The Marias River Massacre

Today in 1870 at the Piegan Indian campsite at Marias River, Montana, USA, occurred "the greatest slaughter of Indians ever made by US troops", as described by Lieutenant Gus Doane. It is also one of the least known.

Doane, under orders from Major Eugene Baker, commanded F Company in the attack. Some 200 Piegans, most of them either elderly or women and children, were killed in and around their homes, which were later burned to the ground along with the many corpses. About 140 captives were turned loose without adequate food and clothing and some of them froze to death trying to walk to Fort Benton, 90 miles away.

General of the Army, William Sherman, deflected a public inquiry and blandly issued a press release denying any guilt, based on the fact that he "preferred to believe" what he was told by his officers.

Categories: indigenous, military, army, usa, history