Crow Foot, son of Sitting Bull

[yaxchi]

Is it known how Crow Foot died at the time his father was murdered, and what became of his body?  Thank you

[Dietmar]

Interesting question.

The most spread version of Crowfoot´s death comes from Walter S. Campbell´s notes, who interviewed people from Standing Rock in the 1930s.
Basically Campbell, known also under his writer´s name Stanley Vestal, writes that Crowfoot, after Sitting Bull was killed, was hiding in the cabin (sometimes it is said under the bed). He was described as a “schoolboy of seventeen winters”. When the policemen found him he was yelling “Uncle, I want to live! You have killed my father! Let me go!” Nevertheless he was shot to death by the police.

According to Ernie LaPointe, direct lineal descendant of Sitting Bull, oral history in his family paints another picture. Ernie describes Crowfoot as a young man of seventeen, who picked his weapon when the police wanted to arrest Sitting Bull as he wanted to protect him. When his father was shot outside the cabin, Crowfoot fell next to his father.
According to Ernie, Campbell´s story seeks to humiliate the memory of Sitting Bull´s son and is a complete fabrication.

I think I´ve seen at least one other report which says Crowfoot was carrying a weapon, but I have to look to find it again…


Crowfoot was buried in a mass grave with other dead killed during the fight at Sitting Bull´s cabin.

[Dietmar]

Red Tomahawk´s own accounts differ from each other in 1815 and 1823:

www.welchdakotapapers.com/2011/11/sitting-bull-his-last-days-2/

"We got outside and he [Sitting Bull] made a loud cry as his son came around the corner of the house, and then the hostiles came. His son, Crow Foot, came and was killed right away. He went down these tracks and died. (Pointed to the trail depicted on the map). I shot Sitting Bull in the left side."
Red Tomahawk to A. B. Welch, 1915

“When we lifted the mattress we found Crow Foot under it. He was Sitting Bull´s young son. He was about seventeen winters. Bull Head said: “Kill Him. I´m dying now”. I hit Crow Foot then and knocked him down. He laid partly out of the door and a little inside the house. Lone Man and One Feather then shot him dead. We threw him out of the way then.”
Red Tomahawk’s story of the fight, told to Welch, Published in “The Clover Leaf,” February 1923

[Dietmar]

Another account from the Welch Dakota Papers site:

www.welchdakotapapers.com/2011/10/indian-histories-from-aagard-to-burr-44-individuals/

Sam Halsey talks to Welch, May 1915:

"He was Captain of Indian Police on Standing Rock Reservation at time Sitting Bull was killed in 1890, and in charge of the force which captured and killed him.

He was a little fellow. Mato Watakpe (Chief John Grass) says he is good man. He is my uncle in the white way. He was brave man. When he was fifteen years old he kill an enemy once. I think it some Crow man maybe. He awful good fightin’ fellow man. He kill two, three more mans maybe. I don’t know. I think so. He awful smart man too. They say so. He wear long eagle’s feathers. He kill’em, enemy mans. He stay round here (note: during Little Big Horn Fight). He not fight Custer. They make him Captain police for that. Long time Captain.”

Note: This man had hold of Sitting Bull by the right arm, when Crow Foot, Sitting Bull’s son, came around the corner of the log house and, seeing his father prisoner, started shooting. Bull Head was killed instantly at his first shot. He is buried at Fort Yates Catholic yard."

[gregor]

The bodies of the people who had been killed with Sitting Bull were placed in one of SB's cabins. According to Ernie LaPointe and other sources, about a week later Reverend T.L. Riggs appeared on the scene and organized the burial. Riggs noticed that someone had the killed orderly dressed. He hired some people to dig a grave, which took some days and buried SB's followers and son. Today there is a marker on the grave.

[cinemo]

Regarding the death of Crow Foot, there were two reports by Four Robes and Scarlet Wirlwind ( wife of One Bull ) , both reports were similar.

For this, see the book : The Plains Sioux and U.S. Colonialism from Lewis and Clark to Wounded Knee , by Jeffrey Ostler ( pages 324 , 325 )

cinemo

[yaxchi]

Jun 27, 2015 10:10:27 GMT -5 gregor said:

The bodies of the people who had been killed with Sitting Bull were placed in one of SB's cabins. According to Ernie LaPointe and other sources, about a week later Reverend T.L. Riggs appeared on the scene and organized the burial. Riggs noticed that someone had the killed orderly dressed. He hired some people to dig a grave, which took some days and buried SB's followers and son. Today there is a marker on the grave.

Thanks all for this valuable information.

I am planning a trip to see many of the sites connected with the Sioux and Cheyenne wars, so I am hoping to know EXACTLY where to find Crow Foot's grave.  Can I get an exact location?  Is there a photo somewhere? Some folks above seemed to indicate that the graves were inside of one of SB's cabins.  I didn't know he had more than one.  Are they still standing?  

[gregor]

The grave is not inside a cabin. The cabins have been dismantled long ago. I've been told that the grave is nearby, where the cabins once stood. It is located on Grand River about 4 miles west of Little Eagle. The place will not be easy to find. I would recommend to hire a guide in Fort Yates, Little Eagle or at Sitting Bull College.
And there is also a marker nearby

[gregor]

Found this on the Internet:

Inscripton on a marker at Grand River:


"Sitting Bull’s Tragic Death
December 15, 1890

Sitting Bull, best known American Indian, leader of the ‘hostile groups’ for a generation, a powerful orator, a clever prophet who believed that white contact only degraded the Indian, an Uncpapa Siouan patriot, was killed here at dawn, December 15, 1890. Slain with him were seven ‘ghost dancers,’ his followers, buried here Jan.2, 1891 by Rev. Thomas L. Riggs with Indian helpers. The slain men’s names are on the nearby marble monument, placed here in 1958, but provided for by Missionary Mary Collins and kinsmen of the dead men half a century ago.
Kicking Bear brought the ghost dance here in the summer of 1890. Misunderstood, it was believed by the white man to be a harbinger of warfare and the Government determined to stop it. The Agent, James McLaughlin, demanded its cessation in Sitting Bull’s Village but it was continued. Acting under orders, McLaughlin had Lieut. Bullhead, Sgt. Shavehead, 37 Indian police and 4 volunteers proceed to arrest Sitting Bull, who, it was rumored, was about to flee to the Badlands at dawn. He submitted and agreed to go quietly, but on emerging from his cabin, taunted by his son Crowfoot, he called on his followers to release him.
Catch the Bear shot Bullhead, who turned and shot Sitting Bull. Red Tomahawk, behind Sitting Bull, also shot him. In the ensuing melee Bulkhead, Shavehead, James Little Eagle, Paul Akicitah, David Hawkman and John Armstrong, police, were killed and Alex Middle wounded. The better organized police fought off the ‘ghost dancers’ and were soon relieved by Captain Fetchet and cavalry.
An unnecessary and tragic end of a notable, if misguided Indian leader, this marker briefly tells the sad story.”

Erected: 1958
Location: Corson County, north bank of Grand River/4 miles west of Hwy 63

[ladonna]

The cabin site is located along the Grand River I just visited it this last weekend