Little Crow mutilated by the citizens.

Little Crow (Taoyateduta), was a leader of the Mdewakanton Dakota during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862

On July 3, 1863, while Little Crow and his son, Wowinapa, were foraging for berries in a farmer’s Minnesota field, they were spotted by the landowner, Nathan Lampson, and his son. The four engaged in a brief firefight, during which Lampson and his son both shot and mortally wounded Little Crow. The chief then told his son to flee.

Lampson’s son ran nearly 12 miles to Hutchinson, Minnesota, to gather a search-and-recovery party. The townspeople quickly departed and found a wounded Lampson and a dead, unidentified Dakota man. When they discovered the latter was Little Crow, they mutilated and displayed the body.

Nathan Lampson received a standard bounty for the scalp of a Dakota, plus an additional $500 bounty when it was confirmed the remains were those of Little Crow.(Based on the Consumer Price Index and inflation, $500 in 1863 is the equivalent to $12,524 in 2025 money.) Little Crow’s body was transported back to Hutchinson, where it was again mutilated by the citizens. The body was dragged down Main Street, firecrackers were placed in his ears, and dogs picked at his head.

After their celebration, the town disposed of the body in an alley, where ordinary garbage was regularly thrown. The Minnesota Historical Society received his scalp in 1868 and his skull in 1896. Other bones were collected at different times.

In 1971, Little Crow’s remains were returned to his grandson, Jesse Wakeman (son of Wowinapa), for burial.

This account of Little Crow’s death is based on the following sources:

• J. Birney Lamson, “The Killing of Chief Little Crow,” in Minnesota Historical Collections (Vol. 15, pp. 366-370, St. Paul, 1915)
• Frank B. Lamson, Condensed History of Meeker County (pp. 26-28, Litchfield, circa 1939)
• Kenneth Carley, The Sioux Uprising of 1862 (pp. 68-70, St. Paul, 1961)
• St. Paul Pioneer, August 13, 1863
• St. Peter Tribune, August 19, 1863