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HISTORICAL FICTION
Hawk's Valley: A Good Place to Die is a work of historical
fiction.
The stories about the Sioux Conflict have been told by countless
voices. As to be expected, with each telling the stories are
embellished by the narrator to add excitement or drama. This
inevitably discredits the original accounts and changes the story
from fact to partial or complete fiction. This book is part fact
and part fiction.
While the story follows the historical record, it must not be used
as a source for historical research. Many of the names used in
this work are those of actual persons alive at the time of the
Sioux Conflict and their stories are told here with modifications,
in some cases, to complement my story. I have included facts about
the history of Minnesota and have kept them as accurate as my
abilities and resources will allow.
The names of the personnel at the forts and other locations are
taken from historical accounts and all of the names can be found
in the records. Some imagination was employed in the creation of
the personalities of each of these characters.
CHARACTERS
Many of the main characters in the story are fictional; Hawk,
Jake, and John Owen, Sophie, Sunkist, Posey, Smith (The Swede),
Eddy and Arty Grenges and their father, Lorraine, Bon Cheval, and
the Renard. All of the Métis, as well as Linda and her dance
studio, are also fictional.
The personalities of the people in this story, both real and
fictional, are of my own creation. Care should be taken to avoid
forming opinions of these individuals based on my writing. Please
feel free to like or dislike any of these fictional characters.
The story of Justina Kreiger's rescue by Hiram Grant's troops and
her miraculous survival at the battle of Birch Coulee is true. The
story of her capture by the Sioux, her escape and survival, is in
itself an exhilarating tale of courage, stamina, and the will to
live.
Henry Hastings Sibley, the first Governor of the state of
Minnesota, was an intelligent man who spoke several languages
fluently, including the Dakota language. He was familiar with the
Dakota and was friends with Little Crow and other important men of
the Indian nation. It was because of this acquaintance that he was
appointed by then Governor Alexander Ramsey to lead the army
against the Dakota. His actions, though criticized by newspapers
and the general public, were calculated and cautious because he
knew he needed men and supplies to win that conflict. He is a man
to be honored and held in high esteem by the people of Minnesota,
and the opinions of the characters in this book echo the feelings
of frightened and angry citizens.
Joseph Rolette was an actual character in Minnesota history. Mr.
Rolette was the son of Joseph Rolette Sr., a man instrumental in
building the ox cart trade routes from Pembina on Minnesota's
northwestern border to Saint Paul. The story about him saving
Saint Paul from losing the capitol city status to Saint Peter is
true. History has it that Joseph Rolette Jr. spent that one
hundred twenty-three hours at the Fuller House Hotel in Saint Paul
which, in fact, he did. He did not spend it at 'Linda's House for
Wayward Council Members'. Private dance academies did exist but
they were just that--dance academies--not the establishments as
depicted in my story. A portrait of Joseph Rolette Jr. is in the
Minnesota Historical Society collection inscribed with the words,
"Joseph Rolette, who saved the capitol to Saint Paul by running
away with the bill to remove it to Saint Peter, 1857."
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BATTLES
The battles at Fort Ridgely, Redwood Ferry, Birch Coulee, and Wood
Lake are historical fact. The battle on the Elk River is a work of
fiction.
Several battles fought in and around the Minnesota Valley that
were not detailed in this book are: the attack on the Lower Sioux
Agency, two attacks on New Ulm, the battle at Acton, raids on
Forest City and Hutchinson, the attack on Fort Abercrombie in
Dakota Territory, the attack on the Yellow Medicine Agency, the
battle of Slaughter Slough, and many more assaults on farms and
villages and scattered strikes on unwary travelers.
Descriptions of the battles were taken from military records and
accounts given by individuals, both White and Dakota, who
witnessed the war. I visited all of the sites and drew my
geographic descriptions from those visits.
The Sioux Conflict in the Minnesota Valley--the bloodiest of all
of the Indian wars--is historical fact. It began on August 17,
1862, at Acton, Minnesota when five settlers were murdered by four
young braves. It continued until September 19, 1862, when the
Sioux were defeated by Henry Sibley's army at the battle of Wood
Lake. An estimated four to five hundred people died in the six
week-long conflict.
The Mdewakanton band of Sioux, under leadership of Chief Little
Crow, left the Minnesota Valley and moved to Devil's Lake in
Dakota Territory. From there the wars moved west onto the plains
and beyond. It was the beginning of the plains wars on which
writers and moviemakers have focused so heavily.
HISTORICAL SITES
The sites of the Sioux Conflict are maintained by the Minnesota
Historical Society and are open to viewing by the public through
the summer months. Interpreters are on hand to answer your
questions.
Walk on the ground where it all happened and experience the
reality of history. Walk the interpretive trail around the site of
the Birch Coulee Battlefield and imagine the fear in the young
soldiers as they came under attack from all four sides.
Tour the grounds of old Fort Ridgely and walk on the earth that
Henry Sibley, Sergeant Jones, Lieutenant Sheehan, Little Crow,
John Other Day, and so many others walked.
Visit the cemetery and see the graves of Captain Marsh and his
men, and the grave of Eliza Muller, the wife of Doctor Muller, who
worked so hard during the battles at Fort Ridgely bandaging wounds
and helping Sergeant Jones with his cannon. The story of Sergeant
Jones firing his cannon through the hallway of the officers'
quarters is true. The foundation of the building is still there.
Walk down the hill into the valley below Fort Ridgely and
visualize the Indians lurking there during the attack. Look for
the rock on which Little Crow hit his head when he ducked a
cannonball and gave himself a headache that lasted for a week. We
don't know which rock it was but use your imagination--you might
find the one. It's still there.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For those who would like to find more information on this exciting
and important chapter of Minnesota history, I would recommend
reading:
A History of Minnesota, Volume II
William Watts Folwell
Minnesota Historical Society Press
Soldier, Settler, Sioux: Fort Ridgely and the Minnesota River
Valley, 1853-1867
Paul N. Beck
Pine Hill Press
Little Crow: Spokesman for the Sioux
Gary Clayton Anderson
Minnesota Historical Society Press
Through Dakota Eyes: Narrative Accounts of the Minnesota Indian
War of 1862
Gary Clayton Anderson and Alan R. Woolworth
Minnesota Historical Society Press
I do hope you enjoyed this book and I encourage you to read on as
the adventures of the Pa Hin Sa continue.
—Arvid Lloyd Williams
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