| 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. 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. 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.” Crazy Horse loved horses, and his father gave him a pony of his own when he was very young. He became a fine horseman and accompanied his father on buffalo hunts, holding the pack horses while the men chased the buffalo and thus gradually learning the art. In those days the Sioux had but few guns, and the hunting was mostly done with bow and arrows. |
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| Another story told of his boyhood is that
when he was about twelve he went to look for the ponies with
his little brother, whom he loved much, and took a great
deal of pains to teach what he had already learned. They
came to some wild cherry trees full of ripe fruit, and while
they were enjoying it, the brothers were startled by the
growl and sudden rush of a bear. 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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, 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. Yet during the following ten years of defensive war he was never known to make a speech, though his teepee was the rendezvous of the young men. He was depended upon to put into action the decisions of the council, and was frequently consulted by the older chiefs. Like Osceola, he rose suddenly;
like Tecumseh he was always impatient for battle; like
Pontiac, he fought on while his allies were suing for
peace, and like Grant, the silent soldier, he was a man
of deeds and not of words. He won from Custer and
Fetterman and Crook. He won every battle that he
undertook, with the exception of one or two occasions
when he was surprised in the midst of his women and
children, and even then he managed to extricate himself
in safety from a difficult position. |
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The Indians came
together early in June, and formed a series of
encampments stretching out from three to four miles,
each band keeping separate camp. On June 17, scouts
came in and reported the advance of a large body of
troops under General Crook. The council sent Crazy
Horse with seven hundred men to meet and attack him.
These were nearly all young men, many of them under
twenty, the flower of the hostile Sioux. They set
out at night so as to steal a march upon the enemy,
but within three or four miles of his camp they came
unexpectedly upon some of his Crow scouts. There was
a hurried exchange of shots; the Crows fled back to
Crook’s camp, pursued by the Sioux. The soldiers had
their warning, and it was impossible to enter the
well-protected camp. Again and again Crazy Horse
charged with his bravest men, in the attempt to
bring the troops into the open, but he succeeded
only in drawing their fire. Toward afternoon he
withdrew, and returned to camp disappointed. His
scouts remained to watch Crook’s movements, and
later brought word that he had retreated to Goose
Creek and seemed to have no further disposition to
disturb the Sioux. It is well known to us that it is
Crook rather than Reno who is to be blamed for
cowardice in connection with Custer’s fate. The
latter had no chance to do anything, he was lucky to
save himself; but if Crook had kept on his way, as
ordered, to meet Terry, with his one thousand
regulars and two hundred Crow and Shoshone scouts,
he would inevitably have intercepted Custer in his
advance and saved the day for him, and war with the
Sioux would have ended right there. Instead of this,
he fell back upon Fort Meade, eating his horses on
the way, in a country swarming with game, for fear
of Crazy Horse and his braves! |