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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 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。
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 he was rather a slow…moving boy；
preferring in their various games and mimic battles to play the
role of councilor； to plan and assign to the others their parts in
the fray。 This he did so cleverly that he soon became a leader
among his youthful contemporaries； and withal he was apt at mimicry
and impersonation； so that the other boys were accustomed to say of
him； 〃He has his grandfather's wit and the wisdom of his
grandmother！〃
Spotted Tail was an orphan； reared by his grandparents； and at
an early age compelled to shift for himself。 Thus he was somewhat
at a disadvantage among the other boys； yet even this fact may have
helped to develop in him courage and ingenuity。 One little
incident of his boy life； occurring at about his tenth year； is
characteristic of the man。 In the midst of a game； two boys became
involved in a dispute which promised to be a serious one； as both
drew knives。 The young Spotted Tail instantly began to cry； 〃The
Shoshones are upon us！ To arms！ to arms！〃 and the other boys
joined in the war whoop。 This distracted the attention of the
combatants and ended the affair。
Upon the whole； his boyhood is not so well remembered as is
that of most of his leading contemporaries； probably because he had
no parents to bring him frequently before the people； as was the
custom with the wellborn； whose every step in their progress toward
manhood was publicly announced at a feast given in their honor。 It
is known； however； that he began at an early age to carve out a
position for himself。 It is personal qualities alone that tell
among our people； and the youthful Spotted Tail gained at every
turn。 At the age of seventeen； he had become a sure shot and a
clever hunter； but； above all； he had already shown that he
possessed a superior mind。 He had come into contact with white
people at the various trading posts； and according to his own story
had made a careful study of the white man's habits and modes of
thought； especially of his peculiar trait of economy and intense
desire to accumulate property。 He was accustomed to watch closely
and listen attentively whenever any of this strange race had
dealings with his people。 When a council was held； and the other
young men stood at a distance with their robes over their faces so
as to avoid recognition； Spotted Tail always put himself in a
position to hear all that was said on either side； and weighed all
the arguments in his mind。
When he first went upon the warpath； it appears that he was；
if anything； overzealous to establish himself in the eye of his
people； and as a matter of fact； it was especially hard for him to
gain an assured position among the Brules； with whom he lived； both
because he was an orphan； and because his father had been of
another band。 Yet it was not long before he had achieved his
ambition； though in doing so he received several ugly wounds。 It
was in a battle with the Utes that he first notably served his
people and their cause。
The Utes were the attacking party and far outnumbered the
Sioux on this occasion。 Many of their bravest young men had
fallen； and the Brules were face to face with utter annihilation；
when Spotted Tail； with a handful of daring horsemen； dodged around
the enemy's flank and fell upon them from the rear with so much
spirit that they supposed that strong reinforcements had arrived；
and retreated in confusion。 The Sioux pursued on horseback； and it
was in this pursuit that the noted chief Two Strike gained his
historical name。 But the chief honors of the fight belonged to
Spotted Tail。 The old chiefs； Conquering Bear and the rest；
thanked him and at once made him a war chief。
It had been the firm belief of Spotted Tail that it was unwise
to allow the white man so much freedom in our country； long before
the older chiefs saw any harm in it。 After the opening of the
Oregon Trail he； above all the others； was watchful of the conduct
of the Americans as they journeyed toward the setting sun； and more
than once he remarked in council that these white men were not like
the French and the Spanish； with whom our old chiefs had been used
to deal。 He was not fully satisfied with the agreement with
General Harney； but as a young warrior who had only just gained his
position in the council； he could not force his views upon the
older men。
No sooner had the Oregon Trail been secured from the Sioux
than Fort Laramie and other frontier posts were strengthened； and
the soldiers became more insolent and overbearing than ever。 It
was soon discovered that the whites were prepared to violate most
of the articles of their treaty as the Indians understood it。 At
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 his