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366:, who was initially unconvinced that he was in danger, and persuaded him to flee. Renville went home to find the horses already hitched to the wagon, and headed towards the agency with his family. They later saw Williamson's family crossing the river to flee eastward with a Native American who was sympathetic to the European Americans of the region and had already helped Riggs's family to safety. Four miles on, Renville was accosted by drunken soldiers who had pillaged the agency, but forced his way through.
478:
345:, Gabrielle Renville helped to organize the "friendly" soldiers' lodge which opposed the soldiers attacking European American settlements. He was a driving force within the Dakota Peace Party that emerged among the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands, which soon attracted the support of disgruntled Mdewakantons. The peace party sought to end the war and secure the release of prisoners captured by the Dakota soldiers, and made it difficult for the soldiers to sustain the war effort.
508:. The Renvilles, Browns and other "friendly" families joined approximately 1,600 Native Americans sent to a compound below Fort Snelling. On their way there, the residents of Henderson threw stones in anger at the Native Americans passing through; among the general white population of Minnesota at the time, all Dakota were blamed for the deaths and destruction that occurred in August 1862. Once they arrived, many of their horses and oxen were stolen from their camps.
225:, later wrote that "schoolroom confinement and association with strangers speaking an unintelligible and strange tongue did not agree with him or suit him, and in about a month he ran away on foot across the prairies of Illinois and the woods of Wisconsin back to his home in Minnesota. He could never be induced to return, but in later years always upbraided my father for not giving him a sound thrashing and sending him back."
127:
28:
532:
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Although he avoided speaking
English, Gabriel Renville became known as a skilled orator in Dakota. Sam Brown, who served as his interpreter during multiple trips to Washington, D.C., wrote that in his opinion, "Gabriel Renville had no superior –– no equal, even –– as to the use of the Sioux language.
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In his memoir, Gabriel
Renville wrote, "Then word came that the Indians would be sifted as you would sift wheat, the good grain to be put into the bin, but the chaff and the bad seeds to be burned. This was done, and all those who by good evidence were proven to have done anything against the whites
454:
On
September 23, 1862, when the "hostiles" finally left to attack Sibley's camp, Renville and other members of the friendly camp gathered in a ravine to stay out of the battle. Renville's followers invaded the opposing camp to rescue the white and "mixed-blood" captives and brought them to safety in
413:
Renville's side decided to form a single camp of families sympathetic toward the
European settler-colonists, with a large tent at the center of a circle west of Riggs's Hazelwood Mission buildings. They organized their own soldiers' lodge, with Renville among the four officers, and Paul Mazakutamani
441:
Both the "friendlies" and "hostiles" subsequently moved their camps further apart. The "hostiles" moved north but were halted at Red Iron's village; their camp was forced to scatter once shots were fired, breaking up their soldiers' lodge and weakening their position. Meanwhile, the "friendly" camp
405:
With tensions running high, Gabriel
Renville had the idea to call a council and invite the opposing soldiers to negotiate the release of the prisoners. He killed a calf supplied by his cousin John Baptiste Renville and organized a feast. More than 100 hostile Mdewakanton soldiers arrived with guns,
496:
Renville and Akipa and their families were acknowledged as friendlies and were initially allowed to move freely outside the Native
American camp. Renville went home to discover that everything he owned had been taken or destroyed by opposing soldiers. He moved his camp to Redwood Agency with other
450:
On the night of
September 22, Little Crow and the soldiers prepared to attack Sibley's troops under cover of darkness and threatened to kill any men who refused to follow. Renville, Two Stars and others argued that Little Crow's battle plan was foolhardy given the numbers of men they had seen in
260:
leaders, which would also pay traders for any outstanding debts owed to them. Historian Gary
Clayton Anderson writes, "Renville quickly became part of the inner circle that worked for the treaty...Given the circumstances, Renville, in working with Brown, obviously assumed that he was helping his
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grew stronger as
Mdewakantons weary of conflict, some of whom had reached out secretly to Sibley, joined them. Renville recounted that a group of hostile Mdewakantons then came to attack the peace party, who were ready with guns, but Iron Walker (Mazomani) convinced the hostiles to stand down.
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Renville recalled, "Then a fence was built on the south side of the fort and close to it. We all moved into this inclosure, but were so crowded and confined that an epidemic broke out among us and children were dying day and night, among them being Two Stars' oldest child, a little girl."
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himself finally agreed that they should send two representatives. When they returned, they reported that Sibley said he would not treat "friendlies" as enemies, and that he would only meet with the opposing soldiers if they released the prisoners first.
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The hostile
Mdewakantons then called a large council, inviting the "friendlies". Nearly a thousand people total were in attendance. Again, passionate speeches were made on both sides. During the council the Mdewakantons also shared information about the
313:
There, Gabriel Renville focused on building a large farm of 3,000 acres in an effort to become self-sufficient and support his growing family. His house was modern, featuring "the first brick fireplace in the region, a progressive symbol for that time."
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and "mixed-blood" men went to Yellow Medicine Agency to "make a stand" in the agency's brick buildings. Gabriel's stepfather Akipa and his half-brother Charles Crawford then went south to rescue Susan and her children; on August 23, they arrived at
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On the morning of August 19, 1862, having heard about the attacks on Redwood Agency the night before from Solomon Two Stars, Renville rode out toward the Yellow Medicine Agency to check on his relatives. On the way, he encountered Rev.
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At his mother's house, he found that his brother Charles Crawford had managed to return after encountering "hostiles" who wanted to kill him. Later that evening, they received word that their sister Susan Frenier Brown, wife of
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their camp, while Renville, Solomon Tukanshaciye and others pursued a war party passing westward and compelled them to release additional prisoners. The soldiers led by Little Crow were defeated by Sibley's army at the
401:
As Renville, his men and their families moved north, they passed through the hostile soldiers' camp, realizing that over half of the 200 European American and "mixed-blood" prisoners there were women and children.
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Gabriel Renville was born in April 1825 to two "mixed-blood" parents –– Winona Abigail Crawford (1805–1897) and Victor Renville (Ohiya) (1780–1832) –– most likely in the village of Sweet Corn on the west shore of
519:, received permission to enter the compound housing the Dakota and found many members of the former mission community there, including Gabriel Renville, who lay sick in his tent with a serious case of
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left on the battleground, inviting the Native Americans to come speak with him without reprisal. Although the "hostiles" were initially opposed and threatened to kill anyone contacting Sibley,
295:
To compensate for their loss, the U.S. government authorized a swap, offering "land scrip" to eligible mixed-race applicants in exchange for giving up their claim to the "half-breed tracts."
256:. In 1850, Brown summoned Renville to Saint Paul, where he was meeting with a group of traders including Sibley to help to facilitate the signing of a treaty between the U.S. government and
462:
Sibley and his troops arrived at the "friendly" camp on September 26, 1862. Renville recalled, "With joyous handshaking we met, and the white prisoners were taken into the soldiers' camp."
199:
497:"friendlies" camped on the north side of Sibley's command. Those who were suspected of having acted against the white settler-colonists were camped on the south side of the troops.
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in 1866. His people seconded Sibley's appointment a year later by declaring Renville chief-for-life. His tenure as chief saw the creation and settlement of his people on the
110:. Renville would become chief and superintendent of scouts in 1864. Gabrielle Renville's influence and political leadership were critical to the eventual creation of the
161:(1779–1846). His mother Winona was the daughter of a British trader and a Sisseton woman, and had been previously married to the son of a fur trader, Narcisse Frenier.
179:
426:. Wanting to find out whether Brown was still alive, Renville suggested sending Charles Crawford out to Birch Coulee to investigate how many had been killed.
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band. (Akipa, son of Buffalo Man, was "neither a Renville nor a Mdewakanton" but admired Gabriel's famous uncle and adopted his English name in tribute.)
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In the days that followed, Renville received word that the hostile soldiers and their families were moving north toward the Yellow Medicine Agency. When
465:
The Dakota Peace Party handed over a total of 269 prisoners –– 107 white and 162 "mixed-bloods" –– to Sibley at the location which came to be known as
284:, including 320,000 acres of land that had been set aside for "mixed-blood" descendants of European American fur trappers and settlers and certain
171:
A few years after his death, Winona Crawford married Akipa, later known as Joseph Akipa Renville (c. 1810–1891), a "full-blood" Dakota from the
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Thanks to his service during the war, Renvile obtained in 1863 the post of Chief of Scouts in the service of Minnesota state militia Colonel
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He knew the use of it so well and so completely that every word was a sledgehammer, always clear, homely but strong, and to the point."
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arrived, he advised Renville, his men and their families to leave the agency buildings since the soldiers would burn them down.
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As news of the 1851 treaty spread, there was a large influx of white settler-colonists attempting to claim indigenous lands in
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tradition. Talks broke down with the soldiers unwilling to release women and children, and the others unwilling to join them.
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In 1841, Joseph R. Brown brought Gabriel Renville in to serve as a clerk in his fur trading business based in the
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Sibley's command, deliberately prolonging the debate until daylight when the "friendlies" could warn the troops.
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374:, had not been killed as they had feared but had been taken prisoner along with her children and son-in-law.
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272:. Anderson writes, "When Renville, as a mixed-blood, did not sign, his stepfather, Akipa, gave his mark."
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placed him in boarding school in Chicago, where he lasted for one month. Gabriel's nephew, frontiersman
907:
Gabriel Renville: From the Dakota War to the Creation of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation, 1825-1892 (
674:
Gabriel Renville: From the Dakota War to the Creation of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation, 1825-1892
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and was a driving force within the Dakota Peace Party. In 1863, Renville volunteered to serve as a
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Tribe from 1866 until his death in 1892. He opposed conflict with the United States during the
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Joseph R. Brown (1805–1870), Gabriel Renville's brother-in-law, became his legal guardian
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but when Renville invited them to sit down and eat, they could not refuse, according to
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Upon his return, Crawford reported to Renville that he had found a letter from Colonel
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310:, also known as the Yellow Medicine Agency, close to their old home in Lac qui Parle.
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in August 1832 as he returned from leading a group of soldiers on a retaliatory raid.
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422:, and several hostile soldiers mentioned that they had recognized the voice of Major
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On September 28, 1862, a commission appointed by Colonel Sibley began interrogating
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Gabriel Renville received little formal education beyond classes at the school at
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practices including polygamy. Over the years, Gabriel Renville married three
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325:'s "Hazelwood Republic," in practice he refused to abandon many traditional
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The collapse of the fur trade wrought economic hardship in the newly formed
921:
Through Dakota Eyes: Narrative Accounts of the Minnesota Indian War of 1862
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302:. By 1857, Renville and his cousins had moved north to an area east of the
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Akipa (c.1810–1891), son of Buffalo Man, was stepfather to Gabriel Renville
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523:. Between 130 and 300 people died of various illnesses inside the camp.
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In the weeks before the mass execution, the convicted men were taken to
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people out of what had become an increasingly unsustainable lifestyle."
477:
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Gabriel Renville filed for land scrip in 1856, claiming lands south of
504:, whereas their families together with the "friendlies" were taken to
106:
against Dakota escapees, hunting those considered "hostile" including
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For his military service, he was appointed by Sibley as Chief of the
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544:
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kinswoman of the Little Crow family, and was the younger brother of
823:
Through Dakota Eyes: Narrative Accounts of the Minnesota Indian War
198:
190:; his half-sister, Susan Frenier Brown; and his stepfather, Akipa.
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sisters from Scarlet Plume's band, and had at least ten children.
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in 1846, Renville worked briefly for Sibley's business partner
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386:'s camp, where Akipa successfully negotiated their release.
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In 1851, Gabriel Renville was present at the signing of the
83:(Sacred Lodge), was a US-government appointed chief of the
821:
Anderson, Gary Clayton; Woolworth, Alan R., eds. (1988).
396:
126:
445:
909:
Pierre: South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2018).
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Victor Renville was ambushed and killed by a group of
249:. By 1849, Renville had moved back to Lac qui Parle.
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His father Victor was the son of Joseph Rainville, a
543:—later to become the first governor of the state of
79:(April 1825 – August 26, 1892), also known as
377:On the morning of August 20, Renville and 12 other
919:Gary Clayton Anderson and Alan R. Woolworth, ed.,
820:
676:. Pierre: South Dakota Historical Society Press.
321:in 1856 and was appointed as a cabinet member of
62:Dakota Sioux, French Canadian and British descent
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923:(St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1988).
825:. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press.
626:"Biographical Sketch of Chief Gabriel Renville"
489:men to determine their involvement in the war.
41:Sweet Corn Village, Lake Traverse, South Dakota
357:Evacuation and stand at Yellow Medicine Agency
336:
469:. Within days, the number increased to 285.
186:with his brother-in-law and legal guardian,
777:The Irish Standard (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
352:Upper Sioux Agency Historic Site, Minnesota
232:
701:. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society.
589:
26:
535:Gabriel Renville in 1867 (Washington, DC)
210:, where he learned to read and write the
53:Browns Valley, Traverse County, Minnesota
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590:LaFontaine, Harlen (September 6, 2017).
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397:Dakota Peace Party and soldiers' lodge
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446:Battle of Wood Lake and Camp Release
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724:"Brown, Joseph Renshaw (1805–1870)"
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624:Brown, Samuel J. (April 17, 1914).
241:. After Brown sold his business to
114:, which lies mainly in present-day
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959:People from Sisseton, South Dakota
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562:. He is buried atop a bluff near
290:Fourth Treaty of Prairie du Chien
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112:Lake Traverse Indian Reservation
697:Anderson, Gary Clayton (1986).
672:Anderson, Gary Clayton (2018).
592:"Renville, Gabriel (1825–1892)"
964:Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate people
768:
715:
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98:serving in US military leader
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268:as part of the delegation of
217:When Gabriel was a teenager,
630:The Sisseton Weekly Standard
266:Treaty of Traverse des Sioux
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184:Washington County, Minnesota
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882:The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862
854:The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862
722:Goodman, Nancy and Robert.
337:Role in the U.S.-Dakota War
10:
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775:"A Famous Indian Chief".
560:Lake Traverse Reservation
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58:
46:
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25:
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850:"The Dakota Peace Party"
515:John Williamson, son of
233:Decline of the fur trade
944:Native American leaders
905:Gary Clayton Anderson,
556:Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
517:Thomas Smith Williamson
364:Thomas Smith Williamson
317:Although he joined the
85:Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
750:Johnson, Frederick L.
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493:were put into irons."
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420:Battle of Birch Coulee
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547:. His service to the
541:Henry Hastings Sibley
534:
480:
431:Henry Hastings Sibley
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243:Henry Hastings Sibley
214:, and do arithmetic.
208:Lac qui Parle Mission
201:
129:
122:Early life and family
100:Henry Hastings Sibley
779:. September 3, 1892.
752:""Half-Breed" Tract"
527:Designation as Chief
481:Fort Snelling (1865)
414:as their spokesman.
323:Stephen Return Riggs
457:Battle of Wood Lake
319:Presbyterian Church
282:Minnesota Territory
254:Minnesota Territory
239:Coteau des Prairies
104:punitive expedition
969:Dakota War of 1862
856:. 3 September 2012
537:
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343:Dakota War of 1862
308:Upper Sioux Agency
276:Entry into farming
204:
149:, and Miniyuhe, a
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92:Dakota War of 1862
929:978-0-87351-216-9
915:978-1-941813-06-5
832:978-0-87351-216-9
683:978-1-941813-06-5
180:Grey Cloud Island
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331:Sisseton Dakota
304:Minnesota River
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223:Samuel J. Brown
219:Joseph R. Brown
212:Dakota language
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188:Joseph R. Brown
155:Joseph Renville
144:French Canadian
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96:Dakota scout
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954:1892 deaths
949:1825 births
435:Little Crow
391:Little Crow
384:Little Crow
341:During the
151:Mdewakanton
108:Little Crow
67:Citizenship
59:Nationality
938:Categories
888:2021-05-08
860:2021-05-07
761:2021-05-06
733:2021-05-05
635:2021-05-05
601:2021-05-06
574:References
564:Old Agency
306:above the
147:fur trader
38:April 1825
549:U.S. Army
545:Minnesota
270:Wahpetons
194:Education
756:MNopedia
728:MNopedia
596:MNopedia
173:Wahpeton
81:Ti'wakan
70:American
521:malaria
502:Mankato
166:Ojibwes
927:
913:
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705:
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487:Dakota
408:Dakota
379:Dakota
327:Dakota
286:Dakota
258:Dakota
88:Sioux
925:ISBN
911:ISBN
827:ISBN
703:ISBN
678:ISBN
47:Died
35:Born
182:in
157:of
102:'s
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