Across The Fence: Crow Dog: Spotted Tail's assassin

During the late 1860s and throughout the 1870s Spotted Tail was a principle chief of the Brule Sioux and a tireless advocate of peaceful relations between the tribes of the western plains and the ever-increasing influx of white settlers and seekers of gold. Born in 1823 in the White River country, which is now South Dakota, his father Tangle Hair and his mother Walks-with-the-Pipe gave him the name Jumping Buffalo. As a young warrior Jumping Buffalo was given the tail of a raccoon by a white trapper and he often wore it in his warrior headdress, thus earning the name Spotted Tail.

Spotted Tail was already a respected warrior among the Brule Sioux when he participated in the infamous Grattan Massacre of 1854. Although that battle was a decisive victory for the Sioux it was the beginning of more than 30 years of armed and violent conflict between the Plains Indians and the U.S. Government. Perhaps it was the devastation of these early conflicts that convinced Spotted Tail that there was no holding back the flood of immigrants and to seek peace with the whites.

Although he refused to fight in Red Cloud’s War of 1866 it was Spotted Tail who was instrumental in negotiating the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 that established the Great Sioux Reservation in the West River country, and allowed white settlers to pass unmolested on the previously notorious “Bloody Bozeman” trail. In 1875 Spotted Tail, Red Cloud and Lone Horn went to Washington and met with President Ulysses S. Grant in an effort to stop the encroachment of whites on their land. The U.S. government wanted to pay each tribe $25,000 for their land in The Black Hills and send them to the Indian Territory of Oklahoma. The Sioux delegation refused the offer and Spotted Tail replied, “You speak of another country, but it is not my country; it does not concern me, and I want nothing to do with it. I was not born there ... If it is such a good country, you ought to send the white men now in our country there and let us alone.”

Despite being unable to reach a peaceful solution, the three chiefs did not join Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse in the Great Sioux War of 1876.

In 1881 Spotted Tail had been designated as the leader of not only the Brule Sioux but also the Oglala and was again called to Washington. Before leaving he had summoned his council to discuss the purpose of his visit. It was the 5th day of August when Spotted Tail and his followers left the council lodge and rode horseback to the camp. As the group proceeded, Crow Dog, “Kangi Sunka,” met them with his wife as they approached in a wagon. Crow Dog climbed down from the wagon seat and stooped to the ground as Spotted Tail reined up beside him. Suddenly Crow Dog rose up and shot Spotted Tail who then fell from his horse to the ground. There was much excitement and confusion among Spotted Tail’s warriors, but surprisingly no one returned fire to defend their fallen chief.

Spotted Tail drew himself up off the ground and staggered forward as his hand clumsily fumbled to draw his pistol from its holster. His questioning eyes locked their gaze on Crow Dog as he slowly approached. One step, two, three and then one final step as his knees buckled beneath him and Spotted Tail, “Sinte-Galeshka,” fell at the feet of his assassin.

Perhaps those who followed Spotted Tail knew of the plan to kill him for it is surprising that there was no one among the Brule to avenge his death. There had been discontent within the tribe and many complained of Spotted Tails position of power and his willingness to negotiate rather than fight. It was possible that Crow Dog was the designated trigger for a group of co-conspirators.

However, Crow Dog gave himself up for arrest claiming that he had killed Spotted Tail for insulting his wife. The tribal council met and, in accordance with tribal law, sent peacemakers to both families in an effort to restore harmony and order. Spotted Tail’s family agreed to a payment, from Crow Dog, of $600, eight horses and one blanket. However, despite BIA policy that had honored tribal self-government, Henry Lelar, the agent at the Rosebud Reservation, ordered the arrest of Crow Dog.

The tribal police placed Crow Dog in custody and he was transported to Fort Niobrara to await a U.S. government inquiry. The ensuing investigation revealed that it was not the alleged dishonor of a spousal insult but rather Crow Dog’s desire to become the chief of the Oglala and Brule Sioux. Spotted Tail had achieved his status of chief through his bravery in war and his superior intellect but many opposed his desire for peace instead of war. Crow Dog, together with Black Crow and Crazy Dog had attempted to force Spotted Tail into relinquishing his position as chief , but failing to accomplish their goal by persuasion they determined to resort to execution.

Crow Dog was charged with murder and brought to trial in the United States district court at Deadwood in 1882 where the Honorable Gideon C. Moody heard his case.

Crow Dog’s supporters retained an able young attorney, A. J. Plowman, to defend him. Plowman argued that the United States had no jurisdiction over the crime since the government had historically considered the Sioux nation to be a separate and foreign nation and given that the offense had occurred between two Indians on Indian land the U.S. had no legal authority in the matter.

Plowman’s argument was based on then current U.S. law and, as such, Crow Dog had paid for his crimes according to tribal law and should therefore be released and the charges dismissed. However, Judge Moody overruled Plowman’s objections and the ensuing trial by jury found Crow Dog guilty of murder and sentenced him to be hanged. Attorney Plowman was able to obtain a stay of execution and managed to delay proceedings for many months.

Over time, Crow Dog was able to favorably influence his captors and was granted privileges that included time out of his cell and into the surrounding courtyard. During this leisure time Crow Dog became friends with many of the neighbors, whose homes bordered the jail, and entertained the children who gathered around him to listen to his stories. Eventually it became commonplace for Crow Dog to spend more time out of his cell than in.

One evening as the jailer was locking up for the night Crow Dog was nowhere to be found. The jailer inquired of the surrounding neighbors to see if Crow Dog was visiting but he was not. Marshal Raymond then sent special deputy Billy Wilson to the reservation to see if Crow Dog was there and, if so, to bring him back at once. Wilson, a man of exceedingly small stature and a large amount of arrogance, found Crow Dog there and nearly started a war with his demands for Crow Dog’s arrest and return. Wilson solicited the help of the local agent, but despite warnings of violence and bloodshed Crow Dog would not budge. Finally, the agent was able to convince Crow Dog to surrender to Marshal Raymond at Deadwood and assured him that his friends would work to secure a pardon. Crow Dog agreed but considered it an insult to be arrested by such a little, arrogant man. “Tell that little man,” Crow Dog said, “to go home and in two suns, I Kanga Sunka, will start for the Black Hills.”

Deputy Wilson headed for home but along the way became drunk and disoriented. Despite having left the reservation two days after Wilson’s departure, Crow Dog reached Deadwood ahead of Deputy Wilson.

Back in jail, Crow Dog was given the usual freedoms but only after promising not to leave the courtyard grounds. Crow Dog kept his word.

One day, at long last, deputy sheriff Willard went to the jail and informed Crow Dog that he was required to return to court. Crow Dog looked quizzically at the deputy and made the sign of a hanging man, but Willard told him that he did not know what was to happen. However, Crow Dog convinced himself that he was going to be hanged and so he made his solemn preparations. He dressed himself in his army issued blue uniform that he had worn when acting as the head of the tribal police and pinned to his chest the several medals that he had been given.

As the judge proceeded to expound upon the purpose of the hearing, Crow Dog stood with stern dignity as his sentence was pronounced and the Judges words were interpreted. It was some time before Crow Dog was able to grasp the meaning of all the words, words that included, “…the Great Father at Washington has sent a pardon to the great chief Kangi Sunka.”

When the words were finally understood, Crow Dog went to Attorney Plowman, whom the Indians had named Wi-Cas-A-Ci-Qua-La-Ho-Tonka or “Little man with a big voice” and, picking him up in a rib-crushing bear hug, loudly proclaimed, “You heap d___ good man!

M. Timothy Nolting is an award winning Nebraska columnist and freelance writer. To contact Tim, email; [email protected]