Part 2, Chapter XII Summary

In Chapter XII: And A New Civil War Broke Out, the cause was the government's promise to pay the Sioux $70,000 in 1861 for land, but when the debt went unpaid in 1862, the Sioux suffered famine during the frigid winter. Though the gold arrives at Fort Ridgely on August 18, 1862, it is too late; the day before, the Sioux "had begun to exact their claim in settlers' blood" (p. 107). The war with the Sioux begins on Sunday, August 17. Danjel is with his son, Sven, in Meeker County, when six Sioux arrive on Sven's farm. Sven goes to pick potatoes for them since they usually beg for food, but they kill Sven and Danjel in the field. In the house, they kill Ragnhild, Sven's wife, cutting the fetus from her womb, and they slaughter all of the children before stealing all the food...