Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere grew up in 1842 from inside the Wellsburg, Nyc. The guy enlisted from the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment from the many years 19, mustering for the to your January 17, 1862. He had been marketed so you can basic sergeant on March 5 of these season and so you can 2nd lieutenant for the age earliest lieutenant and you may adjutant. He was nineteen yrs . old and you can built within Fort Ridgely in 1862 if the U.S.-Dakota Battle broke out. Into the day away from August 18, he was responsible at fort whenever Capt. John Marsh remaining observe throughout the records coming from the Straight down Sioux Service throughout the Dakota attacksmanding twenty-five soldiers, and looking after a huge selection of horror-ridden refugees fleeing symptoms, Gere Gov. Ramsey and you may Fort Snelling requesting reinforcements. Throwing his troops and lots of refugees to set up to own attack, the guy awaited assist. He was fundamentally entered by the Sheehan and his soldiers, plus Indian Agent Galbraith together with Renville Rangers, in addition to fort kept out for the next ten weeks.
Gere after fought on Civil Combat. He was approved the newest Medal out of Award in 1865 getting their steps at the Battle out-of Nashville in the 1864. He mustered from the army in 1865 and began work on the railway team. The guy died into the 1912 and you may are hidden from inside the Arlington National Cemetery inside Virginia.
Within the August away from 1862, at the start of the U.S.-Dakota Battle, Chaska, or Wechankawastadonpe, a beneficial Dakota guy, and his campanion, Hapan, came across Sarah Wakefield fleeing when you look at the an acquaintance’s wagon in the Lower Sioux Service. Choosing to spare Wakefield immediately after Hapan killed Mr. Gleason–the brand new wagon manager–Chaska took their along with her children below his security in the six weeks of battles. Moving all of them inside the together with family members, the guy reported he wanted to get married Wakefield to store their unique secure out of any detected spoil. At the end of the war, Chaska released Wakefield in the Go camping Discharge. Wakefield recommended Chaska and his awesome family members to remain, soothing them that they is addressed fairly. Regarding their safeguards she told you, „In the event it was not to own Chaska my skeleton do now feel bleaching for the prairie”.
Even with their claims safeguarding Chaska, generated in public places and you can inside ensuing samples away from Dakota men in it in the battle, Chaska are imprisoned and you can initially sentenced is hanged.
Once that have their phrase commuted so you can a kvinnor Albanska prison name, Chaska nevertheless ended up being among the 38 hanged in the Mankato. There’s disagreement over if or not it was accidental otherwise meaningful. Stephen Riggs mentioned that brand new error was held whenever Chaska’s label are called and he stood right up rather than the required guy, Chaskadon. Wakefield disputed this time and you can told you, „I’m able to never ever believe that all-in power on Mankato had missing just what Chaska try doomed for, i am also yes, in my own notice, it was complete purposefully.”
Within some point, General Sibley known Chaska since the Wakefield’s lover
Just after their demise, Chaska’s body try quickly tucked on most other subjects. It actually was after that exhumed of the physicians for use to have dissection.
Reactions pursuing the hanging allude on the flurry out-of thoughts nearby the fresh new „scandal” between Chaska and you may Wakefield. Into the a letter so you can J. Fletcher Williams, assistant of one’s Minnesota Historical People, J. K. Arnold demonstrated how he came into palms of a good noose off the fresh Mankato hangings.
Rumors on the their and you may Chaska’s dating incited prejudiced views
Dear “Fletch,” Their receipt rec’d “Ok.” Thank you. Only if your upcoming appointment appear from have the resolution recognizing acknowledgment of your own document be produced into the “Seventh Regiment, Minn Infty thro’ J. K. Arnold Adjutant __.” I fw’d to-day this new line, new that have knot and you may noose just as it absolutely was taken off away from Chaska’s direct. It’s got never been untied, in fact it is, since it try extracted from his shoulder. We took it. Col. Miller was going to upload them all (38) to Arizona, but I needed this and therefore installed Chaska. I got it off his shoulder hid it around my coat, went to my personal place. Hid they around my bedding (bed) and you can slept in it till the thrill try over into the forgotten line, when i sent they house by the Express, once the that we has actually very carefully kept it. “Dated Steph” produced an awful fuss regarding it thinking exactly what possess end up being of it, the guy __ cannot know to this day one to their Adjutant encountered the same. Sufficiently. Accept it as true, from your buddy. And-one-word a great deal more. People material-Relics-Analytics or wh____ you would like I can furnish. Name on The Pal (I am hoping) J. K Arnold That is a photograph regarding Lincoln’s Delivery Record, 1862.