"All preceding experiments for improvement of the Indians have failed. It seems now to be an established fact that they cannot live in contact with a civilized community and prosper ... "

President Andrew Jackson
Annual message to Congress, Dec. 7, 1835

President Chester A. Arthur
First Annual message to Congress, Dec, 6, 1881

We the undersigned settlers of eastern Mead County South Dakota, and the United States of America, Do hereby ask in humble prayer for military protection during the trouble on the opening Reservation against the Sioux Indians. Indians residing in villages along the Cheyenne River, from the forks down to Cherry Creek.

Chiefs Spotted Elk, or Big Foot Brave Eagle and Red Skirt, and their bands.

We ask in most humble prayer, and further demand that we have protection of our lives and our children's and our homes and our property.

Signed [blanks are illegible signatures]

Elbert Jones Peter Quinn Peter Quinn J.B Slicks -- John Reynolds

-- -- A.J. Culbertson J.W. Duvall P.T. Lemly Peter Dunn John Dunn

Standing Rock Agency, October 17, 1890

Sir:

"I have the honor to state there is now considerable excitement and some disaffection among certain Indians of this agency. I trust I may not be considered an alarmist ... and do not wish to be understood as considering the present state of excitement so alarming as to apprehend any immediate uprising or serious outcome, but I do feel it my duty to report the present "craze" and nature of the excitement existing among the Sitting Bull faction of Indians over the expected Indian Millennium, the annihilation of the white man and supremacy of the Indian, which is looked for in the near future and promised by the Indian medicine men as not later than next spring, when the new grass begins to appear, and is known amongst the Sioux as the return of the ghosts. ... "

Maj. James McLaughlin
Indian Agent, Standing Rock Agency

"If the army had charge of the Indians, as common sense and common prudence demand, Sitting Bull would be shut up very shortly, but the Army has no authority until the murdering redskins have broken out, burned a dozen ranches, slaughtered a score of women and children ... The Army officers may be perfectly well informed of Sitting Bull's intrigues, but they can do nothing until he deliberately perfects his rascally plans and gets ready to start his young bucks on a raid. ... "

"Indians are dancing in the snow and are wild and crazy. I have fully informed you that the employees and the government property at this agency have no protection and are at the mercy of the Ghost Dancers. ... We need protection and we need it now ... nothing [short] of 1000 troops will stop this dancing."

Dr. Daniel F. Royer, Agent,
Pine Ridge Agency

"Settlers on the farms and ranches south of Mandan are fleeing their homes, believing that an Indian uprising is at hand. They urgently demand protection and many a farmhouse in North Dakota will soon be deserted unless the settlers receive some assurance that they will not be left to the mercy of the murderous redskins, who are now whetting their knives in anticipation of the moment when they begin their bloody work. The Indians are trading their horses and all other property for guns and ammunition. … "

"It is hard, after visiting Pine Ridge Agency, to write with patience of the liars, big and little, who have filled the continent with scare headlines and inflammatory reports in the past two weeks. ... We left the Pine Ridge Agency Wednesday afternoon. It is a peaceful, orderly, well-behaved place. ... Indian babies and children filled the streets. Soldiers were washing their garments and hanging them out to dry. The smoke of a thousand teepees rose in the still, hazy air; twice a thousand ponies grazed on the sunny hillsides. There was peace at Pine Ridge, whatever might be at the homes of frightened settlers and in the great newspaper offices."

"If ever a stupendous fake was better faked ... than this latest Sioux Indian hostility racket, please tell us about it ! ... it is when one approaches the alleged scenes of hostility that he begins to comprehend the dimensions of the grand [farce]. After getting into hostile country the visitor becomes so disgusted with the utter lack of signs of hostility that he becomes ugly himself, and a disposition to shoot something is almost irresistible."

"The chances for blood and trouble generally are as good today as they were a week ago ... I, for one, of the correspondents here, propose to continue to warn the public that there is still grave danger from many thousands of the Indians at Pine Ridge Agency. ... Will we ever get out of this with our hair? Or, will we get out of it at all?? … "

"Everything was quiet today at the [Pine Ridge] agency and no trouble was expected."

Nov. 28,1890

"… Couriers who have just reported to Gen. Brooke say that the redskins are dancing in circles ... and their village has been so changed that the lodges form a circle ... When the couriers were before Gen. Brooke, the latter asked the significance of the circling Indians. One of the couriers, who is a half-breed, smiled and said: "The Sioux never dance that dance except for one purpose, and that is for war."

" Isn't it about time some of these wild and wooly newspaper liars ... be spanked and sent out of harm's way?... There never was any danger of an Indian outbreak, and none exists now, unless these silly sensational reports have seared people into acts that might property be construed by and Indian into a desire to fight. … "

"Mr. Royer seemed determined to believe that there would not be carnage. After a time it became apparent to me and to every Army officer in the post — and most are Old Indian fighters — that Mr. Royer was trying to substantiate the fright which had caused him to call upon the troops. To hold his job Mr. Royer may succeed in aggravating these Indians into some sort of warlike demonstration, but it will be fighting against their will. ... "

To the Major in Indian Office

"I want to write a few lines to let you know something. I have had a meeting with my Indians today, and I am writing to tell you our thoughts.

God made both the white race and the Red race, and gave them minds and hearts to both. Then the white race gained a high place over the Indians. However, today our Father is helping us Indians — that is what we believe.

And so I think this way. I wish no one to come with guns or knives to interfere with my prayers. All we are doing is praying for life and to learn how to do good ...

When you visited my camp you gave me good words about our prayers, but then you took your good words back again. And so I will let you know something. I got to go to [Pine Ridge] Agency and know this Pray [take part in the dance]: so I let you know that ... I want answer back soon."

Sitting Bull

"From reports brought my Scout "Hawk Man" I believe the time has arrived for the arrest of Sifting Bull and that it can be made by the Indian Police without much risk — therefore I want you to make the arrest before daylight tomorrow morning ... I have ordered all the police at Oak Creek to proceed to Carignan's school to await your orders. This gives you a force of 42 Policemen to use in the arrest.

Yours Respectfully,
James McLaughlin
U.S. Ind. Agent

P.S. You must not let him escape under any circumstances."

"There was an understanding between the officers of the Indian and military departments that it would be impossible to bring Sitting Bull to Standing Rock alive, and even if successfully captured, it would be difficult to tell what to do with him. It was therefore believed that there was a tack arrangement between the commanding officers and the Indian police, that the death of the famous old Medicine man was much preferred to his capture, and that the slightest attempt to rescue him should be the signal for his destruction."

"It is desirable that Big Foot be arrested ... In case of arrest he will be sent to Fort Meade to be securely kept prisoner."

By command of General Ruger

"Disarm the Indians. Take every precaution to prevent their escape. If they choose to fight, destroy them."

By command of General Nelson Miles

"Big Foot lay in a sort of solitary dignity ... He was dressed in fairly good civilian clothing, his head being tied up in a scarf. He had underwear of wool and his general appearance was that of a fairly prosperous personage. He was shot through and through, and if he ever knew what hurt him, appearances dissembled very much. A wandering photographer propped the old man up, and as he lay there defenseless his portrait was taken ... He was however spared the customary adjuration to look pleasant."

From 1891 to 1895, the U.S. Army awarded twenty Medals of Honor to soldiers for their role in the battle of Wounded Knee.

On Jan. 14, 1891, General Nelson Miles received permission to send a delegation of Indians to Washington, DC The first group arrived on January 29 and were joined by the rest of the delegation on February 1. They spent a week sightseeing and purchased new suits at Saks, which were worn for the official delegation portrait. The full delegation met with John W. Noble, secretary of the interior, and Thomas J. Morgan, the commissioner of Indian affairs. They expressed concerns ranging from the army's actions at Wounded Knee to treaty obligations unfulfilled by the government.

During the course of several weeks in January of 1891, the leaders of the Ghost Dancers surrendered their arms. After the final surrender, twenty-seven of the Ghost Dancers were imprisoned at Fort Sheridan, Illinois by the order of General Miles. Buffalo Bill Cody realized that such a group could become a feature attraction in his Wild West show. Despite their imprisonment and the Bureau of Indian Affairs' ban on the employment of Indians by wild west shows, Cody used his considerable influence to secure their release. On March 30, 1891, twenty-three prisoners were placed in his custody and they joined the show for a yearlong tour of Europe.

"To the soldiers who were killed in battle with Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee and Drexel Mission, South Dakota, December 29 and 30, 1890. Erected as a tribute of affection by their comrades of the Medical Department and Seventh Cavalry, U.S. Army, A.D. 1893."

In 1903, Joseph Horn Cloud, with help from friends and relatives, erected this monument at the site of the mass grave at Wounded Knee:

"Big Foot was a great Chief of the Sioux Indians. He often said I will stand in peace till my last day comes. He did many good and brave deeds for the white man and the Red Man. Many innocent women and children who knew no wrong died here."

Excerpts taken from "Eyewitness at Wounded Knee" as well as reports, testimony and correspondence relating to the Army investigation of the Battle of Wounded Knee and the Sioux Campaign of 1890-1891.