Surrender at Camp Release, Historical monument in Montevideo, Minnesota
Surrender at Camp Release is a state monument near Montevideo in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, marking the spot where Dakota forces surrendered and released captives in September 1862. The site consists of a stone monument with inscriptions on several faces and informational markers placed around the grounds.
After the Battle of Wood Lake on September 22, 1862, Colonel Henry Sibley negotiated with Dakota leaders, leading to the surrender four days later. The release of captives at this spot effectively ended the armed conflict along the Minnesota River.
The monument acknowledges both the soldiers and the Dakota members who worked to protect captives during the conflict, a detail visible in the inscriptions on its different faces. Visitors can walk around the stone and read each side, which reflects how several groups were involved in ending the fighting.
The site is located along Highway 212 in Lac qui Parle County and is easy to reach by car. Visiting during daylight hours makes it easier to read the inscriptions on each side of the monument.
The eastern face of the monument lists specific battles fought along the Minnesota River, while the southern face carries only the words Camp Release with no further explanation. This split shows how different aspects of the same events were recorded separately on the same stone.
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