The List

On December 26, 1862, 38 Dakota men were hanged in the largest mass execution in American history — authorized by Lincoln after military trials averaging five minutes with no defense counsel. Ada finds the judge advocate's private correspondence from the weeks between trial and execution. He wrote to Lincoln recommending commutation for 263 of the 303 sentenced. Lincoln reduced to 38. The basis for the specific 38 has never been formally documented. The judge advocate's letter says it was not the list he submitted.