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Harney to the Brule chiefs in respect to him were faithfully kept。 One of
his fellow…prisoners committed suicide； but the other held out bravely for
the two…year term of his imprisonment。 During the second year； it was
well understood that neither of the men sought to escape； and they were
given much freedom。 It was fine schooling for Spotted Tail； that tireless
observer of the ways of the white man！ It is a fact that his engaging
personal qualities won for him kindness and sympathy at the fort before
the time came for his release。
One day some Indian horse thieves of another tribe stampeded the
horses and mules belonging to the garrison。 Spotted Tail asked
permission of the commanding officer to accompany the pursuers。 That
officer； trusting in the honor of a Sioux brave； gave him a fast horse and a
good carbine； and said to him： 〃I depend upon you to guide my soldiers so
that they may overtake the thieves and recapture the horses！〃
The soldiers recaptured the horses without any loss； but Spotted Tail
still followed the Indians。 When they returned to the fort without him；
everybody agreed that he would never turn up。 However； next day he did
〃turn up〃； with the scalp of one of the marauders！
Soon after this he was returned to his own people； who honored him
by making him the successor of the old chief； Conquering Bear； whose
blood he had avenged； for which act he had taken upon himself the full
responsibility。 He had made good use of his two years at the fort； and
completed his studies of civilization to his own satisfaction。 From this
time on he was desirous of reconciling the Indian and the white man；
thoroughly understanding the uselessness of opposition。 He was
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accordingly in constant communication with the military； but the other
chiefs did not understand his views and seem to have been suspicious of
his motives。
In 1860…1864 the Southern Cheyennes and Comanches were at war
with the whites； and some of the Brules and Ogallalas； who were their
neighbors and intimates； were suspected of complicity with the hostiles。
Doubtless a few of their young men may have been involved； at any rate；
Thunder Bear and Two Face； together with a few others who were roving
with the warring tribes； purchased two captive white women and brought
them to Fort Laramie。 It was； however； reported at the post that these
two men had maltreated the women while under their care。
Of course； the commander demanded of Spotted Tail； then head chief；
that he give up the guilty ones； and accordingly he had the two men
arrested and delivered at the fort。 At this there was an outcry among his
own people； but he argued that if the charges were true； the men deserved
punishment； and if false； they should be tried and cleared by process of
law。 The Indians never quite knew what evidence was produced at the
court…martial； but at all events the two men were hanged； and as they had
many influential connections； their relatives lost no time in fomenting
trouble。 The Sioux were then camping close by the fort and it was
midwinter； which facts held them in check for a month or two； but as soon
as spring came； they removed their camp across the river and rose in
rebellion。 A pitched battle was fought； in which the soldiers got the
worst of it。 Even the associate chief； Big Mouth； was against Spotted
Tail； who was practically forced against his will and judgment to take up
arms once more。
At this juncture came the sudden and bloody uprising in the east
among the Minnesota Sioux； and Sitting Bull's campaign in the north had
begun in earnest； while to the south the Southern Cheyennes； Comanches；
and Kiowas were all upon the warpath。 Spotted Tail at about this time
seems to have conceived the idea of uniting all the Rocky Mountain
Indians in a great confederacy。 He once said： 〃Our cause is as a child's
cause； in comparison with the power of the white man； unless we can stop
quarreling among ourselves and unite our energies for the common good。〃
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But old… time antagonisms were too strong； and he was probably held back
also by his consciousness of the fact that the Indians called him 〃the white
man's friend〃； while the military still had some faith in him which he did
not care to lose。 He was undoubtedly one of the brainiest and most
brilliant Sioux who ever lived； and while he could not help being to a large
extent in sympathy with the feeling of his race against the invader； yet he
alone foresaw the inevitable outcome； and the problem as it presented
itself to him was simply this： 〃What is the best policy to pursue in the
existing situation？〃
Here is his speech as it has been given to me； delivered at the great
council on the Powder River； just before the attack on Fort Phil Kearny。
We can imagine that he threw all his wonderful tact and personal
magnetism into this last effort at conciliation。
〃'Hay； hay； hay！ Alas； alas！' Thus speaks the old man； when he
knows that his former vigor and freedom is gone from him forever。 So
we may exclaim to…day； Alas！ There is a time appointed to all things。
Think for a moment how many multitudes of the animal tribes we
ourselves have destroyed！ Look upon the snow that appears to…day to…
morrow it is water！ Listen to the dirge of the dry leaves； that were green
and vigorous but a few moons before！ We are a part of this life and it
seems that our time is come。
〃Yet note how the decay of one nation invigorates another。 This
strange white man consider him； his gifts are manifold！ His tireless
brain； his busy hand do wonders for his race。 Those things which we
despise he holds as treasures； yet he is so great and so flourishing that
there must be some virtue and truth in his philosophy。 I wish to say to
you； my friends： Be not moved alone by heated arguments and thoughts of
revenge！ These are for the young。 We are young no longer； let us think
well； and give counsel as old men！〃 These words were greeted with an
ominous silence。 Not even the customary 〃How！〃 of assent followed the
speech； and Sitting Bull immediately got up and replied in the celebrated
harangue which will be introduced under his own name in another chapter。
The situation was critical for Spotted Tail the only man present to
advocate submission to the stronger race whose ultimate supremacy he
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recognized as certain。 The decision to attack Fort Phil Kearny was
unanimous without him； and in order to hold his position among his
tribesmen he joined in the charge。 Several bullets passed through his war
bonnet； and he was slightly wounded。
When the commission of 1867…1868 was sent out to negotiate with the
Sioux； Spotted Tail was ready to meet them； and eager to obtain for his
people the very best terms that he could。 He often puzzled and
embarrassed them by his remarkable speeches； the pointed questions that
he put； and his telling allusions to former negotiations。 Meanwhile Red
Cloud would not come into the council until after several deputations of
Indians had been sent to him； and Sitting Bull did not come at all。
The famous treaty was signed； and from this time on Spotted Tail
never again took up arms against the whites。 On the contrary； it was
mainly attributed t