Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-01-22

The Brutality OF war.

From The Chicago Inter Ocean
The report Of the burial party that re
turned from the battle ground Of Wonn
ded Knee will shock all sensitive people
and give them q better idea Of the terri
bic and merciless character OF the pre-
sent Indian war than anything which
has occurred The party buried IA
bodies, eighty-four OF whom were nler
and sixty-three women and children
In addition, the report says that two ol
three wagon loads Of bodies have beer
removed by friends before the buria
party had taken charge. Whether thoss
removed were women or children or moi
the dispatch does not say but 1t Is sutiici
ent TO know that almost half OF those
slais in that bloody battle were yomeI
and children.
Ordinarily this would condemn our mer
without anything further, but IL is only
right and proper that all the circumstan.
ces should be looked into before such
condemnation Is meted out 10 them.
For full understanding OF this bat
tie and in partial explanation OF the re
suit, it should be remembered under
just what circumstances II took place.
The United States soldiers and officer
II had been made their duty 10 disarm
the Indians, and the progress OF disarm
ment was going on quietly. One hun.
dred and twenty OF the bucks had been
drawn up IN position and a portion o.
the soldiers had examined the tepees fol
arms. Comparatively Few guns hat
been discovered and the soldiers wer
ordered 10 examine the Indians for con
cealed arms They had scarcely begun
the work when the Indians drew their
Winchester rifles. threw on their blan
kets and began firing into the ranks
the soldiers without any warning what
ever.
The action was so unexpected and til,
result so disasterous large number be
ing killed and wounded. that it is &
most wonder that our little army q
not become stampeded This was doubt
less what the Indians expected, or al
least hoped, would be the result: but in
stead OF that the soldiers stood thei
ground and returned the fire as quickly
as possible, Those who were not killed
or wounded OF course were almost fren
zied with madness over the treachery OF
the enemy and the loss OF the cor ides.
II was not long before the Indians Wen4
in complete rout, and one dispatch says
the soldiers did not ''Btop shooting rs
long as the Indians were in sight,
II Is said that through all this ordeal
Colonel Forsyth was perfectly cool. anc
gave his orders almost without excite
ment. Tho same dispatch. however
goes on to say that it was almost "impos-
sible 10 restrain the soldiers TAi.
WAS said when IL was not thought o. Il
an excuse for the commanding officer
Evidently the correspondent did NOT
think he needed any excuse
The United States cannot afford e
permit her soldiers 20 wreck their ven
genee on the women and children even
NJ "A savage race. II Is fortunate tha'
the examination had been ordorot
promptly. Had it not been done nov
we doubt not that Colonel Forsyth ia
his own defense would have asked for
such examination after the conclusion
Of hostilities. Neither he nor the army
can afford TO rest under the suspc ion
that they deliberately turned their gums
On the women and children Of savage
enemy. The world is prepared 20 hear
of brutalitios ON the part OF the Indians.
who never have praeticed what Is called
civilized warfare, but our own army viii
be held none the less responsible at the
bar Of public opinion on that account.
There is one thing, however that is
spoken OF in the dispatches which GER
-ainly ought to be explained We quote
he words Of the dispatch; From the
itti1 Knoll back OF Colonel FOrsyth's
ent, the battery threw shells both into
he bucks and into the village
Naturally one would suppose that the
'illage lor the tepeesl was where the
women and children were. and why a
lattery should be permitted to throw
hot and shell among them is something |
hat ought TO be, Il ii can be, fully ox- /
,lained for the reputation OF our soldiers /
he world over