indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第2章
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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
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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。
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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
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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
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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 brief； and touches upon the hopelessness of their
future as a race。 He seems at about this time to have reached the
conclusion that resistance could not last much longer； in fact； the greater
part of the Sioux nation was already under government
