| An expedition intended to punish the Sioux for the massacre of Grattan and his Company was organized by Harney. Harney, with a force of 600 men, consisting of the 2nd Dragoons, five companies from the 6th Infantry, one company from the 10th Infantry and a battary of the 4th Artillery came upon the camp of Chief Little Thunder at Blue Water Creek near Ash Hollow, Neb. When the Indians began to flee, Haney deceived Little Thunder with a white flag of truce, then surrounded the camp, killing men, women and children. A young topographic engineer, G. K. Warren, reported: "The sight . . . was heart-rending--wounded women and children crying and moaning, horribly mangled by the bullets." Two dead women were found clutching their dead children. Among those believed to be present was a ten year old Indian boy called Curly, later to be known as Crazy Horse. The use of a white flag of truce to deceive the Indians was a common practice during the Seminole Wars. The great Seminole chief Osceola was taken prisoner under a flag of truce. The impact of the battle, however, was than the Indians fearful of similar retribution remained peaceful for the next ten years. |
"the hairy faces came among us and made us promises, more promises than there are leaves on trees. but of all the promises they made, they kept just one. they said they would steal our land away."
free dixie,sw
"the white preachers came to our people. they said for us to get down on our knees, close our eyes & pray to their gods AND that something magical would happen then. when we opened our eyes, the buffalo herds were GONE!"
free dixie,sw