What they don’t tell you about Wounded Knee...
“Little Bat’s” (Baptiste Garnier)(last prominent field service was in connection with the Sioux campaign of 1890-91. When Big Foot’s band was corralled at Wounded Knee creek by the Seventh cavalry he doubted the sincerity of the Indians, who had promised to surrender formally on the following day. He told Colonel Forsyth of his fears. The night passed without incident. With the break of day the camps of the troopers and soldiers were astir. Breakfast over, an order was issued that the redskins surrender their arms. This they refused or at least did not do. Thereupon they were commanded to stand in line and submit to a thorough search, as it was “Little Bat’s” belief that the weapons were concealed beneath the folds of the savages’ blankets.
The search had not begun when a medicine man, an aged rascal freshly painted for trouble, slipped before the lines of Indians and those of the soldiers. He began a chant which was full of meaning to “Little Bat.” It was the Sioux’s death song. That a tragedy was at hand there could be no doubt in the mind of this seasoned scout.
In vain did he try to catch the eye of his colonel, who was at the extreme end of one line. Suddenly the medicine man stooped, picked up a handful of snow and sand and flung it high in the air, at the same time ceasing his chant with a shrill cry.
“Look out!” yelled “Little Bat” to the soldiers, but before they could raise their carbines a murderous fire was turned upon them from the two columns of savages. For a moment or more the troopers were in a panic. They knew not which way to turn, so sudden was the attack. But the tide of battle was quick to turn and within thirty minutes over 200 dead and wounded Indians lay upon the field. Of the troopers thirty-five, including brave Captain Wallace, were killed outright and twice as many more were disabled—an awful penalty to pay for attaching so little importance to the suspicions of so experienced a scout as “Little Bat.” Garnier got out of the cross-fire of troops and savages by crawling on his hands and knees to an elevation where a four-inch gun was planted. Here he lay pumping his Winchester into the Indians as they fled for cover in the draws of the hills.
Source: Omaha Daily Bee
If the tribe was not looking for a fight why did they make Ghost Shirts which were supposed to magically stop bullets?
The method of warfare used by the Indians -
“He [King George] has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.”
This quote is from a document called The Declaration of Independence, maybe Pocahontas should read it.
The method of warfare used by the Indians -
“He [King George] has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.”
This quote is from a document called The Declaration of Independence, maybe Pocahontas should read it.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, 417