Today In History: Wounded Knee

December 29th: Today in 1890 the US Army and Lakota Sioux began firing at one another leading to the deaths of twenty-five soldiers and over one hundred fifty Sioux at the Wounded Knee Massacre. What actually happened remains disputed, but during an attempt by the soldiers to disarm the Sioux someone began shooting and many Sioux woman and children will killed in the firing and it is thought another hundred and fifty froze to death after fleeing the battle. As one of the last armed encounters between US Army troops and Native Americans it has become highly politicized, the Army gave out Twenty Medals of Honor, an outrageous slur on the medals actually earned by the brave, and Native Americans have used the massacre as a rallying point ever since it happened. No matter whose account you believe, it was a tragic day and one that should be remembered so the mistakes are not repeated.

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