indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第3章
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conclusion that resistance could not last much longer； in fact； the greater
part of the Sioux nation was already under government control。
〃We are told；〃 said he； 〃that Spotted Tail has consented to be the
Beggars' Chief。 Those Indians who go over to the white man can be
nothing but beggars； for he respects only riches； and how can an Indian be
a rich man？ He cannot without ceasing to be an Indian。 As for me； I
have listened patiently to the promises of the Great Father； but his memory
is short。 I am now done with him。 This is all I have to say。〃
The wilder bands separated soon after this council； to follow the drift
of the buffalo； some in the vicinity of the Black Hills and others in the Big
Horn region。 Small war parties came down from time to time upon stray
travelers； who received no mercy at their hands； or made dashes upon
neighboring forts。 Red Cloud claimed the right to guard and hold by
force； if need be； all this territory which had been conceded to his people
by the treaty of 1868。 The land became a very nest of outlawry。 Aside
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from organized parties of prospectors； there were bands of white horse
thieves and desperadoes who took advantage of the situation to plunder
immigrants and Indians alike。
An attempt was made by means of military camps to establish control
and force all the Indians upon reservations； and another commission was
sent to negotiate their removal to Indian Territory； but met with an
absolute refusal。 After much guerrilla warfare； an important military
campaign against the Sioux was set on foot in 1876； ending in Custer's
signal defeat upon the Little Big Horn。
In this notable battle； Red Cloud did not participate in person； nor in
the earlier one with Crook upon the Little Rosebud； but he had a son in
both fights。 He was now a councilor rather than a warrior； but his young
men were constantly in the field； while Spotted Tail had definitely
surrendered and was in close touch with representatives of the
government。
But the inevitable end was near。 One morning in the fall of 1876 Red
Cloud was surrounded by United States troops under the command of
Colonel McKenzie； who disarmed his people and brought them into Fort
Robinson； Nebraska。 Thence they were removed to the Pine Ridge
agency； where he lived for more than thirty years as a 〃reservation Indian。〃
In order to humiliate him further； government authorities proclaimed the
more tractable Spotted Tail head chief of the Sioux。 Of course； Red
Cloud's own people never recognized any other chief。
In 1880 he appealed to Professor Marsh； of Yale； head of a scientific
expedition to the Bad Lands； charging certain frauds at the agency and
apparently proving his case； at any rate the matter was considered worthy
of official investigation。 In 1890…1891； during the 〃Ghost Dance craze〃
and the difficulties that followed； he was suspected of collusion with the
hostiles； but he did not join them openly； and nothing could be proved
against him。 He was already an old man； and became almost entirely
blind before his death in 1909 in his ninetieth year。
His private life was exemplary。 He was faithful to one wife all his
days； and was a devoted father to his children。 He was ambitious for his
only son； known as Jack Red Cloud； and much desired him to be a great
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warrior。 He started him on the warpath at the age of fifteen； not then
realizing that the days of Indian warfare were well…nigh at an end。
Among latter…day chiefs； Red Cloud was notable as a quiet man；
simple and direct in speech； courageous in action； an ardent lover of his
country； and possessed in a marked degree of the manly qualities
characteristic of the American Indian in his best days。
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SPOTTED TAIL
Among the Sioux chiefs of the 〃transition period〃 only one was
shrewd enough to read coming events in their true light。 It is said of
Spotted Tail that he was rather a slow…moving boy； preferring in their
various games and mimic battles to play the role of councilor； to plan and
assign to the others their parts in the fray。 This he did so cleverly that he
soon became a leader among his youthful contemporaries； and withal he
was apt at mimicry and impersonation； so that the other boys were
accustomed to say of him； 〃He has his grandfather's wit and the wisdom of
his grandmother！〃
Spotted Tail was an orphan； reared by his grandparents； and at an early
age compelled to shift for himself。 Thus he was somewhat at a
disadvantage among the other boys； yet even this fact may have helped to
develop in him courage and ingenuity。 One little incident of his boy life；
occurring at about his tenth year； is characteristic of the man。 In the
midst of a game； two boys became involved in a dispute which promised
to be a serious one； as both drew knives。 The young Spotted Tail
instantly began to cry； 〃The Shoshones are upon us！ To arms！ to arms！〃
and the other boys joined in the war whoop。 This distracted the attention
of the combatants and ended the affair。
Upon the whole； his boyhood is not so well remembered as is that of
most of his leading contemporaries； probably because he had no parents to
bring him frequently before the people； as was the custom with the
wellborn； whose every step in their progress toward manhood was
publicly announced at a feast given in their honor。 It is known； however；
that he began at an early age to carve out a position for himself。 It is
personal qualities alone that tell among our people； and the youthful
Spotted Tail gained at every turn。 At the age of seventeen； he had
become a sure shot and a clever hunter； but； above all； he had already
shown that he possessed a superior mind。 He had come into contact with
white people at the various trading posts； and according to his own story
had made a careful study of the white man's habits and modes of thought；
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especially of his peculiar trait of economy and intense desire to
accumulate property。 He was accustomed to watch closely and listen
attentively whenever any of this strange race had dealings with his people。
When a council was held； and the other young men stood at a distance
with their robes over their faces so as to avoid recognition； Spotted Tail
always put himself in a position to hear all that was said on either side； and
weighed all the arguments in his mind。
When he first went upon the warpath； it appears that he was； if
anything； overzealous to establish himself in the eye of his people； and as
a matter of fact； it was especially hard for him to gain an assured position
among the Brules； with whom he lived； both because he was an orphan；
and because his father had been of another band。 Yet it was not long
before he had achieved his ambition； though in doing so he received
several ugly wounds。 It was in a battle with the Utes that he first notably
served his people and their cause。
The Utes were the attacking party and far outnumbered the Sioux on
this occasion。 Many of their bravest young men had fallen； and the
Brules were face to face with utter annihilation； when Spotted Tail； with a
handful of daring horsemen； dodged around the enemy's flank and fell
upon them from the rear with so much spirit that they supposed that strong
reinforcements had arrived； and retreated in confusion。 The Sioux
pursued on horseback； and it was in this pursuit that the noted chief Two
Strike gained his historical name。 But the chief honors of the fight
belonged to Spotted Tail。 The old chiefs； Conquering Bear and the rest；
thanked him and at once made him a war chief。
It had been the firm belief of Spotted Tail that it was unwise to allow
the white man so much freedom in our country； long before the older
chiefs saw any harm in it。 After the opening of the Oregon Trail he；
above all the others； was watchful of the conduct of the Americans as they
journeyed toward the setting sun； and more than once he remarked in
council that these white men were not like the French and the Spanish；
with whom our old chiefs had been used to deal。 He was not fully
satisfied with the agreement with General Harney； but as a young warrior
who had only just gained his position in the council； he could not force his
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views upon the older men。
No sooner had the Oregon Trail been secured from the Sioux than Fort
Laramie and other frontier posts were strengthened； and the soldiers
became more insolent and overbearing than ever。 It was soon discovered
that the whites were prepared to violate most of the articles of their treaty
as the Indians understood it。 At this time； the presence of many Mormon
emigrants on their way to the settlements in Utah
