The American
Indian
HERO OR
POSTAGE STAMP VILLAIN
by
David Herrity -
Recently the USA
Post Office issued three small stamps each depicting a famous Sioux Indian. One
was Red Cloud, who was he, and what did he do to gain such an exalted position?
The early life of Red Cloud (known as Mak
Pia
Luta
in his native tongue) is shrouded in mysteries. Even the account written by
a full blooded Sioux Dr. Eastman, is riddled with absurdities. Old time Indian
informants said ~whatever they thought the interviewer wanted to hear, the
better the presents offered, the taller the story they told. Such fanciful
stories can be checked against Sioux tribal historian Winter Counts" - such
pictographs of the 1860 - 70's era depict Red Cloud with a red cloud above his
head.
One explanation for this is that from a distance his followers red blankets,
looked like a red cloud, on the other hand scholars have pointed out that the
1821 - 22 'Winter Count" (his
supposed year of birth) depicts a fiery meteorite, an event recorded at Fort
Snelling on the night of 20th September 1822. Sadly the "Winter Count"
of 1833 shows a
similar
event, but this time involving shooting stars. However, Sioux names were earned
or based upon dreams experienced during a boy's manhood initiation ordeal,
rather than events at birth. The truth is, no one really knows. Most Indians
agree that by 1865 Red Cloud was not a paramount chief but a Shirt Wearer"
or Head Soldier of the Oglala Sioux '-Bad Face" hand. This is where he
would probably have remained, lost to history and philately. The discovery- of
gold in
Montana
changed everything, catapulting Red Cloud from obscurity into the pages of
history. In the 1884 Senate documents, First Session, references are made to a
profiteering “Indian Ring"
which
had pressurised Washington into offering the Sioux lavish annuities, which the
"Ring" could siphon off in return for a peace treaty; permitting free
passage for pioneers and gold prospectors and permission to build three forts to
protect the Montana Road (better known as
the Bozeman Trail.) The Peace Commissioners Meeting with the Sioux,
Cheyenne
and Arapaho was plunged into disarray when Red Cloud stormed out of the meeting
taking 2,000 hostile warriors with him. Nevertheless the three forts were built,
and soon after, the wagons began to roll. Red Cloud began to probe here and raid
there. On 6th December 1866 he struck a devastating blow. Colonel Fetterman's
eighty one men were ambushed and massacred only four miles from Fort Phil
Kearny. This paralysed all traffic on the road indefinitely, and Fort C.F. Smith
had to be abandoned. The U.S.
Government
shamefacedly admitted it had been militarily defeated, and was forced to cede
vast tracts of
Wyoming
,
Montana
and the
Dakotas
as the price of peace. Although nobody told the Indians, the Treaty was never
ratified. The “Indian Rings" corrupt politicians saw to that. It has been
claimed that this was the root cause of the Custer Massacre ten years later. Red
Cloud inadvisably allowed himself to be persuaded to visit
Washington
, as a result of which he lost much of his influence, which was now confined to
Indians on or around the "Red Cloud" Agency. In July 1894 he was
arrested and fined $66 for killing game out of season. He had no money, but two
ponies from his herd settled the matter. In 1903 he abdicated his Chieftain
ship. He passed away on 10th December 1909. Latterly he had embraced
the Catholic faith and was buried with the full rites of the Catholic Church at
Holy Rosary Mission. He is reliably reported to have said of himself " I
as many others have done before me, have made mistakes in not doing something
I should have done and what I should not have done". The
thoughts of a very wise man
indeed.
THE
GREATEST PATRIOT by
David Herrity
-
Part 2 of a
United States
Indian Stamp Trilogy, Examines Crazy Horse (Tashunca Witco.)He was born a
member of the 'Hunkpatila' band of the Ogallala Sioux about 1842, near present
day
Rapid City
in the Black Hills of Dakota. Although photographs said to be of him exist, he
was never photographed, nor did he ever sign a Peace Treaty. During this
thirty-five year life, only the last four months were spent on a reservation,
even there he avoided contact with the white man whenever possible.
During
his manhood initiation ordeal, he is said to have experienced a spirit dream in
which he rode unharmed through a storm of arrows and bullets, while his own
people tried to hold him back, but he shook them off. During his lifetime he had
no fear of enemies, believing that only the Sioux could cause his death.
In
1865 his courage and integrity earned him the honoured position of 'Shirt
Wearer' (Head Soldier). As was the Sioux custom, Crazy Horse offered his worldly
possessions for his childhood sweetheart, but was outbid by No Water, a 'Bad
Face' sub chief. A tug of war ensued for No Water's new bride, ending in Crazy
Horse being shot in the jaw. To avoid reprisals, No Water fled to Red Cloud's
'Bad Face' village on the reservation. The affair outraged the 'Bad Faces' and
lost Crazy Horse his honoured 'Shirt Wearer' position. This however did not
deter his personal following of one thousand 'Hunkpatila'. They formed a new
warrior society the 'Hailstones; recognising Crazy Horse as its 'Shirt Wearer'.
In
1874 gold was discovered in the
Black Hills
, sacred to the Sioux. The profiteering 'Indian Ring claimed by
General
Custer to include Orville Grant brother of the President, lobied President Grant
into ordering Generals Sherman and Sheridan to mount a campaign in 1876 to
subjugate the Sioux, after which they were to be moved eastward from their
hunting grounds and reservations, to the
Missouri River
.
During
eight days in June 1876 Crazy Horse played a major role in the defeat of General
Crook and the Custer massacre, after which Sitting Bull wisely fled to
Canada
. Crazy Horse was forced to surrender on 6th May
1877 after being shelled by General Miles.
Although
the 'Old Man' chiefs leading the various reservation bands respected Crazy
Horse's bravery, they feared how his popularity amongst the warriors would
affect their own position. Crazy Horse was now nearing the point where he might
be elevated from Head Soldier to 'Old Man' chief. Urged on by No Water the
chiefs spread wild rumours about Crazy Horse's intentions. They then fuelled the
fire by encouraging a half-breed to misinterpret statements made by Crazy Horse
and his blood brother Touch the Clouds. By the time that Touch the Clouds
convinced General Lee of the falsehoods that were circulating, it was too late.
General Sheridan author of "The Only Good Indian is a Dead One' seized the
golden opportunity to remove his most dangerous potential objector to the
planned reservation closures. He peremptorily ordered Crazy Horse's arrest and
incarceration in the Dry Tortugas,
Florida
. On 5th September 1877 as partly prophesised in his spirit dream,
the arrest ended in a wild melee with the Sioux Indian police holding his arms
while a soldier bayoneted him. He died that night.
In
late October, while the Sioux were being sent eastward to the
Missouri
, the Hunkpatila' charged through their escorting soldiers fleeing north to
rejoin Sitting Bull in
Canada
. Along the way they secretly placed Crazy Horse's bones in a cairn at his
birthplace in the
Black Hills
. Despite offers of monetary gain not one 'Hunkpatila' ever revealed the site of
his final resting place.
In
1934 a Government Agency belatedly erected a Monument on the site of his death.
His life had been the stuff of legend, authors and Hollywood Directors.
In the 1950's Rock Hudson and Victor Mature both starred in films about him.
Latterly a huge representation of Crazy Horse has been carved in the
Black Hills
.
Created
July 2008