Battle of Wounded Knee

It followed an unsuccessful attempt to disarm a Lakota camp. The day before the massacre, a unit from the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment, led by Major Samuel M. Whitside, escorted Spotted Elk's Miniconjou Lakota and Hunkpapa Lakota to Wounded Knee Creek to camp. The rest of the 7th Cavalry, under Colonel James W. Forsyth, later encircled the camp, supported by four Hotchkiss guns. This military action was in response to settler fears of a Sioux uprising linked to the Ghost Dance movement. Historian Jeffrey Ostler highlighted in 2004 that Wounded Knee was a continuum of events driven by a logic of racist domination.

The incident began on the morning of December 29 when Cavalry troops attempted to disarm the Lakota. Confusion ensued when Black Coyote, a deaf tribesman, hesitated to surrender his rifle, leading to its accidental discharge and prompting the Army to open fire. Despite some Lakota attempting to defend themselves, many were unarmed and unable to effectively fight back.

The massacre resulted in the death of over 250 Lakota men, women, and children, with 51 wounded. Some estimates suggest up to 300 died. On the Army's side, 25 soldiers were killed and 39 wounded, with 19 receiving the Medal of Honor for their actions at Wounded Knee. In 2001, the National Congress of American Indians condemned these awards and called for their revocation. The site is now a National Historic Landmark, and in 1990, the U.S. Congress expressed "deep regret" for the massacre on its centennial.