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of liquor； or else had a mind to bully the Indians； for he would accept
neither explanation nor payment； but demanded point…blank that the young
men who had killed the cow be delivered up to summary punishment。
The old chief refused to be intimidated and was shot dead on the spot。
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Not one soldier ever reached the gate of Fort Laramie！ Here Red Cloud
led the young Ogallalas； and so intense was the feeling that they even
killed the half…breed interpreter。
Curiously enough； there was no attempt at retaliation on the part of the
army； and no serious break until 1860； when the Sioux were involved in
troubles with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes。 In 1862； a grave outbreak
was precipitated by the eastern Sioux in Minnesota under Little Crow； in
which the western bands took no part。 Yet this event ushered in a new
period for their race。 The surveyors of the Union Pacific were laying out
the proposed road through the heart of the southern buffalo country； the
rendezvous of Ogallalas； Brules； Arapahoes； Comanches； and Pawnees；
who followed the buffalo as a means of livelihood。 To be sure； most of
these tribes were at war with one another； yet during the summer months
they met often to proclaim a truce and hold joint councils and festivities；
which were now largely turned into discussions of the common enemy。
It became evident； however； that some of the smaller and weaker tribes
were inclined to welcome the new order of things； recognizing that it was
the policy of the government to put an end to tribal warfare。
Red Cloud's position was uncompromisingly against submission。 He
made some noted speeches in this line； one of which was repeated to me
by an old man who had heard and remembered it with the remarkable
verbal memory of an Indian。
〃Friends；〃 said Red Cloud； 〃it has been our misfortune to welcome the
white man。 We have been deceived。 He brought with him some shining
things that pleased our eyes； he brought weapons more effective than our
own： above all； he brought the spirit water that makes one forget for a time
old age； weakness； and sorrow。 But I wish to say to you that if you
would possess these things for yourselves； you must begin anew and put
away the wisdom of your 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
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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
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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。
Sca