Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse (1842-1877) was renowned for his excellent feats in battle as well as his bravery. His mother died when he was young so he spent time in both Oglala and Brule camps throughout his childhood. He was very skilled right from the beginning, killing his first buffalo before he was even twelve years old thereby earning his horse. Crazy Horse saw the destruction of people in the Sioux tribe from the white soldiers under the command of General William S. Harney. This helped shape his views toward white people early on in his life. He despised white people and refused to let the whites destroy his people, the Lakota’s, traditional way of life. Crazy Horse fought in the war for the Bozeman trail, 1865-68, alongside the chief of the Oglala, Red Cloud. Together they destroyed William J. Fetterman’s brigade at Fort Phil Kearny in 1867. Shortly after this battle Crazy Horse became the chief of the Oglalas. He was known as a great leader of the resistance of the white man. General Crook tried to advance up Rosebud Creek to attack Sitting Bull’s encampment on the Little Bighorn but Crazy Horse makes him turn back and retreat. After this conflict Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull joined forces and attacked George Armstrong Custer’s Seventh Cavalry, defeating them. They had help from another war chief by the name of Gall who flanked the cavalry from the other side. Both other war chiefs fled to Canada but Crazy Horse stayed to battle General Nelson Miles. General Miles harassed the Lakota people all throughout winter, killing their buffalo and livestock. This forced Crazy Horse to finally surrender on May 6, 1877. Finally after being captured he was stabbed to death by bayonet. Though defeated, to the Indian people he was an independent spirit and he set an example for all others wanting to resist Indian Removal.