indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第5章
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
recognized as certain。 The decision to attack Fort Phil Kearny was
unanimous without him； and in order to hold his position among his
tribesmen he joined in the charge。 Several bullets passed through his war
bonnet； and he was slightly wounded。
When the commission of 1867…1868 was sent out to negotiate with the
Sioux； Spotted Tail was ready to meet them； and eager to obtain for his
people the very best terms that he could。 He often puzzled and
embarrassed them by his remarkable speeches； the pointed questions that
he put； and his telling allusions to former negotiations。 Meanwhile Red
Cloud would not come into the council until after several deputations of
Indians had been sent to him； and Sitting Bull did not come at all。
The famous treaty was signed； and from this time on Spotted Tail
never again took up arms against the whites。 On the contrary； it was
mainly attributed to his influence that the hostiles were subdued much
sooner than might have been expected。 He came into the reservation
with his band； urged his young men to enlist as government scouts； and
assisted materially in all negotiations。 The hostile chiefs no longer
influenced his action； and as soon as they had all been brought under
military control； General Crook named Spotted Tail head chief of the
Sioux； thus humiliating Red Cloud and arousing jealousy and ill…feeling
among the Ogallalas。 In order to avoid trouble； he prudently separated
himself from the other bands； and moved to the new agency on Beaver
Creek （Fort Sheridan； Nebraska）； which was called 〃Spotted Tail Agency。〃
Just before the daring war leader； Crazy Horse； surrendered to the
military； he went down to the agency and roundly rebuked Spotted Tail for
signing away the freedom of his people。 From the point of view of the
irreconcilables； the diplomatic chief was a 〃trimmer〃 and a traitor； and
many of the Sioux have tried to implicate him in the conspiracy against
Crazy Horse which led to his assassination； but I hold that the facts do not
bear out this charge。
The name of Spotted Tail was prominently before the people during
the rest of his life。 An obscure orphan； he had achieved distinction by his
bravery and sagacity； but he copied the white politician too closely after
he entered the reservation。 He became a good manipulator； and was
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made conceited and overbearing by the attentions of the military and of
the general public。 Furthermore； there was an old feud in his immediate
band which affected him closely。 Against him for many years were the
followers of Big Mouth； whom he had killed in a duel； and also a party led
by a son and a nephew of the old chief； Conquering Bear； whom Spotted
Tail had succeeded at his death。 These two men had hoped that one or
the other of them might obtain the succession。
Crow Dog； the nephew of Conquering Bear； more than once taunted
Spotted Tail with the fact that he was chief not by the will of the tribe； but
by the help of the white soldiers； and told him that he would 〃keep a bullet
for him〃 in case he ever disgraced his high position。 Thus retribution lay
in wait for him while at the height of his fame。 Several high…handed
actions of his at this time； including his elopement with another man's wife；
increased his unpopularity with a large element of his own tribe。 On the
eve of the chief's departure for Washington； to negotiate （or so they
suspected） for the sale of more of their land； Crow Dog took up his gun
and fulfilled his threat； regarding himself； and regarded by his supporters；
not as a murderer； but as an executioner。
Such was the end of the man who may justly be called the Pontiac of
the west。 He possessed a remarkable mind and extraordinary foresight
for an untutored savage； and yet he is the only one of our great men to be
remembered with more honor by the white man； perhaps； than by his own
people。
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
LITTLE CROW
Chief Little Crow was the eldest son of Cetanwakuwa （Charging
Hawk）。 It was on account of his father's name； mistranslated Crow； that
he was called by the whites 〃Little Crow。〃 His real name was
Taoyateduta； His Red People。
As far back as Minnesota history goes； a band of the Sioux called
Kaposia （Light Weight； because they were said to travel light） inhabited
the Mille Lacs region。 Later they dwelt about St。 Croix Falls； and still
later near St。 Paul。 In 1840； Cetanwakuwa was still living in what is now
West St。 Paul； but he was soon after killed by the accidental discharge of
his gun。
It was during a period of demoralization for the Kaposias that Little
Crow became the leader of his people。 His father； a well…known chief；
had three wives； all from different bands of the Sioux。 He was the only
son of the first wife； a Leaf Dweller。 There were two sons of the second
and two of the third wife； and the second set of brothers conspired to kill
their half…brother in order to keep the chieftainship in the family。
Two kegs of whisky were bought； and all the men of the tribe invited
to a feast。 It was planned to pick some sort of quarrel when all were
drunk； and in the confusion Little Crow was to be murdered。 The plot
went smoothly until the last instant； when a young brave saved the
intended victim by knocking the gun aside with his hatchet； so that the
shot went wild。 However； it broke his right arm； which remained
crooked all his life。 The friends of the young chieftain hastily withdrew；
avoiding a general fight； and later the council of the Kaposias condemned
the two brothers； both of whom were executed； leaving him in undisputed
possession。
Such was the opening of a stormy career。 Little Crow's mother had
been a chief's daughter； celebrated for her beauty and spirit； and it is said
that she used to plunge him into the lake through a hole in the ice； rubbing
him afterward with snow； to strengthen his nerves； and that she would
remain with him alone in the deep woods for days at a time； so that he
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might know that solitude is good； and not fear to be alone with nature。
〃My son；〃 she would say； 〃if you are to be a leader of men； you must
listen in silence to the mystery； the spirit。〃
At a very early age she made a feast for her boy and announced that he
would fast two days。 This is what might be called a formal presentation
to the spirit or God。 She greatly desired him to become a worthy leader
according to the ideas of her people。 It appears that she left her husband
when he took a second wife； and lived with her own band till her death。
She did not marry again。
Little Crow was an intensely ambitious man and without physical fear。
He was always in perfect training and early acquired the art of warfare of
the Indian type。 It is told of him that when he was about ten years old； he
engaged with other boys in a sham battle on the shore of a lake near St。
Paul。 Both sides were encamped at a little distance from one another；
and the rule was that the enemy must be surprised； otherwise the attack
would be considered a failure。 One must come within so many paces
undiscovered in order to be counted successful。 Our hero had a favorite
dog which； at his earnest request； was allowed to take part in the game；
and as a scout he entered the enemy camp unseen； by the help of his dog。
When he was twelve； he saved the life of a companion who had
broken through the ice by tying the end of a pack line to a log； then at
great risk to himself carrying it to the edge of the hole where his comrade
went down。 It is said that he also broke in； but both boys saved
themselves by means of the line。
As a young man； Little Crow was always ready to serve his people as a
messenger to other tribes； a duty involving much danger and hardship。
He was also known as one of the best hunters in his band。 Although still
young； he had already a war record when he became chief of the Kaposias；
at a time when the Sioux were facing the greatest and most far…reaching
changes that had ever come to them。
At this juncture in the history of the northwest and its native
inhabitants； the various fur companies had paramount influence。 They
did not hesitate to impress the Indians with the idea that they were the
authorized representatives of the white races or peoples； and they were
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quick to realize the desirability of controlling the natives through their
most influential chiefs。 Little Crow became quite popular with post
traders and factors。 He was an orator as well as a diplomat； and one of
the first of his nation to indulge in politics and promote unstable
schemes to the detriment of his people。
When the United States Government went into the business of
acquiring territory from the Indians so that the flood of western settlement
might not be checked； commissions were sent out to negotiate treaties； an
