Battle of Wood Lake

Battle of Wood Lake
Part of the Dakota War of 1862, American Civil War
Location of the positions of the Dakota along the bluffs north of the Minnesota Volunteers' camp
Date September 23, 1862 (1862-09-23) Location Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota 44°42′4″N 95°26′9″W / 44.70111°N 95.43583°W / 44.70111; -95.43583 Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Santee Sioux
Commanders and leaders
Col. Henry Hastings Sibley	Chief Little Crow Mankato † Big Eagle  Rattling Runner
Strength
1450–1619	<738
Casualties and losses
7 killed 34–50 wounded	14–30 killed Unknown number wounded

The Battle of Wood Lake occurred on September 23, 1862, and was the final battle in the Dakota War of 1862. The two-hour battle, which actually took place at nearby Lone Tree Lake, was a decisive victory for the U.S. forces led by Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley. With heavy casualties inflicted on the Dakota forces led by Chief Little Crow, the "hostile" Dakota warriors dispersed. Little Crow and 150 followers fled for the northern plains,^[1] while other Mdewakantons quietly joined the "friendly" Dakota camp started by the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands, which would soon become known as Camp Release.^[2]: 187