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supremacy he recognized as certain。 The decision to attack Fort
Phil Kearny was unanimous without him； and in order to hold his
position among his tribesmen he joined in the charge。 Several
bullets passed through his war bonnet； and he was slightly wounded。
When the commission of 1867…1868 was sent out to negotiate
with the Sioux； Spotted Tail was ready to meet them； and eager to
obtain for his people the very best terms that he could。 He often
puzzled and embarrassed them by his remarkable speeches； the
pointed questions that he put； and his telling allusions to former
negotiations。 Meanwhile Red Cloud would not come into the council
until after several deputations of Indians had been sent to him；
and Sitting Bull did not come at all。
The famous treaty was signed； and from this time on Spotted
Tail never again took up arms against the whites。 On the contrary；
it was mainly attributed to his influence that the hostiles were
subdued much sooner than might have been expected。 He came into
the reservation with his band； urged his young men to enlist as
government scouts； and assisted materially in all negotiations。
The hostile chiefs no longer influenced his action； and as soon as
they had all been brought under military control； General Crook
named Spotted Tail head chief of the Sioux； thus humiliating Red
Cloud and arousing jealousy and ill…feeling among the Ogallalas。
In order to avoid trouble； he prudently separated himself from the
other bands； and moved to the new agency on Beaver Creek （Fort
Sheridan； Nebraska）； which was called 〃Spotted Tail Agency。〃
Just before the daring war leader； Crazy Horse； surrendered to
the military； he went down to the agency and roundly rebuked
Spotted Tail for signing away the freedom of his people。 From the
point of view of the irreconcilables； the diplomatic chief was a
〃trimmer〃 and a traitor； and many of the Sioux have tried to
implicate him in the conspiracy against Crazy Horse which led to
his assassination； but I hold that the facts do not bear out this
charge。
The name of Spotted Tail was prominently before the people
during the rest of his life。 An obscure orphan； he had achieved
distinction by his bravery and sagacity； but he copied the white
politician too closely after he entered the reservation。 He became
a good manipulator； and was made conceited and overbearing by the
attentions of the military and of the general public。 Furthermore；
there was an old feud in his immediate band which affected him
closely。 Against him for many years were the followers of Big
Mouth； whom he had killed in a duel； and also a party led by a son
and a nephew of the old chief； Conquering Bear； whom Spotted Tail
had succeeded at his death。 These two men had hoped that one or
the other of them might obtain the succession。
Crow Dog； the nephew of Conquering Bear； more than once
taunted Spotted Tail with the fact that he was chief not by the
will of the tribe； but by the help of the white soldiers； and told
him that he would 〃keep a bullet for him〃 in case he ever disgraced
his high position。 Thus retribution lay in wait for him while at
the height of his fame。 Several high…handed actions of his at this
time； including his elopement with another man's wife； increased
his unpopularity with a large element of his own tribe。 On the eve
of the chief's departure for Washington； to negotiate （or so they
suspected） for the sale of more of their land； Crow Dog took up his
gun and fulfilled his threat； regarding himself； and regarded by
his supporters； not as a murderer； but as an executioner。
Such was the end of the man who may justly be called the
Pontiac of the west。 He possessed a remarkable mind and
extraordinary foresight for an untutored savage； and yet he is the
only one of our great men to be remembered with more honor by the
white man； perhaps； than by his own people。
LITTLE CROW
Chief Little Crow was the eldest son of Cetanwakuwa （Charging
Hawk）。 It was on account of his father's name； mistranslated Crow；
that he was called by the whites 〃Little Crow。〃 His real name was
Taoyateduta； His Red People。
As far back as Minnesota history goes； a band of the Sioux
called Kaposia （Light Weight； because they were said to travel
light） inhabited the Mille Lacs region。 Later they dwelt about St。
Croix Falls； and still later near St。 Paul。 In 1840； Cetanwakuwa
was still living in what is now West St。 Paul； but he was soon
after killed by the accidental discharge of his gun。
It was during a period of demoralization for the Kaposias that
Little Crow became the leader of his people。 His father； a
well…known chief； had three wives； all from different bands of the
Sioux。 He was the only son of the first wife； a Leaf Dweller。
There were two sons of the second and two of the third wife； and
the second set of brothers conspired to kill their half…brother in
order to keep the chieftainship in the family。
Two kegs of whisky were bought； and all the men of the tribe
invited to a feast。 It was planned to pick some sort of quarrel
when all were drunk； and in the confusion Little Crow was to be
murdered。 The plot went smoothly until the last instant； when a
young brave saved the intended victim by knocking the gun aside
with his hatchet； so that the shot went wild。 However； it broke
his right arm； which remained crooked all his life。 The friends of
the young chieftain hastily withdrew； avoiding a general fight； and
later the council of the Kaposias condemned the two brothers； both
of whom were executed； leaving him in undisputed possession。
Such was the opening of a stormy career。 Little Crow's mother
had been a chief's daughter； celebrated for her beauty and spirit；
and it is said that she used to plunge him into the lake through a
hole in the ice； rubbing him afterward with snow； to strengthen his
nerves； and that she would remain with him alone in the deep woods
for days at a time； so that he might know that solitude is good；
and not fear to be alone with nature。
〃My son；〃 she would say； 〃if you are to be a leader of men；
you must listen in silence to the mystery； the spirit。〃
At a very early age she made a feast for her boy and announced
that he would fast two days。 This is what might be called a formal
presentation to the spirit or God。 She greatly desired him to
become a worthy leader according to the ideas of her people。 It
appears that she left her husband when he took a second wife； and
lived with her own band till her death。 She did not marry again。
Little Crow was an intensely ambitious man and without
physical fear。 He was always in perfect training and early
acquired the art of warfare of the Indian type。 It is told of him
that when he was about ten years old； he engaged with other boys in
a sham battle on the shore of a lake near St。 Paul。 Both sides
were encamped at a little distance from one another； and the rule
was that the enemy must be surprised； otherwise the attack would be
considered a failure。 One must come within so many paces
undiscovered in order to be counted successful。 Our hero had a
favorite dog which； at his earnest request； was allowed to take
part in the game； and as a scout he entered the enemy camp unseen；
by the help of his dog。
When he was twelve； he saved the life of a companion who had
broken through the ice by tying the end of a pack line to a log；
then at great risk to himself carrying it to the edge of the hole
where his comrade went down。 It is said that he also broke in； but
both boys saved themselves by means of the line。
As a young man； Little Crow was always ready to serve his
people as a messenger to other tribes； a duty involving much danger
and hardship。 He was also known as one of the best hunters in his
band。 Although still young； he had already a war record when he
became chief of the Kaposias； at a time when the Sioux were facing
the greatest and most far…reaching changes that had ever come to
them。
At this juncture in the history of the northwest and its
native inhabitants； the various fur companies had paramount
influence。 They did not hesitate to impress the Indians with the
idea that they were the authorized representatives of the white
races or peoples； and they were quick to realize the desirability
of controlling the natives through their most influential chiefs。
Little Crow became quite popular with post traders and factors。 He
was an orator as well as a diplomat； and one of the first of his
nation to indulge in politics and promote unstable schemes to the
detriment of his people。
When the United States Government went into the business of
acquiring territory from the Indians so that the flood of western
settlement might not be checked； commissions were sent out to
negotiate treaties； and in case of failure it often happened t