Mankato (chief)
Mankato was a prominent village chief born along the Minnesota River. He ascended to leadership in 1853 after his father's passing and played a crucial role in fostering peace between Native American tribes and white settlers. Partnering with Little Crow, he was instrumental in negotiating the Treaty of Washington in 1858, which aimed to address the needs of the indigenous population. However, rising tensions emerged by 1862 due to unfulfilled treaty obligations, leading to desperate circumstances for his people. Mankato joined the Minnesota Uprising in response to these pressures, taking command after Little Crow was injured during a conflict. He led several military engagements, including assaults on New Ulm and Birch Coulee. Tragically, Mankato lost his life in the Battle of Wood Lake on September 23, 1862, and was buried in a concealed location to prevent his body from being discovered by settlers. His legacy is intertwined with the complex and often tragic history of Native American and settler relations during this tumultuous period in U.S. history.
Mankato (chief)
Category: War chief
Tribal affiliation: Santee Sioux
Significance: Mankato was a leader of the Minnesota Uprising of 1862, an event which marked the end of the Indian wars in Minnesota
Born on the Minnesota River, Mankato became a village chief in 1853 following the death of his father. With Little Crow, he worked to maintain peace with white settlers, helping to negotiate the Treaty of Washington of 1858. By 1862, the failure of government officials to provide food and supplies as indicated in the treaties caused tensions. Faced with starvation, small groups of warriors attacked isolated settlers. Caught in the accelerating conflict, Mankato joined Little Crow in the Minnesota Uprising. After Little Crow was wounded on August 22, 1862, during the attack on Fort Ridgely, Mankato assumed command. He led attacks on New Ulm and Birch Coulee. He was killed in the Battle of Wood Lake on September 23, struck in the back by a cannonball. He was buried in the bluffs of the Yellow Medicine River so that whites could not find his body.
