Guardsman comes upon first Dakota militia guidon

Photo By Sgt. John Hittle | South Dakota Army National Guardsman, 1st Sgt. Kory Urban, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 153rd Engineer Battalion, of Huron, came upon the First Dakota Cavalry guidon at the Huron Dakotaland Museum in January 2012. The guidon, which was flown by the first South Dakota militia, was donated to the museum by the Capt. Nelson Miner family, who settled in Yankton and organized Company A, Dakota Cavalry in 1862.  

HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA, UNITED STATES

03.17.2011

Story by Sgt. John Hittle 

South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs   

HURON, S.D. — South Dakota Army National Guard member, 1st Sgt. Kory Urban, came upon the First Dakota Cavalry guidon flown by the first South Dakota militia at the Dakotaland Museum in Huron.

Urban, of Huron’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 153rd Engineer Battalion, was attending a fundraiser at the museum in January, and during a conversation with the curator, Rachel Farrel, he learned that the First Dakota Cavalry guidon is part of an exhibit there.

Since the SDNG is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, Urban asked Farrel if the museum would loan the guidon to the SDNG to display around the state.

“It might have been a long shot, but because the museum staff understands the significance and history behind the flag, they were happy to grant us this honor,” said Urban.

The guidon was donated to the museum by one of Beadle County’s first settlers, the Miner family.

On Jan. 27, 1862, Capt. Nelson Miner organized a military company in Yankton, while the regular Army was called to the Civil War. The unit was mustered into service of the United States as Company A, Dakota Cavalry. The primary mission for the cavalry was to protect the settlers in the region.

Being a soldier today is different than it was 150 years ago, but the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families continue to be a challenge, said Urban.

“Rachel told me that Capt. Miner’s wife was at home alone and the creek next to their house started to flood,” said Urban. “Afraid she was going to lose everything; she took the dining room table outside and flipped it over then piled all their belongings on to it, hooked it to the horse and pulled it to higher ground. I thought about how my wife had to be resourceful when I was deployed, and the times have not really changed that much.”

Many years have passed since the First Dakota Cavalry guidon represented the soldiers within its ranks and now it will be showcased at Joint Force Headquarters at Camp Rapid in Rapid City as part of the SDNG’s 150th anniversary celebration, June 8.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2011
• Date Posted: 04.06.2012 12:46
• Story ID: 86385
• Location: HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA, US