Here is a story that should surprise no one. In the 1800s, the U.S. government made a treaty with the Sioux. But then shiny yellow rocks were discovered on Sioux lands, and the government was all like, “Treaty? What treaty?”
--On This Day in History Shit Went Down: May 6, 1877--
In 1866, General William Sherman began to build military forts in Sioux territory because of the discovery of gold on the Bozeman Trail in Montana. A young Sioux warrior named Crazy Horse had already distinguished himself in battle the previous year against the U.S. Army and had earned the title of “Shirt Wearer,” a war leader. Late that year, Crazy Horse led a small band of warriors toward the forts to act as a decoy to draw the forces into a trap.
The trap worked, the U.S. soldiers were surrounded and all 80 of them killed, their bodies hacked apart to send a message to Sherman. The following year, Sherman sought peace and withdrew the disputed forts, yielding the region to the Sioux.
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But as railroads moved west, tensions rose again. In June of 1876, during what would be called the Great Sioux War, Crazy Horse led a group of 1,500 Lakota and Cheyenne against the forces of General George Crook at the Battle of Rosebud. It was not a bloody battle, but it served an important purpose: It delayed Crook from joining General George Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
A week later the fateful battle took place, and while Crook wasn’t there, Crazy Horse was. He was a major participant in what would also come to be known as Custer’s Last Stand. Several of his fellow warriors attested to Crazy Horse’s courage and prowess, saying “The greatest fighter in the whole battle was Crazy Horse” and that he “was the bravest man I ever saw.” And if you are a Star Trek fan, you know how Lt. Worf often said, “Today is a good day to die.” Guess who he got that from.
The American people were outraged at the defeat of Custer and demanded revenge. A winter campaign was launched against the Sioux. The following spring Crazy Horse and his fighters were outnumbered, low on ammunition, sick, and starving. Realizing they faced extermination, Crazy Horse and 1,100 others surrendered on May 6, 1877.
Five months later, Crazy Horse was fatally stabbed by a guard for allegedly resisting imprisonment.
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