Home > United States of America > South Dakota > Walworth County > Mobridge > Fool Soldiers Band Monument

Fool Soldiers Band Monument

Memorials	:	0
Location	:	Mobridge, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate	:	45.5384890, -100.4338790
Description	:	Inscription on monument: "Shetek Captives Rescued Here November 1862 By Fool Soldiers Band" The Fool Soldiers Band Monument was erected in memory of a group of Teton Lakota men who rescued two women and seven children from captivity by hostile Dakota during the US-Dakota War of 1862. During the war, a band of hostile Dakota attacked the settlement at Lake Shetek, Minn., killing 14 people and taking captive Laura Duley and her children Jefferson, Emma, and Francis; and Julia Wright and four other children. The captives were taken to the Missouri River, at its junction with Grand River. When word of their whereabouts came to... Read More	Inscription on monument: "Shetek Captives Rescued Here November 1862 By Fool Soldiers Band" The Fool Soldiers Band Monument was erected in memory of a group of Teton Lakota men who rescued two women and seven children from captivity by hostile Dakota during the US-Dakota War of 1862. During the war, a band of hostile Dakota attacked the settlement at Lake Shetek, Minn., killing 14 people and taking captive Laura Duley and her children Jefferson, Emma, and Francis; and Julia Wright and four other children. The captives were taken to the Missouri River, at its junction with Grand River. When word of their whereabouts came to Fort Pierre, a group of 11 young Lakota men set out to rescue them. In 1860, they had formed a society based on non-violence and taken an oath to help all people. Their philosophy was viewed with skepticism and they were ridiculed by their neighbors as "Fool Soldiers". Their names were Kills Game, Comes Back, Four Bear, Mad Bear, Pretty Bear, Sitting Bear, Swift Bird, One Rib, Strikes Fire, Red Dog, and Charging Dog. They were led by Martin Charger, who is believed to be a grandson of Capt. Merriweather Lewis, the explorer. The Fool Soldiers found the Dakota camp of White Lodge, leader of the hostile band, and entered difficult and dangerous negotiations for the release of the captives. During this process, they offered their own horses, blankets, food, and even their own weapons for their release. Finally, White Lodge begrudgingly agreed to free them and on Nov. 20, 1862 the captives were released to the Fool Soldiers. Having traded all but two guns and one horse, the rescuers made a basket for the children to ride in and placed Laura Duley, who had been shot in the foot, on the horse. Martin Charger then gave his own moccasins to Julia Wright, who had no shoes. The Fool Soldiers led the women and children safely to Fort Pierre, a journey of 100 miles across the plains through snow, bitter cold, and blizzard conditions. To this day, they are viewed by some members of their own tribe as traitors; others view them as heroes for their selfless act. They had expected no rewards or other reimbursements and their actions seemed to be motivated purely by humanitarian concerns. The Fool Soldiers society is still active today. NOTE: No remains are buried at this site; this monument was erected to remember and honor the men of the Fool Soldiers Band

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Where is Fool Soldiers Band Monument?
Fool Soldiers Band Monument is located at 1820 West Grand Crossing Mobridge, Walworth County ,South Dakota , 57601USA.
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Where are the coordinates of the Fool Soldiers Band Monument?
Latitude: 45.5384890
Longitude: -100.4338790

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Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mobridge City Cemetery
Mobridge, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5372000, -100.4180000

2. Greenwood Cemetery
Mobridge, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5527992, -100.4263992

3. Grace Cemetery
Mobridge, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5367012, -100.3858032

4. Sitting Bull Monument
Corson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5169400, -100.4851800

5. Sacagawea Monument
Corson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5159000, -100.4881000

6. Jedediah Strong Smith Historical Monument
Mobridge, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5741600, -100.4832600

7. Evarts Cemetery
Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4632988, -100.3174973

8. Saint Elizabeth Cemetery
Wakpala, Corson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6423880, -100.5149280

9. Glenham Cemetery
Glenham, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5369000, -100.2632000

10. Saint Bedes Cemetery
Wakpala, Corson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6581001, -100.5252991

11. Ascension Cemetery
Dewey County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3598200, -100.3948900

12. Ratrus German Congregational of Glenham Cemetery
Glenham, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6371340, -100.2143640

13. Saint Peter Congregational Cemetery
Mound City, Campbell County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6371100, -100.2143000

14. Norway Lutheran Church Cemetery
Mound City, Campbell County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6445000, -100.1926000

15. Trail City Cemetery
Trail City, Corson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4733009, -100.7082977

16. Mad Bear Mission Cemetery
Corson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7355995, -100.3431015

17. Saint Johns Cemetery
Promise, Dewey County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3541985, -100.5875015

18. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Corson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6571999, -100.6875000

19. Long Hill Cemetery
Wakpala, Corson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6575012, -100.6980972

20. Bethany Cemetery
Selby, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5938988, -100.1102982

21. Virgin Creek UCC Cemetery
La Plant, Dewey County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3419400, -100.6163900

22. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Promise, Dewey County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3309500, -100.6121300

23. Bethlehem Cemetery
Selby, Walworth County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5363998, -100.0783005

24. UCC Cemetery
Whitehorse, Dewey County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3430871, -100.6571106

Fool Soldiers Band Monument

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