Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-12-26
SITTING BUT.
An Interesting and Graphic Account q
the Sioux Campaign OF 1879.

An interesting and Graphic Account -
the Sioux Campaign OF 1879.
Sitting Bull was not the inspiration
OF the great victory won by the Sioux.
UP TO this time he had no real claims
as war chief. Eleven days before
the fight there was sun dance.
His own people have since told us
these particulars. and the best story
teller among them was that bright
faced squaw OF acknowledgements
Spotted Horn Bull-who accompanied
the party on their Eastern trip. She
is own cousin TO Sitting Bull, and
knows whereof she speaks. The chief
had a trance and vision. Solemnly he
assured his people that within n few
days they would be attacked by vast
force of white soldiers, but that the
Sioux shonld triumph over them; and
when the Grows and Crooks command
appeared on the 18th. it was partial
redemption of his promise.
Wary scouts saw Reno's column ,
turning back down the Rosebud after
discovering the trail. and nothing. they
Judged, would come from that quarter.
All around Crooks camp on Goose
Creek the indications were that the
Gray Fox" was simply waiting for
more soldiers before he would apain
venture forth. Sitting Bull had no
thought OF new attack for days to
come. when, early on the morning of
the 25th, two Cheyenne Indians who
had started eastward at dawn came
dashing back TO the bluffs, and waving
their blankets. signalled. "White sol
diers-heaps-coming quick" In-
stantly all was uproar aud confusion.
OF course women and children had
to be hurried away, the great herds of
ponies gathered in, and the warriors
assembled to meet the coming foe.
Even as the chiefs were fastening TO ,
the council; lodge there came a crash
OF rapid volleys from the south. 1t
was RenO's attack-an attack from 9
new and utterly unexpected quarter
and this, with the news that Long
Hair was laundering down the ravine
across the stream, was too much for
Sitting Bull. Hurriedly gathering his
household about him. he dashed his
pony to the top of his speed, and fled
westward for safety. Miles he gall
loped before he dare stop for breath.
Behind him he could hear the roar of
battle. and on he would have sped but
for the sudden discovery that one of
his twin children was missing. Turn
ing. he was surprised to find the firing
dying away. soon ceasing altogether.
In half IN hour more he managed to
get back 10 camp. where the missing
child was found, but the battle had
been won without him. Without him
the Blackfeet and Uncapapas had
repealed Reno and penned him on the
bluffs. Without him the Ogalallas,
Brules and Cheyennes had turned back
Clusters daring assault. then rushed
forth and completed the death-gripping
circle in which he was held. Again
had Crazy Horse been foremost in the
fray, riding in and Draining the be-
wildered soldiers with his heavy war
club. Fully had his vision been real
lied. but-Sitting Bull was not there.
For n long time it was claimed for
him by certain sycophantic followers .
that from the council lodge he directed
the battle; but il would not do. When
the old sinner was finally starved out
of her Majcsty's territory, and came in
to accept the terms accorded him. even
his own people could not keep straight
faces when questioned as 10 the cause
of the odd names given those twins
The One-that- was-taken" and The
One-thdt-UdS-ief." Finally it all leaked
out. aud now ''uone so poor as to do
him reverence.
OF course it was his role to assume
all the airs of conqueror. to be inso-
lent and defiant to the High Joint
Commission" sent the following win
ter to beg him to come home and be
good; but the claims of Tatonka-e-
Yotanka to the leadership in the great
est victory his people ever won are
mere vapOrings. to be classed with the
bOastings of dozens of chiefs who were
scattered over the Northern reserva-
tons during the next few years. Rain
iu.the-Face used to brag by the hour
that he killed Custer with his own
hand, but the other Indians laughed at
him. Gall. of the Uncapapas. Spotted
Eagle, Kill Eagle Lame Deer, Lone
Wolf and all the varieties OF Bears and
Bulls were probably leading spirits in
the battle. but the man who more than
all others seems to have won the adj
miration of his fellows for skill and
daring throughout that stirring cam
paign. and especially on that bloody
day, is he who so soon after met his
death in desperate effort to escape
from Crooks guards, the warrior
Crazy Horse. Charles htng ~
Harper'S Magazine.