The Massacre
In the month of December 1890, an order went out to arrest Chief Sitting Bull at the Standing Rock Reservation. Sitting Bull was a Lakota holy man that led his people in resistance against US government Indian policies. Sitting Bull was killed on December 15th by the Indian agency police during an attempt to arrest him and prevent the Ghost Dance movement from spreading.
When Chief Bigfoot, of the Lakota Sioux, heard of Sitting Bull's death he knew that he was next. Bigfoot led his people south to seek protection at the Pine Ridge Reservation. While traveling to the Pine Ridge Reservation, Chief Bigfoot contracted pneumonia and was slowly dying. Bigfoot and approximately 350 of his followers were intercepted by the US military and were made to camp at the banks of Wounded Knee creek.
U.S. military troops surrounded the camp and were charged with the responsibility of arresting Bigfoot and disarming his tribe. All of the tribesmen were forced to place their costly and valuable firearms in a pile. Some of the Lakota men struggled to give up their weapons willingly, therefore causing more tension between the troops and the Lakota.
During the disarmament, there was an unexpected sound of a shot fired. Lakota men scurried to retrieve their discarded rifles and the troops began to fire at the Sioux camp. The air filled with gun smoke as men, women, and children scrambled for their lives. As the Latoka ran, they were shot in the back while trying to flee the scene. When the smoke cleared and the shooting stopped, approximately 84 men, 44 women, and 18 chidren of the Lakota tribe were dead. 25 US soldiers lost their lives.
When Chief Bigfoot, of the Lakota Sioux, heard of Sitting Bull's death he knew that he was next. Bigfoot led his people south to seek protection at the Pine Ridge Reservation. While traveling to the Pine Ridge Reservation, Chief Bigfoot contracted pneumonia and was slowly dying. Bigfoot and approximately 350 of his followers were intercepted by the US military and were made to camp at the banks of Wounded Knee creek.
U.S. military troops surrounded the camp and were charged with the responsibility of arresting Bigfoot and disarming his tribe. All of the tribesmen were forced to place their costly and valuable firearms in a pile. Some of the Lakota men struggled to give up their weapons willingly, therefore causing more tension between the troops and the Lakota.
During the disarmament, there was an unexpected sound of a shot fired. Lakota men scurried to retrieve their discarded rifles and the troops began to fire at the Sioux camp. The air filled with gun smoke as men, women, and children scrambled for their lives. As the Latoka ran, they were shot in the back while trying to flee the scene. When the smoke cleared and the shooting stopped, approximately 84 men, 44 women, and 18 chidren of the Lakota tribe were dead. 25 US soldiers lost their lives.