| Several Sioux Falls escapees had cached some of their possessions before fleeing the town. Captain Nelson Miner with a party of civilians and an escort from Company A, rode from Yankton across the deserted country of Dakota in November of 1862 to see what was left of Sioux Falls and retreive some of those possessions. They made the trip in about 2 days and one story says they camped about 3 miles south of town and made a moonlight inspection of the town and no Indians were seen. At dawn they decided to check out the city by daylight and reached the top of the south hills. They then, to their surprise, came upon Inkapaduta's band of about 40 warriors mounted and formed in battle array on the north bluff. Capt. Miner and his interpreter Sgt. Joseph Ellis rode forward to talk to the Indians. A brief conference ensued and they learned the Indians had come from the Minnesota river and their purpose was to kill white men. After hearing this, Capt. Miner fired his revolver and Inkapaduta let loose with a double barreled shotgun. Capt. Miner ordered a charge and the Indians countered by trying to draw the soldiers into a slough. The plan faultered when one Indian whose name was Wakeyandoota or Red Lightening got his horse caught in a bog near the banks of Covell lake and was shot by a Yankton man, Charles Wright, then Sgt. Ellis plunged his saber into the man to end his life. The rest of the Indians disappeared. The other story is that they made the trip to Sioux Falls without incident and while they secured the goods, soldiers were sent into the hills to guard against surprise. Just as they were about to leave for Yankton. Jacob Ludwig, one of the lookouts came at a gallop pursued by 2 Indians at whom he was firing his Colts, but his horse was too fast for the Indians to catch. Capt. Miner laid in pursuit after the two Indians which led him to a party of about 40 Indians led by Inkpaduta. Sgt Joseph Ellis rode out to talk with them as he was an interpreter. The Indians told Ellis they were from the Minnesota river area and had come over to Dakota to kill some white men. Hearing that Capt. Miner ordered a charge.The Indians broke and ran. In the pursuit Charles Wright and Sgt. Ellis killed one on them, Wakeyandoota. The soldiers discovered the Indian camp below the falls, there the soldiers found many items evidently stolen in Minnesota. The Capt. and his men inspected Sioux Falls and noted only 3 houses were unburned, they gathered some relics of the ruined city and left. |
| The Return to Sioux Falls |