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'WE BELONG TO THE NORTH': THE FLIGHTS OF THE NORTHERN INDIANS FROM THE WHITE RIVER AGENCIES, 1877-1878

Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Summer 2005 by Bray, Kingsley M

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By New Year 1878 mounting disquiet was undermining the impressive adherence of the Northern Oglalas to the peace process. Continuing uncertainty over the permanent agency location, food shortages, and persistent rumors that troops were about to impound the Oglala pony herds compounded a volatile situation. News that lieutenant Clark, still based at Yellow Medicine Agency, was about to be reassigned to new duties, dismayed many scouts. The announcement that scout numbers were to be deeply cut after the December 31 expiration of service only heightened the fact that a key focus for loyalty was being removed. More than half of Companies A, B, C, and E would lose their scout arms, uniforms, and pay, and, even more importantly, the trust and prestige associated with scout service. Threatened with idleness and reduced autonomy, more Northern warriors grew restless.55

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During the first week of January two riders approached the White River forks. They had left Sitting Bull's camp in Canada one month earlier. One of the emissaries, The Leavings, a Cheyenne "that always lived with the Sioux," had played a part in an earlier breakout, probably Fast Bull's. The messengers brought presents of tobacco from Sitting Bull himself, inviting Lakotas "at all the Agencies . . .to join him, and when they all arrived there they would unite and make war upon the American Government. The messenger told them they would be allowed three months to join 'Sitting Bull' in the British Possessions, and that if they were not there by the expiration of that time, they would be considered enemies and would be fought the same as the Whites."56

Agency chiefs were alienated by this plain speaking, but they did not doubt Sitting Bull's intention: Young Man Afraid of His Horse repeatedly warned Agent Irwin that the Hunkpapa leader planned a massive spring offensive against the U.S.57

Coinciding with the arrival of Sitting Bull's emissaries, a large contingent of Oglala leaders started for Yellow Medicine to collect rations and scout pay and to complete the scout reorganization. Representing Company C were sergeants Little Big Man and Big Road, but the remaining officers and many of the privates stayed in camp. Touch the Clouds and most of Company E were also not represented in the reenlistees. In the absence of the chiefs, a dangerous leadership vacuum opened, and The Leavings exploited the opportunity. Counseling with Northern warriors, he assured his listeners of the wealth of buffalo in Grandmother's Land and of the protection afforded by the British Crown. He invoked counterloyalties-to their relatives in Canada and to the memory of their great victories against Crook and Custer-at precisely the time that the fragile affinities established since surrender were coming into question.

Beginning on January 9, a trickle of families struck their tipis and started westward up the White River. A few Brulés and the lodges of Black Eagle, a Sans Arc Shirt Wearer, may have been among these first departures.58 Next to accept Sitting Bull's tobacco was Roman Nose. The Miniconjou leader with deepest links to the Spotted Tail Agency leadership, Roman Nose had nevertheless resisted pressure to assimilate to the reservation bands. His son Charging Eagle, a Company E corporal, was probably key to Roman Nose's decision. On the tenth Ben Tibbitts made a beef issue. Things seemed calm, but that night some twenty Miniconjou lodges broke camp. Even Touch the Clouds's son, Company D private Across the Lodge, joined the flight. In a bid to force Oglala relatives to accompany them, they compelled Big Road's wife and children to join the flight. Convinced by their warriors, Little Hawk's and He Dog's Oglala tiyospaye joined the new "stampede." As one final gesture to superseded loyalties, Little Hawk insisted that scouts leave behind their army-issue firearms and ammunition.59

'WE BELONG TO THE NORTH': THE FLIGHTS OF THE NORTHERN INDIANS FROM THE WHITE RIVER AGENCIES, 1877-1878

Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Summer 2005 by Bray, Kingsley M

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