Dakota Territory in the Civil War

North and South Dakota were still territories in the War of the Rebellion. No county organizations existed at this time.

Dakota - Union (Territory)

Population and Demographics

This feature is not yet available. Check back soon for updates!

Antebellum Dakota Territory

This feature is not yet available. Check back soon for updates!

Conflict

1861

• No engagements or operations recorded during this year

1862

• June 23, 1862 - Action at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory (Dyer 615, 981, 984)
  • (Also listed September, likely error) MINNESOTA--5th Infantry (Co. "D").
• September 3, 1862 - Skirmish near Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory (Dyer 615, 981, 984)
  • (No Reports.)
• September 6, 1862 - Action at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory (Dyer 615, 981, 984)
  • MINNESOTA--5th Infantry. Union loss, 1 killed. 2 wounded. Total, 3.
• September 26, 1862 - Action at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory (Dyer 615, 981, 984)
  • MINNESOTA--9th Infantry.

1863

• February 20, 1863 - Skirmish near Fort Halleck, Dakota Territory (Dyer 616, 620, 981, 984)
  • KANSAS---9th Cavalry. Union loss. 1 killed.
• June 16-September 3, 1863 - Union Operations against Sioux Indians in Dakota Territory (Dyer 648, 981, 984)
  • MINNESOTA--1st Cavalry; Mounted Rangers; 3d Battery Light Arty.; 6th, 7th, 9th (Detachment) and 10th Infantry.
• July 24, 1863 - Action at Big Mound, Dakota Territory (Dyer 600, 981, 985)
  • MINNESOTA--1st Cavalry; Mounted Rangers; 3d Battery Light Arty.; 6th, 7th, 9th (Detachment) and 10th Infantry. Union loss, 4 killed, 4 wounded. Total, 8.
• July 26, 1863 - Engagement at Dead Buffalo Lake, Dakota Territory (Dyer 611, 981, 985)
  • MINNESOTA--1st Cavalry; Mounted Rangers; 3d Battery Light Arty.; 6th. 7th, 9th (Detachment) and 10th Infantry. Union loss, 1 killed.
• July 28, 1863 - Action at Stony Lake, Dakota Territory (Dyer 650, 981, 985)
  • (Also Stony Creek) MINNESOTA--1st Cavalry; Mounted Rangers; 3d Battery Light Arty.; 6th, 7th, 9th (Detachment) and 10th Infantry. Union loss, 1 killed, 2 wounded. Total, 3.
• July 29-30, 1863 - Skirmishes on the Missouri River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 633, 981, 985)
  • (Also actions) MINNESOTA--1st Cavalry; Mounted Rangers; 3d Battery Light Arty.; 6th Infantry.
• August 13-September 11, 1863 - Union Operations against Sioux Indians in Dakota Territory (Dyer 648, 981, 985)
  • (Sully's Expedition) IOWA--6th and 7th (Detachment) Cavalry. NEBRASKA-2d Cavalry.
• September 3-5, 1863 - Engagement at Whitestone Hill, Dakota Territory (Dyer 657, 981, 985)
  • (originally listed engagement Sept 3 and skirmish Sept 5, also White Stone) IOWA--6th and 7th (Detachment) Cavalry. NEBRASKA-2d Cavalry. Union loss, 20 killed, 38 wounded. Total, 58.
• December 1, 1863 - Affair with Ponca Indians, Dakota Territory (Dyer 641, 981, 985)
  • IOWA--7th Cavalry (Detachment).

1864

• July 25-August 1, 1864 - Expedition up James River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 625, 981, 985)
  • MINNESOTA--3d Battery Light Arty. (Detachment). WISCONSIN--2d Cavalry (Co. "M"); 30th Infantry (Detachment).
• July 25-October 8, 1864 - Union Expedition against Sioux Indians, Dakota Territory (Dyer 648, 981, 985)
  • (Sully's) DAKOTA--1st Battalion Cavalry. IOWA--6th and 7th Cavalry. MINNESOTA--2d Cavalry; Indpt. Battalion Cavalry; Brackett's Battalion Cavalry; 3d Battery Light Arty.; 8th Infantry (Mounted), Pope's Prairie Battery; Indpt. Company Indian Scouts.
• July 23, 1864 - Action ay Tah-Kah-A-Kuty Mountain, Dakota Territory (Dyer 651, 981, 985)
  • (Tahkahokuty?) DAKOTA--1st Battalion Cavalry; Pope's Prairie Battery. IOWA--6th and 7th Cavalry. MINNESOTA--2d Cavalry; Brackett's Battalion Cavalry; 3d Battery Light Arty.; 8th Infantry (Mounted). Union loss, 5 killed, 10 wounded. Total, 15.
• August 8, 1864 - Action at Two Hills, Bad Lands, and Little Missouri River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 629, 653, 981, 985)
  • (Aug 8-9?) DAKOTA--1st Battalion Cavalry; Pope's Prairie Battery. IOWA--6th and 7th Cavalry. MINNESOTA--2d Cavalry; Brackett's Battalion Cavalry; 3d Battery Light Arty.; 8th Infantry (Mounted).
• August 12, 1864 - Skirmish at Little Blue, Dakota Territory (Dyer 629, 981, 985)
  • IOWA--7th Cavalry. Union loss, 2 killed.
• September 11-30, 1864 - Union Expedition from Fort Rice to relief of Fiske's Emigrant Train, Dakota Territory (Dyer 616, 644, 981, 985)
  • IOWA--6th Cavalry. MINNESOTA--2d Cavalry; Brackett's Battalion Cavalry.
• September 27, 1864 - Skirmish neat Fort Rice, Dakota Territory (Dyer 616, 644, 981, 985)
  • IOWA--6th Cavalry. KANSAS--11th Cavalry (Detachment).

1865

• April 22-23, 1865 - Union Scout from Deer Creek to Sage Creek, Dakota Territory (Dyer 611, 646, 981, 985)
  • No other info
• April 26, 1865 - Affair at Fort Rice, Dakota Territory (Dyer 616, 644, 981, 985)
  • UNITED STATES--1st Infantry Vols. (Detachment).
• May 3-25, 1865 - Union Expedition to Wind River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 658)
  • No other entries
• May 19-20, 1865 - Union Scout from Sweetwater Bridge to Whiskey Gap, Dakota Territory (Dyer 656, 981, 985)
  • KANSAS--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
• May 20, 1865 - Skirmish near Deer Creek Station, Dakota Territory (Dyer 611, 981, 985)
  • (Just Deer Creek? both listed) KANSAS--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
• May 20-22, 1865 - Union Expedition from Camp Plumb, Dakota Territory (Dyer 604, 641, 981, 985)
  • (May 10-28? Scout to?) KANSAS--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
• May 20-22, 1865 - Union Operations at Three Crossings Station, Dakota Territory (Dyer 652, 981, 985)
  • KANSAS--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
• May 26-June 9, 1865 - Union Operations on Platte and Sweetwater Rivers, Dakota Territory (Dyer 981, 985)
  • OHIO--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
• May 27, 1865 - Skirmish near St. Mary's Station, Dakota Territory (Dyer 646, 981, 985)
  • OHIO--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
• June 2, 1865 - Operations about Fort Rice, Dakota Territory (Dyer 616, 644, 981, 985)
  • (Also Affair at?) UNITED STATES--1st Infantry Vols.
• June 3, 1865 - Skirmish at Platte River Bridge, Dry Creek, Dakota Territory (Dyer 612, 641, 981, 985)
  • KANSAS--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
• June 14, 1865 - Action at Horse Creek, Dakota Territory (Dyer 623, 981, 985)
  • IOWA--7th Cavalry (Cos. "A," "B" and "D").
• June 17, 1865 - Skirmish at Dead Man's Fork, Dakota Territory (Dyer 611, 981, 985)
  • CALIFORNIA--2d Cavalry (Cos. "L" and "M"). KANSAS--11th (Co. "L") and 16th (Detachment) Cavalry. OHIO--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
• June 17-19, 1865 - Union Expedition to Fort Halleck, Dakota Territory (Dyer 616, 620, 981, 985)
  • COLORADO--1st Cavalry (Detachment).
• June 20-October 7, 1865 - Union Expedition to Powder River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 981, 985)
  • KANSAS--16th Cavalry. MISSOURI--12th Cavalry; 2d Heavy Arty.
• June 24-30, 1865 - Union Operations about Rock Creek Station and Seven Mile Creek, Dakota Territory (Dyer 644, 647, 981, 985)
  • (Just Rock Creek?) COLORADO--1st Cavalry (Detachment). KANSAS---11th Cavalry. OHIO--11th Cavalry.
• June 30, 1865 - Skirmish at Rock Creek, Dakota Territory (Dyer 644, 981, 985)
  • KANSAS--11th Cavalry.
• July 26, 1865 - Action at Platte Bridge, Dakota Territory (Dyer 641, 981, 985)
  • (Skirmish at?) KANSAS--11th Cavalry. OHIO--11th Cavalry.
• August 1, 1865 - Attack at Big Laramie, Dakota Territory (Dyer 600)
  • No other entries
• August 13, 1865 - Skirmish at Powder River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 642, 981, 985)
  • Pawnee Scouts.
• August 16, 1865 - Skirmish at Powder River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 642, 981, 985)
  • Pawnee Scouts.
• September 1-8 - Skirmishes at Powder River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 981, 985)
  • (could these possibly be the same as all of the individually recorded skirmishes at Powder River in Montana territory? SEE MONTANA, 1865) KANSAS--16th Cavalry. MISSOURI--12th Cavalry; 2d Heavy Arty.
• August 28, 1865 - Action at Tongue River, Dakota Territory (Dyer 652)
  • No other entries

Units from Dakota Territory

• 1st Dakota Territory Cavalry Battalion

Casualties from Dakota Territory

This feature is not yet available. Check back soon for updates!

Recordkeeping in Dakota Territory

Army Official Records Series

Over 4 volumes of the The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies series feature information regarding the Dakota Territory. Note that this series only covers commander communications and army operations within the Dakota Territory in a specific time frame, and does not account for other individuals or units in other theaters of the conflict. This table lists all 4 volumes featuring the Dakota Territory, plus supplementary volumes, and a summary of information available in that volume.

Dakota Territory in the Army Official Records Series

Volume(s) / Serial	Dates Covered	Notes about this volume
XIII (Serial #19)	April 10, 1862 – November 20, 1862	Chapter XXV - Operations in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, the Indian Territory, and the Department of the Northwest
XXXIV (Serials #61, #62, #63, and #64)	January 1, 1864 – June 30, 1864	Chapter XLVI - Operations in Louisiana and the Trans-Mississippi States and Territories
XLI (Serials #83, #84, #85, and #86)	July 1, 1864 – December 31, 1864	Chapter LIII - Operations in Louisiana and the Trans-Mississippi States and Territories
XLVIII (Serials #101 and #102)	January 1, 1865 – June 30, 1865	Chapter LX - Operations in Louisiana and the Trans-Mississippi States and Territories
LI (Serials #106 and #107) LII (Serials #108 and #109) LIII (Serial #110)	January 1, 1861 – June 30, 1865	These volumes are supplementary compilation volumes published with documentation found or received too late for insertion into many of the previous volumes Although the Dakota Territory is not featured prominently in these volumes, it is likely that many of these correspondences occurred there

Sources

• Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. The Dyer Publishing Company (Des Moine, 1908). (Page 1016)