Lieutenant Thomas P. Gere was born in 1842 within the Wellsburg, New york. The guy enlisted regarding the 5th Minnesota Voluntary Infantry Regiment during the decades 19, mustering when you look at the towards January 17, 1862. He was advertised to very first sergeant for the February 5 of the year after which so you’re able to 2nd lieutenant into elizabeth basic lieutenant and adjutant. He had been nineteen yrs . old and you can dependent at the Fort Ridgely inside the 1862 when the You.S.-Dakota Combat broke out. Towards morning regarding August 18, he had been in charge on fort whenever Capt. John Marsh leftover observe in the accounts from the Lower Sioux Institution throughout the Dakota attacksmanding twenty-five soldiers, and you will handling hundreds of scary-ridden refugees fleeing symptoms, Gere Gov. Ramsey and you may Fort Snelling asking for reinforcements. Tossing his soldiers and some refugees to set up getting assault, he awaited assist. He had been eventually joined from the Sheehan and his awesome troops, and additionally Indian Agent Galbraith and the Renville Rangers, while the fort stored aside for the next ten months.
Gere later on fought regarding the Civil Combat. He was approved the latest Medal away from Prize inside 1865 to own his measures within Battle off Nashville during the 1864. The guy mustered outside of the military during the 1865 and you may first started work from the railway team. He passed away inside 1912 and you will was hidden from inside the Arlington National Cemetery from inside the Virginia.
Inside August of 1862, in the very beginning of the U.S.-Dakota Combat, Chaska, otherwise Wechankawastadonpe, a great Dakota people, and his campanion, Hapan, came across Sarah Wakefield fleeing in the an enthusiastic acquaintance’s truck about Lower Sioux Company. Choosing to spare Wakefield after Hapan slain Mr. Gleason–the fresh truck holder–Chaska grabbed their along with her pupils less than their safeguards regarding six weeks out of fights. Swinging all of them within the together with loved ones, he stated he wanted to get married Wakefield to keep their particular secure out-of people sensed harm. After the war, Chaska put-out Wakefield during the Go camping Launch. Wakefield recommended Chaska along with his loved ones to remain, comforting them which they will be managed fairly. Regarding the their defense she told you, “If this had not been to own Chaska my skeleton carry out now end up being lightening for the prairie”.
Despite their claims safeguarding Chaska, made publicly and you will in ensuing samples away from Dakota dudes in it about conflict, Chaska is imprisoned and you may 1st sentenced getting hanged.
After having his phrase commuted so you can a prison identity, Chaska still got among the 38 hanged into the Mankato. There can be conflict over whether or not this was unintentional or purposeful. Stephen Riggs said that the latest mistake happened whenever Chaska’s term are entitled in which he endured up instead of the required people, Chaskadon. Wakefield debated this time and you can told you, “I could never ever believe that all in authority within Mankato had lost exactly what Chaska was destined getting, i am also yes, in my own brain, it had been over purposefully.”
In the one point, General Sibley described Chaska because the Wakefield’s partner
Just after his death, Chaska’s muscles was quickly hidden towards the almost every other sufferers. It absolutely was up coming exhumed from the doctors for use to possess dissection.
Responses pursuing the clinging allude towards the flurry regarding thoughts close the brand new “scandal” between Chaska and you will Wakefield. In the a page so you can J. Fletcher Williams, assistant of one’s Minnesota Historical People, J. K. Arnold discussed exactly how he came into fingers off a great noose from the Mankato hangings.
Rumors on the their particular and you can Chaska’s matchmaking incited prejudiced viewpoints
Precious vacker Argentinian dam “Fletch,” Their acknowledgment rec’d “Okay.” Thanks a lot. Only if the next appointment appear out of feel the solution taking receipt of document be made into the “7th Regiment, Minn Infty thro’ J. K. Arnold Adjutant __.” We fw’d to-day the new line, original with knot and noose just as it actually was taken from regarding Chaska’s lead. It offers never been untied, that’s, because it try extracted from their shoulder. I stole they. Col. Miller was going to upload them (38) in order to Washington, but I wanted this one hence installed Chaska. We grabbed it off their neck hid they less than my coat, decided to go to my room. Hid it around my covers (bed) and you may slept inside through to the adventure was more with the forgotten line, whenever i sent they house of the Display, due to the fact that we features meticulously preserved it. “Old Steph” produced a bad fool around about any of it curious what might have be from it, he __ will not discover to this day that their Adjutant met with the exact same. Sufficiently. Accept is as true, from your own pal. And-one word significantly more. One material-Relics-Analytics or wh____ you would like I will furnish. Telephone call on Your Friend (I’m hoping) J. K Arnold That is a photograph from Lincoln’s Delivery Number, 1862.
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