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Crazy Horse
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
[Lakota.] 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.
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It is known that Crazy Horse
did not like to have his
picture taken, but this photograph is thought
to be him.
This
image available for photographic prints
HERE!
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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."
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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, and 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.
Continued
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