SURRENDER OF WG FOOT 



8G7 



within supporting distance of one another, and so closely that the fires 

 were still burning in the Indian camps when the soldiers moved in to 

 occupy the same ground. | War, 13.) 



Vs early as December G a conference had been brought about at I me 

 Ridge through the efforts of Father Jutz, the priest of the Catholic 

 mission, between General Brooke and the leading chiefs of both friend- 

 lies .nd •• hostiles." AJthough no definite conclusion was reached, the 

 meeting was a friendly one, ending with a feast and an Indian dame. 

 The immediate effect was a division in the hostile camp, culminating in 

 a quarrel between the two factious, with the result that Two Strike and 

 his party left the rest and moved in toward the agency, while Short Bull 

 and Kicking Bear retreated farther into the Bad Lands. On learning 

 of this condition of affairs, General Brooke sent out American Horse 

 and Big Road with a large party of warriors to meet Two Strike and go 

 back with him to persuade the others, if possible, to come in. At the 

 same time the troops were moved up to intercept the flight of the hos- 

 tiles. (Colby, 2; <!. B., 37.) 



On Christmas day the Cheyenne scouts, camped on Battle creek 

 north of the Bad Lands, were attacked by a party of hostiles led by 

 Kicking Bear in person. The fight was kept up until after dark, several 

 being killed or wounded on both sides, but the hostiles were finally 

 driven off. [Colby, 3.) 



Hut the tragedy was near at hand. Orders had been given to inter- 

 cept Big Foot's party in its flight from Cheyenne river toward the 

 Lad Lands. This was accomplished on December 28, 1890, by Major 

 Whitside of the Seventh cavalry, who came up with him a short dis- 

 tance west of the Bad Lands. Not having succeeded in communicat- 

 i,',.. with therefugees who had tied there and who were already on their 

 way to the agency, Big Foot had made no stop, but continued on also 

 toward Bine Eidge. On sighting the troops he raised a white flag, 

 advanced into the open country, ami asked for a parley. This was 

 refused by Major Whitside, who demanded an unconditional surrender, 

 which was at once given, and the Indians moved on with the troops to 

 Wounded Knee creek, about 20 miles northeast of Bine Ridge agency, 

 where they camped as directed by Major Whitside. In order to make 

 assurance'complete, General Brooke sent Colonel Forsyth to join Major 

 Whitside with four additional troops of the Seventh cavalry, which, 

 with the scouts under Lieutenant Taylor, made up a force of eight 

 troops of cavalry, one company of scouts, and four pieces of light artil- 

 lery (LTotchkiss guns,, with a total force of 470 men. as against a total 

 of 10G warriors then present in Big Foot's band. A scouting party of 

 Big Foot's band was out looking for the camp under Kicking Bear and 

 Short Bull, but as these chiefs, with their followers, were already on 

 their way to the agency, the scouting party was returning to rejoin Big 

 Foot when the fight occurred the next morning. It was the intention 

 of General Miles to send Big Foot and his followers back to their own 



