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man killed unarmed。 I will strike him again with my coup…staff to
count the first feather； who will count the second？〃
Again he led the charge； and this time they all followed him。
Sitting Bull was severely wounded by his own gun in the hands of
the enemy； who was killed by those that came after him。 This is a
record that so far as I know was never made by any other warrior。
The second incident that made him well known was his taking of
a boy captive in battle with the Assiniboines。 He saved this boy's
life and adopted him as his brother。 Hohay； as he was called； was
devoted to Sitting Bull and helped much in later years to spread
his fame。 Sitting Bull was a born diplomat； a ready speaker； and
in middle life he ceased to go upon the warpath； to become the
councilor of his people。 From this time on； this man represented
him in all important battles； and upon every brave deed done was
wont to exclaim aloud：
〃I； Sitting Bull's boy； do this in his name！〃
He had a nephew； now living； who resembles him strongly； and
who also represented him personally upon the field； and so far as
there is any remnant left of his immediate band； they look upon
this man One Bull as their chief。
When Sitting Bull was a boy； there was no thought of trouble
with the whites。 He was acquainted with many of the early traders；
Picotte； Choteau； Primeau； Larpenteur； and others； and liked them；
as did most of his people in those days。 All the early records
show this friendly attitude of the Sioux； and the great fur
companies for a century and a half depended upon them for the bulk
of their trade。 It was not until the middle of the last century
that they woke up all of a sudden to the danger threatening their
very existence。 Yet at that time many of the old chiefs had been
already depraved by the whisky and other vices of the whites； and
in the vicinity of the forts and trading posts at Sioux City； Saint
Paul； and Cheyenne； there was general demoralization。 The
drunkards and hangers…on were ready to sell almost anything they
had for the favor of the trader。 The better and stronger element
held aloof。 They would not have anything of the white man except
his hatchet； gun； and knife。 They utterly refused to cede their
lands； and as for the rest； they were willing to let him alone as
long as he did not interfere with their life and customs； which was
not long。
It was not； however； the Unkpapa band of Sioux； Sitting Bull's
band； which first took up arms against the whites； and this was not
because they had come less in contact with them； for they dwelt on
the Missouri River； the natural highway of trade。 As early as
1854； the Ogallalas and Brules had trouble with the soldiers near
Fort Laramie； and again in 1857 Inkpaduta massacred several
families of settlers at Spirit Lake； Iowa。 Finally； in 1869； the
Minnesota Sioux； goaded by many wrongs； arose and murdered many of
the settlers； afterward fleeing into the country of the Unkpapas
and appealing to them for help； urging that all Indians should make
common cause against the invader。 This brought Sitting Bull face
to face with a question which was not yet fully matured in his own
mind； but having satisfied himself of the justice of their cause；
he joined forces with the renegades during the summer of 1863； and
from this time on he was an acknowledged leader。
In 1865 and 1866 he met the Canadian half…breed； Louis Riel；
instigator of two rebellions； who had come across the line for
safety； and in fact at this time he harbored a number of outlaws
and fugitives from justice。 His conversations with these；
especially with the French mixed…bloods； who inflamed his
prejudices against the Americans； all had their influence in making
of the wily Sioux a determined enemy to the white man。 While among
his own people he was always affable and genial； he became boastful
and domineering in his dealings with the hated race。 He once
remarked that 〃if we wish to make any impression upon the pale…face；
it is necessary to put on his mask。〃
Sitting Bull joined in the attack on Fort Phil Kearny and in
the subsequent hostilities； but he accepted in good faith the
treaty of 1868； and soon after it was signed he visited Washington
with Red Cloud and Spotted Tail； on which occasion the three
distinguished chiefs attracted much attention and were entertained
at dinner by President Grant and other notables。 He considered
that the life of the white man as he saw it was no life for his
people； but hoped by close adherence to the terms of this treaty to
preserve the Big Horn and Black Hills country for a permanent
hunting ground。 When gold was discovered and the irrepressible
gold seekers made their historic dash across the plains into this
forbidden paradise； then his faith in the white man's honor was
gone forever； and he took his final and most persistent stand in
defense of his nation and home。 His bitter and at the same time
well…grounded and philosophical dislike of the conquering race is
well expressed in a speech made before the purely Indian council
before referred to； upon the Powder River。 I will give it in brief
as it has been several times repeated to me by men who were
present。
〃Behold； my friends； the spring is come； the earth has gladly
received the embraces of the sun； and we shall soon see the results
of their love！ Every seed is awakened； and all animal life。 It is
through this mysterious power that we too have our being； and we
therefore yield to our neighbors； even to our animal neighbors； the
same right as ourselves to inhabit this vast land。
〃Yet hear me； friends！ we have now to deal with another
people； small and feeble when our forefathers first met with them；
but now great and overbearing。 Strangely enough； they have a mind
to till the soil； and the love of possessions is a disease in them。
These people have made many rules that the rich may break； but the
poor may not！ They have a religion in which the poor worship； but
the rich will not！ They even take tithes of the poor and weak to
support the rich and those who rule。 They claim this mother of
ours； the Earth； for their own use； and fence their neighbors away
from her； and deface her with their buildings and their refuse。
They compel her to produce out of season； and when sterile she is
made to take medicine in order to produce again。 All this is
sacrilege。
〃This nation is like a spring freshet； it overruns its banks
and destroys all who are in its path。 We cannot dwell side by
side。 Only seven years ago we made a treaty by which we were
assured that the buffalo country should be left to us forever。 Now
they threaten to take that from us also。 My brothers； shall we
submit？ or shall we say to them： 'First kill me； before you can
take possession of my fatherland！'〃
As Sitting Bull spoke； so he felt； and he had the courage to
stand by his words。 Crazy Horse led his forces in the field； as
for him； he applied his energies to state affairs； and by his
strong and aggressive personality contributed much to holding the
hostiles together。
It may be said without fear of contradiction that Sitting Bull
never killed any women or children。 He was a fair fighter； and
while not prominent in battle after his young manhood； he was the
brains of the Sioux resistance。 He has been called a 〃medicine
man〃 and a 〃dreamer。〃 Strictly speaking； he was neither of these；
and the white historians are prone to confuse the two。 A medicine
man is a doctor or healer； a dreamer is an active war prophet who
leads his war party according to his dream or prophecy。 What is
called by whites 〃making medicine〃 in war time is again a wrong
conception。 Every warrior carries a bag of sacred or lucky charms；
supposed to protect the wearer alone； but it has nothing to do with
the success or safety of the party as a whole。 No one can make any
〃medicine〃 to affect the result of a battle； although it has been
said that Sitting Bull did this at the battle of the Little Big
Horn。
When Custer and Reno attacked the camp at both ends； the chief
was caught napping。 The village was in danger of surprise； and the
women and children must be placed in safety。 Like other men of his
age； Sitting Bull got his family together for flight； and then
joined the warriors on the Reno side of the attack。 Thus he was
not in the famous charge against Custer； nevertheless； his voice
was heard exhorting the warriors throughout that day。
During the autumn of 1876； after the fall of Custer； Sitting
Bull was hunted all through the Yellowstone region by the military。
The following characteristic letter； doubtless written at his
dictation by a half…breed interpreter； was sent to Colonel Otis
immediately after a daring attack upon his wagon train。
〃I want to know what you are doing； traveling on this road。
You scare all