Thomas Tibbles (1840–1928), journalist:
"Suddenly, I heard a single shot from the direction of the troops.
Then three or four.
A few more.
And immediately, a volley.
At once came a general rattle of rifle firing then the Hotchkiss guns."

Dewey Beard (Iron Hail, 1862–1955), Minneconjou Lakota survivor: as told to Eli S. Ricker :
"... then many Indians broke into the ravine; some ran up the ravine and to favorable positions for defense."

Black Elk (1863–1950); medicine man, Oglala Lakota:
"I did not know then how much was ended.
When I look back now from this high hill of my old age, I can still see the butchered women and children lying heaped and scattered all along the crooked gulch as plain as when I saw them with eyes still young.
And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard.
A people's dream died there.
It was a beautiful dream.

And I, to whom so great a vision was given in my youth, — you see me now a pitiful old man who has done nothing, for the nation's hoop is broken and scattered.
There is no center any longer, and the sacred tree is dead."

American Horse (1840–1908); chief, Oglala Lakota:
"There was a woman with an infant in her arms who was killed as she almost touched the flag of truce ... A mother was shot down with her infant; the child not knowing that its mother was dead was still nursing ... The women as they were fleeing with their babies were killed together, shot right through ... and after most all of them had been killed a cry was made that all those who were not killed or wounded should come forth and they would be safe.
Little boys ... came out of their places of refuge, and as soon as they came in sight a number of soldiers surrounded them and butchered them there."

Edward S. Godfrey; captain; commanded Co. D of the 7th Cavalry:
"I know the men did not aim deliberately and they were greatly excited.
I don't believe they saw their sights.
They fired rapidly but it seemed to me only a few seconds till there was not a living thing before us; warriors, squaws, children, ponies, and dogs ... went down before that unaimed fire."

(Godfrey was a lieutenant in Captain Benteen's force during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.)

Hugh McGinnis; First Battalion, Co. K, 7th Cavalry:
"General Nelson A. Miles who visited the scene of carnage, following a three-day blizzard, estimated that around 300 snow shrouded forms were strewn over the countryside.
He also discovered to his horror that helpless children and women with babies in their arms had been chased as far as two miles from the original scene of encounter and cut down without mercy by the troopers.
 ... Judging by the slaughter on the battlefield it was suggested that the soldiers simply went berserk.
For who could explain such a merciless disregard for life?
 ... As I see it the battle was more or less a matter of spontaneous combustion, sparked by mutual distrust ..."
The Reverend Father Francis M.J. Craft; Catholic Missionary:
"…The whole trouble originated through interested whites, who had gone about most industriously and misrepresented the army and its movements upon all the agencies.
The Indians, were in consequence alarmed and suspicious.
They had been led to believe that the true aim of the military was their extermination.
The troops acted with the greatest kindness and prudence.
In the Wounded Knee fight the Indians fired first.
The troops fired only when compelled to.
I was between both, saw all, and know from an absolute knowledge of the whole affair whereof I say."
Thomas Tibbles (1840–1928), journalist:
"Suddenly, I heard a single shot from the direction of the troops. Then three or four. A few more. And immediately, a volley. At once came a general rattle of rifle firing then the Hotchkiss guns."
Dewey Beard (Iron Hail, 1862–1955), Minneconjou Lakota survivor: as told to Eli S. Ricker :
"... then many Indians broke into the ravine; some ran up the ravine and to favorable positions for defense."
Black Elk (1863–1950); medicine man, Oglala Lakota:
"I did not know then how much was ended. When I look back now from this high hill of my old age, I can still see the butchered women and children lying heaped and scattered all along the crooked gulch as plain as when I saw them with eyes still young. And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people's dream died there. It was a beautiful dream.
And I, to whom so great a vision was given in my youth, — you see me now a pitiful old man who has done nothing, for the nation's hoop is broken and scattered. There is no center any longer, and the sacred tree is dead."
American Horse (1840–1908); chief, Oglala Lakota:
"There was a woman with an infant in her arms who was killed as she almost touched the flag of truce ... A mother was shot down with her infant; the child not knowing that its mother was dead was still nursing ... The women as they were fleeing with their babies were killed together, shot right through ... and after most all of them had been killed a cry was made that all those who were not killed or wounded should come forth and they would be safe. Little boys ... came out of their places of refuge, and as soon as they came in sight a number of soldiers surrounded them and butchered them there."
Edward S. Godfrey; captain; commanded Co. D of the 7th Cavalry:
"I know the men did not aim deliberately and they were greatly excited. I don't believe they saw their sights. They fired rapidly but it seemed to me only a few seconds till there was not a living thing before us; warriors, squaws, children, ponies, and dogs ... went down before that unaimed fire."
(Godfrey was a lieutenant in Captain Benteen's force during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.)
Hugh McGinnis; First Battalion, Co. K, 7th Cavalry:
"General Nelson A. Miles who visited the scene of carnage, following a three-day blizzard, estimated that around 300 snow shrouded forms were strewn over the countryside. He also discovered to his horror that helpless children and women with babies in their arms had been chased as far as two miles from the original scene of encounter and cut down without mercy by the troopers. ... Judging by the slaughter on the battlefield it was suggested that the soldiers simply went berserk. For who could explain such a merciless disregard for life? ... As I see it the battle was more or less a matter of spontaneous combustion, sparked by mutual distrust ..."
The Reverend Father Francis M.J. Craft; Catholic Missionary:
"…The whole trouble originated through interested whites, who had gone about most industriously and misrepresented the army and its movements upon all the agencies. The Indians, were in consequence alarmed and suspicious. They had been led to believe that the true aim of the military was their extermination. The troops acted with the greatest kindness and prudence. In the Wounded Knee fight the Indians fired first. The troops fired only when compelled to. I was between both, saw all, and know from an absolute knowledge of the whole affair whereof I say."
Wounded Knee Massacre