Sioux Uprising of 1862

[kat1121]

Is anyone up on the 1862 Sioux Uprising at Fort Ridgely in Minnesota? I'm looking specifically for a source that would identify what the Indians were armed with. Have canvassed the internet which turns up the basic information -- Is anyone familiar with any books that cover the story?

I found some great diplomatic correspondence where Seward is concerned that the British are arming the Sioux. Curious if anyone has read anything along these lines!

Thanks!

Kat in NJ

[johan_steele]

There are a variety of books that cover the general issues of the Uprising.

The Sioux were armed w/ a myriad of then modern weapons. Bows, lances, war clubs, coup sticks and tomahawks were plentiful as well. There were a few modern Sharps carbines that came from God knows where in the mix as well. The Hawkens plains rifle was quite plentiful as were a variety of trade guns of various quality. There were even some flintlocks in use by the Sioux. Needless to say the Sioux were not uniformily well armed.

The Lakota Sioux, like all of the Plains Indians, favored close quarters fighting and would more often than not modify their weapons by shortening them to a manageable size for use on horseback. They also did not generally understand the need for the proper ammunition... which means a .58 minnie ball was just as effective as a .69 round ball or a handful of round river stones... They also often made their own ammo... so one cartridge may have 60 grains of Black Powder, the next 120... Maintenance of firearms was VERY erratic as some had no idea how to properly clean their firearms.

There was at least one English trader selling rifles to the Sioux... which accounted for quite a few 2 band Enfields in their ranks when they faced off against the Volunteer Army... At the same time however there were French traders trading rifles for furs at the same time. And of coarse the American traders who traded and sold guns as well. Also add in the mix of weapons looted from farmsteads that they had raided. Also the Company worth of 1842 Springfields taken from dead soldiers that were ambushed early in the campaign should be added to the mix.

I don't think there was ever any evidence that any traders were working under the auspices of any govt. but it could be quite possible, especially as some traders were working under the direct sponsership of their respective govt.

The Sioux were great fighting men and excellent horsemen, though they fought as individuals with the intent to further their personal glory and honor. They lacked the knowledge of massed fire or any kind of unit cohesion. At Ft Ridgley were faced with an immobile target that had the benefit of a battery of Cannon. They had never experianced Cannon before and quite frankly it scared the hell out of them.

I can't give you any specific sources off the top of my head but I would do a net search for the 3rd MN Inf as they were the principle unit on hand fighting the Sioux. You might also try the MN historical societty web site as the uprising was quite significannt. There is a very real chance that some Indians were better armed than the soldiers as many were armed w/ low quality Belgian Rifles, at least one company carried shotguns and squirrel rifles that were scoured from Gun shops in the St Paul area at the beginning of the campaign.

Good luck I hope this helps somewhat.

[kat1121]

Shane -- More than somewhat! Thanks for all the background. There was considerable concern on the part of Seward that the Hudson's Bay Company outposts were selling arms and ammunition to the Sioux. Since the Hudson's Bay Company were the proprietors for British North America, it was seen as a violation of British neutrality (which was violated on a regular basis, and much more openly, but that's another debate!). There was also an issue that, once the Sioux did their depredations, they would cross the northern border toward Fort Garry and Seward warned the British against harboring the war parties.

Despite a number of primary source references, including the Senate hearings on the uprising, no one mentioned what the Sioux actually were armed with that made Seward think the British were behind it. From your comments on weapons, it sounds more like Seward was warning off the British from providing arms, not that they actually were on a grand scale.

Kat in NJ

[johan_steele]

The Investigation started by Seward actually continued again anew in 1876 after Custer had his heinie handed to him. The charge was again that the Indians were better armed than the US Army... also there was mention of foreign powers providing weapons.

There was quite a bit of hubub and political posturing over it.

I have seen the inventory of weapons surrendered by the Sioux and it included a LOT of variety. But there is one particular point that is amusing. The dozen or so Sharps Carbines, 2 & 3 band Enfields and some of the higher quality pistols are missing. Instead there are "Belgian muskets of low quality and several dozen pistols and carbines of dubious parentage." It would seem that the higher quality weapons were traded for low quality weapons in the hands of the militia and Volunteer Army.

That was a common practice among the soldiers in the field... one Congress may not have been aware of or chose to ignore as it might not be quite politic to admit that "savages" were better armed than the whites.

The Inventory also showed only a few hundred "hand made" cartridges... yet another source identifies several cases of cartridges being confiscated by the MN troops. They only would have confiscated cartridges that would work in their weapons. So it is a good bet they were .577 minnie balls.

There was also mention of some lances sporting straightened Enfield bayonets...

Incidently, I remember quite a story. A man had purchased a 3 band Enfield that had obviously been in Indian hands at some point and researched the weapon by the S/N which was still legible. IIRC the source of Enfield was traced to a merchent out of Liverpool that had sold it, and presumebly others, to the CSA. The shipment couldn't make it through the blockade so they were resold to parties unknown in Canada... It's a good bet this rifle was one sold to the Sioux and later used against MN troops and civilians in the 1862 Uprising. I don't recall where the article was published but knowing my reading habits I would assume either an old Rifleman or some snippet at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum.

Ironically at least a few Enfields were confiscated and used by the 3rd MN on the campaign that captured Little Rock.

It's a lot of guesswork but I hope it helps w/ your research.

[kat1121]

You amaze me! If this project goes further, this definitely is worth my pursuing and including in the overall story. Guess I will have to give you credit in my "list of thanks"! Thank goodness there are always good historians floating around this board!