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The Wounded Knee Massacre or the Battle of Wounded Knee was the last armed conflict between the Great Sioux Nation and the United States of America. It occurred at Wounded Knee, South Dakota on December 29, 1890. The United States Army used Hotchkiss cannons which were capable of firing two pound explosive shells fifty times per minute, while Sioux Warriors were generally poorly armed.1 Prelude to the Incident
Jack Wilson claimed that during the total eclipse of the sun on January 1, 1889, he had a revelation that he was the Messiah. The new religion formed by this revelation was the Ghost Dance Religion, a syncratic mix of Paiute spiritualismSpiritualism is a religion in which contact with the spirits of the dead through a medium is central. Spiritualism in its modern incarnation started in the mid-nineteenth century in the United States and essentially grew out of Christianity. It is still p and Shaker ChristianityChristian cross and its many variations are widely recognized as an ancient Christian symbol. Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. Although Christians generally chara. Wilson preached that earthquakes would be sent to kill all whites. However, Wilson taught that until that judgement Indians must live in peace and not refuse work from whites.
Two early converts to the Ghost Dance Religion were the LakotaAlternative meaning: Lakota, Cote d'Ivoire is a departement of Cote d'Ivoire. The Lakota ("friends" or "allies", sometimes also spelled "Lakhota", and pronounced "Lakxota" by the Lakota people) are a Native American tribe, also known as the Sioux (see Nam warriors of the Pine Ridge Indian ReservationPine Ridge Indian Reservation is a Lakota-Sioux Native American reservation located in the U. state of South Dakota. Most of the land comprising the reservation lies within Shannon County. On June 26, 1975, the reservation was the site of an armed confron Kicking Bear and Short Bull . Both stated that Wilson levitated before them, though they interpreted his statements differently. They rejected Wilson's claims to be the Messiah, and believed that the Messiah would not arrive until 1891. They also rejected Wilson's pacifism, and believed that special garments, called Ghost Spirits , would act as bullet proof armor .
Though perhaps a majority of Pine Ridge Lakota converted to the Ghost Dance Religion, Chief Sitting BullTatanka Iyotake (or Tatanka Iyotanka born Hunkesni Slow and more famously known as Sitting Bull c. 1831 December 15, 1890) was a Native American leader of the Hunkpapa Sioux (see Lakota), who led 3,500 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors against the US 7th Cavalr was not among them. However, he granted practioners religious freedom. Federal officials misconstrued Sitting Bull's tolerance as full support, and attempted to arrest him on December 15December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 16 days remaining. Events 687 St. Sergius I becomes Pope 1702 Forty-seven ronin, formerly in the service of Asano Naganori, assault the household of Kira Y, 1890. For unclear reasons a gun battle ensued, and Sitting Bull was killed.
Sitting Bull's half-brother Big FootSee Bigfoot, the name of a mythological beast Big Foot (??-1890) was the leader of the Miniconjou who were were killed during the Wounded Knee Massacre. He lived on the Cheyenne River Reservation in present-day South Dakota. took over the tribe. On the way to help his fellow chief Red Cloud make peace with the whites, Big Foot was intercepted by Major Samuel Whitside of the 7th Cavalry . Whitside transferred Big Foot to an army ambulence due to his severe pneumonia and escorted the Indians to their camp for the night at Wounded Knee Creek. The army supplied the Indians with some tents and rations, and then conducted a census, determining that there were 120 males and 230 women and children.
The next morning the Sioux found that additional 7th Cavalry troopers with more Hotchkiss guns had arrived during the night. The cannons were set up on a low hill overlooking the Indian encampment. Colonel John Forsyth had assumed command of the soldiers. Forsyth informed his command that the Sioux were to be taken to a military camp in Omaha, Nebraska.
