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WhiskeyGrinder

(26,787 posts)

28. Lincoln reviewed every one of these cases, and ordered the executions that were carried out.

Sat Dec 27, 2025, 12:47 PM

Dec 27

President Lincoln and government lawyers then reviewed the trial transcripts of all 303 men. As Lincoln would later explain to the U.S. Senate:

"Anxious to not act with so much clemency as to encourage another outbreak on one hand, nor with so much severity as to be real cruelty on the other, I ordered a careful examination of the records of the trials to be made, in view of first ordering the execution of such as had been proved guilty of violating females."

When only two men were found guilty of rape, Lincoln expanded the criteria to include those who had participated in “massacres” of civilians rather than just “battles.” He then made his final decision, and forwarded a list of 39 names to Sibley.

https://www.mnhs.org/usdakotawar/stories/history/aftermath/trials-hanging

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163 years ago today, the largest mass execution in the U.S. took place. Ordered by Abraham Lincoln. [View all] WhiskeyGrinder Dec 26 OP

Never forget malaise Dec 26 #1

Omg that poem! LearnedHand Dec 26 #2

The Dakota 38 Clouds Passing Dec 26 #3

Slaves still had value. They were still workers. The people never saw the Native Americans as any thing but LiberalArkie Dec 26 #4

not sure why you would "ironically" use the tone of a racist bigot to say a bunch of slurs but here we are WhiskeyGrinder Dec 26 #6

He edited the remarks wolfie001 Dec 26 #8

What's "Red***ns?" Polybius Dec 26 #12

*** equals "ski" rubbersole Dec 26 #14

Ahh Polybius Dec 26 #15

Egads no idea wolfie001 Dec 26 #22

then why not spell it all the way out WhiskeyGrinder Dec 26 #18

Because they describe what they heard instead being sugar coated. I remember when the LBGT's were being slured as"QUEER" LiberalArkie Dec 26 #19

The OP describes what happened, without sugar coating. And then you added a bunch of slurs -- slurs that are, one could WhiskeyGrinder Dec 26 #21

trail of tear? AllaN01Bear Dec 26 #5

That's another one but that was Andrew Jackson... SonOfNebanaube Dec 27 #26

Lincoln was president. So he was no saint wolfie001 Dec 26 #7

Lincoln DID intervene to an extent. Originally 307 Dakotas were sentenced to death, Jack Valentino Dec 27 #25

Thanks for that wolfie001 Dec 27 #27

Understood, but I had read about this incident in civil war history,. Jack Valentino Dec 28 #38

Thank you for this grim reminder. niyad Dec 26 #9

American history.. mountain grammy Dec 26 #10

Never forget that Lincoln was far from perfect Polybius Dec 26 #11

I have heard white people express bafflement and offense that Native peoples want the Four False Faces removed... TygrBright Dec 26 #13

Well said Bayard Dec 27 #35

Never heard this in any "history" class or otherwise. We have always been a very racist country. And now getting worse Evolve Dammit Dec 26 #16

Made a donation to NARF after reading this. SergeStorms Dec 26 #17

... Solly Mack Dec 26 #20

afternoon kick WhiskeyGrinder Dec 26 #23

Lincoln did not order the executions Progressive dog Dec 26 #24

Lincoln reviewed every one of these cases, and ordered the executions that were carried out. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 27 #28

I guess Old Abe made a lot more enemies than we learned about in school? kentuck Dec 27 #29

I don't know what you mean about Lincoln's enemies. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 27 #31

We do a very Catholic trinitarian view of our great Presidents mr715 Dec 27 #32

A journey of ceremony and prayer honors Dakota women who witnessed 1862 executions WhiskeyGrinder Dec 27 #30

Wikipedia's take on Lincoln and the executions: Lincoln executed those who were involved in killing or raping settlers andym Dec 27 #33

Yes, colonial state violence invariably results in a violent response, bringing more state violence. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 27 #34

Excellent historical book on the subject Bayard Dec 27 #36

Everything is bigger in Texas... GJGCA Dec 27 #37