Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-02-19
LAST OF TIE GREAT CHIEFS
Career of Red Cloud, Who was
The Most Successful.

The Most Successful.
Red Cloud in his time was one of
the most successful, daring savage
chiefs of the great Sioux Nation.
During the hostilities waged so
brutally on the plains against the
encroachment of the whites, his name
was the dreaded one on every emf
grants tongue.
This great chieftain was born in
obscurity, but by his force of will.
intelligence, and bravery he became
in time the leader of his people. The
story is told of how he first gained
the title of "chief." It seems that a
well-known warrior of his tribe was
jealous of Red Cloud, and, with six
of his followers, waylaid the young
brave. Two were with rifles and the
others carried bows and arrows. Red
Cloud was armed with Winchester.
and, though wounded at the first fire,
he succeeded in killing all of his as
sailants. Soon followers increased in
number. He became a member of
the various secret societies and went
through the fearful agony and torture
Of the sun dance.
After the Fetterman massacre
QS66), he refused to meet the special
peace commission or to sign any
treaty. Instead he declared war
against the whites and called to HIS
aid the dissatisfied Indians of the
various tribes. Then came the Fort
Phil Kearny massacre, in which the
Indians were led by Red Cloud, who
showed the greatest bravery and dar.
ing, the battle resulting in the ami
hilation of the soldiers. After this
victory Red Cloud was proclaimed
the chief of all the Sioax tribes. and
has held this position for nearly forty
years.
In the outbreak which led to the
Custer massacre and the flight of
Sitting Bull to Canada (lS76), Red
Cloud declined to aid Sitting Bull.
Notwithstanding which Gen. Crook
deposed him from his command and
sent him to the Pine Ridge Agency,
5. d., and the government confiscated
his ponies and other property. In
1859, when government commits
sloners were attempting to induce the
Sioux to sell their reservation in
South Dakota, that it might be
opened to settlement, Red Cloud re.
fused to sign or to let his Indians
sign the treaty. When the govern
ment agreed to pay him $4,000 for
the ponies and property confiscated
in 1876 he signed the treaty and in
duced the chiefs still holding out to
do so also.
1t may be said to the credit of Red
Cloud that since he signed the first
"peace paper" he has never once
fought against the whites. He re-
fused an appeal of Sitting Bull to
order an uprising Of his tribe at Pine
Ridge Agency on the strength of the
Messiah craze (1S90-1), and after his
bucks had joined Sitting Bulls ghost
dancers in the Bad Lands he was the
first influential Indian to accept Gen.
Miles's invitation to return to the
agency under pledge of amnesty.
Red Cloud has visited Washington
ten times on business connected with
the Sioux, professes friendship for
the whites, and a desire to have his
people live like them. Yet he Is
very much opposed to the new idea
OF the government cutting off the
ratlons of the younger Indians and
In forcing them to work for their
iiving. In an address he issued to
ms people short time ago he said:
SHOULD all Indians refuse to accent
work they will remain as Indians
but should they follow in the
paths of the whites, in years to come
there will be no Indians, but instead
a lot of slaves"
In his old age Red Cloud has be-
come childish and returned to manv
OF the habits of his younger days
de has left the house which the
government built for him, and now
lives In a tent in the corner of his
yard. Although old and feeble. he
keeps in touch with the affairs of his
tribe through his private secretary