weeks before that it would be necessary to remove Sitting Bull and
several others at no distant day to put an end to their harmful
influence among the Sioux, but stated also that the matter should not
be precipitated, and that when the proper time came he could accomplish
the undertaking with his Indian police without the aid of troops. As
soon as the War Department assumed control of the Sioux agencies, it
was determined to make an attempt to secure Sitting Bull by military
power. Accordingly, orders were given to the noted scout, William
F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, who was well acquainted with
Sitting Bull and was believed to have influence with him, to proceed
to Standing Rock agency to induce him to come in, with authority to
make such terms as might seem necessary, and, if unsuccessful, to
arrest him and remove him from his camp to the nearest post, Fort
Yates. Cody arrived at Fort Yates on November 28, and was about to
undertake the arrest, when his orders were countermanded at the urgent
remonstrance of Agent McLaughlin, who represented that such a step at
that particular time was unwise, as military interference was liable
to provoke a conflict, in which the Indians would have the advantage,
as the warm weather was in their favor. He insisted that there was no
immediate danger from the dancing, and that at the proper time—when
the weather grew colder—he could take care of Sitting Bull and the
other disturbers whose removal he advised with the aid of the Indian
police, whom, in all his years of service, he had always found equal to
the emergency. The attempt was accordingly postponed. In the meantime
Sitting Bull had promised to come into the agency to talk over the
situation with the agent, but failed to keep his engagement. A close
watch was kept over his movements and the agent was instructed to make
no arrests except by authority from the military or the Secretary of
the Interior. (_G. D., 34._)
There is no question that Sitting Bull was plotting mischief. His
previous record was one of irreconcilable hostility to the government,
and in every disturbance on the reservation his camp had been the
center of ferment. It was at his camp and on his invitation that
Kicking Bear had organized the first Ghost dance on the reservation,
and the dance had been kept up by Sitting Bull ever since in spite of
the repeated remonstrance of the agent. At the same time the turbulent
followers of the medicine-man took every opportunity to insult and
annoy the peaceable and progressive Indians who refused to join them
until these latter were forced to make complaint to the agent. In
October, while the dance was being organized at his camp, Sitting Bull
had deliberately broken the “pipe of peace” which he had kept in his
house since his surrender in 1881, and when asked why he had broken
it, replied that he wanted to die and wanted to fight. From that time
he discontinued his regular visits to the agency. It became known that
he contemplated leaving the reservation to visit the other leaders of
dissatisfaction at the southern Sioux agencies, and to frustrate such
an attempt the agent had gradually increased the number of police in
the neighborhood of his camp, and had arranged for speedy information
and prompt action in case of any sudden move on his part. (_G. D., 35._)
[Illustration: PL. XCVI
STANDING ROCK AGENCY AND VICINITY]
Foreseeing from the active movements of the military that the arrest
of Sitting Bull was liable to be ordered at any moment, and fearing
that such action might come at an inopportune time, and thus result in
trouble, McLaughlin made arrangements to have him and several other
disturbers arrested by the Indian police on the night of December 6,
the weather and other things being then, in his opinion, most favorable
for the attempt. On telegraphing to the Indian department, however, for
authority, he was directed to make no arrests excepting upon order from
the military authorities or the Secretary of the Interior. In reply
to a telegram from General Ruger, McLaughlin stated that there was no
immediate need of haste, and that postponement was preferable, as the
winter weather was cooling the ardor of the dancers.
On December 12 the military order came for the arrest of Sitting Bull.
Colonel Drum, in command at Fort Yates, was directed to make it his
personal duty to secure him and to call on the agent for assistance and
cooperation in the matter. On consultation between the commandant and
the agent, who were in full accord, it was decided to make the arrest
on the 20th, when most of the Indians would be down at the agency for
rations, and there would consequently be less danger of a conflict at
the camp. On the 14th, however, late Sunday afternoon, a courier came
from Grand river with a message from Mr Carignan, the teacher of the
Indian school, stating, on information given by the police, that an
invitation had just come from Pine Ridge to Sitting Bull asking him
to go there, as God was about to appear. Sitting Bull was determined
to go, and sent a request to the agent for permission, but in the
meantime had completed his preparations to go anyhow in case permission
was refused. With this intention it was further stated that he had
his horses already selected for a long and hard ride, and the police
urgently asked to be allowed to arrest him at once, as it would be a
difficult matter to overtake him after he had once started.
It was necessary to act immediately, and arrangements were made between
Colonel Drum and Agent McLaughlin to attempt the arrest at daylight
the next morning, December 15. The arrest was to be made by the Indian
police, assisted, if necessary, by a detachment of troops, who were
to follow within supporting distance. There were already twenty-eight
police under command of Lieutenant Bull Head in the immediate vicinity
of Sitting Bull’s camp on Grand river, about 40 miles southwest of
the agency and Fort Yates, and couriers were at once dispatched to
these and to others in that direction to concentrate at Sitting Bull’s
house, ready to make the arrest in the morning. It was then sundown,
but with loyal promptness the police mounted their ponies and by
riding all night from one station to another assembled a force of 43
trained and determined Indian police, including four volunteers, at the
rendezvous on Grand river before daylight. In performing this courier
service Sergeant Red Tomahawk covered the distance of 40 miles between
the agency and the camp, over an unfamiliar road, in four hours and a
quarter; and another, Hawk Man, made 100 miles, by a roundabout way,
in twenty-two hours. In the meantime two troops of the Eighth cavalry,
numbering 100 men, under command of Captain E. G. Fechét, and having
with them a Hotchkiss gun, left Fort Yates at midnight, guided by Louis
Primeau, and by a rapid night march arrived within supporting distance
near Sitting Bull’s camp just before daybreak. It was afterward learned
that Sitting Bull, in anticipation of such action, had had a strong
guard about his house for his protection for several nights previous,
but on this particular night the Indians had been dancing until nearly
morning, and the house was consequently left unguarded.
[Illustration: +Fig. 76+—Red Tomahawk.]
At daybreak on Monday morning, December 15, 1890, the police and
volunteers, 43 in number, under command of Lieutenant Bull Head, a
cool and reliable man, surrounded Sitting Bull’s house. He had two
log cabins, a few rods apart, and to make sure of their man, eight of
the police entered one house and ten went into the other, while the
rest remained on guard outside. They found him asleep on the floor
in the larger house. He was aroused and told that he was a prisoner
and must go to the agency. He made no objection, but said “All right;
I will dress and go with you.” He then sent one of his wives to the
other house for some clothes he desired to wear, and asked to have his
favorite horse saddled for him to ride, which was done by one of the
police. On looking about the room two rifles and several knives were
found and taken by the police. While dressing, he apparently changed
his mind and began abusing the police for disturbing him, to which
they made no reply. While this was going on inside, his followers, to
the number of perhaps 150, were congregating about the house outside
and by the time he was dressed an excited crowd of Indians had the
police entirely surrounded and were pressing them to the wall. On being
brought out, Sitting Bull became greatly excited and refused to go,
and called on his followers to rescue him. Lieutenant Bull Head and
Sergeant Shave Head were standing on each side of him, with Second
Sergeant Red Tomahawk guarding behind, while the rest of the police
were trying to clear the way in front, when one of Sitting Bull’s
followers, Catch-the-Bear, fired and shot Lieutenant Bull Head in the
side. Bull Head at once turned and sent a bullet into the body of
Sitting Bull, who was also shot through the head at the same moment by
Red Tomahawk. Sergeant Shave Head was shot by another of the crowd, and
fell to the ground with Bull Head and Sitting Bull. Catch-the-Bear, who
fired the first shot, was immediately shot and killed by Alone Man,
one of the police, and it became a desperate hand-to-hand fight of
less than 43 men against more than a hundred. The trained police soon
drove their assailants into the timber near by, and then returned and
carried their dead and wounded into the house and held it for about two
hours, until the arrival of the troops under Captain Fechét, about half
past seven. The troops had been notified of the perilous situation of
the police by Hawk Man, who had volunteered to carry the information
from Sitting Bull’s camp. He succeeded in getting away, assisted by
Red Tomahawk, although so closely pursued that several bullets passed
through his clothing. In spite of the efforts of the hostiles, the
police also held possession of the corral, which Sitting Bull had
filled with horses in anticipation of his flight. When the cavalry
came in sight over a hill, about 1,500 yards distant from the camp,
the police at the corral raised a white flag to show where they were,
but the troops, mistaking them for hostiles, fired two shells at them
from the Hotchkiss, when Sergeant Red Tomahawk, who had taken command
after the wounding of his superior officers, paraded his men in line
and then rode out alone with a white flag to meet the troops. On the
approach of the soldiers Sitting Bull’s warriors fled up Grand river a
short distance and then turned south across the prairie toward Cherry
creek and Cheyenne river. Not wishing to create such a panic among them
as to drive them into the hostile camp in the Bad Lands, Captain Fechét
pursued them only a short distance and then left them to be handled
by the other detachments in that direction. Their wives and families,
their property and their dead, were left behind in the flight. As soon
as possible Captain Fechét also sent word to them by some Indian women
to return to their homes and they would not be molested. To further
reassure them, the troops at once began their march back to the post.
As a result of this sensible policy, very few of the Sitting Bull band
joined the hostiles. They had made no resistance to the troops, but
fled immediately on their appearance.
[Illustration: +Fig. 77+—Sitting Bull the Sioux medicine-man.]
The fight lasted only a few minutes, but with terribly fatal result.
Six policemen were killed or mortally wounded, including the officers
Bull Head and Shave Head, and one other less seriously wounded. The
hostiles lost eight killed, including Sitting Bull and his son Crow
Foot, 17 years of age, with several wounded. During the fight the women
attacked the police with knives and clubs, but notwithstanding the
excitement the police simply disarmed them and put them in one of the
houses under guard.
[Illustration: +Fig. 78+—Sketch of the country where fight took place
between Sitting Bull’s Indians and the government police, December
15, 1890.]
The warmest praise is given the Indian police for their conduct on this
occasion by those who are most competent to judge. Some who thus faced
death in obedience to orders had near relatives among those opposed to
them. Agent McLaughlin in one official letter says that he can not too
strongly commend their splendid courage and ability in the action, and
in another letter says: “The details of the battle show that the Indian
police behaved nobly and exhibited the best of judgment and bravery,
and a recognition by the government for their services on this occasion
is richly deserved.... I respectfully urge that the Interior Department
cooperate with the War Department in obtaining Congressional action
which will secure to these brave survivors and to the families of the
dead a full and generous reward.” Colonel Drum, under whose orders the
arrest was made, after stating that Sitting Bull was not hurt until he
began struggling to escape and until one of the police had been shot,
adds: “It is also remarkable that no squaws or children were hurt. The
police appear to have constantly warned the other Indians to keep away,
until they were forced to fight in self-defense. It is hardly possible
to praise their conduct too highly.” Notwithstanding the recommendation
of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Congress has taken no action in
recognition of their services on this occasion.
Before the action orders had been sent to the police to have with them
a wagon, in order to convey Sitting Bull quickly away from the camp,
so as to avoid trouble, but in the excitement of preparation this was
overlooked. The police returned to the agency late in the afternoon,
bringing with them their dead and wounded, together with two prisoners
and the body of Sitting Bull, which was turned over to the military
authorities at Fort Yates. The four dead policemen were buried at
the agency next day with military honors. Bull Head and Shave Head
died in the hospital soon afterward, with the consolation of having
their friends around them in their last moments. The agent states
that the large majority of the Indians were loyal to the government,
and expressed satisfaction at what they considered the termination of
the disturbance. Couriers were again sent after the fleeing Indians
by McLaughlin, warning them to return to the agency, where they would
be safe, or suffer the consequences if found outside the reservation.
Within a few days nearly 250 had come in and surrendered, leaving only
about one-third still out. Most of these soon afterward surrendered
with Hump on Cherry creek, while the remainder, about 50, joined Big
Foot or went on to Pine Ridge. (_G. D., 36; War, 8._)
Thus died Tata′nka I′yota′nke, Sitting Bull, the great medicine-man of
the Sioux, on the morning of December 15, 1890, aged about 56 years.
He belonged to the Uncpapa division of the Teton Sioux. Although a
priest rather than a chief, he had gained a reputation in his early
years by organizing and leading war parties, and became prominent by
his participation in the battle of Little Bighorn, in Montana, on
June 25, 1876, by which Custer’s command was wiped out of existence.
Being pursued by General Terry, Sitting Bull and his band made their
escape northward into Canada, where they remained until 1881, when he
surrendered, through the mediation of the Canadian authorities, on a
promise of pardon. To obtain subsistence while in Canada, his people
had been obliged to sell almost all they possessed, including their
firearms, so that they returned to their old homes in an impoverished
condition. After confinement as a prisoner of war until 1883, Sitting
Bull took up his residence on Grand river, where he remained until he
met his death. Here he continued to be the leader of the opposition to
civilization and the white man, and his camp became the rallying point
for the dissatisfied conservative element that clung to the old order
of things, and felt that innovation meant destruction to their race.
For seven years he had steadily opposed the treaty by which the great
Sioux reservation was at last broken up in 1889. After the treaty had
been signed by the requisite number to make it a law, he was asked by a
white man what the Indians thought about it. With a burst of passionate
indignation he replied, “Indians! There are no Indians left now but
me.” However misguided he may have been in thus continuing a losing
fight against the inevitable, it is possible that from the Indian point
of view he may have been their patriot as he was their high priest.
He has been mercilessly denounced as a bad man and a liar; but there
can be no doubt that he was honest in his hatred of the whites, and
his breaking of the peace pipe, saying that he “wanted to fight and
wanted to die,” showed that he was no coward. But he represented the
past. His influence was incompatible with progress, and his death marks
an era in the civilization of the Sioux. In the language of General
Miles, “His tragic fate was but the ending of a tragic life. Since the
days of Pontiac, Tecumseh, and Red Jacket no Indian has had the power
of drawing to him so large a following of his race and molding and
wielding it against the authority of the United States, or of inspiring
it with greater animosity against the white race and civilization.”
(_War, 9._)
On December 18 the Indians who had already fled to the Bad Lands
attacked a small party of men on Spring creek of Cheyenne river. Major
Tupper with 100 men of Carr’s division was sent to their rescue, and
a skirmish ensued with the Indians, who were concealed in the bushes
along the creek. The government wagons, while crossing the creek,
were also attacked by the hostiles, who were finally driven off by
reinforcements of cavalry under Captain Wells. On the same date over
a thousand Indians returned to Pine Ridge. News was received that
there were still about 1,500 fugitives camped on Cheyenne river in the
neighborhood of Spring creek. (_Colby, 1._)
The most dangerous leader of dissatisfaction in the north after the
death of Sitting Bull was considered to be Hump, on Cheyenne River
reservation. The agent in charge had long before recommended his
removal, but it was thought that it would now be next to impossible
to arrest him. Hump with his band of about 400 persons, and Big Foot
with nearly as many, had their camps about the junction of Cherry
creek and Cheyenne river. For several weeks they had been dancing
almost constantly, and were very sullen and apparently very hostile.
After serious consideration of the matter, the task of securing Hump
was assigned to Captain E. P. Ewers of the Fifth infantry, who had had
charge of this chief and his band for seven years and had their full
confidence and respect. He was then on duty in Texas, but was ordered
forward and reported soon after at Fort Bennett on the border of the
reservation. So dangerous was Hump considered to be that the civil
agents did not think it possible even for the officer to communicate
with him. However, Captain Ewers, without troops and attended only by
Lieutenant Hale, at once left the fort and rode out 60 miles to Hump’s
camp. “Hump at the time was 20 miles away and a runner was sent for
him. Immediately upon hearing that Captain Ewers was in the vicinity
he came to him and was told that the division commander desired him to
take his people away from the hostiles and bring them to the nearest
military post. He replied that if General Miles sent for him, he would
do whatever he desired. He immediately brought his people into Fort
Bennett and complied with all the orders and instructions given him,
and subsequently rendered valuable service for peace. Thus an element
regarded as among the most dangerous was removed.” After coming into
the fort, Hump enlisted as a scout under Captain Ewers, and soon
afterward, in connection with the same Lieutenant Hale, proved his
loyalty by bringing about the surrender of the Sitting Bull fugitives.
Subsequently Captain Ewers further distinguished himself by conducting
the northern Cheyenne—who were considered as particularly dangerous,
but who regarded Captain Ewers with absolute affection—from Pine Ridge
to Tongue river, Montana, a distance of 300 miles, and in the most
rigorous of the winter season, without an escort of troops and without
the loss of a single life or the commission by an Indian of a single
unlawful act. (_War, 10._)
The Sitting Bull fugitives who had not come in at once had fled
southward toward their friends and near relatives of Cheyenne River
reservation, and were camped on Cherry creek a few miles above its
junction with Cheyenne river at Cheyenne City. As their presence there
could serve only to increase the unrest among the other Indians in
that vicinity, and as there was great danger that they might attempt
to join those already in the Bad Lands, Captain Hurst, of the Twelfth
infantry, commanding at Fort Bennett, directed Lieutenant H. E. Hale
on December 18 to go out and bring them in. On arriving at Cheyenne
City the officer found it deserted, all the citizens excepting one man
having fled in alarm a short time before on the report of a half-blood
that the Sitting Bull Indians were coming and had sworn to kill the
first white man they met. Having succeeded in frightening the whole
population, the half-blood himself, Narcisse Narcelle, left at once for
the fort.
After some difficulty in finding anyone to assist him, Hale sent a
policeman to bring back Narcelle and sent out another Indian to learn
the situation and condition of the Indian camp. His only interpreter
for the purpose was Mr Angell, the single white man who had remained,
and who had learned some of the Sioux language during his residence
among them. While thus waiting, a report came that the Indians had
raided a ranch about 10 miles up the creek. Not hearing from his
scouts, the lieutenant determined to go alone and find the camp, and
was just about to start, when Hump, the late dangerous hostile, but now
an enlisted scout, rode in with the news that the Sitting Bull Indians
were approaching only a short distance away, and armed. Although from
the reports there was every reason to believe that they had just
destroyed a ranch and were now coming to attack the town, the officer,
with rare bravery, kept his determination to go out and meet them,
even without an interpreter, in the hope of preventing their hostile
purpose. Hump volunteered to go with him. The two rode out together and
soon came up with the Indians, who received them in a friendly manner.
There were 46 warriors in the party, besides women and children,
wagons and ponies. Says the officer: “I appreciated the importance of
the situation, but was absolutely powerless to communicate with the
Indians. I immediately formed the opinion that they could be easily
persuaded to come into the agency if I could but talk with them.
While I was trying by signs to make them understand what I wanted,
Henry Angell rode into the circle and took his place at my side. This
generous man had not liked the idea of my going among these Indians,
and from a true spirit of chivalry had ridden over to ‘see it out.’”
Verily, while such men as Ewers, Hale, and Angell live, the day of
chivalry is not gone by.
With Angell’s assistance as interpreter, the officer told the Indians
that if they would stay where they were for one day, he would go back
to the agency and return within that time with the chief (Captain J. H.
Hurst) and an interpreter and no soldiers. They replied that they would
not move, and, having directed Angell to kill a beef for them, as they
were worn-out and well-nigh starving, and leaving Hump with them to
reassure them, the lieutenant rode back to Fort Bennett, 40 miles away,
notified Captain Hurst, and returned with him, Sergeant Gallagher, and
two Indian scouts as interpreters, the next day. Knowing the importance
of haste, they started out on this winter ride of 40 miles without
blankets or rations.