The Portage County Democrat. Ravenna, OH: Hall, Herrick, & Wadsworth, January 7, 1863. Newspaper broadside extra, 19 x 25.25 in. Featuring "Scene Before the Execution of the Indians," a lengthy account from Mankato, MN, of the imprisonment and mass execution by hanging of 38 Sioux men as reprisal for hostilities that occurred during the 1862 Sioux Uprising. This was and remains the largest mass execution in United States history.

In 1862 the new state of Minnesota was home to thousands of American Indians, many of whom were disenchanted with the Government's promise for annuities. On August 17 of that year, as the native population faced starvation and increasing hardship, violence erupted when a small band of Sioux warriors killed five white settlers. Hostilities continued over the course of the following month resulting in hundreds of deaths, until the uprising was finally put down by Federal troops under the command of Henry Sibley. Military tribunals held in November and December ultimately convicted more than 300 Sioux warriors, with 38 of them hanged publicly on December 26, 1862, in Mankato.

The Portage Co. Democrat Extra cites an article from the St. Paul Press as providing "some interesting scenes and incidents which preceded the execution of the Minnesota Indians" including Indians saying their final goodbyes to friends and relatives, a Father Ravoux talking with "the doomed ones" concerning their fate, and preparations for the gallows. The St. Paul Pioneer is quoted with details from the hanging:

The white caps, which had been placed on the top of their heads, were drawn over their faces, shutting out the light of day forever from their eyes. Then ensued a scene that can hardly be described, and which can hardly be forgotten. All joined in shouting and singing, as it appeared to those who were ignorant of the language. The tones seemed somewhat discordant, and yet there was harmony to it. Save the moment of cutting the rope, it was the most thrilling moment of the awful scene.

The broadside also features interesting content on Civil War-related matters such as Ohio's enlistment quota, the anticipated draft, care of sick and wounded soldiers, and the "Attempted Invasion of Our Southern Border," i.e. the September 1862 "Siege of Cincinnati" in which Confederate forces threatened to invade Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati but were repelled by Union Army soldiers and local militia.

A very rare historic broadside with no other original copies able to be located for sale.

Some minor dampstaining. Top edge line and right edge line considerably more toned than rest of paper. Some creasing top right corner. Tears and soiling along right edge line. Pencilled notes top left corner and center above all text. No imperfections affect readability of text.