Fort Robinson: Outpost on the PlainsGrange, Roger T.
History
Fort Robinson: Outpost on the Plains
Grange, Roger T.
Fort Robinson (Neb.); Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1866-1895
When the Sioux Chief Crazy Horse came in and surrendered in 1877, he
formed all of his warriors in line, in advance of the women and
children; then, in front of this line, also mounted, he had some ten
of his headmen; and then in front of these he rode alone. I had been
sent with Indian scouts to meet him. He sent me word requesting a
similar formation on our part, and asked that I should ride on in
advance alone. Then we were to dismount and first shake hands, while
seated on the ground, that the peace might be solid. After all this
had been done his headmen came up, the peacepipe was produced, and we
solemnly smoked. One of his headmen put a scalp-jacket and war-bonnet
on me, and presented me the pipe with which peace had been made.[22]
What to do with the surrendering hostiles was a problem. Crazy Horse and
some of the other warriors were enrolled as scouts, and a grand review
was held for General Crook. Nevertheless, in General Sheridan’s opinion
these hostiles should be given the same treatment as troublesome Kiowa
and Cheyenne warriors who had been imprisoned at Fort Marion, near St.
Augustine, Florida, following previous campaigns.
Too, Crazy Horse acted in a manner which aroused suspicion on the part
of the military authorities at Camp Robinson. The soldiers described his
attitude as sullen and restless despite his expressed desire to live
peacefully. Some chiefs of the agency bands also found his increasing
popularity among their followers a threat to their positions.
Indian opposition to Crazy Horse was intensified after a council with
seventy leaders was held at Red Cloud Agency on July 27, 1877. General
Crook sent word that the Indians were free to go on the forty day
buffalo hunt he had promised them, and they in turn were to give their
word to return to the agency after the hunt. A delegation to Washington,
D. C. was also discussed. A feast was a usual part of such an important
meeting, and when Young Man Afraid of His Horses suggested that the
feast be held at the camp of Crazy Horse and Little Big Man no one
objected, but Red Cloud and his followers left the council room. Later
that night the Red Cloud faction voiced their objections to feasting at
Crazy Horse’s camp to Agent Irwin. They said Crazy Horse was
unreconstructed, tricky, unfaithful and waiting for his chance to escape
from the agency. Because the possibility that the hostiles would flee,
rejoin Sitting Bull in Canada, and begin the war anew was not a pleasant
prospect, the buffalo hunt was cancelled as a precautionary measure.
Crazy Horse had continued to speak in favor of the new northern agency
for his people once promised by General Crook. This was contrary to the
1877 government plan to move the agencies to the Missouri River where
supplies could be more economically delivered by river boat, an
arrangement favored by army officers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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