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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。
Early in the year 1876； his runners brought word from Sitting
Bull that all the roving bands would converge upon the upper Tongue
River in Montana for summer feasts and conferences。 There was
conflicting news from the reservation。 It was rumored that the
army would fight the Sioux to a finish； again； it was said that
another commission would be sent out to treat with them。
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！
The Indians now crossed the divide between the Tongue and the
Little Big Horn； where they felt safe from immediate pursuit。
Here； with all their precautions； they were caught unawares by
General Custer； in the midst of their midday games and festivities；
while many were out upon the daily hunt。
On this twenty…fifth of June； 1876； the great camp was
scattered for three miles or more along the level river bottom；
back of the thin line of cottonwoods five circular rows of
teepees； ranging from half a mile to a mile and a half in
circumference。 Here and there stood out a large； white； solitary
teepee； these were the lodges or 〃clubs〃 of the young men。 Crazy
Horse was a member of the 〃Strong Hearts〃 and the 〃Tokala〃 or Fox
lodge。 He was watching a game of ring…toss when the warning came
from the southern end of the camp of the approach of troops。
The Sioux and the Cheyennes were 〃minute men〃； and although
taken by surprise； they instantly responded。 Meanwhile； the women
and children were thrown into confusion。 Dogs were howling； ponies
running hither and thither； pursued by their owners； while many of
the old men were singing their lodge songs to encourage the
warriors； or praising the 〃strong heart〃 of Crazy Horse。
That leader had quickly saddled his favorite war pony and was
starting with his young men for the south end of the camp； when a
fresh alarm came from the opposite direction； and looking up； he
saw Custer's force upon the top of the bluff directly across the
river。 As quick as a flash； he took in the situation the enemy
had planned to attack the camp at both ends at once； and knowing
that Custer could not ford the river at that point； he instantly
led his men northward to the ford to cut him off。 The Cheyennes
followed closely。 Custer must have seen that wonderful dash up the
sage…bush plain； and one wonders whether he realized its meaning。
In a very few minutes； this wild general of the plains had
outwitted one of the most brilliant leaders of the Civil War and
ended at once his military career and his life。
In this dashing charge； Crazy Horse snatched his most famous
victory out of what seemed frightful peril； for the Sioux could not
know how many were behind Custer。 He was caught in his own trap。
To the soldiers it must have seemed as if the Indians rose up from
the earth to overwhelm them。 They closed in from three sides and
fought until not a white man was left alive。 Then they went down
to Reno's stand and found him so well intrenched in a deep gully
that it was impossible to dislodge him。 Gall and his men held him
there until the approach of General Terry compelled the Sioux to
break camp and scatter in different directions。
While Sitting Bull was pursued into Canada； Crazy Horse and
the Cheyennes wandered about； comparatively undisturbed； during the
rest of that year； until in the winter the army surprised the
Cheyennes； but did not do them much harm； possibly because they
knew that Crazy Horse was not far off。 His name was held in
wholesome respect。 From time to time； delegations of friendly
Indians were sent to him； to urge him to come in to the
reservation； promising a full hearing and fair treatment。
For some time he held out； but the rapid disappearance of the
buffalo； their only means of support； probably weighed with him
more than any other influence。 In July； 1877； he was finally
prevailed upon to come in to Fort Robinson； Nebraska； with several
thousand Indians； most of them Ogallala and Minneconwoju Sioux； on
the distinct understanding that the government would hear and
adjust their grievances。
At this juncture General Crook proclaimed Spotted Tail； who
had rendered much valuable service to the army； head chief of the
Sioux； which was resented by many。 The attention paid Crazy Horse
was offensive to Spotted Tail and the Indian scouts； who planned a
conspiracy against him。 They reported to General Crook that the
young chief would murder him at the next council； and stampede the
Sioux into another war。 He was urged not to attend the council and
did not； but sent another officer to represent him。 Meanwhile the
friends of Crazy Horse discovered the plot and told him of it。 His
reply was； 〃Only cowards are murderers。〃
His wife was critically ill at the time； and he decided to
take her to her parents at Spotted Tail agency； whereupon his
enemies circulated the story that he had fled； and a party of
scouts was sent after him。 They overtook him riding with his wife
and one other but did not undertake to arrest him； and after he had
left the sick woman with her people he went to call on Captain Lea；
the agent for the Brules； accompanied by all the warriors of the
Minneconwoju band。 This volunteer escort made an imposing
appearance on horseback； shouting and singing； and in the words of
Captain Lea himself and the missionary； the Reverend Mr。 Cleveland；
the situation was extremely critical。 Indeed； the scouts who had
followed Crazy Horse from Red Cloud agency were advised not to show
themselves； as some of the warriors had urged that they be taken
out and horsewhipped publicly。
Under these circumstances Crazy Horse again showed his
masterful spirit by holding these young men in check。 He said to
them