McLaughlin: Life, Career, and Influence in the American West
The story of McLaughlin is one of migration, civil service, and the complex, often tragic intersection of U.S. government policy and Native American life in the 19th century. From his arrival in the United States to his role as a high-ranking official in the Department of the Interior, McLaughlin's career mirrored the federal government's shifting approach toward the indigenous peoples of the Great Plains.
Early Life and Emigration
In 1863, at the age of 21, McLaughlin emigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota. Shortly after his arrival, in 1864, he married Marie Louise Buisson, a woman of mixed Québécois and Scottish descent from the Mdewakanton Dakota. The couple went on to have seven children.
McLaughlin officially obtained his United States citizenship in 1865, setting the stage for a lifelong career in government service.
Rise Through the Indian Agency System
McLaughlin's professional journey began in 1871 when the commanding officer of Fort Totten, North Dakota, hired him as a blacksmith and general overseer at the Devils Lake Indian Agency. At the time, this outpost was located in the Dakota Territory. While working there, he studied to become a United States Indian agent—a government official responsible for managing the affairs of Native American tribes.
During this period, Indian affairs were supervised by the Department of the Army. Army officers noted McLaughlin's ability to establish positive relations with the Dakota people. This success led to his appointment in 1876 as the agent of the Devils Lake Agency, which served as a reservation for the Sisseton Wahpeton tribe of the Dakota.
By 1881, as Lakota and Dakota bands moved to the Standing Rock Sioux Agency, McLaughlin was reassigned to this larger facility, which managed several Sioux bands.
Philosophy of Assimilation and the Dawes Act
McLaughlin operated under the belief that Native Americans should be encouraged to assimilate—the process of adopting the dominant culture, language, and customs of the majority. He believed this meant pursuing Western education and adopting Anglo-American subsistence farming. However, these goals were often thwarted by the harsh climate and geographic conditions of the Dakotas, where land allotments were frequently too small to be viable.
In 1888, McLaughlin joined a delegation of chiefs from six Sioux reservations on a trip to Washington, D.C. The purpose was to meet with Bureau of Indian Affairs officials to discuss the Dawes Act. This legislation sought to dismantle communal land ownership by distributing reservation lands as individual allotments to heads of households. The government's goal was to force the Lakota to abandon their nomadic hunting lifestyle in favor of European-American farming.
Under the Dawes Act, any land remaining after the allotment process was declared "surplus" and sold to white Americans. To implement this, officials created the Dawes Rolls, a registry of all tribal members. Even today, some sovereign tribes require documented descent from individuals on these rolls to determine tribal membership.
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The Arrest of Sitting Bull and the Path to Wounded Knee
McLaughlin is most remembered for ordering the arrest of the renowned chief Sitting Bull on December 15, 1890. This decision was prompted by warnings from Lt. Bull Head that Sitting Bull intended to travel to the Pine Ridge Reservation, where the Ghost Dance movement—a spiritual movement believed by U.S. officials to be a precursor to war—was gaining strength.
McLaughlin also attributed some of Sitting Bull's defiance to Caroline Weldon, an Indian Rights Activist from Brooklyn, New York. When agency police attempted to arrest Sitting Bull at his camp by the Grand River, a violent confrontation ensued. Sitting Bull, several of his followers, and several agency police were killed.
The murder of the respected chief caused widespread outrage among the Lakota. These rising tensions culminated two weeks later in the massacre of many Lakota by the U.S. Army at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Later Career and Legacy
Because the Department of the Army initially oversaw Indian affairs, agents were often given military titles based on their civil service rank. Consequently, McLaughlin was referred to as "Major" during his early years. In 1895, he was promoted to Inspector for the Indian Department and the Department of the Interior (which had then assumed authority over Indian affairs), after which he was known as "Colonel."
In 1910, he published his memoirs, titled My Friend the Indian. McLaughlin died while still in service in Washington, D.C., in 1923. He is buried in the town of McLaughlin, located on the South Dakota side of the Standing Rock reservation.
Key Facts
- Citizenship: Obtained U.S. citizenship in 1865.
- Career Path: Started as a blacksmith in 1871 before becoming an Indian agent.
- Key Legislation: Heavily involved in the implementation of the Dawes Act and the creation of the Dawes Rolls.
- Major Conflict: Ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull in 1890, which preceded the Wounded Knee massacre.
- Titles: Held the titles of Major and later Colonel due to the administrative structure of the Indian Department.
- Publication: Authored the memoir My Friend the Indian in 1910.
| Year | Event/Role | Location/Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1863 | Emigrated to USA | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| 1871 | Blacksmith & Overseer | Devils Lake Indian Agency |
| 1876 | Appointed Agent | Devils Lake Agency (Sisseton Wahpeton) |
| 1881 | Assigned Agent | Standing Rock Sioux Agency |
| 1888 | Dawes Act Delegation | Washington, D.C. |
| 1890 | Arrest of Sitting Bull | Grand River camp |
| 1895 | Promoted to Inspector | Department of the Interior |
| 1923 | Death | Washington, D.C. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was McLaughlin's role in the arrest of Sitting Bull?
McLaughlin ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull on December 15, 1890, fearing that the chief's movement toward the Pine Ridge Reservation would spread the Ghost Dance and inspire Lakota resistance.
What was the purpose of the Dawes Act?
The Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native Americans by replacing communal tribal lands with individual household allotments, encouraging subsistence farming, and selling "surplus" lands to white settlers.
What are the Dawes Rolls?
The Dawes Rolls were registries of tribal members created to implement the Dawes Act. Today, some tribes use these rolls as a requirement for determining official tribal membership.
Why was McLaughlin referred to as "Major" and "Colonel"?
Because the Department of the Army originally managed Indian affairs, civil service agents were given military titles that corresponded to their government rank.
How did the arrest of Sitting Bull lead to the Wounded Knee massacre?
The violent confrontation during Sitting Bull's arrest resulted in the chief's death and outraged the Lakota. This increased tension led to the Army-Lakota confrontation at Wounded Knee two weeks later.