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Crazy Horse

mong the most respected Native American leaders in American history, Crazy Horse remains a symbol of courage, independence, and resistance. Unlike many famous figures of the 19th century, Crazy Horse never signed a treaty, never allowed himself to be photographed and never sought political power. Instead, he devoted his life to protecting the traditional lands, culture and freedom of his people, the Lakota Sioux. Crazy Horse was born around 1840 near present-day Rapid City, South Dakota, in the heart of the Lakota homeland. He belonged to the Oglala division of the Lakota Nation, one of the three major groups of the Sioux people. His Lakota name, Tȟašúŋke Witkó, is often translated as “Crazy Horse,” though a more accurate interpretation is “His Horse Is Spirited” or “His Horse Is Wild.” As a young boy, Crazy Horse displayed qualities that would define his life. He was quiet, thoughtful and deeply spiritual. Unlike many young warriors who sought recognition, he preferred solitude and reflection. Elders noted that he possessed unusual courage and wisdom. According to the Lakota tradition, Crazy Horse experienced a powerful vision during his youth. In this vision, he saw himself riding a horse through battle while protected by spiritual forces. The vision instructed him to remain humble, avoid excessive decoration, and devote himself to the welfare of his people. Throughout his life he followed these teachings, often wearing simple clothing while other warriors adorned themselves with elaborate regalia.

CRAZY HORSE

By the 1850s and 1860s, increasing numbers of settlers, miners and soldiers were moving westward across Native lands. The Lakota viewed these incursions as threats to their way of life. Buffalo herds, upon which the Plains tribes depended, were being disrupted and traditional hunting grounds were shrinking. Crazy Horse emerged as a respected warrior during conflicts between the Lakota and the United States Army. His reputation grew rapidly after participating in battles that defended Lakota territory from military expeditions and settlers traveling along the Bozeman Trail through present day Wyoming and Montana. 3

One of the most significant conflicts was Red Cloud’s War. During this war, Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors fought to close military forts established along the Bozeman Trail. Crazy Horse played a key role in one of the most famous engagements of the conflict, the Fetterman Fight. In December 1866, Crazy Horse acted as a decoy, luring Captain William J. Fetterman and 80 soldiers away from the safety of Fort Phil Kearny. Once separated from reinforcements, Fetterman’s force was overwhelmed by hundreds of Native warriors. Not a single soldier survived. The victory demonstrated the effectiveness of Lakota military tactics and strengthened Crazy Horse’s reputation as a battlefield leader. The resulting Treaty of Fort Laramie recognized a vast Sioux reservation that included the sacred Black Hills. For a brief period, peace prevailed. However, peace ended when gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874. Prospectors flooded into territory guaranteed to the Lakota by treaty. The United States government failed to stop the invasion and eventually sought to purchase the land. Lakota leaders refused because the Black Hills were sacred and central to their spiritual identity. When negotiations failed, the government ordered all Lakota bands to report to reservations. Many groups living traditionally on the plains refused. Crazy Horse became one of the principal leaders resisting federal demands. 4

The conflict escalated into the Great Sioux War of 1876. During this campaign, Crazy Horse joined forces with the Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull, along with Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho allies. In June 1876, Crazy Horse led a major attack during the Battle of the Rosebud, forcing General George Crook’s Army to retreat. This victory prevented Crook from joining other military forces and set the stage for one of the most famous battles in American history. On June 25–26, 1876, Native forces confronted Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in present-day Montana. ”

Although Sitting Bull provided spiritual leadership and inspiration, many historians believe Crazy Horse directed much of the battlefield action. Native warriors overwhelmed Custer’s battalion, resulting in one of the most dramatic defeats ever suffered by the United States Army. The battle became known to many Americans as “Custer’s Last Stand”.

Burial hill at Little Big Horn; site of “Custer’s Last Stand.” The victory, however, was short-lived. Determined to defeat the Plains tribes, the federal government launched a massive military campaign. Thousands of soldiers pursued Native bands throughout the winter. Starvation, harsh weather and dwindling buffalo populations weakened resistance.

By May 1877, realizing that continued fighting would lead to suffering for his people, Crazy Horse surrendered at Fort Robinson in present-day Nebraska. Despite surrendering, he remained highly respected among both Native peoples and military officers. Some government officials feared his influence and worried he might inspire future resistance. Tensions grew as misunderstandings and rumors spread. On September 5, 1877 soldiers attempted to confine Crazy Horse in a guardhouse at Fort Robinson. A struggle broke out during the arrest. During the confrontation, a soldier stabbed Crazy Horse with a bayonet. He died later that night at approximately 37 years of age. Unlike many famous leaders, Crazy Horse left behind no written memoirs, speeches, or photographs. Yet his legacy endures. To the Lakota people, he symbolizes dedication to cultural identity, spiritual conviction, and defense of ancestral lands. Today, his memory is honored throughout the Northern Plains. The massive Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota, still under construction, is intended to become the world’s largest mountain sculpture. It serves as a tribute not only to Crazy Horse but also to all Native American peoples.

Lithograph of Battle of Little Bighorn (from the Indian side) 1903 Charles M. Russell Crazy Horse’s Homeland Included: • The sacred Black Hills (Paha Sapa) of western South Dakota. • Large portions of present-day South Dakota • Northeastern Wyoming • Southeastern Montana • Western Nebraska • Traditional buffalo-hunting grounds extending across the Northern Plains Tribal Affiliation • Nation: Sioux (Oceti Sakowin) • Division: Lakota • Band: Oglala Lakota • Language: Lakota • Homeland: Great Plains, present-day South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana and North Dakota. 8

Geronimo

eronimo, whose Apache name was Goyaałé (“The One Who Yawns”), is one of the most famous Native American leaders in United States history. Although often called a chief, Geronimo was primarily a warrior, spiritual leader and medicine man of the Bedonkohe band of the Chiricahua Apache Tribe. His courageous resistance against Mexican and American military forces during the late 19th century made him a symbol of Native American determination and independence. He was born in June 1829 near the headwaters of the Gila River in what is now the state of New Mexico, though the region was then part of Mexico. The Apache people lived throughout a vast territory stretching across present-day Arizona, New Mexico, northern Mexico, and portions of Texas. They were highly skilled hunters, warriors and horsemen who adapted to life in rugged mountains and deserts. As a young man, Geronimo married a woman named Alope and became the father of three children. His life changed dramatically in 1851 when Mexican soldiers attacked an Apache camp near Janos, Mexico. During the attack, his wife, children and mother were killed. The tragedy devastated him and fueled a lifelong determination to fight those who threatened his people. According to Apache tradition, Geronimo later sought guidance through spiritual visions and emerged as a respected warrior with a reputation for courage and leadership. 9

GERONIMO

For many years, Geronimo participated in raids against Mexican settlements and military forces. Mexican soldiers reportedly feared him because of his daring attacks and ability to evade capture. One story suggests that Mexican troops shouted the name of Saint Jerome (“Geronimo” in Spanish) while praying for protection during battle, giving rise to the name by which he became known. The situation for the Apache changed significantly after the United States acquired large portions of the Southwest following the Mexican-American War. American settlers, miners and soldiers increasingly moved into Apache lands, leading to conflicts over territory and resources. The U.S. government sought to confine Apache bands to reservations, while many Apache leaders resisted.

Geronimo fought alongside notable Apache leaders such as Cochise and later Victorio. Unlike some chiefs who negotiated treaties, Geronimo believed resistance was necessary to preserve Apache freedom. Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, he repeatedly escaped from reservations with small groups of followers and returned to the mountains of Arizona and northern Mexico. His ability to evade capture became legendary. With only a few dozen warriors, women and children, Geronimo managed to avoid thousands of American and Mexican soldiers. The rugged landscapes of the Southwest, including the Chiricahua Mountains, the Gila Wilderness and the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, provided natural strongholds from which the Apache could move quickly and disappear into difficult terrain. The most famous phase of Geronimo’s resistance occurred between 1885 and 1886. After leaving the reservation at San Carlos, he led a small band through Arizona and Mexico while pursued by nearly 5,000 U.S. troops, scouts and Mexican soldiers. The campaign became one of the largest military operations directed against Native Americans in U.S. history. Eventually, constant pursuit, dwindling resources and exhaustion convinced Geronimo to surrender. On September 4, 1886, he surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles at Skeleton Canyon in Arizona. His surrender is often considered the final major military resistance by Native Americans in the American Southwest. Following the surrender, Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apache were treated as prisoners of war. They were transported far from their homeland, first to Florida, then to Alabama and 13

eventually to Oklahoma. Many Apache died from disease and the unfamiliar climate. Geronimo spent the remainder of his life in captivity.

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument National Park Service Geronimo’s Homeland Included: • Southwestern New Mexico • Southeastern Arizona • Northern Sonora, Mexico • Northern Chihuahua, Mexico • Portions of western Texas Tribal Affiliation • Chiricahua Apache • Band: Bedonkohe (also spelled Bidankande) • Language: Southern Athabaskan (Apachean) • Homelands: Southwestern New Mexico, Southeastern Arizona, Northern Sonora, Mexico, Portions of western Texas 14

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