About Face, Red Cloud

Before Little Bighorn, before the hatred to exterminate every living Indian in America, Red Cloud was scheduled to make a speech in New York City  in 1870.  The capacity audience was anxious to hear how the warrior had remained victorious over the US Army and had forced the United States government to abandon Bozeman Trail.  This was good stuff! 

What they got, however, was a changed man.  Before Red Cloud spoke, he had been given a tour of the eastern United States and had been shown the power and might of the country - the cities, the factories, the farms...even the US Arsenal and Navy Yard.  It was a tour fit for a king (or a chief) who needed to see what he stood against.

The Army in the field had not intimidated Red Cloud, but the show of strength and power of the US surely did..  He became dedicated to accommodating and adapting to the white man's ways.  His speech was simple and direct.  Still a champion of his people he told of their struggles to survive and appealed to the "good men" to help make his people self-sufficient and productive.

"We do not want riches.  We do not ask for riches.  Look at me, I am poor and naked, but I am Chief of the Sioux nation.  We want our children properly trained and brought up.  We look to you for your sympathy"

The applause was deafening, but when Red Cloud went back to his homeland to counsel his people to have patience, his words carried little weight.  Years of war lay ahead because of treaty violations and increasing encroachment of Sioux land by the white man.

Red Cloud's simple speech helped to touch off a national debate on Indian policy reform.  The reformers wanted to assimilate the Indians by teaching them to become self-sufficient farmers.  How were they to do this?  by cultural surgery.

Next time...The brutal reformers
______________________________
Today in Pioneer History:  "On February 15, 1903, toy store owner and inventor Morris Michtom places two stuffed bears in his shop window, advertising them as Teddy bears. Michtom had earlier petitioned President Theodore Roosevelt for permission to use his nickname, Teddy as the bears were named for him.

Dignity Not Included

It was America's 100 year anniversary but the nation was in a sober mood.  The defeat and death of Custer at Little Bighorn put a damper on the celebrations.  To the public, Custer had been the dashing Indian-fighting hero of the West.  The victorious Indians found their victory celebrations brief as well as nearly 1000 northern Cheyenne on their way to join Sioux chief Crazy Horse, were beaten back in July 1876 by Col. Wesley Merritt and the 5th Cavalry at a place called War Bonner Creek.  The defeated Cheyenne turned back to the Red Cloud Agency and ended their campaign.

The Army was too large now and cumbersome to chase the scattered tribes so they took measures to control the Indians instead.  On October 23, Red Cloud and his warriors were forced to disarm their camp at the Red Cloud Agency.  To add to their humiliation, General Crook told Red Cloud the United States no longer recognized him as a Sioux chief.  The army seized all the Indians arms and their ponies as well.  The ponies were later sold to buy cows for the Indians instead.

Congress decided to force the Sioux to give up the Black Hills and if they refused, they would no longer get any food.  Surprisingly, a few chiefs signed the treaty, despite the terms, including giving up all hunting rights outside the new reservation area.  Many Indians remained defiant.  Crook planned a winter campaign to "finish off the Indians."  In late October 1876 Col. Nelson Miles succeeded in tracking down Sitting Bull and his Sioux warriors at Cedar Creek in Montana.  Two day later, 2000 Sioux surrendered, but Sitting Bull escaped into Canada. 



Next time...Another great warrior's end
___________________________________
Today in Pioneer History:  "On January 29, 1861, Kansas, deeply divided over the issue of slavery, was granted statehood as a free state in a gesture of support for Kansas’ militant anti-slavery forces, which had been in armed conflict with pro-slavery groups since Kansas became a territory in 1854.

After Fort Kearny - A Momentary Peace

Fresh army troops on the Bozeman Trail didn't intimidate the Sioux.  In June 1867, Red Cloud felt strong enough to try an attack on Fort Kearny.  With over 1000 warriors, they rode toward the fort.  Along the way they encountered a 36 man army work detail under Captain James Powell.  The army men were armed, fearing such an attack, and 32 of the men made it to shelter behind wagon boxes.  For four and one half hours, they fought on until reinforcements arrived.  The "Wagon Box Fight" as it was called, took place on August 2nd, after which Red Cloud decided to postpone the attack on Fort Kearny.

As it turned out, the attack never happened as growing opinions in Washington wanted to abandon Bozeman Trail.  The coming of the railroad made it unnecessary.  Red Cloud was willing to talk peace only if the government agreed to leave the outposts in Sioux country.  The government yielded and in spring of 1868 the forts were ordered abandoned.  Red Cloud burned Fort Kearny to the ground.

In November, Red Cloud rode to Fort Laramie to sign a peace treaty which gave the Sioux the Black Hills and the right to hunt in the Powder Ridge region.  Both regions would be forbidden to white exploitation.  This seemed satisfactory to both sides...at least for the moment.

By the end of 1868, the Union Pacific Railroad had intruded into Wyoming and new towns were springing up along the tracks.  Six years later, Custer and his 7th Cavalry rode into the Black Hills reportedly to seek a site for a military post, but in reality to check out rumors of gold in the area.  That led to a rush into Indian Territory and once more the treaty signed was worthless. 

In a last effort to protect their lands, the Sioux and a few northern Cheyenne began to gather warriors - for the last stand.  Not only for Custer but for the Indians as well.

Next time...The Last Stand
_____________________________
Today in Pioneer History:  "On December 18, 1778, the English explorer Captain James Cook becomes the first European to discover the Hawaiian Islands when he sails past the island of Oahu. Two days later, he landed at Waimea on the island of Kauai and named the island group the Sandwich Islands, in honor of John Montague, who was the earl of Sandwich and one his patrons.

A Red Cloud over Dakota Territory

At Fort Laramie in 1866, the government met with western Sioux chiefs such as Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses, Spotted Tail and one of the most feared of all Sioux leaders - Ogala chief Red Cloud.  Red Cloud's bands had been attacking parties of settlers traveling through the great buffalo preserve on their way to Montana gold fields.  The Laramie council had been called to settle the matter of the Bozeman Trail.

Col. Henry B. Carrington at once announced that the War Department had ordered troops to construct forts along the Trail to protect the settlers.  Red Cloud, enraged, shouted, "The Great Father sends us presents and wants us to sell him the road, but white chief goes with soldiers to steal the road before Indians say Yes or No!"  (true point!)  Red Cloud, accompanied by other Sioux and northern Cheyenne, left the meeting in disgust before it even got started.

For months the soldiers along the Bozeman Trail could not leave their forts.  It was too dangerous.  In bands as many as 200, Red Cloud's braves ambushed the forts.  By the end of 1866 when Fort Kearny was finished, it became apparent that the Army's presence along the Bozeman Trail was not protecting anyone.

On December 21, 1866, William J. Fellerman, an impetuous young captain at Fort Kearny, boasted that he could ride through the entire Sioux Nation with just 80 men.  He was given that chance when he was sent out with just 80 men to relieve a detail under attack.  He allowed himself and his men to be lured into an ambush by a young Sioux named Crazy Horse.  The entire company, including their cocky leader, were killed. 

The loss reduced Fort Kearny to such a degree that they feared the entire command might be destroyed at any moment.  In the midst of a raging blizzard, a civilian, John Phillips, rode to Laramie alone in four days, and men were on their way to replenish Fort Kearny.  The extra men failed to intimidate the Sioux, however...

Next Time...The Battle at Fort Kearny
___________________________________
Today in Pioneer History:  "On December 15, 1919, hot molasses floods the streets of Boston, killing 21 people and injuring scores of others. The molasses burst from a huge tank at the United States Industrial Alcohol Company building in the heart of the city. It took weeks to clean the molasses from the streets of Boston. This disaster also produced an epic court battle, as more than 100 lawsuits were filed against the United States Industrial Alcohol Company.  (it was a slow news day in Pioneer History!)