[276][277]  Before he arrived, the Fond Du Lac band of Chippewa sent Lincoln a letter begging to go to war for the United States against the Sioux, so Lincoln could send Minnesota's troops to fight the south.[278][additional citation(s) needed]  Shortly after, a Mille Lacs Band Chief offered the same at St. Cloud, Minnesota.[279][additional citation(s) needed]   In it the Chippewa specified that they wanted to use the indigenous rules of warfare.  That meant there would be no prisoners of war, no surrender, no peace agreement.  Lincoln did not accept the Chippewa offer, as he had no means to control the outcome and women and children were considered legitimate casualties in native American warfare.[citation needed]  Once word reached the other bands of Chippewa, he had no way of knowing how they would react to his sending the Fond Du Lac on the warpath.[citation needed]  One of the Chippewa signing the letter, Chief Naw-Gaw-Nub, had received a Presidential medal from Lincoln earlier in the year.[280]
Serving under Gen. Pope was Minnesota Congressman Henry H. Sibley. 