“Tragedy At Wounded Knee”

December 29, 1890

7 Miles N

This was the last bloody encounter between American Indians and the U.S. Army. The band of Big Foot, Minneconjou chief, enroute to Pine Ridge had surrendered the day before to Major Whiteside, 7th Cavalry on Porcupine Creek and been partially disarmed and moved to Wounded Knee Creek where they were held prisoner. Colonel James W. Forsyth with 4 troops reinforced Whiteside and assumed command. Early in the morning 480 troops and scoots surrounded 106 warriors and about 250 women and children and a further search for and surrender of arms was being made. A shot was fired and a horrible melee ensued, involving indiscriminate fire by the Hotchkiss battery on an overlooking hill; hand to hand fighting and pursuit of the Indians.

Thirty-one soldiers, one hundred forty-six Indians, men, women & children were killed. Many more soldiers and Indians were wounded. Markers, a map at the field, tell more of this unhappy affair.

Shannon County, 7 miles south of Wounded Knee on Highway 18