The white officer in the center with what looks like a top hat, is 2nd Lieut. Guy H. Preston. He and 1st Lieut. Charles W. Taylor were both in the 9th Cavalry and tasked with standing up Company A, U.S. Indian Scouts from among the Oglala at Pine Ridge in late November 1890. Author Jerome A. Greene sent me a copy of the muster roll for this unit that lists all of the Indians that served from Nov. 27, 1890, to Apr. 30, 1891. A portion of his unit was at Wounded Knee on Dec. 29, 1890, excepting a small element under Standing Soldier that were escorting a group of Hunkpapa from Sitting Bull's band. Not listed on the muster roll, but pictured on the far right with the bandaged nose, is interpreter Philip Wells, whose nose was almost severed at Wounded Knee. I would think the six Indian Scouts pictured with Taylor and Wells would come from the nine NCOs (in
bold below). Standing Soldier, Yankton Charlie, and Sam Last Horse are listed, but there is no mention of No Neck. Following is the muster roll:
Name, Rank, Date Joined, RemarksCharles W. Taylor, 1st Lieutenant, In command to Jan. 24, 1891.
Guy H. Preston, 2nd Lieutenant, [L Troop, 9th U.S. Cavalry]
Matthias. W. Day, [1st Lieutenant, R.Q.M., 9th U.S. Cavalry] Attached to Troop April 16, 1891.
Standing Soldier, 1st Sergeant, Nov. 27, 1890, to Feb. 1, 1891.
Red Shirt, 1st Sergeant, Nov. 27, 1890.
Willard Standing Bear, Sergeant, Nov. 27, 1890.
White Deer, Sergeant, Nov. 27, 1890.
Yankton Charley, Sergeant, Nov. 27, 1890.
John Long Dog, Corporal, Nov. 27, 1890.
Sam Last Horse, Corporal, Nov. 27, 1890.
Little Bull, Corporal, Nov. 27, 1890.
Marshall Hand (B.J.S), Trumpeter, Nov. 27, 1890.
Short Bull, Farrier.
Make Trouble Ahead, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
High Back Bone, Private, Nov. 27, 1890, Killed in action Dec. 29, 1890.
Burning Bear, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Jack Standing Bear, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Poor Bear, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Leon White Bird, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Yellow Boy, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Joe Bush Jr., Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Walking Bull, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Kills Brave, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Peter Cazoo, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Prairie Chicken, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Grass Cutter, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Little Cloud, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Clear, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Cobb (Bad Cob), Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Jumping Eagle, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Ghost, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Bad Hair, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Real Hawk, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Feather on Head, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
His Horse, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Spotted Horse, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Little Spotted Horse, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Whirlwind Horse, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Wooden Leg, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Not Afraid of Pawnee, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Charles Picket Pin, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Ribs, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Red Sacks, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Holy Skin, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Black Sheep, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Iron Tail, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Charles Twiss,, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Fool Thunder, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Poor Thunder, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
White Wing, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Fast Whirlwind, Private, Nov. 27, 1890.
Iron Bull, Private, Dec. 23, 1890.
Elk, Private, Dec. 23, 1890.
White Elk No. 1, Private, Dec. 23, 1890.
Hawk Man, Private, Dec. 23, 1890.
Running Bear, Private, Dec. 23, 1890.
Eagle Shield, Private and
Corporal, Dec. 23, 1890.
Eagle Chief No. 1, Private, Dec. 23, 1890.
Runs Close to the Lodge, Private, Dec. 23, 1890.
Two Tails, Private, Dec. 23, 1890, Deserted Dec. 28, 1890.
Ike Little Hawk, Private, Dec. 23, 1890.
Takes The Enemy, Private, Dec. 24, 1890, Deserted Dec. 28, 1890.
White Bull, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Wounded Head, Private, Dec. 24, 1890, Deserted Dec. 28, 1890.
Good Elk, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
White Colt, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Looking Horse, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Red Dog, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Coming Ghost, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Has No Horses, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Albert Otto Eagle, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Leon Blue Horse, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Spotted Eagle, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Frank Conroy, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
White Face Bull, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Eagle Elk, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Bird Head, Private, Dec. 24, 1890, Deserted Feb. 1, 1891.
Big Boy, Private, Dec. 24, 1890, Deserted Feb. 1, 1891, apprehended Mar. 6, while serving in Co. B under name of Eagle Elk. Discharged May 26, 1891.
Short Bear, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
James Clinch (James Clincher), Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Coyotte, Private, Dec. 24, 1890, Deserted Dec. 28, 1890.
Harry Shields, Private, Dec. 24, 1890, Deserted Dec. 28, 1890.
Long Horns, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Pacer, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Eagle Chief No. 2, Private, Dec. 24, 1890, Deserted Dec. 28, 1890.
Old Hair, Private, Dec. 24, 1890, Deserted Dec. 28, 1890.
Allen Last Horse, Private, Dec. 24, 1890.
Eagle Bear, Private, Jan. 5, 1891.
Charging Thunder, Private, Jan. 5, 1891.
Man Above, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Thunder Bear, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Lone Bear, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
White Bear, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Little Bird, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Bad Heart Bull, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Louis Mathews, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Big Mouth, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Andrew Russell, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Peter Shangreau, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Little Shield, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
White Elk No. 2, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
James Grass, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Thomas Grass, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Martin Thunder Hawk, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Quick Hawk, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Head, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Edward Janis, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Black Kettle, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
Big Leggins, Private, Jan. 12, 1891.
William Bowen, Private, Jan. 23, 1891.
Bad Horse, Private, Transferred to company Jan. 24, 1891.