indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第13节
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of personality。 He had never fought the whites up to this time； and
indeed no 〃coup〃 was counted for killing or scalping a white man。
Young Crazy Horse was twenty…one years old when all the Teton
Sioux chiefs （the western or plains dwellers） met in council to determine
upon their future policy toward the invader。 Their former agreements
had been by individual bands； each for itself； and every one was friendly。
They reasoned that the country was wide； and that the white traders should
be made welcome。 Up to this time they had anticipated no conflict。
They had permitted the Oregon Trail； but now to their astonishment forts
were built and garrisoned in their territory。
Most of the chiefs advocated a strong resistance。 There were a few
influential men who desired still to live in peace； and who were willing to
make another treaty。 Among these were White Bull； Two Kettle； Four
Bears； and Swift Bear。 Even Spotted Tail； afterward the great peace chief；
was at this time with the majority； who decided in the year 1866 to defend
their rights and territory by force。 Attacks were to be made upon the
forts within their country and on every trespasser on the same。
Crazy Horse took no part in the discussion； but he and all the young
warriors were in accord with the decision of the council。 Although so
young； he was already a leader among them。 Other prominent young
braves were Sword （brother of the man of that name who was long captain
of police at Pine Ridge）； the younger Hump； Charging Bear； Spotted Elk；
Crow King； No Water； Big Road； He Dog； the nephew of Red Cloud； and
Touch…the…Cloud； intimate friend of Crazy Horse。
The attack on Fort Phil Kearny was the first fruits of the new policy；
and here Crazy Horse was chosen to lead the attack on the woodchoppers；
designed to draw the soldiers out of the fort； while an army of six hundred
lay in wait for them。 The success of this stratagem was further enhanced
by his masterful handling of his men。 From this time on a general war
was inaugurated； Sitting Bull looked to him as a principal war leader； and
even the Cheyenne chiefs； allies of the Sioux； practically acknowledged
his leadership。 Yet during the following ten years of defensive war he
was never known to make a speech； though his teepee was the rendezvous
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of the young men。 He was depended upon to put into action the
decisions of the council； and was frequently consulted by the older chiefs。
Like Osceola； he rose suddenly； like Tecumseh he was always
impatient for battle； like Pontiac； he fought on while his allies were suing
for peace； and like Grant； the silent soldier； he was a man of deeds and not
of words。 He won from Custer and Fetterman and Crook。 He won
every battle that he undertook； with the exception of one or two occasions
when he was surprised in the midst of his women and children； and even
then he managed to extricate himself in safety from a difficult position。
Early in the year 1876； his runners brought word from Sitting Bull that
all the roving bands would converge upon the upper Tongue River in
Montana for summer feasts and conferences。 There was conflicting news
from the reservation。 It was rumored that the army would fight the Sioux
to a finish； again； it was said that another commission would be sent out to
treat with them。
The Indians came together early in June； and formed a series of
encampments stretching out from three to four miles； each band keeping
separate camp。 On June 17； scouts came in and reported the advance of a
large body of troops under General Crook。 The council sent Crazy Horse
with seven hundred men to meet and attack him。 These were nearly all
young men； many of them under twenty； the flower of the hostile Sioux。
They set out at night so as to steal a march upon the enemy； but within
three or four miles of his camp they came unexpectedly upon some of his
Crow scouts。 There was a hurried exchange of shots； the Crows fled
back to Crook's camp； pursued by the Sioux。 The soldiers had their
warning； and it was impossible to enter the well…protected camp。 Again
and again Crazy Horse charged with his bravest men； in the attempt to
bring the troops into the open； but he succeeded only in drawing their fire。
Toward afternoon he withdrew； and returned to camp disappointed。 His
scouts remained to watch Crook's movements； and later brought word that
he had retreated to Goose Creek and seemed to have no further disposition
to disturb the Sioux。 It is well known to us that it is Crook rather than
Reno who is to be blamed for cowardice in connection with Custer's fate。
The latter had no chance to do anything； he was lucky to save himself； but
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if Crook had kept on his way； as ordered； to meet Terry； with his one
thousand regulars and two hundred Crow and Shoshone scouts； he would
inevitably have intercepted Custer in his advance and saved the day for
him； and war with the Sioux would have ended right there。 Instead of
this； he fell back upon Fort Meade； eating his horses on the way； in a
country swarming with game； for fear of Crazy Horse and his braves！
The Indians now crossed the divide between the Tongue and the Little
Big Horn； where they felt safe from immediate pursuit。 Here； with all
their precautions； they were caught unawares by General Custer； in the
midst of their midday games and festivities； while many were out upon the
daily hunt。
On this twenty…fifth of June； 1876； the great camp was scattered for
three miles or more along the level river bottom； back of the thin line of
cottonwoods five circular rows of teepees； ranging from half a mile to a
mile and a half in circumference。 Here and there stood out a large； white；
solitary teepee； these were the lodges or 〃clubs〃 of the young men。
Crazy Horse was a member of the 〃Strong Hearts〃 and the 〃Tokala〃 or
Fox lodge。 He was watching a game of ring…toss when the warning came
from the southern end of the camp of the approach of troops。
The Sioux and the Cheyennes were 〃minute men〃； and although taken
by surprise； they instantly responded。 Meanwhile； the women and
children were thrown into confusion。 Dogs were howling； ponies
running hither and thither； pursued by their owners； while many of the old
men were singing their lodge songs to encourage the warriors； or praising
the 〃strong heart〃 of Crazy Horse。
That leader had quickly saddled his favorite war pony and was starting
with his young men for the south end of the camp； when a fresh alarm
came from the opposite direction； and looking up； he saw Custer's force
upon the top of the bluff directly across the river。 As quick as a flash； he
took in the situation the enemy had planned to attack the camp at both
ends at once； and knowing that Custer could not ford the river at that point；
he instantly led his men northward to the ford to cut him off。 The
Cheyennes followed closely。 Custer must have seen that wonderful dash
up the sage…bush plain； and one wonders whether he realized its meaning。
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In a very few minutes； this wild general of the plains had outwitted one of
the most brilliant leaders of the Civil War and ended at once his military
career and his life。
In this dashing charge； Crazy Horse snatched his most famous victory
out of what seemed frightful peril； for the Sioux could not know how
many were behind Custer。 He was caught in his own trap。 To the
soldiers it must have seemed as if the Indians rose up from the eart
