indian heroes & great chieftains-第4节
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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