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 5: 27 December 1890.


I am doing everything with the means at hand that mortal man can do to accomplish the end you desire. –Maj. S. M. Whitside This day 125 years ago… day four of the hunt for Big Foot saw Major Whitside … Continue reading

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Hunting for Big Foot, part 4: 26 December 1890.


It is very important to secure the men with Big Foot with as little delay as possible. –Maj. Gen. N. A. Miles This day 125 years ago… as the hunt for Big Foot entered the third day, General Brooke committed … Continue reading

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Hunting for Big Foot, part 3: 25 December 1890.


Big Foot has had time enough to reach the Bad Lands, but was not there this morning nor had his trail been found by Henry. –Brig. Gen. J. R. Brooke This day 125 years ago… as Christmas Day dawned over … Continue reading

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