 Ramsey's plan, implemented by Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley and frontier commander Charles Eugene Flandrau, had the goals to free European-American settlers held captive by the Indians and to "exterminate" or drive the Dakota "forever beyond the borders of the state".In early September, Sibley attempted to negotiate a settlement with Chief Little Crow, thinking that the Dakota must be growing weary of the war.Little Crow returned with an explanation of why the Indians started the war and hinting that he would consider negotiations about some United States prisoners being held captive.