Lieutenant James D. Mann’s “Incidents of the Wounded Knee Fight”

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Sam Russell

I thought, “The pity of it! What can they be thinking of?” I knew what must be the inevitable consequence to them with so many soldiers present.

Second Lieutenant James D. Mann at target range camp at the Fort Riley, Kansas in 1888.

Second Lieutenant James D. Mann at target range camp at the Fort Riley, Kansas in 1888.

On 28 December 1890, First Lieutenant James D. Mann, K Troop 7th Cavalry, was left in charge of his battalion’s camp at the Wounded Knee Post Office while Major Whitside rode out with over 240 troopers to meet and capture Big Foot and his band of Miniconjou Lakota. Lieutenant Mann sent the following message at 1:30 p.m. from the cavalry camp to the Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the Platte headquartered in the field at the Pine Ridge Agency.

Major Whitside with all mounted men and mountain guns left camp at 12 m. to meet Big Foot’s band, reported to be in camp at the crossing of the Porcupine, having been reported there by Little Bat. We have in camp here two of their men, holding them as prisoners.
I have just been informed by Vespucius, a halfbreed, who has driven from the agency to this point, that he met about 50 strange Indians, who were about 9 miles from the agency and heading in that direction. These, I learn from our prisoners, are from Cherry creek and are trying to get into the agency.[1]

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Brigadier General John Rutter Brooke and His Forgotten Campaign Report

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Sam Russell

The gallantry of officers and soldiers in the action at Wounded Knee is worthy of the highest praise. Women and children were killed and wounded, but this could not be avoided under the circumstances.

Brig. Gen. J. R. Brooke at Pine Ridge, January 1890. Cropped from

By the fall of 1890 Brigadier General John R. Brooke had been in command of the Department of the Platte for two and a half years. He was a portly fifty-two-year-old infantry officer. As a young man Brooke had accepted a commission as a Captain in the 4th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in 1861 and served continuously through the war ending as a Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers. Brooke was awarded brevet promotions for gallant and meritorious services at the battles at Gettysburg, Spottsylvania Court House, and Cold Harbor. He resigned his volunteer commission in 1866 to accept a regular commission as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 37th U.S. Infantry Regiment. Most of his service since 1869 had been in the frontier west as a Lieutenant Colonel and later Colonel of the 3rd Infantry before being promoted to Brigadier General in April 1888 and taking command of his department.[1] Continue reading →

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Hunting for Big Foot, part 9: 31 December 1890 – 1 January 1891

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Sam Russell

Big Foot cost us (62) sixty-two killed and wounded.
–Brig. Gen. J. R. Brooke

This day 125 years ago…  General Miles began the morning at Chadron, Nebraska, and ended that evening at the Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, still seeking answers for what went wrong in the hunt for Big Foot.  (click to open Hunting for Big Foot homepage)

The time displayed, e.g. (9:30 a.m.), at the beginning of each message reflects when that information was sent from or received at General Brooke’s headquarters, unless otherwise indicated.  Most of the messages were transmitted via telegraph. Those messages that were delivered by other means such as couriers or heliograph are so annotated in parenthesis at the end of each respective message.  Hover the mouse over the names displayed in Red to display the full identity of the individual mentioned.  Bold Red will also indicate location of the individual.  Blue underlined texts are hyperlinks to other pages or cites.  Click on photos of individuals to see an enlarged version of the source photograph in a new tab.  Similarly, clicking on maps will open a new tab with an enlarged view of each map that can be zoomed in for greater detail.

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1890.

Maj Gen Nelson A. MilesMiles to Brooke (8:40 a.m.): Offley is on Flour road at Beef camp, southwest point of Mesa or table land.  He has five companies of infantry and two of cavalry.  You can send word through to Captain Baldwin who will be at White river early to-morrow.  I have sent order to Offley via Hermosa to extend to the right and endeavor to connect with Sanford.  I fear there is a gap in that line that will enable them to escape. {695}

(Click to enlarge) Inset depicting approximate location of U.S. troops as General Miles takes command at Pine Ridge 31 Dec. 1890.

(Click to enlarge) Inset depicting approximate location of U.S. troops as General Miles took command at Pine Ridge 31 Dec. 1890.

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