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http://www. ipetitions. com/petition/12-20-1890/

Under cover of the night on December 23, a band of 350 people left the Miniconjou village on the Cheyenne River to begin a treacherous 150-mile, week-long trek through the Badlands to reach the Pine Ridge Agency. Although Chief Big Foot was aged and seriously ill with pneumonia, his group traversed the rugged, frozen terrain of the Badlands in order to reach the protection of Chief Red Cloud who had promised them food, shelter, and horses. It is reported that both Big Foot and Red Cloud wanted peace. On December 28, the group was surrounded by Major Samuel M. Whitside and the Seventh Calvary (the old regiment of General George Custer). Big Foots band hoisted a white flag, but the army apprehended the Indians, forcing them to the bank of Wounded Knee Creek. There, four large Hotchkiss cannons had been menacingly situated atop both sides of the valley overlooking the encampment, ready to fire upon the Indians. A rumor ran through the camp that the Indians were to be deported to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) which had the reputation for its living conditions being far worse than any prison. The Lakotas became panicky, and historians have surmised that if the misunderstanding had been clarified that they were to be taken to a different camp, the entire horrific incident might have been averted. That evening, Colonel James Forsyth arrived with reinforcements and took over as commander of the operation. The Indians were not allowed to sleep as the soldiers interrogated them through the night. (It has been reported that many of the questions were to determine who among the group had been at Little Bighorn fourteen years earlier. In addition, eyewitnesses claimed that the soldiers had been drinking to celebrate the capture of the ailing Big Foot.) The soldiers ordered that the Indians be stripped of their weapons, and this further agitated an increasingly tense and serious situation. While the soldiers searched for weapons, a few of the Indians began singing Ghost Dance songs, and one of them (thought to be the medicine man, Yellow Bird, although this is still disputed by historians) threw dirt in a ceremonial act. This action was misunderstood by the soldiers as a sign of imminent hostile aggression, and within moments, a gun discharged. It is believed that the gun of a deaf man, Black Coyote, accidentally fired as soldiers tried to take it from him. Although the inadvertent single shot did not injure anyone, instantaneously the soldiers retaliated by spraying the unarmed Indians with bullets from small arms, as well as the Hotchkiss canons which overlooked the scene. (Hotchkiss canons are capable of firing two pound explosive shells at a rate of fifty per minute.) With only their bare hands to fight back, the Indians tried to defend themselves, but the incident deteriorated further into bloody chaos, and the 350 unarmed Indians were outmatched and outnumbered by the nearly 500 U.S. soldiers. The majority of the massacre fatalities occurred during the initial ten to twenty minutes of the incident, but the firing lasted for several hours as the army chased after those who tried to escape into the nearby ravine. According to recollections by some of the Indian survivors, the soldiers cried out "Remember the Little Bighorn" as they sportingly hunted down those who fled -- evidence to them that the massacre was in revenge of Custers demise at Little Bighorn in 1876. (Recorded by Santee Sioux, Sid Byrd, from oral histories of several survivors.) Many of the injured died of exposure in the freezing weather, and several days after the incident the dead were strewn as far as approximately two to five miles away from the original site. By mid-afternoon on December 29, 1890 the indiscriminate slaughter ceased. Nearly three-hundred men (including Chief Big Foot), women, and children -- old and young -- were dead on the frosty banks of Wounded Knee Creek. Twenty-nine soldiers also died in the melee, but it is believed that most of the military causalities were a result of "friendly" crossfire that occurred during the fighting frenzy. Twenty-three soldiers from the Seventh Calvary were later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for the slaughter of defenseless Indians at Wounded Knee. We are asking that these Medals of DIS Honor awarded to the members of the 7th Calvary of the United States Army for the murder of innocent women children and men on that terrible December morning be rescinded. And that the Battle Pennant on the Flag of the United States Army be removed and destroyed
Who were the honorable soldiers who were so brave to slaughter unarmed men, woman, children and babies:

1. Austin, William G., Sergeant, Company E, 7th calvary, issued Junde 27, 1891: "While the Indians were concealed in a ravine, assisted men on the skirmish line, directing their fire, ect., and using every effort to dislodge the enemy." Entered service at New York, N.Y. Bonr, Glaveton, Tex.

2. Clanc, John E., Musician, Company E, First U.S. calvalry, issued January 23, 1892:

His citiation stated that he had rescued wounded soldiers, twice. Clancy was courtmartialed eight times during his career, twice between the fight at Wounded Knee and the receipt of his medal. Entered service at? Born, New York, N.Y.

3.Feaster, Mosheim, Private, Company E, 7th calvalry, issued June 23, 1891 for "Extraordinary gallantry" Entered service at Schellburg, Pa. Born, Schellburg, Pa. The Congressiona Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications "the officer who recommended him was more than a quarter of a mile away at the time of Feasters..s heroic action. However, three affidavits were given atteting tho his acts. The three men who signed these statements were friends of Feaster and fellow members of Troop E. These witnesses also received Medals of Honor." Medals of Honor, Green

4. Garlington, Ernest A., 1st Lieutenant, 7th calvalry, issued September 26, 1893 for "Distinguished gallantry" Entered service at Athens, Ga. Born, 20. February 1853, Newberry, S.C. The Congressional Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications

5. Gresham, John C., 1st Lieutnant, 7th calvalry, issued March 26, 1895 because he "Voluntarily led a party into a ravine to dislodge Sioux Indians concealed therein. He was Entered service at Lancaster Courthouse, Va. Born, Virginia The Congressional Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications "A unsigned, undated letter in Gresham..s file states that no records could be found of Gresham..s wounds, and curiously, the regimental returns for January 1891 show him "on duty." There is, however, mention elsewhere that druing the fighting Gresham received an abrasion onthe nose from a passing bullet. Later in his career Gresham was implicated in a case where funds belonging to a student in his charge were missing. There is no record of the outcome, but he was ordered to retire with in six month after these allegations were made. A medical report tells of his "outbreaks fo fury over trivial matters...[and]... mental depression objectively shown by a permanent expresion of dissatisfaction..." Medals of Green Honor

6. Hamilton, Mathew H., Private, Company G, 7th calvalry, issued May 5, 1891 for "Bravery in action." Entered service at? Born, Ireland. The Congressional Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications ...[medal granted for] "conspicuous bravery in rounding up and bringing to the skirmish line a stampeded pack mule... Company G was not in a direct line of fire. Common sense would suggest animals frightened by gunfire would run away from the shooting. It almost seems Hamilton was awarded the Medal of Honor for riding away from the fighting" Medals of Honor, Green

7. Hartzog, Joshua B., Private, Company E, 1st Artillery, issued March 24, 1891 because he "Went to the rescue of the commanding officer who had fallen everely wounded, picked him up and carried him out of range of the hostile guns." The Congressional Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications "All of the Indians opened fire on us. One of my men went for ammunition and didn..t come back. ... My captain called to me to come back, but I kept moving nearer the Indians, and kept shooting. Lieutenant Hawthorne came toward me and was calling, when suddenly I heard him say: "Oh, my God!" Looking around, I saw him lying of his side, and then I knew he had been hit. Hartzog ran to him and carried him back behind the hill. .."]

8. Hawthorne, Harry L., 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd US Artillery, issued 10.11.1892 "Distinguished conduct in a battle with hostile Indians." Entered service in Kentucky. Born, 1860, Minnesota. [Hawthorne was responsible for two "Hotchkiss Brreech-loading, Steel Mountain Rifles, caliber 1.65 inches; length of bore, 24.72 calibers; weight of tube, 116.6 pounds; weight of carriage, 220 pounds,; weight of exploding cartridge, 2pounds 10 ounces; effective range, 4,200 yards."] [Hawthorne..s] "wound ws so severe that he was forced to spend several years away from field duty. One of his assignments was as professor of military science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He eventually gave up that post because of teasing he received from the students. This harassment was directed toward the army in general and at Hawthorne in particular... [because] The students believed there had been a massacre at Wounded Knee and blamed Hawthorne and the Army." Medals of Honor, Green ["...The bursting artillery rounds churned up the earth and caved in banks. ...a Hotchkiss shell punch[ed] a six-inch hole in the middle of a man..s stomach. Up and down the ravine the People sang death songs..."An occasional shot came from the teepees. To stop this, the battery raked the Miniconjou camp from one end to the other. Flying shrapnel shredded the lodges and sought out every living thing.]

9.Hillock, Marvin C., Private, Company B, 7th calvalry, issued April 16, 1891 for "Distinguished bravery." Entered service at LEad City, S. Dak. Born, Michigan. The Congressional Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications

10. Hobday, George, Cook, 7th calvalry, Comany K, issued for "Conspicuous and gallant conduct in battle and [because he] was noticed by several officers. Information from draft copies of his recommendation indicated his primary act of bravey was ..voluntarily leaving his work as a cook..." Entred service at? Born, Pulaski County, IL. Medals of Honor, Green

11. Jetter, Bernhard, Sergeant, 7th calvalry, Company A, issued April 4, 1891 for "Distinguished bravery." Entered service at? Born, Germany. Date of issue: 24 April 1891. The Congressional Medal of Honor, Shapr and Dunnigan Publications

12. Loyd, George, Sergeant, Company I, 7th calvalry, issued April 16, 1891 for [Loyd] "was a veteran of the Little Big Horn campaign [and] on his sixth enlistment Two years, almost to the day [of receipt of his medal], he committed suicide. The only mention in the regimental record is that he died by ..shooting himslef through the head..." Entered service at? Born, Ireland Medals of Honor, Green "Bravery, especially after having been severely wounded through the lung." America..s Medal of Honor Recipients, Highland Publishers

13. Mc Millan, Albert W., Sergeant, Company E., 7th calvalry, issued June 23, 1891 because "While engaged with Indians soncealed in a ravine, he assisted the men on the skirmish line, directed their fire, encouraged them by example, and used every effort to dislodge the enemy." Entered service at Baltimore, Md. Born, Baltimore, Md. The Congressional Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications "He was promoted to sergeant major prior to April 6, 1891. For reasons not found in his records, he was demoted to private before his discharge on September 21, 1892." Medals of Honor, Green

14. Neder. Adam, Corporal, Company A, 7th calvalry, issued for "ballantry in action....One of the citiations says Neder was wounded; then that entry is struck through." Entered service at? Born, Bavaria.

15. Sullivan, Thomas, Private, Company E., 7th calvalry, issued June 23, 1891 for "exposing [himself] to the emeny" Entered service at Newark, N.J. Born, Ireland Medals of Honor, Green.

16. Toy, Frederich E., First Sergeant, Company G, 7th calvalry, issued May 26, 1891 for "bravery." Entered service at? Birth, Buffalo, N.Y. The Congressional Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications

17. Trautman, Jacob, First Sergeant, Company I, 7th calvalry, issued March 27, 1891 because he "Killed a hostile Indian at close quarters, and, although entitled to retirement from service, remained to the close of the campaign." Entered service at? Born, Germany The Congressional MEdal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications

18. Ward, James, Sergeant, Company B, 7th calvalry, December 29, 1890, award issued April 16, 1891, because he "continued to fight after being severely wounded." Entered service at Boston, Mass. Born, Quincy, Mass. The Congressional Medal of Honor, Sharp and Dunnigan Publications "Ward was reported as having been severely wounded, though no other records, medical or otherwise, could be found to support this. Medals of Honor, Green

19. Weinert, Paul H., Corporal, Battery E, First U.S. Artillery, award issued for advancing with Hotchkiss gun into ravine in pursuit of women and children... Later in the decade Weinert adorned with his Medal of Honor, toured with Buffalo Bill Docy..s Wild West show as a member of it..s color guard. "I expected a court martial, but what ws my surprise when gruff odl Allyn Capron, my captain, came up to me and grasped me by the soulders and said to the officers and men: "That..s the kind of men I have in my battery..." Entered service at Baltimore, Md. Born, Germany. Medals of Honor, Green Taking the place of his commanding officer, who had fallen severely wounded, hr. galantlyserved his piece, after fire advancing it [the Hotchkiss gun] to a better position. America..s Medal of Honor Recipients, Highland Publishers

20. Ziegner, Hermann, Private Company E, 7th calvalry, Wounded Knee, 1890, issued 6.23.91 for "conspicuous bravery." Entered service at? Born, Germany