List of illustrations --Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- [ch. 1]. Background -- Charles E. Flandrau -- The Ink-pa-du-ta Massacre of 1857 -- Indians living in the area -- Ink-pa-du-ta's band -- The weather -- [ch. 2]. The attack -- The victims of the Spirit Lake Massacre -- Early events of the Spirit Lake massacre -- The state of mind within Ink-pa-du-ta's band -- Editorial correspondence - Henderson democrat -- Alarm sounded in Iowa -- The attack on Springfield -- Springfield refugees find help -- Minnesota pioneer and democrat report, 18 April 1857 -- H.W. Granger's account -- Press reports -- Coursalle's report -- [ch. 3]. Word spreads -- Press reports -- Alarm of the frontier settlers -- Personal correspondence (Edward Washburn and J.A. Nelson) -- [ch. 4]. The military response -- U.S. troops from Fort Ridgely -- The Iowa expedition -- Minnesota militia response -- Press reports -- Effects of the Inkpaduta Massacre on the settlers in the Big Wood -- [ch. 5]. Rescuing the captives -- Mrs. Marble's story -- Press reports of Mrs. Marble's rescue -- Rescue of Miss Gardner (Flandrau) -- Killing of Mrs. Noble -- Abbie's story -- Heroes for rescuing the Spirit Lake captives -- [ch. 6]. Chasing Inkpaduta -- Little Crow's expedition -- Press reports -- Official reports, Bureau of Indian Affairs -- [ch. 7]. The mission to the Dakotas -- [ch. 8]. The aftermath -- [appendix A]. The identity and demography of the Dakota or Sioux tribe -- [appendix B]. Depredation claims -- James B. Thomas -- Abigail Gardner Sharp -- Minnesota military claims -- Iowa military claims -- [appendix C]. Roster of the Iowa's Spirit Lake relief expedition -- Bibliography -- Everyname index.