第 13 节
作者:恐龙王      更新:2021-02-21 14:13      字数:9322
  of   personality。     He    had   never   fought   the   whites   up   to   this  time;  and
  indeed no 〃coup〃 was counted for killing or scalping a white man。
  Young   Crazy   Horse   was   twenty…one   years   old   when   all   the   Teton
  Sioux chiefs (the western or plains dwellers) met in council to determine
  upon   their   future   policy   toward   the   invader。     Their   former   agreements
  had been by individual bands; each for itself; and every one was friendly。
  They reasoned that the country was wide; and that the white traders should
  be   made   welcome。        Up   to   this   time   they   had   anticipated   no  conflict。
  They had permitted the Oregon Trail; but now to their astonishment forts
  were built and garrisoned in their territory。
  Most of the chiefs advocated a strong resistance。                There were a few
  influential men who desired still to live in peace; and who were willing to
  make   another   treaty。     Among   these   were   White   Bull;  Two   Kettle;   Four
  Bears; and Swift Bear。         Even Spotted Tail; afterward the great peace chief;
  was at this time with the majority; who decided in the year 1866 to defend
  their   rights   and   territory   by   force。 Attacks   were   to   be   made   upon   the
  forts within their country and on every trespasser on the same。
  Crazy Horse took no part in the discussion; but he and all the young
  warriors   were   in   accord   with   the   decision   of   the   council。  Although   so
  young;   he   was   already   a   leader   among   them。      Other   prominent   young
  braves were Sword (brother of the man of that name who was long captain
  of police at Pine Ridge); the younger Hump; Charging Bear; Spotted Elk;
  Crow King; No Water; Big Road; He Dog; the nephew of Red Cloud; and
  Touch…the…Cloud; intimate friend of Crazy Horse。
  The attack on Fort Phil Kearny was the first fruits of the new policy;
  and here Crazy Horse was chosen to lead the attack on the woodchoppers;
  designed to draw the soldiers out of the fort; while an army of six hundred
  lay in wait for them。        The success of this stratagem was further enhanced
  by his masterful handling of his men。              From this time on a general war
  was inaugurated; Sitting Bull looked to him as a principal war leader; and
  even   the   Cheyenne   chiefs;   allies   of   the   Sioux;   practically   acknowledged
  his   leadership。     Yet   during   the   following   ten   years   of   defensive   war   he
  was never known to make a speech; though his teepee was the rendezvous
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  of   the   young    men。     He    was    depended     upon    to  put   into  action   the
  decisions of the council; and was frequently consulted by the older chiefs。
  Like    Osceola;     he   rose   suddenly;    like   Tecumseh      he   was    always
  impatient for battle; like Pontiac; he fought on while his allies were suing
  for peace; and like Grant; the silent soldier; he was a man of deeds and not
  of   words。    He   won   from   Custer   and   Fetterman   and   Crook。         He   won
  every battle that he undertook; with the exception of one or two occasions
  when he was surprised in the midst of his women and children; and even
  then he managed to extricate himself in safety from a difficult position。
  Early in the year 1876; his runners brought word from Sitting Bull that
  all   the   roving   bands   would   converge   upon   the   upper   Tongue   River   in
  Montana for summer feasts and conferences。               There was conflicting news
  from the reservation。       It was rumored that the army would fight the Sioux
  to a finish; again; it was said that another commission would be sent out to
  treat with them。
  The    Indians    came    together   early   in  June;   and   formed    a  series  of
  encampments stretching out from three to four miles; each band keeping
  separate camp。       On June 17; scouts came in and reported the advance of a
  large body of troops under General Crook。              The council sent Crazy Horse
  with seven hundred men to meet and attack him。                  These were nearly all
  young men; many of them under twenty; the flower of the hostile Sioux。
  They set out at   night so as to   steal a march upon   the enemy; but   within
  three or four miles of his camp they came unexpectedly upon some of his
  Crow   scouts。      There   was   a   hurried   exchange   of   shots;   the   Crows   fled
  back   to   Crook's   camp;   pursued   by   the   Sioux。      The   soldiers   had   their
  warning; and it was impossible to enter the well…protected camp。                   Again
  and   again   Crazy   Horse   charged   with   his   bravest   men;   in   the   attempt   to
  bring the troops into the open; but he succeeded only in drawing their fire。
  Toward afternoon he withdrew; and returned to camp disappointed。                       His
  scouts remained to watch Crook's movements; and later brought word that
  he had retreated to Goose Creek and seemed to have no further disposition
  to disturb the Sioux。        It is well known to us that it is Crook rather than
  Reno who is to be blamed for cowardice in connection with Custer's fate。
  The latter had no chance to do anything; he was lucky to save himself; but
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  if   Crook   had   kept   on   his   way;   as   ordered;   to   meet   Terry;   with   his   one
  thousand regulars and two hundred Crow and Shoshone scouts; he would
  inevitably  have   intercepted   Custer   in   his   advance   and   saved   the   day   for
  him;   and   war   with   the   Sioux   would   have   ended   right   there。    Instead   of
  this;   he   fell   back   upon   Fort   Meade;   eating   his   horses   on   the   way;   in   a
  country swarming with game; for fear of Crazy Horse and his braves!
  The Indians now crossed the divide between the Tongue and the Little
  Big   Horn;   where   they   felt   safe   from   immediate   pursuit。      Here;   with   all
  their   precautions;   they   were   caught   unawares   by   General   Custer;   in   the
  midst of their midday games and festivities; while many were out upon the
  daily hunt。
  On   this   twenty…fifth   of   June;  1876;   the great  camp   was   scattered   for
  three miles or more along the level river bottom; back of the thin line of
  cottonwoods  five circular rows of teepees; ranging from half a mile to a
  mile and a half in circumference。           Here and there stood out a large; white;
  solitary    teepee;    these   were    the  lodges    or  〃clubs〃    of   the  young     men。
  Crazy   Horse   was   a   member   of   the   〃Strong   Hearts〃   and   the   〃Tokala〃   or
  Fox lodge。       He was watching a game of ring…toss when the warning came
  from the southern end of the camp of the approach of troops。
  The Sioux and the Cheyennes were 〃minute men〃; and although taken
  by    surprise;    they   instantly    responded。      Meanwhile;        the   women      and
  children     were     thrown    into   confusion。       Dogs     were    howling;      ponies
  running hither and thither; pursued by their owners; while many of the old
  men were singing their lodge songs to encourage the warriors; or praising
  the 〃strong heart〃 of Crazy Horse。
  That leader had quickly saddled his favorite war pony and was starting
  with   his   young   men   for   the   south   end   of   the   camp;   when   a   fresh   alarm
  came from the opposite direction; and looking up; he saw Custer's force
  upon the top of the bluff directly across the river。             As quick as a flash; he
  took in the situation  the enemy had planned to attack the camp at both
  ends at once; and knowing that Custer could not ford the river at that point;
  he    instantly   led  his   men    northward     to  the  ford   to  cut   him   off。   The
  Cheyennes followed closely。            Custer must have seen that wonderful dash
  up the sage…bush plain; and one wonders whether he realized its meaning。
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  In a very few minutes; this wild general of the plains had outwitted one of
  the most brilliant leaders of the Civil War and ended at once his military
  career and his life。
  In this dashing charge; Crazy Horse snatched his most famous victory
  out   of   what   seemed   frightful   peril;   for   the   Sioux   could   not   know   how
  many   were      behind    Custer。    He     was   caught    in  his  own    trap。   To    the
  soldiers it   must   have  seemed as if   the  Indians   rose up   from  the  eart