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
On their arrival at Camp Robinson, the post commander, Colonel Bradley,
refused to hold a council with Crazy Horse despite Lee’s efforts to
arrange one. Bradley’s orders gave him no alternative except to imprison
Crazy Horse, and an effort was made to put him in the guardhouse. When
he saw the cells inside Crazy Horse drew a knife and attempted to free
himself but he was bayoneted by one of the guards during the struggle.
Little Big Man was injured while trying to restrain Crazy Horse. Both
friendly and hostile Indians were in the excited crowd of witnesses, and
the friendly Indians prevented Crazy Horse’s friends from firing at the
guard. When another attempt to put the mortally wounded warrior into the
guardhouse was made, the Indians seemed so close to an outbreak that
Colonel Bradley reluctantly agreed to Surgeon McGillycuddy’s suggested
compromise and Crazy Horse was taken next door to the adjutant’s office
where he died shortly before midnight on September 5, 1877.[25]
Great excitement developed among the Indians around Camp Robinson as a
result of the killing of Crazy Horse and serious trouble was threatened,
but the efforts of Indian leaders prevented a violent outbreak. In a
report of the incident Lt. W. P. Clarke listed the Arapaho, Black Coal
and Sharp Nose, and the Sioux leaders Red Cloud, Young Man Afraid of His
Horses, American Horse, Yellow Bear, Little Big Man, Big Road, No Water,
Three Bears, and No Flesh as the men who prevented an outbreak by
controlling their people. That so important a man as Crazy Horse could
be killed in such a way without any more serious consequences than a few
days uproar was an indication that the war with the Sioux was about
over.
After Crazy Horse was killed the plan to relocate Red Cloud Agency on
the Missouri River went ahead rapidly. On October 25, 1877 the move was
begun, with troops from Camp Robinson escorting the Red Cloud Indians
and those from Camp Sheridan escorting the Spotted Tail Indians and the
hostiles of the late Crazy Horse’s camp. Although seemingly subdued, the
hostiles still managed to embarrass the soldiers. Before the two columns
had proceeded very far the northern Indians broke away from the Spotted
Tail column and joined the Red Cloud group. Then they broke away from
that column, and, carrying Crazy Horse’s bones, fled north to join
Sitting Bull in Canada, pausing on the way to raid in the Black Hills
and along the Bismarck stage line. The first report was that some 1,700
Indians had escaped, but a recheck cut the figure to 800.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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