But the reality was quite different. Even Wikipedia can't garnish the essential facts. "On the morning of December 29, the U.S. Cavalry troops went into the camp to disarm the Lakota. One version of events claims that during the process of disarming the Lakota, a deaf tribesman named Black Coyote was reluctant to give up his rifle, claiming he had paid a lot for it. Simultaneously, an old man was performing a ritual called the Ghost Dance. Black Coyote's rifle went off at that point, and the U.S. army began shooting at the Native Americans. The Lakota warriors fought back, but many had already been stripped of their guns and disarmed." 25 soldiers and about 250 Indians were killed. That seems like a battle to me more than a massacre. The disparity is casualty ratios can reasonably be attributed to the Americans' superior weapons, training and organisation.
Now there is no doubt whatsoever that ordinary soldiers lost control, slaughtering numerous non-combatants while many of the wounded were finished off where they lay. Not justifying it but that's what happens in the heat of battle. Has since the dawn of man and will continue for as long as we're on this earth. It's admitted that the officers 'lost control of their men', a fact confirmed by the last surviving combatant. and Irishman from Mayo, who admitted 'I don't know what came over us'. What came over them was the red-dimmed blood lust of battle. Always has, always will.
What cannot be denied is that, once the officers regained control, indiscriminate shooting ceased, the wounded received attention and the remaining Indians taken into custody. Very different to what happened at Fort Mims in what's now Alabama during the Creek wars. What's that, you've never heard of the Fort Mims Massacre?
Strange, as the number killed was nearly twice that of Wounded Knee. While Wikipedia coyly puts at 500 the number 'killed or taken captive' additional research suggests to me that only the black slaves were taken alive (to be used as slaves for the Indians) while everyone else was killed, most bodies showing signs of horrific mutilation. After their victory, the Indians "razed the surrounding mestizo and white plantations.... They slaughtered over 5,000 head of cattle, destroyed crops and houses, and murdered or stole slaves."
George Orwell observed that 'he who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past'. Which is why the White settler rallying cry of 'Remember Fort Mims' has been consigned to the dust-bin of history.