Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere grew up in 1842 inside Wellsburg, New york. The guy enrolled from the fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Routine within ages 19, mustering into the on the January 17, 1862. He was marketed in order to earliest sergeant on February 5 of that season then to help you next lieutenant towards the elizabeth very first lieutenant and you can adjutant. He was nineteen years old and dependent at the Fort Ridgely during the 1862 when the You.S.-Dakota Combat broke out. Toward morning regarding August 18, he had been responsible on fort when Capt. John Marsh remaining to see regarding the records from the Down Sioux Department on Dakota attacksmanding twenty-five soldiers, and taking care of numerous scary-ridden refugees fleeing periods, Gere Gov. Ramsey and you may Fort Snelling asking for reinforcements. Organizing his troops and lots of refugees to prepare getting attack, the guy anticipated assist. He had been in the long run inserted by Sheehan with his soldiers, together with Indian Broker Galbraith and also the Renville Rangers, therefore the fort held away for the next 10 months.
Gere afterwards fought on Municipal War. He had been issued this new Medal out of Honor from inside the 1865 for their methods from the Competition away from Nashville inside the 1864. The guy mustered outside of the army inside the 1865 and you may first started works from the railroad team. The guy passed away in 1912 and you will was buried inside the Arlington National Cemetery inside the Virginia.
Inside the August off 1862, in the very beginning of the You.S.-Dakota War, Chaska, otherwise Wechankawastadonpe, a beneficial Dakota people, with his campanion, Hapan, came across Sarah Wakefield fleeing within the an acquaintance’s wagon regarding All the way down Sioux Agency. Choosing to free Wakefield immediately after Hapan murdered Mr. Gleason–the fresh new truck manager–Chaska took their along with her college students lower than their shelter regarding six weeks off fights. Swinging all of them when you look at the with his family relations, the guy advertised he desired to get married Wakefield to keep their unique safer away from people sensed damage. After the battle, Chaska put out Wakefield within Camp Launch. Wakefield advised Chaska with his members of the family to remain, reassuring them which they will be addressed fairly. About his shelter she told you, « If this wasn’t to own Chaska my personal bones create now getting bleaching towards the prairie ».
Even with their own states protecting Chaska, generated publicly and you may during the resulting trials of Dakota men involved in the combat, Chaska is actually imprisoned and 1st sentenced to get hanged.
Shortly after having their sentence commuted so you can a prison name, Chaska however was among the many 38 hanged inside the Mankato. Discover disagreement over whether it was accidental otherwise purposeful. Stephen Riggs said that the brand new mistake occured whenever Chaska’s label are titled in which he stood up as opposed to the intended people, Chaskadon. Wakefield debated this time and you can said, « I can never accept that all-in authority during the Mankato got forgotten what Chaska are doomed to possess, i am also sure, within my notice, it was complete intentionally. »
From the one point, Standard Sibley known Chaska since Wakefield’s partner
After his death, Chaska’s muscles try hastily tucked for the almost every other victims. It had been after that exhumed because of the physicians for use getting dissection.
Responses after the clinging allude on flurry off thoughts nearby the newest « scandal » ranging from Chaska and Wakefield. Within the a page so you’re able to J. Fletcher Williams, assistant of one’s Minnesota Historic Society, J. K. Arnold revealed exactly how he came into palms off good noose of the brand new Mankato hangings.
Gossip regarding the their and you may Chaska’s relationships incited prejudiced views
Beloved “Fletch,” Your Irland brudar byrÃ¥ own acknowledgment rec’d “Ok.” Many thanks. As long as your following conference arrives out-of have the quality recognizing receipt of one’s file be manufactured into the “Seventh Routine, Minn Infty thro’ J. K. Arnold Adjutant __.” I fw’d to-day the fresh new rope, totally new which have knot and you will noose exactly as it was removed from from Chaska’s lead. It has not ever been untied, that will be, since it is actually extracted from their shoulder. I took they. Col. Miller would posting everyone (38) in order to Washington, but I desired this and this installed Chaska. I took it well his shoulder hid they less than my coating, went to my personal space. Hid they not as much as my blankets (bed) and slept with it until the adventure are more than towards shed line, while i sent they domestic from the Show, due to the fact that we enjoys very carefully managed it. “Dated Steph” made a bad fool around about any of it wondering exactly what might have be of it, he __ doesn’t understand even today that his Adjutant met with the same. Good enough. Accept it, from your own friend. And-one-word significantly more. Any situation-Relics-Statistics otherwise wh____ you wish I am able to give. Name upon Their Buddy (I’m hoping) J. K Arnold This is a photograph regarding Lincoln’s Performance List, 1862.