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Red Cloud returned to his party and told his story； adding that he
had divulged nothing and had nothing to report。 Some were inclined
to censure him for not fighting； but he was sustained by a majority
of the warriors； who commended his self…restraint。 In a day or two
they discovered the main camp of the enemy and fought a remarkable
battle； in which Red Cloud especially distinguished himself
The Sioux were now entering upon the most stormy period of
their history。 The old things were fast giving place to new。 The
young men； for the first time engaging in serious and destructive
warfare with the neighboring tribes； armed with the deadly weapons
furnished by the white man； began to realize that they must soon
enter upon a desperate struggle for their ancestral hunting
grounds。 The old men had been innocently cultivating the
friendship of the stranger； saying among themselves； 〃Surely there
is land enough for all！〃
Red Cloud was a modest and little known man of about
twenty…eight years； when General Harney called all the western
bands of Sioux together at Fort Laramie； Wyoming； for the purpose
of securing an agreement and right of way through their territory。
The Ogallalas held aloof from this proposal； but Bear Bull； an
Ogallala chief； after having been plied with whisky； undertook to
dictate submission to the rest of the clan。 Enraged by failure； he
fired upon a group of his own tribesmen； and Red Cloud's father and
brother fell dead。 According to Indian custom； it fell to him to
avenge the deed。 Calmly； without uttering a word； he faced old
Bear Bull and his son； who attempted to defend his father； and shot
them both。 He did what he believed to be his duty； and the whole
band sustained him。 Indeed； the tragedy gave the young man at once
a certain standing； as one who not only defended his people against
enemies from without； but against injustice and aggression within
the tribe。 From this time on he was a recognized leader。
Man…Afraid…of…His…Horse； then head chief of the Ogallalas；
took council with Red Cloud in all important matters； and the young
warrior rapidly advanced in authority and influence。 In 1854； when
he was barely thirty…five years old； the various bands were again
encamped near Fort Laramie。 A Mormon emigrant train； moving
westward； left a footsore cow behind； and the young men killed her
for food。 The next day； to their astonishment； an officer with
thirty men appeared at the Indian camp and demanded of old
Conquering Bear that they be given up。 The chief in vain protested
that it was all a mistake and offered to make reparation。 It would
seem that either the officer was under the influence of liquor； or
else had a mind to bully the Indians； for he would accept neither
explanation nor payment； but demanded point…blank that the young
men who had killed the cow be delivered up to summary punishment。
The old chief refused to be intimidated and was shot dead on the
spot。 Not one soldier ever reached the gate of Fort Laramie！ Here
Red Cloud led the young Ogallalas； and so intense was the feeling
that they even killed the half…breed interpreter。
Curiously enough； there was no attempt at retaliation on the
part of the army； and no serious break until 1860； when the Sioux
were involved in troubles with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes。 In
1862； a grave outbreak was precipitated by the eastern Sioux in
Minnesota under Little Crow； in which the western bands took no
part。 Yet this event ushered in a new period for their race。 The
surveyors of the Union Pacific were laying out the proposed road
through the heart of the southern buffalo country； the rendezvous
of Ogallalas； Brules； Arapahoes； Comanches； and Pawnees； who
followed the buffalo as a means of livelihood。 To be sure； most of
these tribes were at war with one another； yet during the summer
months they met often to proclaim a truce and hold joint councils
and festivities； which were now largely turned into discussions of
the common enemy。 It became evident； however； that some of the
smaller and weaker tribes were inclined to welcome the new order of
things； recognizing that it was the policy of the government to put
an end to tribal warfare。
Red Cloud's position was uncompromisingly against submission。
He made some noted speeches in this line； one of which was repeated
to me by an old man who had heard and remembered it with the
remarkable verbal memory of an Indian。
〃Friends；〃 said Red Cloud； 〃it has been our misfortune to
welcome the white man。 We have been deceived。 He brought with him
some shining things that pleased our eyes； he brought weapons more
effective than our own： above all； he brought the spirit water that
makes one forget for a time old age； weakness； and sorrow。 But I
wish to say to you that if you would possess these things for
yourselves； you must begin anew and put away the wisdom of your
fathers。 You must lay up food； and forget the hungry。 When your
house is built； your storeroom filled； then look around for a
neighbor whom you can take at a disadvantage； and seize all that he
has！ Give away only what you do not want； or rather； do not part
with any of your possessions unless in exchange for another's。
〃My countrymen； shall the glittering trinkets of this rich
man； his deceitful drink that overcomes the mind； shall these
things tempt us to give up our homes； our hunting grounds； and the
honorable teaching of our old men？ Shall we permit ourselves to be
driven to and fro to be herded like the cattle of the white man？〃
His next speech that has been remembered was made in 1866；
just before the attack on Fort Phil Kearny。 The tension of feeling
against the invaders had now reached its height。 There was no
dissenting voice in the council upon the Powder River； when it was
decided to oppose to the uttermost the evident purpose of the
government。 Red Cloud was not altogether ignorant of the numerical
strength and the resourcefulness of the white man； but he was
determined to face any odds rather than submit。
〃Hear ye； Dakotas！〃 he exclaimed。 〃When the Great Father at
Washington sent us his chief soldier ＇General Harney＇ to ask for a
path through our hunting grounds； a way for his iron road to the
mountains and the western sea； we were told that they wished merely
to pass through our country； not to tarry among us； but to seek for
gold in the far west。 Our old chiefs thought to show their
friendship and good will； when they allowed this dangerous snake in
our midst。 They promised to protect the wayfarers。
〃Yet before the ashes of the council fire are cold； the Great
Father is building his forts among us。 You have heard the sound of
the white soldier's ax upon the Little Piney。 His presence here is
an insult and a threat。 It is an insult to the spirits of our
ancestors。 Are we then to give up their sacred graves to be plowed
for corn？ Dakotas； I am for war！〃
In less than a week after this speech； the Sioux advanced upon
Fort Phil Kearny； the new sentinel that had just taken her place
upon the farthest frontier； guarding the Oregon Trail。 Every
detail of the attack had been planned with care； though not without
heated discussion； and nearly every well…known Sioux chief had
agreed in striking the blow。 The brilliant young war leader； Crazy
Horse； was appointed to lead the charge。 His lieutenants were
Sword； Hump； and Dull Knife； with Little Chief of the Cheyennes；
while the older men acted as councilors。 Their success was
instantaneous。 In less than half an hour； they had cut down nearly
a hundred men under Captain Fetterman； whom they drew out of the
fort by a ruse and then annihilated。
Instead of sending troops to punish； the government sent a
commission to treat with the Sioux。 The result was the famous
treaty of 1868； which Red Cloud was the last to sign； having
refused to do so until all of the forts within their territory
should be vacated。 All of his demands were acceded to； the new
road abandoned； the garrisons withdrawn； and in the new treaty it
was distinctly stated that the Black Hills and the Big Horn were
Indian country； set apart for their perpetual occupancy； and that
no white man should enter that region without the consent of the
Sioux。
Scarcely was this treaty signed； however； when gold was
discovered in the Black Hills； and the popular cry was： 〃Remove
the Indians！〃 This was easier said than done。 That very territory
had just been solemnly guaranteed to them forever： yet how stem the
irresistible rush for gold？ The government； at first； entered some
small protest； just enough to 〃save its face〃 as the saying is； but
there was no serious attempt to prevent the wholesale violation of
the treaty。 It was this state of affairs that led to the last
great speech made by Red Cloud； at a gathering upon the Little
Rosebud River。 It is brie