Celebrating Black History: Joseph Godfrey’s Journey to Freedom
Explore the untold story of Minnesota’s own Joseph Godfrey – an enslaved man’s fight for freedom in the US-Dakota War of 1862. #BlackHistoryMonth #JosephGodfrey #MinnesotaHistory
Mendota, Minnesota – The US-Dakota War of 1862, was a significant event – especially for Joseph Godfrey, an enslaved Minnesota man who bravely stepped towards freedom.
Born into slavery around 1830 in Mendota, Minnesota, Godfrey’s life was a mix of hardships and pivotal choices. His early years were spent under the roof of Alexis Bailly, with little chance for education or freedom. Yet, his spirit remained unbroken.
As Godfrey grew, he found himself working for Henry H. Sibley, a name that would later echo in history due to his significant role in the US-Dakota War. The mistreatment Godfrey endured pushed him towards a decisive moment of rebellion. Seeking a new beginning, he joined the Dakota, becoming one of the few African Americans to stand with them against the settlers.
Godfrey relocated with the Dakota to the Lower Sioux Agency, where he married Wahpa Duta (Red Leaf)’s daughter in 1857. In August 1862, as he assisted the Dakota with loading hay, a Dakota man informed him that all the white settlers at the Agency had been killed. Faced with an immediate choice and fearing for his and his family’s safety, Godfrey felt he had no option but to join the war.
That autumn, Sibley accused Godfrey of siding with the Dakota from August 18 to September 26, 1862, and taking an active role in their assaults. The Dakota warriors named him “Atokte,” which translates to “slayer of many” in their language. Despite this, Godfrey maintained that he hadn’t taken any lives. Still, reports varied, casting doubt on the extent of his involvement in the conflict.
On September 26, following the Battle of Wood Lake on September 23, Godfrey and approximately a thousand Dakota surrendered. He became the first to stand trial before the military commission on September 28, 1862. To avoid the death penalty, Godfrey provided testimony against eleven of the thirty-eight Dakota warriors, who were later executed on December 26, 1862.
Godfrey was sentenced to a decade of imprisonment, of which he served only three years at Camp McClellan in Davenport, Iowa. Freed in 1866, he chose peace over conflict, spending his remaining years on the Santee Reservation in Nebraska, where he passed away in 1909.
Joseph Godfrey’s story highlights the complex challenges of survival and identity during turbulent times. As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s remember the courage and resilience of those like Godfrey, whose stories are seldom told but forever part of our collective history.
