It is relatively common knowledge that certain members of the 7th
Calvary were awarded Medals of dis-Honor for their valiant efforts in
defense of what has come to be known as the Great American Way. This was
discussed in an earlier post made by me entitled "...18 Medals of
dis-Honor" If you missed it, let me know. That post was prompted by a
current Wasichu proposal to turn the massacre ground in to a theme "Park,"
and in it I suggested that, if Wasichu was serious in his efforts to made
amends for the massacre, the Medals of dis-Honor should be voided, trashed,
melted down...this as an indicator of his sincerity.
As an ex-Marine infantryman (1961-1965) with considerable exposure
to flying pieces of metal, I must admit that I take the Medal of Honor
seriously. Yet, the awards discussed previously, and now herein, were not
Medals of Honor but, indeed, Medals of dis-Honor.
"The Medal of Honor, established by Joint Resolution of Congress,
July 12, 1862 (amended by Acts of Congress, July 9, 1918 and July 25,
1963), is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member
of the Armed Forces, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of
duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States;
while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing
foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an
armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States
is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of
personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish
the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of
life. Incontestable proof of the performance of service is required, and
each recommendation for award of this decoration is considered on the
standard of extraordinary merit.
"Prior to World War I, the 2,625 Army Medal of Honor awards up to
that time were reviewed to determine which past awards met new stringent
criteria. The Army removed 911 names from the list, most of them former
members of a volunteer infantry group during the Civil War who had been
induced to extend their enlistments when they were promised the Medal."
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1994
All specifics as to who got what and why came from the reference
tome The Congressional Medal of Honor, The Names, The Deeds, Sharp and
Dunnigan Publications, 1984, ISBN 0-918495-01-6.
Annotations [excepting those peculiar to me] came from The Last
Days of the Sioux, Robert M. Utley, Yale University Press, 1970, ISBN
0-300-00245-9, ames Mooney, "The Ghost Dance Religion and the Sioux
Outbreak of 1890," in Fourteenth Annual Report of the United States Bureau
of Ethnology (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1896).
"The first of all Army Medals of Honor was earned in February
13-14, 1861 by Assistant Surgeon General J.D. Irwin who 'Voluntarily took
command of troops and attacked and defeated hostile indians he met on the
way. Surgeon Irwin volunteered to go to the rescue of 2nd Lieutenant G.N.
Bascom, 7th Infantry, who with 60 men was trapped by the Chiricauha Apaches
under Cochise. Irwin and 14 men, not having horses began the 100 mile march
riding mules. After fighting and capturing Indians, recovering stolen
horses and cattle, he reached Bascom's column and helped break his siege.
The last Army Medal of Honor awarded in an Indian campaign was
granted to Private O. Burchard on October 5, 1898: "For distinguished
bravery in action against hostile Indians for action during the uprising of
Chippewa Indians on Leech Lake, northern Minnesota."
Now...as to Wounded Knee. American Horse sets the stage:
"They turned their guns, Hotchkiss guns [breech-loading cannons that fired
an explosive shell], etc., upon the women who were in the lodges standing
there under a flag of truce, and of course as soon as they were fired upon
they fled...There was a woman with an infant in her arms who was killed as
she almost touched the flag of truce [which flew over the Lakota camp], and
the woman and children of course were strewn all along the circular village
until they were dispatched. Right near the flag of truce a mother was shot
down with her infant; the child not knowing that its mother was dead was
still nursing, and that especially was a very sad sight. The women as they
were fleeing with their babes were killed together, shot right through, and
the women who were very heavy with child were also killed...After most all
of them had been killed a cry was made that all those who were not killed
or wounded should come forth and they would be safe. Little boys who were
not wounded came out of their places of refuge, and as soon as they came in
sight a number of soldiers surrounded them and butchered them there...Of
course it would have been all right if only the men had been killed; we
would feel almost grateful for it. But the fact of the killing of the
women, and more especially the killing of the young boys and girls who are
to go to make up the future strength of the Indian people, is the saddest
part of the whole affair and we feel it very sorely." [James Mooney, "The
Ghost Dance Religion and the Sioux Outbreak of 1890," in Fourteenth Annual
Report of the United States Bureau of Ethnology (Washington, D.C.: U.S.
Government Printing Office, 1896) Part Two, p. 877]
W.H. Prather, "a colored private of I troop of the 9th Calvary [was
inspired to write a ballad] The Indian Ghost Dance and War...It became a
favorite among the troops in camp and the scattered frontiersmen of Dakota
and Nebraska, being sung to a simple air with vigor and expression and a
particularly rousing chorus, and is probably by this time a classic of the
barracks":
The Red Skins left their Agency, the Soldiers left their Post,
All on the strength of an Indian tale about the Messiah's ghost
Got up by the savage chieftans to lead their tribes astray;
But Uncles Sam wouldn't have it so, for he ain't built that way.
They swore that this Messiah came to them in visions sleep,
And promised to restore their game and Buffalos a heap,
So they must start a big ghost dance, then all would join their band,
And may be so we lead the way into the great Bad Land.
Chorus:
They claimed the shirt Messiah gave, no bullet could go through,
But when the soldiers fired at them they saw this was not true.
The Medicine man supplied them with their great Messiah's grace,
And he, too, pulled his freight and swore the 7th hard to face.
About their tents the Soldiers stood, awaiting one and all,
That they might hear the trumpet clear when sounding General call
Or Boots and Saddles in a rush, that each and every man
Might mount in haste, ride soon and fast to stop this devilish band
But Generlas great like Miles and Brooke don't do things up that way,
For they know an Indian like a book, and let him have his sway
Until they think him far enough and then to John they'll say,
"You have better stop your fooling or we'll bring our guns to play."
Chorus:
They claimed the shirt, etc.
The 9th marched out with splendid cheer the Bad Lans to explo'e-
With Col. Henry at their head they never fear they foe;
So on they rode from Xmas eve 'till dawn of Xmas day;
The Red Skins heard the 9th was near and and fled in great dismay;
The 7th is of courage bold both officers and men,
But bad luch seems to follow them and twice has took them in;
They came in contact with Big Foot's warriors in their fierce might
This chief made sure he had a chance of vantage in the fight.
Chorus:
They claimed the shirt, etc.
A fight took place, 'twas hand to hand, unwarned by trumpet call,
While the Sioux were dropping man by man - the 7th killed them all,
And to that regiment be said "Ye noble braves, well, done,
Although you lost some gallant men a glorious fight you've won."
The 8th was there, the sixth rode miles to swell that great command
And waited orders night and day to round up Short Bulls band.
The Infantry marched up in mass the Calvary's support,
And while the latter rounded up, the former held the fort.
Chorus:
They claimed the shirt, etc.
E battery of the 1st stood by and did their duty well,
For every time the Hotchkiss barked they say a hostile fell.
Some Indian soldiers chipped in too and helped to quell the fray,
And now the campaign's ended and the soldiers marched away.
So all have done their share, you see, whether it was thick or thin
And all helped break the ghost dance up and drive the hostiles in.
The settlers in that region now can breathe with better grace;
They only AK Nsd pray to God to make John hold his base.
Chorus:
They claimed the shirt, etc.
[The Ghost Dance Religion and the Sioux Outbreak of 1890, Mooney,
ISBN 0-486-26759-8]
Who got what:
A short time after...Kerr, John B., Captain, 6th Calvary., White
River, S.D., January 1, 1891, medal issued April 25, 1891, "For
distinguished bravery while in command of his troop in action against
hostile Sioux Indians on the North bank of the White River, near the mouth
of Little Grass Creek, S.D., where he defeated a force of 300 Brule Sioux
warriors, and turned the Sioux tribe, which was endeavoring to enter the
Bad Lands, back into the Pine Ridge Agency."
Annotation - "On the afternoon of January 1 a party of more than
fifty warriors, still wrought up over Wounded Knee and perhaps emboldened
by the success at Drexel Mission two days earlier, rode out on the bluffs
overlooking White River five miles above the mouth of Wounded Knee Creek.
The Sixth Calvary had passed down the valley and gone into camp at the
mouth of Wounded Knee. But the regimental train of the Sixth, guarded by
Captain John B. Kerr's Troop K, was making its way slowly down the valley
on the other side of the river.
"Whooping the war cry, the Sioux swept down the slope, crossed the
ice-choked stream, and attacked the train. Captain Kerr promptly corralled
the wagons and opened fire...Kerr's losses were one horse killed and
another wounded." [The Last Days of the Sioux, Robert M. Utley, Yale
University Press, 1970, ISBN 0-300-00245-9]
Ziegner, Hermann, Private, Company E, 7th Calvary, Wounded Knee,
1890, issued 6.23.91 for "conspicuous bravery."
Ward, James, Sergeant, Company B, 7th Calvary, December 29, 1890,
award issued April 16, 1891, because he "continued to fight after being
severely wounded."
annotation - "...One woman, Blue Whirlwind, received fourteen
wounds but lived. Another woman, maddened by wounds, crawled from the edge
of the village. With a butcher knife between her teeth, she made her
painful way over a distance of ten yards to where a soldier lay on his
back, wounded. She raised the knife over him and, as he screamed, plunged
it into his breast. Another soldier, in the square, saw the act and sent a
bullet into her head. She dropped next to her victim."[The Last Days of the
Sioux]
Trautma, Jacob...First Sergeant, Company I, 7th Calvary, 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."
Toy, Frederich E, First Sergeant, Company G., 7th Calvary, issued
May 26, 1891 for "bravery."
Ragnar, Theodore, First Sergeant, Company K, 7th Calvary, issued
April 13, 1891 for "bravery"
Nolan, Richard J., Farrier, Company I, 7th Calvary, issued April 1,
1891 for "bravery."
McMillan, Albert W. Sergeant, Company E., 7th Calvary, issued
June 23, 1891 because "While engaged with Indians concealed 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."
Jetter, Bernhard, Sergeant, 7th Calvary , Company K, issued April
4, 1891 for "Distinguished bravery."
Hillock, Marvin C., Private,Company B, 7th Calvary , issued April
16, 1891 for "Distinguished bravery."
Hawthorne, Harry L, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd US Artillery, issued
10.11.1892, "Distinguished conduct in battle with hostile indians."
Hawthorne was responsible for two "Hotchkiss Breech-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, 2 pounds 10 ounces; effective range, 4,200 yards."
annotation - "...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."
[The Last Days of the Sioux]
Hartzog, Joshua A., Private, Company E, 1st Artillery, issued March
24, 1891 because he "Went to the rescue of the commanding officer who had
fallen severely wounded, picked him up, and carried him out of range of the
hostile guns."
annotation - "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. .."
Hamilton, Mathew H., Private, Company G., 7th Calvary issued May
5, 1891 for "Bravery in action."
Gresham, John C., 1st Lieutenant, 7th Calvary, issued March 26,
1895 because he "Voluntarily led a party into a ravine to dislodge Sioux
indians concealed therein. He was wounded during the action."
Garlington, Ernest A., 1st Lieutenant, 7th Calvary, issued
September 26, 1893 for "Distinguished gallantry."
Feaster, Moshein, Private, Company E, 7th Calvary, issued June 23,
1891 for "Extraordinary gallantry."
Austin, William G., Sergeant, Company E., 7th Calvary, issued June
27, 1891 "While the Indians were concealed in a ravine, assisted men on the
skirmish line, directing their fire, etc., and using every effort to
dislodge the enemy."
Gallantry, Bravery, Distinguished...
...the People sang death songs...
Nvwhtohiyada...
http://www.pobox.com/~jsd
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Comments from NativeNet listowner, Gary Trujillo (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us):
The articles Jordan mentions can also be retrieved from the NATIVE-L
LISTSERV archives or from the new Web-accessible archives, which can
be accessed via the URL: "http://bioc02.uthscsa.edu/~gst/nl/"
Here are the article entries from the LISTSERV archives:
10407 95/03/25 19:48 104 18 Medals of dis-Honor
10433 95/03/28 09:03 37 Re: 18 Medals of dis-Honor
10442 95/03/28 21:01 24 Re: 18 Medals of dis-Honor
To retrieve these articles from the archives and to get instructions on
searching these archives, send a message to "listserv@tamvm1.tamu.edu"
containing:
// job echo=no
get nn-intro archives native-l
database search dd=rules
//rules dd *
select * in native-l.10407,10433,10442
print all
/*
(that's the numeral "1" in "tamvm1" and the letter "l" in "native-l").