YODER FAMILY INFORMATION--CYBERSPACE EDITION-2002

incompetent agents and greedy contractors, turned in desperationto anew fanatical ritualistic religion. This was the Gost Dance-Messiah craze.Of the total Indian population at Pine Ridge only acomparatively smallnumber participated. But the timid agent became alarmed andasked formilitary protection, intimating that the Indians were out ofcontrol.When this word came, the alarm spread like a Parrie fire amongthescattered settlers on the North Nebraska frontier. The Militarypostswere alerted and supplied and reinforcements were rushed to themandpreparations made for any eventuality. Fort Niobrara became oneof theprincipal points of supply and troops from the post were orderedto thefield.Then, on Dec 29 on Wounded Knee Creek, 1890, during the processofdisarming Chief Big Foots band, which comprised the bulk of theGhostDancers, a shot was fired at the soldiers, troops of the SeventhCavalry,and the fight was on. Partially disarmed the Indians had nochance and theengagement became a massacre in which men, women and childrenwereindiscriminately shot down while fleeing up the ravines seekingsafety.Following the Wounded knee affair rumors spread that the wholeSiouxnation might rise in revolt. The Nebraska National Guard wascalled outand sent to various points along the Dakota border, andadditional federalToups sent in. But beyond a few minor skirmishes there was nofurthertrouble.Gen. Nelson A Miles was put in charge of the whole operation andunderhis direction the situation gradually calmed down.After the excitement was over, Fort Niobrara returned to itsusual peacetime routine until abandonment in Oct of 1906. With the openingof theRosebud to settlers it was felt that the need for a post at thatlocation wasno longer in existence. A 16,000 acre tract of Militaryreservation wasretained for a national game preserve and the rest thrown openforsettlement. A small Museum and office bui8ldings of the gamereserve are