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

rfom Tho Chicago Inter Ocean.
The report Of the burial party that re,
turned from the battle ground OF Woun-
ded Knee will shock all sensitive people
and give them a better idea OF the terri
Bile and merciless character OF the pre-
sent Indian war tnan anything which
has occurred. The party buried 147
bodies, eighty-four Of whom werc men
and sixty-three women and children.
In addition, the report says that two or
three wagon loads OF bodies have been
removed fV friends before the burial
party had taken charge. Whether those
removed were women or children or not
tho dispatch does not say, but Is suffici-
emily 10 know that almost half OF those
slain in that bloody battle were women
amp children.
Ordinarily this would condemn our men
without anything further, but IL is only
right and proper that all the circumstan-
COS should be looked into before such
condemnation is meted out to them.
For full understanding OF this bat
tie and in partial explanation OF the re-
suit, IL should be remembered under
Just what circumstances IL took place.
The United States soldiers and officers
were not in the least expecting q battle.
II had been made their duty to disarm
the Indians, and the progress OF disarm-
ment was going on quietly. One hun
dred and twenty Ct the bucks had been
drawn up in position and a portion of
the soldiers had examined the tepees for
arms. Comparatively few guns had
been discovered and the soldiers were
ordered TO examine the Indians for con-
ccaied arms. They had scarcely begnn
tho work when the Indians drew their
winchester rifles, threw on their blan-
kets and began firing into the ranks OF
the soldiers without any warning what
ever.
The action was so unexpected and the
result so disasterous, a large number be-
ing killed and wounded, that IL is al
most a wonder that our little army did
not become stampeded. This was doubt
less what the Indians expected, or at
least hoped, would be the result; but in
stead Of that the soldiers stood their
ground and returned the fire as quickly
as possible. Those who we're not killed
or wounded OF course were almost fren-
zied with madness over the treachery OF
the enemy and the loss OF the comrades,
1t was not long before the Indians were
in complete rout,. and one dispatch says
the soldiers did not stop shooting as
long as the Indians were in sight"
1t is said that through all this ordeal,
Colonel Foreyth was perfectly cool, and
gave his orders almost without excite
ment. The same dispatch, however,
goes on TO say that IL was almost 'impos-
sible TO restrain the soldiers" This
was said when IL was not thought OF as
an excuse for the commanding officer
Evidently the correspondent did moi
think he needed any excuse.
The United States cannot afford &c
permit her soldiers TO wreck their ven
! gence on the women and children ever
Of savage race. It is fortunate that
the examination had been ordered
promptly. Had ii not been done now
we doubt not that Colonel FOreyth in
| his own defense would have asked foI
such examination after the conclusion
OF hostilities. Neither he nor the army
can afford to rest under the suspitior
that they deliberately turned their guns
on the women and children of savag,
enemy. The world is.prepared TO heal
OF brutalitios on the part OF the Indians
who never have practiced 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 il
spoken Of in the dispatches which GER
tainly ought TO be explained. We quote
the words OF the dispatch: From the
little knoll back of Colonel Forsyth:
tent, the battery threw shells both intC
the bucks and into the village
Naturally one would suppose that the
village Tor the tepeesl was where the
women and children were, and why 9
battery should be permitted to throw
shot and shell among them is something
that ought to be, II II can be, fully ex
planned for the reputationof Of our soldier:
the world over.