Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-12-18

Sitting Bull was born in 1887. His ambush
of General Custer first brought him fame.
Previous to that he was "medicine chief"
whose boast was that never to the white
man had he signed treaty. In the turbu-
lent times In 1874 around his standard rallied
the treacherous and dscontented OF all
tribes. He himself was regarded by many as
a shrewd coward, and 1t is said by some that
at the beginning OF the fight with Custer he
fed 10 a safe retreat where, seeing the awful.
uneven conflict being given into the hands OF
his countrymen, he rushed TO the front,
plunged into the thickest OF the fray and es.
tablshed himself chief. With these NAL
contents he committed many depredations
upon settlers and refused all terms of peace.
In 1875 the order was issued to bring Sitting
Bull in or drive him from the country, and
I'm March, 1876, General Crook started up into
the Sioux territory with "A strong force. He
mot the Sioux on st, Patrick's day. He was
defeated by Crazy Horse and forced TO re.
treat In May three expeditions pushed into
Sitting Bulls country. They were led by
Generals Crook, Terry and Gbbon. June II
Crook was again defeated.
Then il was that Sitting Bull looking for
better quarters and better grazing lands,
moved over into the broader valley of the
Little Big Horn, the stream made memorable
by the charge that Custer made upon It's
banks. General Terrys scouts came
across the trail and promptly report.
ed IL TO him. The General decided
at once to scout the trair and in looking
for man to lead he picked out the man who
was at the head Of his cavalry, the Lieu.
tenant Colonel commanding the Seventh
regiment cavalry Brevct Major General
Custer OF the United States army, a bravo.
dashlng, impetuous warrior but as the event
proved a soldier lacking in judgment to deal
with an enemy as cunning as the Sioux.
Custer was the ideal leader of the charge.
brave 20 rashness and as ambitious as a
Cesar, but he was not the kind of leader 70
"scout a trail" He was too ready TO fight
June 26 was the day named by Terry as tho
day on which he and Gibbon would reach the
valley of the Little Big Horn. Custer was
expected from the east the same day. Custer
disappointed them. He got there ahead of
timc-twenty four hours too sooh The scN.
enth cavalry was with him. A few miles
away was Crook with $500 men, but Custer,
even If he knew IL, would have none of them.
He seemed 20 want all the glory for the Sew.
enth and himself. sitting Bulls "village"
was hidden from sight under the bluffs OF the
river. When Custer first caught sight OF il
he drew rein, took of his broad trimmed hat,
whirled Il about his head and shouted "Cus.
ter's luck The biggest Indian village ON the
Continentw Thousands Of wigwams faced
the lndomitable seventh
As he plunged down the slope IL was the
last that Reno and his men ever saw OF him.
and soon he was hidden in the clouds of
dust.
The story Of Clusters charge was never
learned from a man who followed him.
They all had galloped to their death. The
tragic history is but the tale as il was told by
Indian scouts and the men who had done the
massacre.
sitting Bull fed for life across the border OF
the Dominion. Here he stayed until iss0.
when he surrendered 70 the United States on
a promise Of pardon.