follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky.
I was hostile to the white man... we preferred hunting to a life
of idleness on our reservations. At times we did not get enough
to eat and we were not allowed to hunt. All we wanted was
peace and to be left alone. Then Long Hair (Custer) came...
Soldiers came and destroyed our villages. They say we
massacred him, but he would have done the same to us.
Our first impulse was to escape but we were
so hemmed in we had to fight."
"We did not ask you white men to come here.
The Great Spirit gave us this country as a home.
You had yours. We did not interfere with you.
The Great Spirit gave us plenty of land to live on,
and buffalo, deer, antelope and other game.
But you have come here, you are taking my land
from me, you are killing off our game,
so it is hard for us to live.
Now, you tell us to work for a living,
but the Great Spirit did not make us to work,
but to live by hunting.
You white men can work if you want to.
We do not interfere with you, and again
you say why do you not become civilized?
We do not want your civilization!
We would live as our fathers did,
and their fathers before them."
~ Crazy Horse ~
Modest, fearless, a mystic, a believer in destiny, and much of a recluse,
he was held in veneration and admiration by the younger
warriors who would follow him anywhere...
I could not but regard him as the greatest
leader of his people in modern times."
Assistant Post Surgeon, Fort Robinson.
This was passed on by Chief Joe Chasing Horse,
a relative of Crazy Horse. He translated it from the
words of a grandmother who was present
when the words were spoken.
This is a statement of Crazy Horse as he sat smoking
the sacred pipe at Paha Sapa (Black Hills) with Sitting Bull
for the last time, 4 days before
he was assassinated.
"Upon suffering beyond suffering;
the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be
a blessing for a sick world.
A world filled with broken promises, selfishness
and separations. A world longing for light again.
I see a time of seven generations when all the colors
of mankind will gather under the sacred Tree of Life
and the whole Earth will become one circle again.
In that day there will be those among the Lakota
who will carry knowledge and understanding of
unity among all living things, and the young white ones
will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom.
I salute the light within your eyes where the
whole universe dwells. For when you are at that
center within you and I am that place within me,
we shall be as one."
~ Crazy Horse ~
He was killed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, in september 1877,
so that he lived barely thirty-three years.
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 coditions
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 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 Oglala 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.
See and judge for yourself...
