GDG- 38 Indians and half-breeds ...were hung yesterday

[Dennis Lawrence]

To Henry H. Sibley [1]
Brigadier General H. H. Sibley Executive Mansion,
St. Paul, Minnesota. Washington, Dec. 16. 1862

As you suggest, let the executions fixed for Friday, the nineteenth (19th.) 
instant, be postponed to, and be done on, Friday the twentysixth (26th.) 
instant. A. LINCOLN

Private

Operator please send this very carefully and accurately.

A. L.
Annotation

[1]   ALS, RPB. On December 15 General Sibley replied to Lincoln's letter 
of December 6 supra as follows: ``Your order of 6th Inst. for the Execution 
of 39 Indians just recd by Special messenger They are imprisoned at Mankato 
90 miles distant & the time fixed 19th is too short for preparation & for 
concentrating the troops necessary to protect the other Indians & preserve 
the peace The excitement prevails all sections of the state & secret 
combinations Exist Embracing thousands of citizens pledged to execute all 
the Indians matters must be managed with great discretion & as much secrecy 
as possible to prevent a fearful collision between the U.S. forces & the 
citizens. I respectfully ask for authority to postpone the Execution one 
week from the 19th Inst if I deem necessary Please reply at once. Your 
directions of 9th relative to Chakaydon rec'd today by mail & will be 
obeyed.'' (DLC-RTL). The communication referred to in the last sentence of 
Sibley's despatch has not been located.

On December 27, Sibley telegraphed as follows: ``I have the honor to inform 
you that the 38 Indians and half-breeds ordered by you for execution were 
hung yesterday at Mankato, at 10 a.m. Everything went off quietly, and the 
other prisoners are well secured.'' (OR, I, XXII, I, 880).

One of the thirty-nine listed in Lincoln's communication to Sibley, 
December 6, supra, ``Chaska-don'' or ``Chaskay-etay,'' alias Robert 
Hopkins, was not executed. On August 18, 1864, Lincoln endorsed a petition 
for Hopkins ``Pardons [sic]. A. LINCOLN'' (DNA WR RG 153, Judge Advocate 
General, NN 2323).

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  See Harper's Weekly Story

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1863/january/minnesota-indian-execution.htm