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contributed much to holding the hostiles together。
It may be said without fear of contradiction that Sitting Bull never
killed any women or children。 He was a fair fighter； and while not
prominent in battle after his young manhood； he was the brains of the
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Sioux resistance。 He has been called a 〃medicine man〃 and a 〃dreamer。〃
Strictly speaking； he was neither of these； and the white historians are
prone to confuse the two。 A medicine man is a doctor or healer； a
dreamer is an active war prophet who leads his war party according to his
dream or prophecy。 What is called by whites 〃making medicine〃 in war
time is again a wrong conception。 Every warrior carries a bag of sacred
or lucky charms； supposed to protect the wearer alone； but it has nothing
to do with the success or safety of the party as a whole。 No one can
make any 〃medicine〃 to affect the result of a battle； although it has been
said that Sitting Bull did this at the battle of the Little Big Horn。
When Custer and Reno attacked the camp at both ends； the chief was
caught napping。 The village was in danger of surprise； and the women
and children must be placed in safety。 Like other men of his age； Sitting
Bull got his family together for flight； and then joined the warriors on the
Reno side of the attack。 Thus he was not in the famous charge against
Custer； nevertheless； his voice was heard exhorting the warriors
throughout that day。
During the autumn of 1876； after the fall of Custer； Sitting Bull was
hunted all through the Yellowstone region by the military。 The following
characteristic letter； doubtless written at his dictation by a half…breed
interpreter； was sent to Colonel Otis immediately after a daring attack
upon his wagon train。
〃I want to know what you are doing； traveling on this road。 You
scare all the buffalo away。 I want to hunt in this place。 I want you to
turn back from here。 If you don't； I will fight you again。 I want you to
leave what you have got here and turn back from here。
I am your friend
Sitting Bull。 I mean all the rations you have got and some powder。
Wish you would write me as soon as you can。〃
Otis； however； kept on and joined Colonel Miles； who followed Sitting
Bull with about four hundred soldiers。 He overtook him at last on Cedar
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Creek； near the Yellowstone； and the two met midway between the lines
for a parley。 The army report says： 〃Sitting Bull wanted peace in his own
way。〃 The truth was that he wanted nothing more than had been
guaranteed to them by the treaty of 1868 the exclusive possession of
their last hunting ground。 This the government was not now prepared to
grant； as it had been decided to place all the Indians under military control
upon the various reservations。
Since it was impossible to reconcile two such conflicting demands； the
hostiles were driven about from pillar to post for several more years； and
finally took refuge across the line in Canada； where Sitting Bull had
placed his last hope of justice and freedom for his race。 Here he was
joined from time to time by parties of malcontents from the reservation；
driven largely by starvation and ill…treatment to seek another home。 Here；
too； they were followed by United States commissioners； headed by
General Terry； who endeavored to persuade him to return； promising
abundance of food and fair treatment； despite the fact that the exiles were
well aware of the miserable condition of the 〃good Indians〃 upon the
reservations。 He first refused to meet them at all； and only did so when
advised to that effect by Major Walsh of the Canadian mounted police。
This was his characteristic remark： 〃If you have one honest man in
Washington； send him here and I will talk to him。〃
Sitting Bull was not moved by fair words； but when he found that if
they had liberty on that side； they had little else； that the Canadian
government would give them protection but no food； that the buffalo had
been all but exterminated and his starving people were already beginning
to desert him； he was compelled at last； in 1881； to report at Fort Buford；
North Dakota； with his band of hungry； homeless； and discouraged
refugees。 It was； after all； to hunger and not to the strong arm of the
military that he surrendered in the end。
In spite of the invitation that had been extended to him in the name of
the 〃Great Father〃 at Washington； he was immediately thrown into a
military prison； and afterward handed over to Colonel Cody （〃Buffalo
Bill〃） as an advertisement for his 〃Wild West Show。〃 After traveling
about for several years with the famous showman； thus increasing his
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knowledge of the weaknesses as well as the strength of the white man； the
deposed and humiliated chief settled down quietly with his people upon
the Standing Rock agency in North Dakota； where his immediate band
occupied the Grand River district and set to raising cattle and horses。
They made good progress； much better； in fact； than that of the 〃coffee…
coolers〃 or 〃loafer〃 Indians； received the missionaries kindly and were
soon a church…going people。
When the Commissions of 1888 and 1889 came to treat with the Sioux
for a further cession of land and a reduction of their reservations； nearly all
were opposed to consent on any terms。 Nevertheless； by hook or by
crook； enough signatures were finally obtained to carry the measure
through； although it is said that many were those of women and the so…
called 〃squaw…men〃； who had no rights in the land。 At the same time；
rations were cut down； and there was general hardship and