In the first incident of the Dakota War of 1862, four Dakota men killed five settlers near Acton Township, Minnesota. Some accounts say the settlers had refused to give them food and water. The war had been provoked earlier in August when Andrew Jackson Myrick refused to sell food on credit to Dakota people and said "if they are hungry let them eat grass or their own dung." Other circumstances leading to the war include Minnesota becoming a state the same year as the 1858 Dakota Treaty, and the Dakota losing the northern half of their reservation. Settler population in the area then exploded, leading to a serious food shortage for Dakota people in 1862. The federal government had guaranteed payments and food to the Dakota and was two months late with them. The Civil War was also happening at this time and many traders refused credit to starving Native people because they thought perhaps the payments would never come. Additionally the Indian agents and superintendents were defrauding the Dakota of massive amounts of money and goods due to them. An attempted raid on a warehouse containing flour led to a confrontation Aug 4th but did not lead to a gunfight. In a letter to General Sibley, Little Crow said Myrick's statement was a major reason for the start of the war, "Dear Sir – For what reason we have commenced this war I will tell you. it is on account of Maj. Galbrait we made a treaty with the Government a big for what little we do get and then cant get it till our children was dying with hunger – it is with the traders that commence Mr A[ndrew] J Myrick told the Indians that they would eat grass or their own dung."