Abraham Lincoln Authorized the Largest Mass Execution in US History December 26, 2010

Largest Mass Execution in US History Was Authorized by Abraham Lincoln and it had little to do with the Civil War

On This Date in History: The conflict between the American Indians (aka Native Americans) and European (White) settlers goes back to the original landing of Europeans at Roanoke Island and Jamestown. Just about every time the Indians tried to flip a deal, that deal was broken, most often by the Whites. Sometimes it was by design. Other times, it was not from a formal governmental policy but instead from the fact that White settlers just ignored the treaties. When the British won the French and Indian War, a policy was implemented that prohibited settlements west of the Appalachians. Settlers went into the Ohio Valley anyway. Whether it be British or later American governments, they either had no ability or no desire to enforce the treaties. Many times, it was a combination of government policy, government indifference and settler behaviour that resulted in the fracture of any given treaty. In the end, the result was the same: the Indians got screwed.

In 1851, the Dakota in what is now the northern plains states figured that their only chance for survival was to make peace. On July 23, 1851 the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux called for two bands of the Dakota to cede a big chunk of the southwestern part of the Minnesota Territory (including present day parts of South Dakota and Iowa) to the United States for $1.665 Million. A few months later, two more bands of Dakota gave up a big chunk of the southeastern part of the territory for $1.41 Million. That’s a lot of money today and was an enormous sum back then. Remember, Alaska was purchased for $7.2 Million and about 1/3 of the continental US was had for $15 Million with the Louisiana Purchase. The French and the Russians accepted a check from the US Treasury but the Indians were basically given a promise in the form of future payments and annuities. Hmmm….guess what happened?

White Refugees Escaping the Battles

The Dakota was removed from their lands to reservations but the payments were not as forthcoming. The US government decided it was best to disperse payments over time through Indian Agents. It’s hard for me to ascertain but it appears that those agents, more or less, sub-contracted out some of the work to traders. I believe that, as far as the government was concerned, payments were being made. But, the agents and traders tended to either pocket much of the money for themselves or use it for other purposes. Agents often used monies intended for the Indians to pay claims made against the Indians by White settlers. Over time, the poor guys on the reservations began to starve. As they say, the natives became restless. In 1857, a group of Dakota had an uprising that resulted in the deaths of 40 settlers in what was known as the “Spirit Lake Massacre.” A year later, the Indians tried to make nice by ceding part of their reservation lands to the settlers. That didn’t get them anything except a smaller reservation.

Harper's Weekly Somewhat Propagandized the Affair

By 1862, the Civil War was raging and the Dakota was starving. Confederate agitators were providing some supplies to the Indians and encouraging them to rise up. Johnny Reb wasn’t so much concerned with the plight of the Native Americans as much as they were hoping that they would cause such a problem that it would divert attention and resources from the Union War effort. In any event, I don’t think that the Dakota needed much encouragement. They were getting fed up and their families were starving. Rumors that the payments were not going to be made in gold due to the war really got them going. And the deceptions of the White men involved were numerous and had a long history. So, on August 18, 1862 they staged a huge uprising. Well, that’s what many histories call it. Ultimately, what the Indians were doing to leaving the reservation in search of food and if some Whites got in the way, well that was too bad. At least one group went to a settlers chicken coop and grabbed some eggs.

To make a long story short (er), the Indians were defeated and several hundred Indian males were captured.  They had military trials and were sentenced to death.  The trials weren’t exactly fair but it also wasn’t the total case for murder that some sources cite.  See, if the crimes of violence were indeed violations of the law, then punishment was justified.  BUT…the trials were considered to be part of a military commission and the commanders decided that the defendants therefore were not afforded counsel.  Then, the level of criminality suitable for the death sentence seems to have been pretty liberal.  If someone were to have been shown to have provided ammunition, or fired a single shot or done anything to help, the sentence was death.  And the evidence provided even for those types of charges was pretty thin in many cases.  No doubt, some of the accused had done acts of violence that resulted  in death of combatants or innocent victims.  But, the standards for trial would not have come close to passing muster in a modern courtroom; military or civil.  They took the word of some Indians and “half-breeds” who turned states evidence in return for lenient sentences, but they refused to consider testimony related to those who were said to have prevented murder and rape.  So, 303 men faced the gallows.

Lincoln's order authorizing the execution of 39 men

Well, President Lincoln had a dilemma.  If he allowed the executions, then European nations may take a dim view of the Union and in 1862 things weren’t going so well for the North and there was a real fear that France, England and Russia might come to support the South.  So, Lincoln made a compromise.  He reviewed some cases and determined that 39 executions could take place.  On this date in 1862, the largest mass hanging in US history took place when 38 Dakota Indians were hanged for their “crimes.”  One lucky soul at the last moment was given a reprieve by the military commander.  It’s a little known and sad episode in America and one that is often lost in the historiography of Abraham Lincoln.  It seems to contradict the notion as “Father Abraham” being the “Great Emancipator.”  In fact, it is somewhat ironic that Lincoln had already announced his Emancipation Proclamation that would take effect just 6 days after the execution of the Dakota.  But, it’s difficult to make judgements using present day sensibilities and try to transport them back to the 19th Century.  It was  different time.

 Also, Lincoln’s main objective was preserving the Union and so he probably didn’t take the time to review the situation as much as he might have otherwise.  But, the story itself is an interesting example in how the injustices done to the Native Americans of this nation seem to take a back seat to the injustices done to African-Americans or other minorities or immigrants.  Even today, as the Indians figured out how to take advantage of their status and open up Casinos beyond the reach of the IRS, state governments have tried to use courts to force them to break the treaties of the past and force them to pay taxes.  Some things don’t change…then again…some do because the courts of the late 20th century have told the state and federal governments that they cannot get their hands on the pocketbooks of the sovereign nation.  But, that’s little consolation for the 38 who swung at the end of the rope.

Weather Bottom Line:  The cold stretch is about to come to an end for awhile.  I see most forecasts call for temps to get to the 50′s as we head to the new year.  But, it will be interesting to see how it shakes out because I’ve seen some modeling data that wants to create a huge ridge that takes warm, moist gulf air all the way to the Great Lakes and Louisville pushing 70 degrees on New Years Day with a line of very strong storms approaching.  Hmmmm….probably wont be 70 but don’t be surprised to ring in the new year with some thunderstorms,which I suppose at this point is a nice break from rain.  I think we could do without the severe stuff though but we’ve had tornadoes in January in the past few years.  Not predicting that, but it’s not totally out of the question.  After that (I hate long-term forecasts) but it looks like we fall back to seasonal levels but nothing overly brutal temperature wise but again, i”m talking 10 days out and the models tend to trend toward climatology that far out so we’ll see.  Nevertheless, expect a thaw to end 2010.

John Smith May Seem Heroic Today, But He Wasn’t Too Popular Back in the Day September 10, 2010

John Smith was put in chains and fired by his fellow settlers but today he has a statue at Jamestown

1588 Spanish Armada Destruction Opened the Door For English Colonization

On This Date In History:  The first permanent English settlement in the New World was at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony.   While it was established in 1607, English merchants and adventurers had failed several times in attempts to create colonies in America.  Throughout the sixteenth century, Britain was well aware of the existence of the New World and was intrigued by the possibilities.  When Elizabeth I rose to power, a powerful sense of nationalism developed that encouraged dreams of expansion.  But, England was a bit nervous about their powerful rival, Spain.  Spain was the dominant European power in the Western Hemisphere and they had the most formidable navy in the world.  But, in the latter half of the century, “sea dogs” such as Sir Francis Drake successfully raided Spanish merchant ships and confidence in Britains ability to challenge the Spanish on the high seas rose.  Ulitmately, the door for Britain into the New World was opened in 1588 when the Spanish Armada was defeated soundly by the Royal Navy.  It was a bold attempt by Philip II to end England’s ability to challenge to Spain’s commercial supremacy and also bring the island nation back into the Catholic Church.  It turned out to be a total fiasco as the much smaller Royal Navy ended in a single stroke the Spanish Navy’s dominance of the Atlantic.

 

"Croatoan" All That Was Left of the "Lost Colony"

In 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert led an expedition to New Foundland, which he claimed in the name of the Queen.  He traveled along the coast in search of a good spot for a military outpost the might become a profitable colony.  Instead, on this date in 1583 Sir Humphrey was nowhere to be found because the previous day a storm had arrived and Gilbert went down with his ship.  Gilbert’s half-brother, Sir Walter Raleigh recruited his cousin, Sir Richard Grenville, to lead a group of men to Roanoke Island to establish a colony in 1585.  Grenville deposited the settlers on the island.  Grenville returned to England but did stay long enough to piss off the native population by burning down an Indian village in retaliation for a minor theft.  When Sir Francis Drake showed up the following spring, the beleagured settlers promptly boarded Drake’s ship and went home.   Raleigh tried again in 1587 when he sent an expedition of 91 men, 17 women and 9 children.  John White led the expedition and shortly after they arrived back at Roanoke Island, his daughter gave birth to Virginia Dare, who was the first American-born child of English parents.  Obviously, White wasn’t too sentimental because he then left the settlers to pick up where the previous Roanoke settlers had left off.  He returned to England with the intention of returning with supplies in a few months.  But, hostilities with Spain messed up that plan and he didn’t make it back until 1590, when he found the island deserted with no clue as to the colonists’ fate except the word “Croatoan” carved on a tree.  No one really knows what happened to them but many historians suspect the Indians knocked off the colonists in retaliation for Grenville’s burning down their village.

 

Roanoke Island "Lost Colony" Not Far From Jamestown

So, by the time the Jamestown colonization attempt came about, the English were well acquainted with failure and Jamestown seemed destined to continue the string of futility.  144 men began the journey to the colony that was established by James I with charters to the London and Plymouth Companies.  But, only 104 survived the voyage.  Since the king had afforded them the opportunity,  they thought it might be a good idea to name the settlement in his honor.  But, the majority of men on the expedition were more interested in searching for gold or other fortune and had no desire to do any work.  After all, the purpose of the colony was to turn a profit and the companies wanted a quick return on their investment.  They also faced unanticipated challenges.   We often hear of how natives to America suffered from disease introduced by European settlers.  Well, it works both ways and many of the Jamestown settlers succombed to diseases that had no effect on the Indians but proved fatal for the British.   Greed and rootlessness contributed to the failure to grow food and a lousy diet limited the colonists ability to fend off disease.   When a ship arrived with supplies in 1608, all but 38 of the settlers were dead. 

 

A Not-Too-Youthful Looking Smith

Now, 27-year-old Captain John Smith had joined the original expedition.  He was a good organizer and had  built a reputation as quite the world traveler.  He was also used to being a captain and probably had a sense of arrogance.  In fact, his abrasiveness became so irritating on the 4 month voyage across the Atlantic Ocean that his fellow colonists had Smith put in irons.  When they first arrived at the colony, the settlers opened a locked box which had the names of 7 men whom the company had designated to be leaders of the colony.  I’m sure that the folks were greatly dismayed to find Smith’s name on the list.  However, with disater staring them in the fact, they obviously were desperate because, on this date in 1608, John Smith was elected as Council President of Jamestown in the Virginia Colony.   He imposed work and order on the community and organized raids on neighboring Indian villages to steal food.   Nevertheless, the settlement continued to struggle even after Smith took charge when a fire wiped out many of the structures.   But, what appeared to be a concluding event for the life of Smith ended up being a life and colony saver.

 

True or False, Smith's Story of Being Saved by Pocahontas Has Been Etched in History

 The story, as told by Smith and disputed by some historians, was that he and two companions were ambushed by some Indians who killed his buddies and took Smith back to Chief Powhatan, who intended to ritualistically club the young Captain to death. But, the 11 or 12 year old daughter of Powhatan, Pocahontas, threw herself between Smith and her father and convinced the Chief to change his mind.  Correspondingly, Smith changed his un-neighborly ways and struck up better relations with the locals and “befriended”  Pocahontas who visited the settlement often and acted as an emissary between her father and the English.  

 

Indians Had the Upper Hand On Jamestown in 1622

Attacks from local tribes declined as, presumbably, Smith had figured out that stealing food from the neighbors wasn’t too smart.  In turn,  the Indians helped the greenhorn English to learn how to live in the New World.   That second winter, only 12 of the nearly 200 colonists died and by the summer of 1609, Jamestown appeared to have a chance at survival.   I guess Smith’s heavy handed ways were not seen as any longer necessary because, with conditions improving, the council deposed him from his position and he returned to England to get treatment for a serious powder burn.  The goodtimes didn’t last in Jamestown though as by 1610, famine and disease took its toll and only 60 people were left when a ship with more settlers showed up.  Relations with the Indians also went in the tank with several wars.  The Indians, of course, eventually lost but it wasn’t a total blowout as evidence by the settlements razing  in 1622.  You can visit the reincarnation of the Jamestown settlement.  You’ll be amazed at how small the ships they used to sail the seas really were.

 

Pocahontas After She Became Rebecca Rolfe

It is interesting that the majority of the images that we have of Smith don’t seem to resemble that of the youthful man who  took the helm at Jamestown. Most paintings do not depict Smith as a young man at all, but instead a robust man who might fit in an Old Spice commercial. Prior to photographs, it was possible for artists to depict their heroes or villains as the wanted them to appear, but not necessarily as they really did appear.   In any event, as I mentioned, John Smith was an adventurer and while he was in the colony he mapped much of the Tidewater area. He is credited with discovering Tangier Island, where Snow White and I vacationed a couple of years ago. Smith saw the Island with a white beach (which has largely disappeared) and it reminded him of Tangiers…so he called the Island Tangier. Smith was obviously not a very creative fellow because a nearby Island he named after himself. The third island in the group he called Watts Island, after one of his crewmen. The collection of three islands, Tangier, Smith and Watts, he called the Russell Islands,or Russell’s Isles….again after one of his crewmen. If Donald Trump had been on board, perhaps we would have the Trump Islands. Good thing Englebert Humperdink wasn’t part of the crew.

Weather Bottom Line:  Not much of a change. I told you it would be too dry for rain today and I think that the dry air will be tough to overcome on Friday but the atmosphere should moisten up from top to bottom enough that rain chances will get reasonably healthy by late Friday.  Now, a warm front will lift through the area on Saturday so we’ll be back into the mid to upper 80′s and it will be noticeably more humid. That will set the stage for a cold front that will bring rain and t’storm activity on Saturday.  It’s possible that the SPC will issue a slight risk outlook for our area for Saturday but by late Thursday that was not the case.