Once the ghost dance had spread, it did not take long for one of the Native American agents to tell their superiors in Washington that the Native American leaders should be arrested, chief Sitting Bull was killed in the attempt. When Chief Big Foot led his people south to seek protection at the Pine Ridge Reservation. On their journey,they were intercepted by the army who took them to the edge of the Wounded Knee to camp. The following morning as the Chief talked with the army officers, a shot was fired. Within seconds countless shots were being fired, men, women, and children were frantically fleeing towards a ravine right next to the camp only to be shot in crossfire. When the shooting had finally stopped, 300 Native Americans including Chief Big Foot, as well as 25 soldiers were dead. The remaining soldiers piled all the bodies into trenches. After the Massacre, the U.S. government awarded some of the soldiers medals.