The Dakota War, also known as the Sioux Uprising, erupted in 1862 due to escalating tensions between the Dakota people and white settlers in Minnesota. The backdrop of this conflict was marked by broken treaties, encroachments on Dakota land, and the systematic dispossession of their resources, leading to significant discontent among the Dakota tribes. As the summer heat intensified, so did their hunger and desperation, exacerbated by unfulfilled government promises. On August 19, Lakota warriors, influenced by their grievances, gathered and chose to target New Ulm instead of engaging the fortified Fort Ridgely, which they deemed too secure for a successful attack.

The decision to bypass Fort Ridgely was a strategic move aimed to instill fear in the settlers by directly attacking vulnerable communities. As the warriors moved towards New Ulm, they launched assaults on outlying farms and settlers, killing those they encountered. This series of violent engagements marked a significant escalation of the conflict and demonstrated the growing hostility that would characterize the Dakota War. New Ulm itself, a small but strategic settlement, quickly became a focal point in the fight between the U.S. government and the Dakota people, showing the broader implications of land disputes and cultural clashes in the region.

The conflict would ultimately lead to further military responses, including the mobilization of government troops to contain the Lakota warriors and protect white settlers, resulting in a brutal period of violence and turmoil. The uprising lasted several weeks, resulting in numerous deaths on both sides and setting a precedent for future relations between Native American tribes and the U.S. government. The events surrounding New Ulm would solidify the Dakota War's place in American history as a testament to the struggles faced by indigenous peoples in the face of expansion and colonization.