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fathers。 You must lay up food； and forget the hungry。 When your
house is built； your storeroom filled； then look around for a
neighbor whom you can take at a disadvantage； and seize all that he
has！ Give away only what you do not want； or rather； do not part
with any of your possessions unless in exchange for another's。
〃My countrymen； shall the glittering trinkets of this rich
man； his deceitful drink that overcomes the mind； shall these
things tempt us to give up our homes； our hunting grounds； and the
honorable teaching of our old men？ Shall we permit ourselves to be
driven to and fro to be herded like the cattle of the white man？〃
His next speech that has been remembered was made in 1866；
just before the attack on Fort Phil Kearny。 The tension of feeling
against the invaders had now reached its height。 There was no
dissenting voice in the council upon the Powder River； when it was
decided to oppose to the 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 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 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 c