Pine Ridge Military Campaign
The Pine Ridge Military Campaign represents a somber chapter in the history of the American West, a period of intense conflict and cultural upheaval that marked the culmination of the long and arduous Sioux Wars. This campaign, conducted by the United States Military against the Lakota Sioux, unfolded from November 1890 through January 1891, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape and the collective memory of both cultures. It was a culmination of decades of broken treaties, land encroachment, and cultural suppression that had fueled simmering resentment and resistance among the Sioux people.
The roots of the Pine Ridge Military Campaign lie deep within the complex web of interactions between the United States government and the Native American tribes of the Great Plains. For decades, the Sioux, along with other tribes, had been gradually pushed off their ancestral lands, their traditional way of life disrupted by the relentless westward expansion of American settlers. Treaties were made and broken, promises were offered and retracted, leading to a growing sense of injustice and despair among the Sioux. The government’s policies of forced assimilation, aimed at eradicating Native American culture and traditions, further exacerbated the tensions.
A significant catalyst for the events leading to the Pine Ridge Military Campaign was the emergence of the Ghost Dance movement. In the late 1880s, a Paiute spiritual leader named Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson, began preaching a new religion that promised a return to the old ways, the expulsion of white settlers, and the restoration of the buffalo herds. Wovoka claimed to be the Messiah, and his teachings quickly spread among the various Native American tribes, including the Sioux. The Ghost Dance involved a ritualistic dance that was believed to hasten the coming of this new era. As the Ghost Dance gained popularity, it aroused suspicion and alarm among government officials and settlers, who viewed it as a sign of imminent rebellion.
General Nelson Miles, a seasoned military commander who had played a prominent role in previous campaigns against Native American tribes, was tasked with maintaining order in the Department of the Missouri. Responding to escalating anxieties and a request from the Department of the Interior, Miles ordered the apprehension of Sitting Bull, a highly respected and influential Lakota leader. Sitting Bull, who had famously led his people to victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, was seen as a symbol of resistance and a potential instigator of unrest. On December 15, 1890, Indian police, acting under the authority of the U.S. government, attempted to arrest Sitting Bull at his camp on the Standing Rock Reservation. A scuffle ensued, resulting in Sitting Bull’s death, along with several others. The death of Sitting Bull, a revered figure among the Sioux, further inflamed tensions and heightened the sense of crisis.
Following Sitting Bull’s death, many Sioux, fearing retaliation and seeking refuge, fled to the Badlands of South Dakota, a rugged and desolate region that offered a natural sanctuary. These groups, often consisting of families and individuals from various bands, gathered together, seeking safety in numbers. The U.S. military, determined to prevent a large-scale uprising, mobilized its forces in the region. Almost half of the infantry and cavalry of the Regular Army were concentrated in the area, a testament to the government’s concern about the potential for widespread conflict.
The most tragic and infamous event of the Pine Ridge Military Campaign was the Wounded Knee Massacre, which occurred on December 29, 1890. Colonel James W. Forsyth, commanding the 7th Cavalry, the same regiment that had suffered defeat at Little Bighorn, was ordered to intercept and disarm a band of Miniconjou Lakota led by Chief Big Foot. Big Foot, who was ill with pneumonia, was attempting to lead his people to the Pine Ridge Agency, hoping to find shelter and protection. On December 28, the 7th Cavalry intercepted Big Foot’s band at Wounded Knee Creek and escorted them to a nearby encampment. The following morning, the soldiers began the process of disarming the Lakota.
Accounts of what triggered the massacre vary, but it is generally believed that a deaf Lakota man named Black Coyote refused to give up his rifle. As soldiers attempted to seize the weapon, it discharged, setting off a chain reaction of violence. The soldiers of the 7th Cavalry opened fire on the Lakota, who were largely unarmed. The massacre was swift and brutal. Men, women, and children were indiscriminately killed. Hundreds of Lakota were slaughtered, and many more were wounded. The bodies were left lying in the snow for days before they were finally buried in a mass grave. The Wounded Knee Massacre remains a deeply controversial and painful event in American history, symbolizing the tragic consequences of government policies and the devastating impact of violence on Native American communities.
In the aftermath of Wounded Knee, the Pine Ridge Military Campaign gradually came to an end. The remaining Sioux warriors, facing overwhelming odds and dwindling supplies, were eventually disarmed and persuaded to return peaceably to their respective reservations. The campaign, though relatively short in duration, had a profound and lasting impact on the Sioux people and the relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes. The events of the Pine Ridge Military Campaign served as a stark reminder of the injustices and hardships endured by Native Americans during the westward expansion era.
The Pine Ridge Military Campaign stands as a poignant reminder of the complexities and tragedies that characterized the interactions between the United States government and the Native American tribes of the West. It serves as a crucial historical lesson, prompting reflection on the consequences of broken promises, cultural suppression, and the use of military force in resolving disputes. The legacy of the Pine Ridge Military Campaign continues to resonate today, inspiring efforts toward reconciliation, justice, and the preservation of Native American cultures and traditions.