The U.S. – Ojibwe Conflict of 1862
While much scholarship has been directed toward the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862, much less has been directed toward the conflict and near outbreak with the Oj
The U.S. – Ojibwe Conflict of 1862
While much scholarship has been directed toward the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862, much less has been directed toward the conflict and near outbreak with the Ojibwe that occurred at the same time. While the Dakota of southern Minnesota retaliated against oppression, corruption, and impoverishment, the Ojibwe of central and northern Minnesota threatened the same retaliation for many of the same reasons. In his book, The Assassination of Hole-in-the-Day, historian Anton Treuer considers these lesser known events which he calls the U.S. – Ojibwe Conflict of 1862.
By 1862, the Ojibwe had become accustom to the reservation system forced upon them through a series of treaties. This system alienated the Ojibwe from their traditional culture and was fraught with corruption and fraud by avarice traders, businessmen, and Indian agents. These poor conditions led to unrest among the Ojibwe and Dakota alike. While there were many reasons for unrest, there were two in particular that precipitated the U.S. – Ojibwe Conflict of 1862.
First, in August of 1862, the United States began to recruit soldiers for the Union army which included many Ojibwe. However, the Ojibwe were manipulated by traders who received payment from the government for each Ojibwe they convinced to enlist. The traders accomplished this by first intoxicating the Ojibwe with alcohol. The second major grievance, was the corrupt actions of Indian agent Lucius C. Walker who had embezzled thousands of dollars of Ojibwe annuity funds and sold Ojibwe treaty goods to white traders for his personal profit. It was also believed that Indian agent David B. Herriman was stealing annuity goods and selling them for his own gain. In addition, by 1860 the United States government owed the Ojibwe eighty-one thousand dollars in past-due annuity payments (Treuer, 127).
While these grievances upset Ojibwe leaders, the Gull Lake leader Hole-in-the-Day (Bagone-giizhig) was particularly incensed. Up until that time, Hole-in-the-Day was known to have collaborated with the Dakota Chief Little Crow on a plan to attack all whites in Minnesota while also seeking support from other Ojibwe leaders. But, Hole-in-the-Day had limited success among his Ojibwe counterparts. Nevertheless, following a major altercation at Otter Tail Lake, Hole-in-the-Day sent out a call for action on August 17, 1862, and proceeded to kill the cattle at Gull Lake and take several white prisoners. Also, the Pillager band of Ojibwe gutted the mission school and trading post at Walker, Minnesota, and Ottertail City.