New Ulm John Doe was a man who was killed by Dakota tribesmen during the Dakota War of 1862. He was specifically killed at the Battle of New Ulm.
Background[]
Between the late 1830s and early 1860s, the relationship between the Dakota tribe, who lived in Minnesota, and the United States government was turbulent due to several controversies. On August 17, 1862, the Dakota tribe declared war on the white settlers living in the Minnesota River Valley and started to drive them out of the area.
Battle of New Ulm[]
One of the settlements they attacked was a town called New Ulm in modern-day Brown County, Minnesota. A small group of Dakota warriors attacked New Ulm on August 19, 1862, but the citizens, aided by the LeSueur Tigers No. 1 company that arrived that day, held their ground. The skirmish lasted several hours, and five settlers were killed. The citizens retreated behind barricades that protected the center of the town. The next day, the LeSueur Tigers No. 2 company would come to the aid of New Ulm.
On August 23, 1862, 600 Dakota soldiers under the command of Chiefs Waƞbdiṭanka, Wabaṡa, and Makato attacked the town again, and the battle was more closely fought. About 26 defenders of New Ulm were killed, and most of the buildings that were not within the barricaded center of town were destroyed.
Aftermath[]
The defenders that were killed were initially buried in the barricaded area of New Ulm. Between October and early November of 1862, the deceased were removed and taken home for burial. However, this defender was buried without being identified by either family or friends. One theory is that he was a man named A.M. Edwards, who was killed in the battle and whose gravestone was never located. He is now buried at the Saint Thomas Cemetery in Saint Thomas, La Sueur County, Minnesota beside two other Tigers: Luke Smith and Mathew Ahern.
The Dakota War of 1862 ended with a United States victory on September 26, 1862 and the controversial executions of 38 Dakota warriors at Mankato, Minnesota on December 26, 1862. The war ended with 77 American soldiers, at least 150 Dakota warriors, and up to 800 civilians killed.
Sources[]
- New Ulm John Doe at Find a Grave
- Minnesota Historical Society
- Dakota War of 1862 on Wikipedia