Originally scheduled for December 19th, the hangings were postponed for over one week while Colonel Miller located enough proper rope for the required nooses. In full view of these gallows, stood a heavily guarded enclosure that housed the 264 prisoners having escaped them. Rumors were moving around the compound that secret societies or vigilante groups were forming to rush this enclosure and ‘take matters into their own hands.’ Colonel Miller took these rumors seriously and issued orders that decreed. “the sale, tender gift or use of all intoxicating liquors…by soldiers, sojourners or citizens, is entirely prohibited until Saturday evening, the 27th instant, at eleven o’clock.” Pg.227
Tell these thirty nine condemned men that the commanding …show more content…
The guards feared the Dakota were trying to elicit an uprising from their kin outside of the prison. 38 nooses – the Guards decided to fasten the Dakota to the floor by their ankles, limiting their physical freedom. 231 – Family members in groups of two and three were allowed in the encampment to say goodbye to their loved ones. Early the next morning, a small group of reporters were allowed in the prison where they observed the condemned. On reporter writes, “The doomed men wished it to be known among their friends, and particularly their wives and children, how cheerful and happy they had all died, exhibiting no fear of this dread event. To us it appeared not as an evidence of Christian faith, but a steadfast adherence to their heathen superstitions.”232 Berg continues stating that ‘despite several baptisms and professions of faith, most of the thirty-eight would seek to meet death in the manner of Dakota warriors.” : When the white soldiers followed the reporters into the makeshift cell, they found that most of the prisoners had painted their faces and were laughing off their fate, asking the troops what had taken them so long and why things weren’t moving along more
Tell these thirty nine condemned men that the commanding …show more content…
The guards feared the Dakota were trying to elicit an uprising from their kin outside of the prison. 38 nooses – the Guards decided to fasten the Dakota to the floor by their ankles, limiting their physical freedom. 231 – Family members in groups of two and three were allowed in the encampment to say goodbye to their loved ones. Early the next morning, a small group of reporters were allowed in the prison where they observed the condemned. On reporter writes, “The doomed men wished it to be known among their friends, and particularly their wives and children, how cheerful and happy they had all died, exhibiting no fear of this dread event. To us it appeared not as an evidence of Christian faith, but a steadfast adherence to their heathen superstitions.”232 Berg continues stating that ‘despite several baptisms and professions of faith, most of the thirty-eight would seek to meet death in the manner of Dakota warriors.” : When the white soldiers followed the reporters into the makeshift cell, they found that most of the prisoners had painted their faces and were laughing off their fate, asking the troops what had taken them so long and why things weren’t moving along more