Replacement starter trouble

[velomax]

My 1999 C1500 GMC Suburban had difficulty engaging the starter when key was turned all of the way.  It would click but not spin a few times before turning over.  Since the battery was new and the alternator seemed to charge the battery well, I assumed it was a starter going bad and ordered a new starter motor from Amazon.  I tested the new starter with jumper cables and it worked fine so I disconnected the negative battery cable and removed the old starter from the suburban and installed the new one.  When I reattached the battery there was a bigger than expected spark and the lamp under the hood did not light.  I put the key in the ignition and it was dead.  No courtesy lights worked.  I thought that I must have discharged the battery so I put my battery minder on and it indicated that the polarity was reversed.  I removed the starter and reconnected the battery and the under hood lamp came on dim, so I put the battery minder on it.  I retested the starter from another battery with jumper cables and seemed to work flawlessly.  Do I have a short?  Is it possible that the relay burned out?  Any help trouble shooting this would be greatly appreciated.