Author Archives: Sam Russell

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About Sam Russell

I am a fifth-generation retired Army officer with three decades of commissioned service. I have been researching the frontier Army for over eighteen years and am interested in documenting the lives of the soldiers that participated in the battle of Wounded Knee using primarily official reports, diaries, letters, newspaper articles and other primary source documents. My interest in Wounded Knee stems from my kinship to one of the principal participants. I am the great-great-grandson of Samuel M. Whitside, who was a major and battalion commander at the battle. I welcome and encourage comments on posts and pages and am always interested in any new primary sources. If you have copies of letters, diaries, etc, from participants and are willing to share, please contact me. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are strictly my own, and should in no way be construed as official Army or U.S. Government positons.

Hunting for Big Foot, part 8: 30 December 1890.


Whatever the circumstances of that fight with Big Foot may be it must have had the effect of increasing the hostile element very largely. –Maj. Gen. N. A. Miles This day 125 years ago… General Miles finally departed Rapid City … Continue reading

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Hunting for Big Foot, part 7: 29 December 1890.


I have a great many rumors of a fight with Big Foot’s party but nothing authentic.–Brig. Gen. J. R. Brooke This day 125 years ago… disarming Big Foot’s band led to bloody carnage.  (click to open Hunting for Big Foot homepage) … Continue reading

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Hunting for Big Foot, part 6: 28 December 1890.


I have just arrested Big Foot and 120 Indians, all well armed and plenty of ammunition in their belts. About 250 women and children are in the party. –Maj. S. M. Whitside This day 125 years ago… the hunt for … Continue reading

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