indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第3节
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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acceded to； the new road abandoned； the garrisons withdrawn； and in the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 control。
〃We are told；〃 said he； 〃that Spotted Tail has consented to be the
Beggars' Chief。 Those Indians who go over to the white man can be
nothing but beggars； for he respects only riches； and how can an Indian be
a rich man？ He cannot without ceasing to be an Indian。 As for me； I
have listened patiently to the promises of the Great Father； but his memory
is short。 I am now done with him。 This is all I have to say。〃
The wilder bands separated soon after this council； to follow the drift
of the buffalo； some in the vicinity of the Black Hills and others in the Big
Horn region。 Small war parties came down from time to time upon stray
travelers； who received no mercy at their hands； or made dashes upon
neighboring forts。 Red Cloud claimed the right to guard and hold by
force； if need be； all this territory which had been conceded to his people
by the treaty of 1868。 The land became a very nest of outlawry。 Aside
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from organized parties of prospectors； there were bands of white horse
thieves and desperadoes who took advantage of the situation to plunder
immigrants and Indians alike。
An attempt was made by means of military camps to establish control
and force all the Indians upon reservations； and another commission was
sent to negotiate their removal to Indian Territory； but met with an
absolute refusal。 After much guerrilla warfare； an important military
campaign against the Sioux was set on foot in 1876； ending in Custer's
signal defeat upon the Little Big Horn。
In this notable battle； Red Cloud did not participate in person； nor in
the earlier one with Crook upon the Little Rosebud； but he had a son in
both fights。 He was now a councilor rather than a warrior； but his young
men were constantly in the field； while Spotted Tail had definitely
surrendered and was in close touch with representatives of the
government。
But the inevitable end was near。 One morning in the fall of 1876 Red
Cloud was surrounded by United States troops under the command of
Colonel McKenzie； who disarmed his people and brought them into Fort
Robinson； Nebraska。 Thence they were removed to the Pine Ridge
agency； where he lived for more than thirty years as a 〃reservation Indian。〃
In order to humiliate him further； government authorities proclaimed the
more tractable Spotted Tail head chief of the Sioux。 Of course； Red
Cloud's own people never recognized any other chief。
In 1880 he appealed to Professor Marsh； of Yale； head of a scientific
expedition to the Bad Lands； charging certain frauds at the agency and
apparently proving his case； at any rate the matter was considered worthy
of official investigation。 In 1890…1891； during the 〃Ghost Dance craze〃
and the difficulties that followed； he was suspected of collusion with the
hostiles； but he did not join them openly； and nothing could be proved
against him。 He was already an old man； and became almost entirely
blind before his death in 1909 in his ninetieth year。
His private life was exemplary。 He was faithful to one wife all his
days； and was a devoted father to his children。 He was ambitious for his
only son； known as Jack Red Cloud； and much desired him to be a great
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warrior。 He started him on the warpath at the age of fifteen； not then
realizing that the days of Indian warfare were well…nigh at an end。
Among latter…day chiefs； Red Cloud was notable as a quiet man；
simple and direct in speech； courageous in action； an ardent lover of his
country； and possessed in a marked degree of the manly qualities
characteristic of the American Indian in his best days。
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SPOTTED TAIL
Among the Sioux chiefs of the 〃transition period〃 only one was
shrewd enough to read coming events in their true light。 It is said of
Spotted Tail that
