee and Teton Sioux forces in the Dakota Territory.

Contents

[edit] Background

After suppressing the Dakota War of 1862, Henry Hastings Sibley was appointed brigadier general of volunteers. Sibley departed from Fort Ridgely and marched into the Dakotas after the Santee Sioux who had led the uprising. In the Dakota Territory, the Santee were joined by the Teton Sioux.

[edit] Battle

On July 24, Sibley received reports of a large Indian force nearby and established a camp. A few Indians approached Sibley's camp expressing friendship, but when a surgeon was killed, the Indians fled behind ridges surrounding the camp. There, they were joined by the rest of the Indian force, which began firing upon the soldiers. The army's response was at first scattered, but Sibley gathered a force together and attacked the entrenched Indian positions. The attack succeeded and the Indians were driven from the ridges and a scattered retreat followed. Mounted troops pursued the fleeing warriors across the prairie until dark.

[edit] Results

The battle scattered the Indian force and their morale began to sink. The warriors retreated further into the Dakota Territory closely pursued by Sibley. The two forces met again a few days later at the Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake.

[edit] References

  • National Park Service battle description
  • Josephy, Alvin M., War on the Frontier, 1986, Time Life Books
  • Prepared and published under the supervision of The Board of Commissioners appointed by the Act of the Legislature of Minnesota of April 16, 1889., "Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars 1861-1865", 1890, Pioneer Press Company.
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