Massacre on the Marias

Salvete Omnes,

Almost 8 years ago, in 2016AD, some of the most heinous Islamic terror massacres on American soil  occurred  in Orlando, Florida (US).
Media outlets were quick to brand it the largest mass killing[sic!] in the American history[sic!]

Certainly it was the largest and bloodiest terrorist attack on the US soil since the most tragic 911. 

But was this the largest 'mass killing' in the American history?

Certainly not - and you do not have to look far as the American (USA territories)  Indian history would  provide countless examples of atrocities committed upon the native population, be it by the European colonists, American settlers, armies and/ or other native groups. 

 

Very often the difference between a terrorist act and a state act is mostly based on legality of actors' actions, not whether a massacre  is no a moral heinous act if perpetrated by the state actor. We have had the Nuremberg trials and doctrine, and various UN acts against genocide and crimes against humanity, and the law keeps developing into the right, moral direction. But for the power and prestige enjoyed by a state, their acts are as heinous and inhumane as the most perfidious murderous terrorist ones.
ad rem, 

Eugene Mortimer Baker and other US Army officers at Fort Ellis

Let me bring to light some info about another  heinous and barbarously bloody attack  perpetrated by a state actor, i.e., US Army elements during the winter of AD1870 - the so called Massacre on the Marias River in Montana - that took place near the Big Bend of the Marias River on  January 23, 1870. The object of attack was the Piegan camp in Montana Territory - note that the Blacfeet Confederacy were under the Lame Bull Treaty of 1855 and its amendments. 
Sources come form the Montana Official State website.
Witnesses to the Carnage - website with testimonies. 

The Piikuni and the Army's Piegan expedition.

Fort Ellis, Montana

John C. Ewers wrote - The Blackfeet, Raiders on the Northwstern Plains (1958, University of Oklahoma Press) - there is a chapter in that book devoted to the story of the Marias River tragedy. The book can be borrowed from Archive World Library.

Mountain Chief

General Sheridan, acting on the reporting of general Philip de Trobirand, commanding at Fort Shaw, ordered Baker to lead the Army expedition from Fort Ellis. The order was conveyed by means of the telegraph wire:
'If the lives and property of the citizens of Montana can best be protected by striking Mountain Chief's band, I want them struck. 

Tell Baker to strike them hard.'
The Army expedition - four cavalry companies,55 mounted infantry and a company of Us infantry  - guided by a whiskey trader and Army scout Joe Kipp moved northward of Fort Shaw, and  proceeded to attack  the wrong band instead of Mountain Chief's band, for the attacked the Heavy Runner's Piegan band.  . Joe Kipp actually recognized the chief  and tried to stopp the developing attack but Baker had him detained and put under guard.  Army scout Joe Cobell shot and killed chief Heavy Runner, when he was presenting his safe-conduct papers issued by general Sully. The rest was mayhem and killing without discrimination to age and sex, in accordance of general Sheridan's tough policies of conducting was against the Plains Indians. The details you can read in the links provided.

I hope AD 2024 will end up more peaceful that our late 2023AD.
Enjoy