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.

Irish Immigrant Sergeant Robert H. Nettles, E Troop, 7th Cavalry – Killed in Action


Troop “E” 7th Cavalry was deployed in skirmish line along the north side of a ravine from a pocket in which they were endeavoring to drive several Indians who were good shots and doing great injury to the men who … Continue reading

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2nd Infantry at the Pine Ridge Agency


The first fire of the hostiles was delivered at the Indian police, and by the time we had gotten to their assistance the firing had ceased and the Indians were circling around on their horses beyond rifle-fire. As a follow … Continue reading

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Private Mosheim Feaster, E Troop, 7th Cavalry – Extraordinary Gallantry


For extraordinary gallantry, advancing to an exposed position and holding it, in action against hostile Sioux Indians, at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota. Twenty-one-year-old Mosheim Feaster had been in the Army little more than a year and in the 7th … Continue reading

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