without reprisal. Although the hostiles were initially opposed and threatened to kill anyone contacting Sibley, Little Crow himself finally agreed that they should send two representatives. When they returned, they reported that Sibley said he would not treat friendlies as enemies, and that he would only meet with hostiles if they released the prisoners first. Both the friendlies and hostiles subsequently moved their camps further apart. The hostiles moved north but were halted at Red Iron's village; their camp was forced to scatter once shots were fired, breaking up their soldiers' lodge and weakening their position. Meanwhile, the friendly camp grew stronger as Mdewakantons weary of conflict, some of whom had reached out secretly to Sibley, joined them. Renville recounted that a group of hostile Mdewakantons then came to attack the peace party, who were ready with guns, but Iron Walker (Mazomani) convinced the hostiles to stand down. Battle of Wood Lake and Camp Release On the night of September 22, Little Crow and the hostiles prepared to attack Sibley's troops under cover of darkness and threatened to kill any men who refused to follow. Renville, Two Stars and others argued that Little Crow's battle plan was foolhardy given the numbers of men they had seen in Sibley's command, deliberately prolonging the debate until daylight when the friendlies could warn the troops. On September 23, 1862, when the hostiles finally left to attack Sibley's camp, Renville and other members of the friendly camp gathered in a ravine to stay out of the battle. Renville's followers invaded the hostile camp to rescue the white and mixed-blood captives and brought them to safety in their camp, while Renville, Solomon Tukanshaciye and others pursued a war party passing westward and compelled them to release additional prisoners. The hostiles led by Little Crow were defeated by Sibley's army at the Battle of Wood Lake. Sibley and his troops arrived at the friendly camp on September 26, 1862. Renville recalled, "With joyous handshaking we met, and the white prisoners were taken into the soldiers' camp." The Dakota Peace Party handed over a total of 269 prisoners –– 107 white and 162 mixed-bloods –– to Sibley at the location which came to be known as Camp Release. Within days, the number increased to 285. Fort Snelling On September 28, 1862, a commission appointed by Colonel Sibley began interrogating Dakota men to determine their involvement in the