American Carnage: Wounded Knee, 1890

By: Jerome A. Greene

Narrated by: James Romick

As the year 1890 wound to a close, a band of more than three hundred Lakota Sioux Indians led by Chief Big Foot made their way toward South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation to join other Lakotas seeking peace. Fearing that Big Foot's band was headed instead to join "hostile" Lakotas, U.S. troops surrounded the group on Wounded Knee Creek. Tensions mounted, and on the morning of December 29, as the Lakotas prepared to give up their arms, disaster struck. Accounts vary on what triggered the violence as Indians and soldiers unleashed thunderous gunfire at each other, but the consequences were horrific: some 200 innocent Lakota men, women, and children were slaughtered. American Carnage-the first comprehensive account of Wounded Knee to appear in more than 50 years-explores the complex events preceding the tragedy, the killings, and their troubled legacy.

In this gripping tale, Jerome A. Greene-renowned specialist on the Indian wars-explores why the bloody engagement happened and demonstrates how it became a brutal massacre. Epic in scope and poignant in its recounting of human suffering, American Carnage presents the reality-and denial-of our nation's last frontier massacre. It will leave an indelible mark on our understanding of American history.

©2014 University of Oklahoma Press (P)2014 Redwood Audiobooks

Brutal story, well told

Fits very well in the library of the history of the conflict between native peoples and Americans. The book lays bare the sad history leading up to the events of December 29th, 1890, the purported aims of the American government, and the true motivation of the U.S. 7th Cavalry, intent on avenging a 14 year old grudge from the Greasy Grass. This is the history that America needs to learn, if it's going to be honest about itself.