indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第3章
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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。
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
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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 partic
