Final answer:
A sudden, short attack like the Great Northfield, Minnesota incident is best characterized as (a) a raid, which is a fast and surprise attack aimed at causing disruption quickly.
Step-by-step explanation:
A sudden, short attack, like the Great Northfield, Minnesota raid, is best described as (a) a raid. This particular type of military action is characterized by its rapid and surprise elements, typically involving swift attacks on settlements or positions with the aim of causing maximum disruption before the opponent can effectively react or mobilize. Unlike an ambush, which implies lying in wait to attack by surprise, or an assault, which suggests a direct and sustained offensive, or a siege, which involves surrounding a position to force surrender, a raid is usually quick and aims at theft, destruction, or specific targeting as seen with the Norse raiders or the Dakota War of 1862.