Some Incidents of the Wounded Knee Creek Campaign

by Comrade Joseph Monnett Co. H., 1st Infantry

So far as I know that campaign may have hit other men pretty hard, but I can hardly believe any of them could have been in a worse predicament than we boys of the 1st U.S. Infantry. We were stationed in the warm climate of California and in the month of October, 1890, were ordered to South Dakota with no heavy underwear or extra covering for our head, hands, or feet. Notwithstanding the suffering experienced, the boys stood it well, and we were not issued heavier clothing until the last week in January 1891.

We arrived at Fort Niobrara, Nebraska, one beautiful, cold day with the thermometer registering 20 degrees below zero, and no quarters for us. We had to clear away the snow before we could set up our tents, and then

we were moved into quarters after the 9th Cavalry were ordered out into the field, but only for a stay of a short week when we were ordered to Valentine, Nebraska, to take a train to Hermosa, South Dakota.

General Nelson A. Miles ordered the 1st U.S Infantry to what I believe was called Fox Creek through snow to our waists and bitter cold. Well we finally reached Fox Creek at about 5 p.m. and the men were preparing to make some hot coffee and enjoy a grand meal of hard tack when a man on horseback rode into camp and the next thing we heard was the drum beat call to break camp and again we were on another march back to Hermosa where a train was waiting for us, which we boarded and was dumped off at Chadron.

We camped at Chadron for ten days, and one cold morning with sleet and snow to face, we were ordered to move out once more and marched to White River and camped as the men were exhausted with marching against a head wind.

We had just about settled down for the night when a Rancher and family drove into camp and reported to Colonel Shafter that a band of Indians was headed toward his home. One captain and five men from each company was ordered to go to the ranchers home and remain there until the officers were satisfied that all was safe and then back to camp again.

The following morning we started for Pine Ridge Agency and there we remained until after the Battle of Wounded Knee. I had the pleasure of being in the detail to bury the dead Indians, and it was a terrible sight.

The dead lay around everywhere and we took and buried them in a trench which was dug by half breeds, 60 feet long, six feet wide and six feet deep. Big Foot and his daughter were placed side by side at one end of the trench.

After all was straightened out we returned to Pine Ridge and there to experience other thrills.

First of all, Colonel Shafter wanted the regiment mounted and the Infantry turned into Cavalry. So the Government ordered cow ponies for us, and as a result out men had broken arms and jaws and numerous other injuries. Those cow ponies sure could kick.

A Sergeant was instructing on mounting, and dismounting was left to the ponies and they sure knew how.

After several attempts I succeeded in getting on a pony's back and quite firmly seated in the saddle. The pony started ahead for dear life and ran about 500 yards and stopped suddenly, but I did not. I went over his head
into a deep snow drift and was lucky to be able to walk back.

Many other such bright stunts happened, too numerous to mention. A movie picture man would have reaped a harvest if he had been there.