I have always struggled with this event. But one thing is clear, no matter what the reason for going to war there can be absolutely no defending the atrocities that occurred on both sides. This is especially true with what happened to the children. With the politically correct stories that have been written recently, most avoid this issue. However, it is the elephant in the room. All wars are wrong...period. The innocent on both sides suffered the most. The innocent settlers suffered immensely. The innocent Dakota who wanted no part of this war suffered immensely. One thing is forgotten...both sides went into exile. It was up to 3 years before settlers returned to their homes in some areas. Some settlers fled Minnesota forever. The Dakota were sent to reservations further west. Most Dakota were never allowed to return to their homeland. Nobody won.

There is an old Irish saying..."You mess with the Bull...you get the horn." Little Crow is a second cousin, but sometimes cousins pick the wrong fight. That being said, the abundant racism displayed over the casino treaties is appalling.

People always speak about the atrocities that occurred during the 20th century Holocaust where 12 million civilians were killed but what is said about the approximately 100 million Native Americans that perished at the hands of settlers? Oh yeah, men like Andrew Jackson who accelerated the liquidation of the Natives are celebrated and posted on our currency.

Any chance I get to read about this historic event I read and I am both amazed and sadden by it.Why hasn't this period of American history been portrayed in a movie of full documentary,seems odd or are we embarrassed and ashamed of it. This is a part of our past that needs telling in full and in as best we can.

We need to take into context historical events into the culture of that time. You can feel that things should have been different but step back and evaluate from all perspectives. It is sad that both sides couldn't exist together and atrocities were commited by both sides but what we should be is learning from all the mistakes made and moving forward as a nation to assure that these things do not go on. Look at the Middle East who will never have peace until they understand you can't go back and restore the "status quo" from 4,000 years ago and neither can we from even 100 years ago.

Great reporting Curt Brown. THANK YOU!! I learned a lot from this story. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Myblunder: Not sure where you are getting your 100,000,000 figure for exterminated Indians / native peoples, nor what time period you are considering. Given that this would amount to about 1/3 of our current population, this would seem to be a gross exaggeration. Hunter/gatherer techniques of native peoples would not support that many people, unless you were examining an arc of history that exceeds the duration of America. Education is examining facts of events, with the luxury of the distance of time for analysis. 'Re-education' might mean telling history with emphasis slightly skewed, in order to appease modern sensibilities, illicite sympathy instead of understanding, and to influence present day attitudes or outcomes. If Indians did not have casino money to influence current society, it is doubtful there would be a forum for their history, nor their current condition -- most folks would not pay attention, though of course they should. Atrocities were not always racially motivated, there is plenty of history of Indians killing Indians between competing tribes. There was only so much territory to support them in any given season, which is why many were nomadic -- they were constantly searching for food. This is actually the heart of the 1862 event: people were hungry and there was a clash of civilizations over competition for land and all that it provided.

It's good that the StarTrib is bringing these issues back into the public eye a century or so after they happened. However, I'd like to hear a little more about the reasons the women and child settlers were scalped.

Cman22: You make several good comments, but are quite incorrect when you state that 'nobody won'. The (as yet) unborn future generations of both cultures had the most to gain, or lose. The Indians lost, and Whites gained by Indians enforced removal to reservations. Current implications (political, and humanitarian) are the impetus for re-examining this event yet again. If there was nothing at stake, this would be relegated to a dust bin. Since there is reclaimation and present day gains to be made, it is being brought back for more discussion by those with an agenda. Very simple.

Worldcitizen: Quite literally, women and children were scalped because they were likely screaming, which would draw the attention of men with weapons. Silencing them would be important, as would be the taking of a war trophy (a misnomer). The more gruesome the death, the more fear it strikes into one's enemies, the more respect they will regard the tribe's reputation. Not much has changed -- gangs operate the same way, and terrorists strike at the innocent for the most impact. It was all about survival, which is why we evolved a Constitution to provide for our own self-defense, and to put food on the table (2nd Ammendment). As noted by Dee Brown in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, there were plenty of examples of retribution and revenge by all sides. Soldiers were known to display trophies of Indian victims as well.