Tragedy at Red Cloud Agency: The Surrender, Confinement, and Death of Crazy Horse

THE SUN WAS HIGH AND B RIG H T in the morning sky on May 6,1877, when Crazy Horse dismounted his pony on the plains of western Nebraska a few miles outside Red Cloud Agency.1 For a moment, he stood there, surveying his people-the Oglala subchiefs and warriors dressed in the regalia of their warrior societies and singing their death songs, and behind them, the women and children and the elderly still making their way over the rolling sand hills. In front of Crazy Horse stood a modest assembly of military officers and enlisted Indian scouts from the agency. The contrast must have struck a chord in the war leader: behind him was his past, a defeated people on the brink of starvation; before him was his future, a people united in arms with their former enemy.

As the sun climbed toward its zenith, all eyes focused on Crazy Horse. To the uninformed spectator, it was a simple gesture: Crazy Horse loosened the knots in his horse's tail. For those familiar with Lakota customs, however, this action carried great significance. By untying the knots, Crazy Horse was giving notice that he was no longer at war.2 The warrior who had fought "Three Stars" Crook at the Rosebud, "Long Hair" Custer at the Little Bighorn, and "Bear Coat" Miles at Wolf Mountains would fight no more.

Having declared his intentions, Crazy Horse walked to within a few yards of the officer the Lakotas called "White Hat," lieutenant Philo Clark, and sat down. Extending his left hand-according to Lakota custom, the heart is on the left side-Crazy Horse said, "I want to shake hands while seated, because that means our peace shall last." Clark seated himself across from Crazy Horse and took the proffered hand. With the ceremonies opened, agency Oglala head chief Red Cloud, who had led the surrendering band to its rendezvous, joined the two men. The subchiefs of Crazy Horse's band and the other officer with Clark advanced and shook hands. After exchanging pleasantries, He Dog, one of Crazy Horse's subchiefs and an Oglala Shirt Wearer, said, "I have come to make peace to those I like and have confidence in." He removed his warbonnet and placed it on Clark's head. Next, he removed his shirt and placed it in the young lieutenant's lap. Finally, as a demonstration of trust, he placed his pipe in Clark's outstretched hands. Crazy Horse, looking to Clark as if to explain He Dog's gesture, stated: "I have given all I have to Red Cloud."3

Thus began the last chapter in the extraordinary life of Crazy Horse. Since coming of age in the late 185Os, he had fought to preserve the Lakotas' way of life. By spring 1877, however, he had accepted the painful realization that his people could no longer resist the invasion of their homeland.4 Although surrender at Red Cloud Agency would mean the loss of their freedom, it would also mean food, clothing, and blankets from the agency's stores and rest without fear of attacking soldiers. Peace, however, would remain as elusive for Crazy Horse as it had been throughout his war-filled life.

With the surrender of Crazy Horse, American officials turned their attention to resolving the final issues required to establish peace on the northern plains. Nine months earlier, on August 15, 1876, Congress had passed legislation requiring the Lakotas to relinquish their claims to all land outside the Great Sioux Reservation. For the Oglalas at Red Cloud Agency and their Brulé neighbors at Spotted Tail Agency, the legislation meant they would have to relocate their agencies to Dakota Territory. The question of where Crazy Horse and the nontreaty Lakotas-known at the two agencies as the "Northern Indians"-would have their agency had yet to be answered.5

For Crazy Horse, this issue was a critical one. Earlier in the spring, as the Oglalas debated their future, Brulé chief Spotted Tail had arrived at their village near the forks of the Powder River with new surrender terms from General George Crook: the Oglalas would be required to give up their arms and horses, but they would be permitted to select the site of their own agency.6 This news immediately shifted the balance of power within Crazy Horse's council. Previously, a faction supporting the continuation of the war had held sway. Crook's promise convinced the council-and Crazy Horse-to accept surrender.7

When Red Cloud arrived in Crazy Horse's camp in April, he offered the same terms as Spotted Tail, but with a proviso: Crazy Horse would have to accompany a delegation of agency leaders going to Washington, D.C.. to personally make peace with the president. As an incentive to surrender, Crook offered to allow Crazy Horse and his band to go on a buffalo hunt once all "hostile" bands had arrived at the agencies. But by extending these promises, military authorities unwittingly planted the seeds of controversy. In the coming summer, Red Cloud Agency, which already possessed a well-deserved reputation for political intrigue, would become a hotbed of rumors and accusations swirling around Crazy Horse. Although military authorities mostly ignored such gossip, by August Crazy Horse's actions made it difficult for military officials to maintain their faith in him.8