“Fort Thompson”

In August 1862, the hostile element of the Santee Sioux in Minnesota went on the War path, 400 whites were killed and 300 were prisoners. After two battles, the prisoners were liberated, the hostiles driven to the northwest and many hostiles and friendly Santee rounded up. Feeling was high and it was determined to send all Indians, mostly old men, women and children, 1601 in all to the Missouri by steamboat to Usher’s Landing, together with 1945 Winnebagos who had been entirely peaceful. On arrival, May 30, 1863 Ft. Thompson was named for Clark W. Thompson, the Northern Indian Superintendent. The Santee Sioux reserve was S of Sneotka (Soldier) Creek, the Winnebagos to the North. The Fort was built by Co. A., Dakota Cavalry, the joint Agency established the Indians set to building shelters and planting crops. A dry year by December, Winnebagos had built canoes, gone downriver.

An early winter, by December the cropless Santees were starving, a herd of cattle with supplies in wagons, ‘The March to Moscow’ came from Minnesota to relieve the starving Indians.

Among whom, however, 400 had died by 1864. By 1866 the Winnebagos were gone, Santees moved to the Niobrara. Ft. Thompson, Crow Creek Agency, became the home station of the Yanctonaise Sioux and they today are the dominant band located on this old reservation started under such drab and heart rending conditions. It was their agency until moved to Pierre.”

Buffalo County