Mistaken Assumptions

White fear and anger over the Ghost Dance focused on one Indian, Sitting Bull, Sioux chief and medicine man who had been the last to surrender to the Army and accept government authority.  It was actually Sitting Bull who was skeptical of the Ghost Dance, but he refused to intervene to stop it either.  Ironically the Indian agents believed that he had set off the Ghost Dance frenzy that they so feared, and wanted him arrested for it.

Major General Nelson Miles ordered his arrest in December 1890 along with that of Big Foot, a leader at the Cheyenne River Reservation.  On December 15th the Indian police seized Sitting Bull but a fight broke out.  In the fight six policemen, six Sioux, and Sitting Bull were killed.

After Sitting Bull's death, some 400 Sioux fled south to the Cheyenne River Reservation.  Most of them surrendered at Fort Bennett but the rest (about 38 in all) took refuge with Big Foot.  The Army kept close watch on Big Foot and because of the intense surveillance, he took his people, along with the remaining Sioux and fled to the Pine Ridge Reservation in the Dakota Badlands.

The Army pursued the fleeing Indians with several cavalry units and caught up with them within a few miles.  They arrested Big Foot and gave him a military escort upon his request to a place they camped 20 miles outside of Pine Ridge Reservation, called Wounded Knee.

Next time...a wild shot
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On March 22, 1765, hoping to raise sufficient funds to defend the vast new American territories won from the French in the Seven Years’ War, the British government passes the notorious Stamp Act.   The legislation levied a direct tax on all materials printed for commercial and legal use in the colonies, and helped plant seeds for a far larger movement against the British government and the eventual battle for independence.

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.  

Early Bird Catches the Worm...

The first group of Black Hills gold seekers weren't exactly lucky, but it had nothing to do with finding gold.  Met by General Custer, he suddenly decided that it would be profitable to uphold the US Treaty with the Sioux that protected the land as sacred and holy to the Sioux Nation.  If we know anything about Custer, we know that the last thing he cared about was holy and sacred land belonging to any Indian tribe!

With that excuse, Custer sent those first groups of gold seekers packing back to the railroad lines in Cheyene
While the settlers were setting up residence there, Custer was plotting how to go around both the US government and the Sioux to get to the claims himself...now that sounds more like the George we know who never was one much for following orders!

The first expedition of gold seekers in the Black Hills was actually led by Lt Warren in 1876 and was stopped by the Sioux 15 miles south of Sundance.  "The smell of the white man ruins buffalo hunting" they were told by a 26 year old medicine man by the name of Sitting Bull...

Next time... a little more of Custer and his history with the Indians of the West.