Battle Name: |
Wood Lake |
Other Names: |
None |
State: |
Minnesota |
Location: |
Yellow Medicine County |
Campaign: |
Operations to Suppress the Sioux Uprising (1862) |
Dates: |
September 23, 1862 |
Principal Commanders: |
Col. Henry Hastings Sibley [US]; Chief Little Crow [I] |
Forces Engaged: |
Volunteer troops (about 1,500) [US]; Santee Sioux [I] |
Estimated Casualties: |
Total unknown (US 37; I unknown) |
Description: |
On September 19, 1862, Col. Henry Hastings Sibley set out from Fort Ridgely with 1,500 volunteers
to put down the Santee uprising. As they neared Wood Lake on September 23, Sibley’s men escaped an ambush
by 700 warriors under Chief Little Crow and engaged them in a battle. Sibley’s force won the day inflicting heavy
casualties on the Sioux. For this action, Sibley received a promotion to brigadier general. Wood Lake was the first
decisive defeat of the Sioux since the uprising began. |
Results: |
Union victory |