Crazy Horse - Lakota

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Crazy Horse - Lakota

Crazy Horse (Tashunkewitko) was born on the Republican River about 1845. He
was killed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, in 1877, so that he lived barely
thirty-three years.

He was an uncommonly handsome man. While not the equal of Gall in
magnificence and imposing stature, he was physically perfect, an Apollo in
symmetry. Furthermore he was a true type of Indian refinement and grace. He
was modest and courteous as Chief Joseph; the difference is that he was a
born warrior, while Joseph was not. However, he was a gentle warrior, a true
brave, who stood for the highest ideal of the Sioux. Notwithstanding all
that biased historians have said of him, it is only fair to judge a man by
the estimate of his own people rather than that of his enemies.

The boyhood of Crazy Horse was passed in the days when the western Sioux saw
a white man but seldom, and then it was usually a trader or a soldier. He
was carefully brought up according to the tribal customs. At that period the
Sioux prided themselves on the training and development of their sons and
daughters, and not a step in that development was overlooked as an excuse to
bring the child before the public by giving a feast in its honor. At such
times the parents often gave so generously to the needy that they almost
impoverished themselves, thus setting an example to the child of self-denial
for the general good. His first step alone, the first word spoken, first
game killed, the attainment of manhood or womanhood, each was the occasion
of a feast and dance in his honor, at which the poor always benefited to the
full extent of the parents' ability.

Big-heartedness, generosity, courage, and self-denial are the qualifications
of a public servant, and the average Indian was keen to follow this ideal.
As every one knows, these characteristic traits become a weakness when he
enters a life founded upon commerce and gain. Under such conditions the life
of Crazy Horse began. His mother, like other mothers, tender and watchful of
her boy, would never once place an obstacle in the way of his father's
severe physical training. They laid the spiritual and patriotic foundations
of his education in such a way that he early became conscious of the demands
of public service.

He was perhaps four or five years old when the band was snowed in one severe
winter. They were very short of food, but his father was a tireless hunter.
The buffalo, their main dependence, were not to be found, but he was out in
the storm and cold every day and finally brought in two antelopes. The
little boy got on his pet pony and rode through the camp, telling the old
folks to come to his mother's teepee for meat. It turned out that neither
his father nor mother had authorized him to do this. Before they knew it,
old men and women were lined up before the teepee home, ready to receive the
meat, in answer to his invitation. As a result, the mother had to distribute
nearly all of it, keeping only enough for two meals.

On the following day the child asked for food. His mother told him that the
old folks had taken it all, and added: "Remember, my son, they went home
singing praises in your name, not my name or your father's. You must be
brave. You must live up to your reputation."

Crazy Horse loved horses, and his father gave him a pony of his own when he
was very young. He became a fine horseman and accompanied his father on
buffalo hunts, holding the pack horses while the men chased the buffalo and
thus gradually learning the art. In those days the Sioux had but few guns,
and the hunting was mostly done with bow and arrows.

Another story told of his boyhood is that when he was about twelve he went
to look for the ponies with his little brother, whom he loved much, and took
a great deal of pains to teach what he had already learned. They came to
some wild cherry trees full of ripe fruit, and while they were enjoying it,
the brothers were startled by the growl and sudden rush of a bear. Young
Crazy Horse pushed his brother up into the nearest tree and himself sprang
upon the back of one of the horses, which was frightened and ran some
distance before he could control him. As soon as he could, however, he
turned him about and came back, yelling and swinging his lariat over his
head. The bear at first showed fight but finally turned and ran. The old man
who told me this story added that young as he was, he had some power, so
that even a grizzly did not care to tackle him. I believe it is a fact that
a silver-tip will dare anything except a bell or a lasso line, so that
accidentally the boy had hit upon the very thing which would drive him off.

It was usual for Sioux boys of his day to wait in the field after a buffalo
hunt until sundown, when the young calves would come out in the open,
hungrily seeking their mothers. Then these wild children would enjoy a mimic
hunt, and lasso the calves or drive them into camp. Crazy Horse was found to
be a determined little fellow, and it was settled one day among the larger
boys that they would "stump" him to ride a good-sized bull calf. He rode the
calf, and stayed on its back while it ran bawling over the hills, followed
by the other boys on their ponies, until his strange mount stood trembling
and exhausted.

At the age of sixteen he joined a war party against the Gros Ventres. He was
well in the front of the charge, and at once established his bravery by
following closely one of the foremost Sioux warriors, by the name of Hump,
drawing the enemy's fire and circling around their advance guard. Suddenly
Hump's horse was shot from under him, and there was a rush of warriors to
kill or capture him while down. But amidst a shower of arrows the youth
leaped from his pony, helped his friend into his own saddle, sprang up
behind him, and carried him off in safety, although they were hotly pursued
by the enemy. Thus he associated himself in his maiden battle with the
wizard of Indian warfare, and Hump, who was then at the height of his own
career, pronounced Crazy Horse the coming warrior of the Teton Sioux.

At this period of his life, as was customary with the best young men, he
spent much time in prayer and solitude. Just what happened in these days of
his fasting in the wilderness and upon the crown of bald buttes, no one will
ever know; for these things may only be known when one has lived through the
battles of life to an honored old age. He was much sought after by his
youthful associates, but was noticeably reserved and modest; yet in the
moment of danger he at once rose above them all -- a natural leader! Crazy
Horse was a typical Sioux brave, and from the point of view of our race an
ideal hero, living at the height of the epical progress of the American
Indian and maintaining in his own character all that was most subtle and
ennobling of their spiritual life, and that has since been lost in the
contact with a material civilization.

He loved Hump, that peerless warrior, and the two became close friends, in
spite of the difference in age. Men called them "the grizzly and his cub."
Again and again the pair saved the day for the Sioux in a skirmish with some
neighboring tribe. But one day they undertook a losing battle against the
Snakes. The Sioux were in full retreat and were fast being overwhelmed by
superior numbers. The old warrior fell in a last desperate charge; but Crazy
Horse and his younger brother, though dismounted, killed two of the enemy
and thus made good their retreat.

It was observed of him that when he pursued the enemy into their stronghold,
as he was wont to do, he often refrained from killing, and simply struck
them with a switch, showing that he did not fear their weapons nor care to
waste his upon them. In attempting this very feat, he lost this only brother
of his, who emulated him closely. A party of young warriors, led by Crazy
Horse, had dashed upon a frontier post, killed one of the sentinels,
stampeded the horses, and pursued the herder to the very gate of the
stockade, thus drawing upon themselves the fire of the garrison. The leader
escaped without a scratch, but his young brother was brought down from his
horse and killed.

While he was still under twenty, there was a great winter buffalo hunt, and
he came back with ten buffaloes' tongues which he sent to the council lodge
for the councilors' feast. He had in one winter day killed ten buffalo cows
with his bow and arrows, and the unsuccessful hunters or those who had no
swift ponies were made happy by his generosity. When the hunters returned,
these came chanting songs of thanks. He knew that his father was an expert
hunter and had a good horse, so he took no meat home, putting in practice
the spirit of his early teaching.

He attained his majority at the crisis of the difficulties between the
United States and the Sioux. Even before that time, Crazy Horse had already
proved his worth to his people in Indian warfare. He had risked his life
again and again, and in some instances it was considered almost a miracle
that he had saved others as well as himself. He was no orator nor was he the
son of a chief. His success and influence was purely a matter of
personality. He had never fought the whites up to this time, and indeed no
"coup" was counted for killing or scalping a white man.

Young Crazy Horse was twenty-one years old when all the Teton Sioux chiefs
(the western or plains dwellers) met in council to determine upon their
future policy toward the invader. Their former agreements had been by
individual bands, each for itself, and every one was friendly. They reasoned
that the country was wide, and that the white traders should be made
welcome. Up to this time they had anticipated no conflict. They had
permitted the Oregon Trail, but now to their astonishment forts were built
and garrisoned in their territory.

Most of the chiefs advocated a strong resistance. There were a few
influential men who desired still to live in peace, and who were willing to
make another treaty. Among these were White Bull, Two Kettle, Four Bears,
and Swift Bear. Even Spotted Tail, afterward the great peace chief, was at
this time with the majority, who decided in the year 1866 to defend their
rights and territory by force. Attacks were to be made upon the forts within
their country and on every trespasser on the same.

Crazy Horse took no part in the discussion, but he and all the young
warriors were in accord with the decision of the council. Although so young,
he was already a leader among them. Other prominent young braves were Sword
(brother of the man of that name who was long captain of police at Pine
Ridge), the younger Hump, Charging Bear, Spotted Elk, Crow King, No Water,
Big Road, He Dog, the nephew of Red Cloud, and Touch-the-Cloud, intimate
friend of Crazy Horse.

The attack on Fort Phil Kearny was the first fruits of the new policy, and
here Crazy Horse was chosen to lead the attack on the woodchoppers, designed
to draw the soldiers out of the fort, while an army of six hundred lay in
wait for them. The success of this stratagem was further enhanced by his
masterful handling of his men. From this time on a general war was
inaugurated; Sitting Bull looked to him as a principal war leader, and even
the Cheyenne chiefs, allies of the Sioux, practically acknowledged his
leadership. Yet during the following ten years of defensive war he was never
known to make a speech, though his teepee was the rendezvous of the young
men. He was depended upon to put into action the decisions of the council,
and was frequently consulted by the older chiefs.

Like Osceola, he rose suddenly; like Tecumseh he was always impatient for
battle; like Pontiac, he fought on while his allies were suing for peace,
and like Grant, the silent soldier, he was a man of deeds and not of words.
He won from Custer and Fetterman and Crook. He won every battle that he
undertook, with the exception of one or two occasions when he was surprised
in the midst of his women and children, and even then he managed to
extricate himself in safety from a difficult position.

Early in the year 1876, his runners brought word from Sitting Bull that all
the roving bands would converge upon the upper Tongue River in Montana for
summer feasts and conferences. There was conflicting news from the
reservation. It was rumored that the army would fight the Sioux to a finish;
again, it was said that another commission would be sent out to treat with
them.

The Indians came together early in June, and formed a series of encampments
stretching out from three to four miles, each band keeping separate camp. On
June 17, scouts came in and reported the advance of a large body of troops
under General Crook. The council sent Crazy Horse with seven hundred men to
meet and attack him. These were nearly all young men, many of them under
twenty, the flower of the hostile Sioux. They set out at night so as to
steal a march upon the enemy, but within three or four miles of his camp
they came unexpectedly upon some of his Crow scouts. There was a hurried
exchange of shots; the Crows fled back to Crook's camp, pursued by the
Sioux. The soldiers had their warning, and it was impossible to enter the
well-protected camp. Again and again Crazy Horse charged with his bravest
men, in the attempt to bring the troops into the open, but he succeeded only
in drawing their fire. Toward afternoon he withdrew, and returned to camp
disappointed. His scouts remained to watch Crook's movements, and later
brought word that he had retreated to Goose Creek and seemed to have no
further disposition to disturb the Sioux. It is well known to us that it is
Crook rather than Reno who is to be blamed for cowardice in connection with
Custer's fate. The latter had no chance to do anything, he was lucky to save
himself; but if Crook had kept on his way, as ordered, to meet Terry, with
his one thousand regulars and two hundred Crow and Shoshone scouts, he would
inevitably have intercepted Custer in his advance and saved the day for him,
and war with the Sioux would have ended right there. Instead of this, he
fell back upon Fort Meade, eating his horses on the way, in a country
swarming with game, for fear of Crazy Horse and his braves!

The Indians now crossed the divide between the Tongue and the Little Big
Horn, where they felt safe from immediate pursuit. Here, with all their
precautions, they were caught unawares by General Custer, in the midst of
their midday games and festivities, while many were out upon the daily hunt.

On this twenty-fifth of June, 1876, the great camp was scattered for three
miles or more along the level river bottom, back of the thin line of
cottonwoods -- five circular rows of teepees, ranging from half a mile to a
mile and a half in circumference. Here and there stood out a large, white,
solitary teepee; these were the lodges or "clubs" of the young men. Crazy
Horse was a member of the "Strong Hearts" and the "Tokala" or Fox lodge. He
was watching a game of ring-toss when the warning came from the southern end
of the camp of the approach of troops.

The Sioux and the Cheyennes were "minute men", and although taken by
surprise, they instantly responded. Meanwhile, the women and children were
thrown into confusion. Dogs were howling, ponies running hither and thither,
pursued by their owners, while many of the old men were singing their lodge
songs to encourage the warriors, or praising the "strong heart" of Crazy
Horse.

That leader had quickly saddled his favorite war pony and was starting with
his young men for the south end of the camp, when a fresh alarm came from
the opposite direction, and looking up, he saw Custer's force upon the top
of the bluff directly across the river. As quick as a flash, he took in the
situation -- the enemy had planned to attack the camp at both ends at once;
and knowing that Custer could not ford the river at that point, he instantly
led his men northward to the ford to cut him off. The Cheyennes followed
closely. Custer must have seen that wonderful dash up the sage-bush plain,
and one wonders whether he realized its meaning. In a very few minutes, this
wild general of the plains had outwitted one of the most brilliant leaders
of the Civil War and ended at once his military career and his life.

In this dashing charge, Crazy Horse snatched his most famous victory out of
what seemed frightful peril, for the Sioux could not know how many were
behind Custer. He was caught in his own trap. To the soldiers it must have
seemed as if the Indians rose up from the earth to overwhelm them. They
closed in from three sides and fought until not a white man was left alive.
Then they went down to Reno's stand and found him so well intrenched in a
deep gully that it was impossible to dislodge him. Gall and his men held him
there until the approach of General Terry compelled the Sioux to break camp
and scatter in different directions.

While Sitting Bull was pursued into Canada, Crazy Horse and the Cheyennes
wandered about, comparatively undisturbed, during the rest of that year,
until in the winter the army surprised the Cheyennes, but did not do them
much harm, possibly because they knew that Crazy Horse was not far off. His
name was held in wholesome respect. From time to time, delegations of
friendly Indians were sent to him, to urge him to come in to the
reservation, promising a full hearing and fair treatment.

For some time he held out, but the rapid disappearance of the buffalo, their
only means of support, probably weighed with him more than any other
influence. In July, 1877, he was finally prevailed upon to come in to Fort
Robinson, Nebraska, with several thousand Indians, most of them Ogallala and
Minneconwoju Sioux, on the distinct understanding that the government would
hear and adjust their grievances.

At this juncture General Crook proclaimed Spotted Tail, who had rendered
much valuable service to the army, head chief of the Sioux, which was
resented by many. The attention paid Crazy Horse was offensive to Spotted
Tail and the Indian scouts, who planned a conspiracy against him. They
reported to General Crook that the young chief would murder him at the next
council, and stampede the Sioux into another war. He was urged not to attend
the council and did not, but sent another officer to represent him.
Meanwhile the friends of Crazy Horse discovered the plot and told him of it.
His reply was, "Only cowards are murderers."

His wife was critically ill at the time, and he decided to take her to her
parents at Spotted Tail agency, whereupon his enemies circulated the story
that he had fled, and a party of scouts was sent after him. They overtook
him riding with his wife and one other but did not undertake to arrest him,
and after he had left the sick woman with her people he went to call on
Captain Lea, the agent for the Brules, accompanied by all the warriors of
the Minneconwoju band. This volunteer escort made an imposing appearance on
horseback, shouting and singing, and in the words of Captain Lea himself and
the missionary, the Reverend Mr. Cleveland, the situation was extremely
critical. Indeed, the scouts who had followed Crazy Horse from Red Cloud
agency were advised not to show themselves, as some of the warriors had
urged that they be taken out and horsewhipped publicly. Under these
circumstances Crazy Horse again showed his masterful spirit by holding these
young men in check. He said to them in his quiet way: "It is well to be
brave in the field of battle; it is cowardly to display bravery against
one's own tribesmen. These scouts have been compelled to do what they did;
they are no better than servants of the white officers. I came here on a
peaceful errand."

The captain urged him to report at army headquarters to explain himself and
correct false rumors, and on his giving consent, furnished him with a wagon
and escort. It has been said that he went back under arrest, but this is
untrue. Indians have boasted that they had a hand in bringing him in, but
their stories are without foundation. He went of his own accord, either
suspecting no treachery or determined to defy it.

When he reached the military camp, Little Big Man walked arm-in-arm with
him, and his cousin and friend, Touch-the-Cloud, was just in advance. After
they passed the sentinel, an officer approached them and walked on his other
side. He was unarmed but for the knife which is carried for ordinary uses by
women as well as men. Unsuspectingly he walked toward the guardhouse, when
Touch-the-Cloud suddenly turned back exclaiming: "Cousin, they will put you
in prison!"

"Another white man's trick! Let me go! Let me die fighting!" cried Crazy
Horse. He stopped and tried to free himself and draw his knife, but both
arms were held fast by Little Big Man and the officer. While he struggled
thus, a soldier thrust him through with his bayonet from behind. The wound
was mortal, and he died in the course of that night, his old father singing
the death song over him and afterward carrying away the body, which they
said must not be further polluted by the touch of a white man. They hid it
somewhere in the Bad Lands, his resting place to this day.

Thus died one of the ablest and truest American Indians. His life was ideal;
his record clean. He was never involved in any of the numerous massacres on
the trail, but was a leader in practically every open fight. Such characters
as those of Crazy Horse and Chief Joseph are not easily found among
so-called civilized people. The reputation of great men is apt to be
shadowed by questionable motives and policies, but here are two pure
patriots, as worthy of honor as any who ever breathed God's air in the wide
spaces of a new world.