Wounded Knee

Although the U.S. Army has attempted to shift the blame for the massacre to the Sioux, it was in actuality caused by the actions of the 7th Cavalry, whose members were intent on getting even for Custer's defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn horn 1876.

Colonel James Forsyth assumed command of the 7th Cavalry at Wounded Knee on the eve of December 28, 1890. A barrel of Whiskey was brought into camp by an Indian trader. Officers, including Forsyth, and soldiers got drunk celebrating the capture of Big Foot. Some soldiers even tried to get Big Foot that night, but were stopped by the guards. This caused the surrounded Indians to become uneasy. Some of them understood English and knew that the soldiers were up to no good and were out for revenge. Among the drunken soldiers was their drunken interpreter Philip Wells. Wells was part Sioux, but hated the Sioux for killing his father. He was known as a bad interpreter and was especially disliked by Big Foot's people.

On the morning of December 29, 1890, Forsyth ordered the disarming of Big Foot's band. The men were separated from the women and children. The soldiers were abusive to the Indian men during the disarming, pointing empty guns to their heads and pulling the triggers. The weapons were stacked in a pile near the Indians. The Indians, understandably, were reluctant to relinquish their weapons, although the majority of them did.

During the disarming, a scuffle occurred between some soldiers and a man called Black Fox, which some say, resulted in an accidental discharge of a rifle. Fighting immediately broke out on both sides and a massacre of Big Foot's people ensued. A few of the Indian people who were still armed fired back while others attempted to retrieve their weapons from the pile of guns. Some Indians engaged the soldiers in hand-to-hand combat, including Dewey Beard, who killed four soldiers.

Check this video for 7th Cav history--LINK