Timeline: September 2, 1862 Battle of Birch Coulee Dakota Conflict

154 years ago last Friday, The Battle of Birch Coulee was fought on the Minnesota Prairie. Sioux warriors under the command of Little Crow were en route to Mankato and St. Peter to attack them as they had done earlier at New Ulm. They surprised a burial detail sent out from Fort Ridgely by Col. Henry Sibley on the prairie south of the present day site of Olivia, MN. The battle of Birch Coulee was underway. It lasted 36 hours and the soldiers received the brunt of Sioux fury. Messengers sent back to Fort Ridgely alerted Col. Sibley the burial detail was under attack. Under the cover of nightfall Sibley led his infantry onto the battlefield along with some heavy artillery. At sunrise, the soldiers were in position. After several hours of fierce fighting, the Sioux were forced to retreat. Historians today indicate the Battle of Birch Coulee was won by the Sioux.

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