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this time; the presence of many Mormon emigrants on their way to

the settlements in Utah and Wyoming added to the perils of the

situation; as they constantly maneuvered for purposes of their own

to bring about a clash between the soldiers and the Indians。  Every

summer there were storm…clouds blowing between these two  clouds

usually taking their rise in some affair of the travelers along the

trail。



In 1854 an event occurred which has already been described and

which snapped the last link of friendship between the races。



By this time Spotted Tail had proved his courage both abroad

and at home。  He had fought a duel with one of the lesser chiefs;

by whom he was attacked。  He killed his opponent with an arrow; but

himself received upon his head a blow from a battle…axe which

brought him senseless to the ground。  He was left for dead; but 

fortunately revived just as the men were preparing his body for

burial。



The Brules sustained him in this quarrel; as he had acted in

self…defense; and for a few years he led them in bloody raids

against the whites along the historic trail。  He ambushed many

stagecoaches and emigrant trains; and was responsible for waylaying

the Kincaid coach with twenty thousand dollars。  This relentless

harrying of travelers soon brought General Harney to the Brule

Sioux to demand explanations and reparation。



The old chiefs of the Brules now appealed to Spotted Tail and

his young warriors not to bring any general calamity upon the

tribe。  To the surprise of all; Spotted Tail declared that he would

give himself up。  He said that he had defended the rights of his

people to the best of his ability; that he had avenged the blood of

their chief; Conquering Bear; and that he was not afraid to accept

the consequences。  He therefore voluntarily surrendered to General

Harney; and two of his lieutenants; Red Leaf and Old Woman;

followed his example。



Thus Spotted Tail played an important part at the very outset

of those events which were soon to overthrow the free life of his

people。  I do not know how far he foresaw what was to follow; but

whether so conceived or not; his surrender was a master stroke;

winning for him not only the admiration of his own people but the

confidence and respect of the military。



Thus suddenly he found himself in prison; a hostage for the

good behavior of his followers。  There were many rumors as to the

punishment reserved for him; but luckily for Spotted Tail; the

promises of General Harney to the Brule chiefs in respect to him

were faithfully kept。  One of his fellow…prisoners committed

suicide; but the other held out bravely for the two…year term of

his imprisonment。  During the second year; it was well understood

that neither of the men sought to escape; and they were given

much freedom。  It was fine schooling for Spotted Tail; that

tireless observer of the ways of the white man!  It is a fact that

his engaging personal qualities won for him kindness and sympathy

at the fort before the time came for his release。



One day some Indian horse thieves of another tribe stampeded

the horses and mules belonging to the garrison。  Spotted Tail asked

permission of the commanding officer to accompany the pursuers。 

That officer; trusting in the honor of a Sioux brave; gave him a

fast horse and a good carbine; and said to him: 〃I depend upon you

to guide my soldiers so that they may overtake the thieves and

recapture the horses!〃



The soldiers recaptured the horses without any loss; but

Spotted Tail still followed the Indians。  When they returned to the

fort without him; everybody agreed that he would never turn up。 

However; next day he did 〃turn up〃; with the scalp of one of the

marauders!



Soon after this he was returned to his own people; who honored

him by making him the successor of the old chief; Conquering Bear;

whose blood he had avenged; for which act he had taken upon himself

the full responsibility。  He had made good use of his two years at

the fort; and completed his studies of civilization to his own

satisfaction。  From this time on he was desirous of reconciling the

Indian and the white man; thoroughly understanding the uselessness

of opposition。  He was accordingly in constant communication with

the military; but the other chiefs did not understand his views and

seem to have been suspicious of his motives。



In 1860…1864 the Southern Cheyennes and Comanches were at war

with the whites; and some of the Brules and Ogallalas; who were

their neighbors and intimates; were suspected of complicity with

the hostiles。  Doubtless a few of their young men may have been

involved; at any rate; Thunder Bear and Two Face; together with a

few others who were roving with the warring tribes; purchased two

captive white women and brought them to Fort Laramie。  It was;

however; reported at the post that these two men had maltreated the

women while under their care。



Of course; the commander demanded of Spotted Tail; then head

chief; that he give up the guilty ones; and accordingly he had the

two men arrested and delivered at the fort。  At this there was an

outcry among his own people; but he argued that if the charges were

true; the men deserved punishment; and if false; they should be

tried and cleared by process of law。  The Indians never quite knew

what evidence was produced at the court…martial; but at all events

the two men were hanged; and as they had many influential

connections; their relatives lost no time in fomenting trouble。 

The Sioux were then camping close by the fort and it was midwinter;

which facts held them in check for a month or two; but as soon as

spring came; they removed their camp across the river and rose in

rebellion。  A pitched battle was fought; in which the soldiers got

the worst of it。  Even the associate chief; Big Mouth; was against

Spotted Tail; who was practically forced against his will and

judgment to take up arms once more。



At this juncture came the sudden and bloody uprising in the

east among the Minnesota Sioux; and Sitting Bull's campaign in the

north had begun in earnest; while to the south the Southern

Cheyennes; Comanches; and Kiowas were all upon the warpath。 

Spotted Tail at about this time seems to have conceived the idea of

uniting all the Rocky Mountain Indians in a great confederacy。  He

once said: 〃Our cause is as a child's cause; in comparison with the

power of the white man; unless we can stop quarreling among

ourselves and unite our energies for the common good。〃  But old…

time antagonisms were too strong; and he was probably held back

also by his consciousness of the fact that the Indians called him

〃the white man's friend〃; while the military still had some faith

in him which he did not care to lose。  He was undoubtedly one of

the brainiest and most brilliant Sioux who ever lived; and while he

could not help being to a large extent in sympathy with the feeling

of his race against the invader; yet he alone foresaw the

inevitable outcome; and the problem as it presented itself to him

was simply this: 〃What is the best policy to pursue in the existing

situation?〃



Here is his speech as it has been given to me; delivered at

the great council on the Powder River; just before the attack on

Fort Phil Kearny。  We can imagine that he threw all his wonderful

tact and personal magnetism into this last effort at conciliation。



〃'Hay; hay; hay!  Alas; alas!'  Thus speaks the old man; when

he knows that his former vigor and freedom is gone from him

forever。  So we may exclaim to…day; Alas!  There is a time

appointed to all things。  Think for a moment how many multitudes of

the animal tribes we ourselves have destroyed!  Look upon the snow

that appears to…day  to…morrow it is water!  Listen to the dirge

of the dry leaves; that were green and vigorous but a few moons

before!  We are a part of this life and it seems that our time is

come。



〃Yet note how the decay of one nation invigorates another。 

This strange white man  consider him; his gifts are manifold! 

His tireless brain; his busy hand do wonders for his race。  Those

things which we despise he holds as treasures; yet he is so great

and so flourishing that there must be some virtue and truth in his

philosophy。  I wish to say to you; my friends: Be not moved alone

by heated arguments and thoughts of revenge!  These are for the

young。  We are young no longer; let us think well; and give counsel

as old men!〃



These words were greeted with an ominous silence。  Not even

the customary 〃How!〃 of assent followed the speech; and Sitting

Bull immediately got up and replied in the celebrated harangue

which will be introduced under his own name in another chapter。 

The situation was critical for Spotted Tail  the only man present

to advocate submission to the stronger race whose ultimate

supremacy he recognized as certain。  The decision to attack Fort

P

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