Was Sitting Bull the Sioux that Killed Custer?

Sitting Bull, the great Sioux warrior chief and holy man, led his band, the Hunkpapa as the first chief to be elected to represent all the free roaming Sioux (Teton Sioux).  He was also America's whipping boy for the debacle at Little Big Horn when the American people needed to know how an "ignorant Indian defeated West Point's greatest general"...neve mind that Custer graduated last in his class at West Point...Maybe Sitting Bull attended West Point incognito and learned military tactics that allowed him to outwit the U.S. Army?  Or he may have been trained in Europe for heaven's sake!  Stories circulated that Sitting Bull even learned to not only read and write English, but French and Latin as well as people tried to justify the 7th Calvary's defeat at the hands of the Sioux Indians.

Other legends claim he never fought at all - that he was hung over, scared and hid out rather that fought.  Rumor was that he gathered his wife and children and was found hiding 10 miles away only to return when he was told "Long Hair" (Custer) was dead.  After 100+ years of fiction, exaggerations and lies, the facts about the great Sioux chief are coming forward, but it took 100 years to get past the hatred, prejudice and blame to get there...

Sitting Bull considered himself his people's shield and protector.  To be a warrior and chief to the degree that Sitting Bull was required bravery, fortitude, generosity and wisdom.  His battle records are legendary.  He cared for other tribes who were destitute and staving, providing food and shelter within his own tribe.  Sitting Bull fought unceasingly for his homeland and was dedicated to preserving traditional Sioux way of life.

At the time of the battle of Little Big Horn, the Indian nations were gathered for their annual celebrations and reunion, including the Sun Dance.  Over 7000 people, including 2000 warriors were gathered together - something the Calvary never counted on.  Sitting Bull knew the whites (wischus) were coming and prayed, fasted and submitted to traditional rituals appropriate for a Sioux chief/holy man. 

Was he actually the Sioux that killed Custer?  As a holy man and leader of his people, he would have been deemed to important to lose in battle.  Yes, he probably was at the forefront from time to time encouraging his warriors, but his duty was to pray, and protect the women and children.  After the battle it was his duty to remind his men that honorable warriors did not loot or mutilate bodies - but his words were never followed sadly.

So he most likely wasn't Custer's killer but he wasn't the "Villain of the Plains" as the American press made him out to be.  After being hounded and starved, after taking his people to Canada for four years, Sitting Bull was the last of the Sioux chiefs to surrender in 1881.  He was held as a prisoner at Fort Randall for two years before returning to a reservation. 

The white man never broke Sitting Bull the man.  He was still standing for his people until he was murdered just before Wounded Knee.  Sitting Bull remains a legend as one of the greatest chief's in the America's history.  Too bad we never gave him the respect he deserved.

Next time...Mountains Meadows Massacre

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On This History: 
On April 9, 1881, Billy the Kid is found guilty of murdering the Lincoln County, New Mexico sheriff and is sentenced to hang after a day long trial.  

Vacation

Before we leave the Black Hills I would like to invite to grab a copy of a brand new book (at least at my library) called Black Hills by Dan Simmons published by Little Brown and Co 2010.  It is the fictional story of a young Sioux boy (Black Hills) who is there at Custer's death, and as the story unfolds you will learn not only more about Custer, but about the Sioux customs and beliefs.  A great story.

BTW Simmons makes a great point about the contrasts of Custer and asks you the question:
"Was he a megalomaniac fool who manage to get men, relatives (his nephew and brother in law were also killed that day along with 250 men) and himself killed through sheer arrogance and stupidty?

or did he die following orders in a valiant attack on the largest concentration of hostile Indian warriors in the history of our nation warfare against Indians?

In read the other day that Custer's wife Elizabeth later asked if the white man was right in what happened to the Indians?!

It's your decision...I am taking a little vacation.  Be back soon :)

The "Legend" of General George Custer

General George Armstrong Custer's legend is romantic, glamorous, dashing and mostly arrogant and selfish.
He has one objective - a great decisive victory over the Indians.  Had he lived a long life, perhaps his legend would have more reality into his character which was ruthless and insubordinate when his own goals didn't match his superiors.  He and his entire Calvary never saw that great victory, due to his single-minded and stubborn belief that he was above any authority when it came to Indians.

In 1867, he had his first experience with the Indians in Kansas where he pursued the Sioux and Cheyenne without any orders to do so. Originally ordered to set up a fort at Sturgis, SD, once that that was done, Custer set off on his own after the Indians without any orders.

Custer had a bad reputation among Indians already by invading Indian villages and killing most of them and sending the rest off to prison. For what it is not known...He was thought to have premonitions about his own death and history records it all at the battle of Little Big Horn (called Greasy Grass by the Indians) along with all his men.

His death was sent by smoke signals as far away as Montana and was said "his grave marked a Sioux high point" Somehow Custer was given full West Point honors.

Next time...the towns of the Gold Rush.