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Show I. , . L:.. 130 REPOW OF THE COMMI38IONER OF INDIAN AFFAIES. . , . i ' INDIANS CONCENTEATE IN THE BAD LANDS. Qroups of Iorliaus from the different reservations hall colnmenced eoncentrating in the Li bad lauds," upon or in the yicinity of the Pine Ridge Keservation. Killillg of cattle aud destruction of other property by these Indians almost entirely within the limits of Pine Ridge and ',. Rosebud rexervations occurred, but no signal fires were built, no war-like demonstrations were made, no violence was done to any white settler, nor was there cohesion or organization amung the Indians them-selves. Many of them were friendly Indians who had never partici-phed in the ghost dance but had fled thither from fear of soldiera, in consequence of the Sitting Bull affair, or through the over-persuasion of friends. The military gradually began to close in aronnd them, and they offered no resistance, and a speedy and quiet capitulation of all was confidently expected. FIGHT AT WOUh'DED KNEE CREEK. Among them was Big Foot's band belongiug to the Cheyenne River Agency, numbering with others who had joined him, about 120 meu and 230 women and ohildren. They had escaped to the bad landa, after ar-rest by the military at Cheyenne River, but soon started from the bad lands for the Pine Ridge Agency, and with a flag of truce advanced into the opencountry aud proposed a parley with the troops whom they met. This being refused they surrendered unconditionally, remained in camp at Wounded Epee Creek over night, expecting to proceed next morn-ing under escort of the troops to Pine Ridge, whither most of the qnon. dam bad-land Indians were moving. The next day, December 29, when ordered to turn in their arms, they surrendered very few. By a search in the teepees 60 guns were obtained. When the military-a detmch-ment of the Seventh Cavalry (Caster's old command), with othertroops-beganto take the arms from their persons a shot was fired and carnage ensued. Acwrding to reports of military officers, the Indians attacked the troops as soon as the disarmament commenced. The Indians claim that the first shot was fired by a half craay, irresponsible Indian. At anr rate, a short, sharp, indiscriminate fight immediately followed, and, daring the fighting and the sabsequent flight and pursuit of the In-dians, the troops lost 25 killed and 35 wounded, and of the Indians, 84 men and boys, 44 women, and 18 children were killed and at least 33 were wounded, many of them fatally. Most of the men, inoluding Big Foot, were killed aronnd his tent where he lay sick. The bodies of women and children were scattered along a distance of two miles from the scene of the encounter.+ Frightened and exasperated, again the Indians made for the bad lands. Indians en route thence to the agency turned back and others rushed sway from Pine Ridge. ' For the Indian account of the Wounded Knee affair see Appendix, page 179. |
