St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-17
HOW THINGS WENT
At the Historical Battle Of
Wounded Knee.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 16.-The commits
sioner of Indian affairs has received
from Elaine Goodale, supervisor of edu-
cation, the following letter dated Pine
Ridge, Jan. IL:
"Yours Of the 7th inst. asking for a
report of the battle at Wounded Knee is
received. l was not an eye witness of
the fight, and my information has been
obtained chiefly from Indian prisoners
who engaged in it and half-breeds
who were present, and from par
ties who visited the battle
field several days after the
encounter. The testimony of the sur
vivers of Big Foot's band is unanimous
in one important point, namely. that
the Indians did not deliberately plan a
resistance. The party was not war
party. according TO their statements
(Which believe to be true), but party
intending to visit the agency at the in
vltatien of Red Cloud.
The Indians say that many of the
men were unarmed. When they met
the troops they anticipated no trouble.
There was constant friendly inter-
course between the soldiers and the In
dams, even women shaking hands with
the officers and men. The demand for
their arms was surprise to the In
dianS, but the great majority of them
chose to submit quietly. The tepees
had already been searched and large
number of guns, knives and hatchets
confscated when the searching of the
persons of the men was begun. The
women say say that they too were
searched, and their knives (Which they
always carry for domestic purposes)
taken from them. A number of men
had surrendered their rifles and cart
ridge belts. when one young man (who
is described by the Indians as a good
for nothing fellow fired single shot.
This called forth volleY from the
came general. L do not credit
the statement which bas been
made by some that the women
carried arms and participated
actively in the fight. The weight of
testimony is Overwhelming against this
suppoSitiOn. There may have been one
or two isolated cases of this kind, but
there is no doubt that the great maioTi-
ty of the women and children.aS we'll as
many unarmed men and youth, had no
thought of anything but flight. They
were pursued up the ravines and shot
down Unfortunately by the soldiers.
1t is reported that one of the officers
called out Don't shoot the sqHawS,"
but the men were doubtless too much
excited to obey. The killing of the
women and children was in part una
voidable, owing to the confusion, but L
think there is no doubt that it was in
many cases deliberate and Intentional
The Seventh cavalry, Clusters old COM
mand, had an old grudge to repay.
The party Of scouts who buried the
dead report 81 bodies of men and boys,
A of women and Is of young children.
Some were carried off by the hostiles.
A number of prisoners, chiefly women,
have since died OF their wounds. and
more will soon follow. The party who
visited the battlefield on Jan. 1, to rescue
any wounded who might have been
abandoned, and brought in seven. report
that nearly all the bodies Of the men
were lying close about Big Foot's SibEey
tent, while the women and children
were scattered along a distance of two
miles from the scene of the encounter
The main reflection which occurs to HE
in connection with this most unfortun-
ate affair is that the same thing should
not be allowed to happen again. The
irresponsible action of one hot-headed
youth should not be the signal for gen
eral and indiscriminate slaughter of the
unarmed and helpless.