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Post by Dietmar on Jun 10, 2020 16:34:33 GMT -5
Louie Garcia was so kind to send me a word for word translation of an article written by Enoch Appearing Cloud(Mahpiyahdinape) a famous person who was the son of Eagle Helps (Riggs translation). Note that it not an English language translation. The basis of the article is that Enoch is telling who is living and who died at Middle Butte (Birdtail Reserve, Virden, Manitoba), so it provides simply a list of names. Enoch eventually returned to the States and settled at Lake Traverse (Sisseton Reservation, South Dakota).
Thank you Louie!!
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jun 16, 2020 12:44:13 GMT -5
Tawasuota (Many Hailstones) was credited for killing the Store trader James Lynd Aug.18.1862. Little Crow gave the order to kill the store traders and ordered Tawasota to take the first shot, according to Charles a Eastman (Ohiyesa). Tawasuota told him he let Merrick live because he helped him in the past and let him escape through the window by shooting over his head repeatedly. According to a testimony by a Dakota woman in the book "Through Dakota Eyes, A Narrative of the 1862 Dakota wars".
Merrick was shot and killed running for his life. Merrick told the natives to eat cow dung and grass if they were hungry. They found Merrick with grass in his mouth. after the killings he went to little crows tee-pee gripping his gun underneath his blanket. He stated he felt angry against little crow for calling the order to kill them all. who knows what he was thinking but he agreed to lead the attacks on the next up coming battles.
At the New Ulm battle i read they did a final charge on the garrison, An unusual move by the natives said Fowell. this same move Charles (ohiyesa) wrote about his uncle Oyemakasan made, a final move, a charge that split the grove venture in two and drove them away, led by his Uncle Oyemakasan.
This move possibly may have been pasted down, i also read of them making decoys, door to door attacks killing anyone in sight. brutal (War) tactics.
after they came up to Canada ohiyesa (Charles Eastman) wrote after 1862 they left every summer to attack any sort of Wasicu to take avenge for their oyate. Im not sure of the name he used in Canada but im really close and will let everyone know. They also helped tribes escape by getting in between them and the cavalry while escaping to Canada .Peter Loranz Neufeld explains it better. he is a local historian from Manitoba from the mid 19 century. The warriors that left every summer were our protectors. I Just want the good story they did for their people. no disrespect to the dead innocent families on both sides.Our Sioux people need to know what they did after exile. true heroes to the people.They broke the treaties and they responded and did what they could. They just wanted to try to push them back and burn everything down, They just wanted to keep the old way of life and not bound by treaty.
Tawasuota died 1902 Birdtail creek Manitoba Canada. Tawasuota admitted his guilt 40 years after the fact to a Reverend Louis Mazawakinyana. Enock Maypiyahdinape was the elder at his church after he left Birdtail creek Sioux Manitoba. in the late 1880s. Charles a eastman (ohiyesa) wrote his name in the book crafts and lore.
He wrote Tawasuota -his hailstorm, forcible or impetuous. According to Ohiyesa he was a great warrior already that earned the respect of his tribe, and they even chanted his name. There is a big story to this but this is just a brief description on who he was and what they did after exile, what they thought was best for the Oyate. Tawasuota lived and died a warrior and enemy to the United States sworn by honor never to return Home.
Your Koda (Friend) Mitchell BigHunter.
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jun 17, 2020 3:32:53 GMT -5
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jul 11, 2020 6:47:06 GMT -5
Rest In Peace, Singing Legend, Frank Brown - lead singer of Dakota Travels and Sioux Assiniboine Singers. Thank you for leaving a legacy for singers to follow, condolences to the family and community.🙏🏽 PIPE STONE CREEK SIOUX MANITOBA DAKOTA.
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jul 12, 2020 15:56:45 GMT -5
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jul 16, 2020 14:06:24 GMT -5
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jul 19, 2020 0:02:23 GMT -5
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jul 20, 2020 1:43:31 GMT -5
Louie Garcia was so kind to send me a word for word translation of an article written by Enoch Appearing Cloud(Mahpiyahdinape) a famous person who was the son of Eagle Helps (Riggs translation). Note that it not an English language translation. The basis of the article is that Enoch is telling who is living and who died at Middle Butte (Birdtail Reserve, Virden, Manitoba), so it provides simply a list of names. Enoch eventually returned to the States and settled at Lake Traverse (Sisseton Reservation, South Dakota).
Thank you Louie!!
Picture of where Birdtail Creek meets the Assiniboine River.
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jul 27, 2020 20:39:56 GMT -5
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Jul 27, 2020 23:11:39 GMT -5
CAU. BUT WE SPELL IT CHO.(GOOD) Dakota Slang< . This article is interesting, His horse or not.
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Aug 11, 2020 2:10:22 GMT -5
THE GRANGE ADVANCE, JULY 19. 1876.
THE STORY TOLD.
A Connected Account of Custer's Disaster and
Death.
From the St. Paul Dispatch.
GEN. TERRY'S ORDERS.
From the information at hand it ap-
pears that on the 22nd ult. Lt. Col. Custer
started at noon from the mouth of
the Rosebud river, a tributary of the
Yellowstone, under orders from Gen.
Terry, which required him to proceed up
the Rosebud in pursuit of the Indians
whose trail had been discovered a few
days previous by Major Reno. Gen.
Terry declined to give precise instructions
for the movement, not wishing to
hamper Custer's action when near the
enemy and placing full confidence in his
zeal, energy and ability. The General
commanding (Terry) expressed, however
his views of what Custer's action should
be and desired him to conform to them
unless he should see sufficient reason for
departing from them. These were, that
Custer should proceed up the Rosebud
until he ascertained definitely the direction
of the trail above spoken of. Should
it be found, as appeared almost
certain, to lead towards the Little
Big Horn, the General thought
Custer should still proceed
southward as far, perhaps, as the headquarters
of the Tongue river, which are
directly southward, twenty-five miles,
from the head of the Rosebud and about
the same distance southeast from the locality
on the Little Big Horn where Custer
found and attacked the Indians. This
route would have taken Custer (in a direct
line) about one hundred miles southward
from the mouth of the Rosebud.
From the headwaters of the Tongue river
the General advised that Custer should
turn, westerly or northwesterly, towards
the Little Big Horn, feeling constantly
to his left so as to prevent the
escape of the Indians to the south or
southeast by passing around to Custer's
left. Custer was informed by the General
that the column of Col. Gibbon was
then in motion and would move up the
Big Horn to the parks at the mouth of
the Little Big Horn, whence its movements
would be controlled by circumstances.
The hope was expressed that
the Indians upon the Little Big Horn
might be so nearly enclosed by the two
columns that their escape would be impossible.
Custer was desired, on his way
up the Rosebud to thoroughly examine
the upper part of Tullock's (Timlock's)
creek, (a stream rising on the
divide between the Big Horn and Rose-'
bud and emptying near the mouth of the
Big Horn,) and to send a scout to Gibbon
informing him of the result of this examination.
Custer was further desired
to report to Gen. Terry on the the supply
steamer at the mouth of the Little
Big Horn not later than the expiration
of the time for which his command was
rationed, or July 1st.
CUSTER'S FORCE.
The command consisted of the Seventh
Cavalry, about seven hundred and twenty
strong and a detachment of scouts and
guides, increasing the whole number of
fighting men to near eight hundred.
CUSTER'S MOVEMENTS.
About twenty miles up the Rosebud,
at about nine o'clock on the morning of
the 23d, Custer struck a large lodge-pole
trail, about ten days old, the same which
Reno had before discovered in the Tongue
river valley. This lodge-pole trail indicated
the recent movement of an Indian
village. It led up the Rosebud and Custer's
command camped on it at night, 47
miles up the Rosebud or about east from
the sources' of Tinlock's creek, which it
appears he did not stop to examine.
ABANDONED INDIAN CAMP.
The morning of the 24th, after proceeding
six miles farther, the scouts reported
the trail growing fresher, some
ten miles ahead, and there was a consultation
by Custer with his officers. At
four in the afternoon, having rode that
day 45 miles and being now about ninety two
miles from the mouth of the Rosebud,
and- at the forks of that river, about
thirty miles north from the sources of the
Tongue river and about thirty miles eastward
from the Little Big Horn, the
command was rested on the site of an
Indian village which had evidently been
moved away but a few days before.
A NIGHT MARCH.
At eleven o'clock on the night of the
24th, the command was again mounted
and moved, the scouts leading, up a creek
emptying into the Rosebud. About day
light there was a halt for rest and coffee
Soon after the scouts brought word that
they had seen an Indian village from the
top of the divide. The command was
then moved up near to the head of the
creek, about three miles from the top of
the divide, and halted in a ravine. The
distance of this night march from the
abandoned Indian camp on the Rosebud
is estimated at 23 miles.
DISCOVERED BY THE SIOUX,.
Custer and a few soldiers and guides
rode forward to the top of the divide to
look at the Indian camp. He could not
see it but the Indian scouts insisted that
they could see it, some ten to' fifteen,
miles off. Custer returned to the ravine
in about an hour. Meantime he was
seen by Sioux scouts and others had discovered
his command in the ravine.
FORWARD.
Custer again assembled his officers and
then the command was arranged in fighting
order and the forward movement resumed,
the scouts leading and the regiment
following at a walk. Over the divide
the trailled down a little creek, a
branch of the Little Big Horn. About
six miles from the ravine where the command
was halted at daylight a freshly
abandoned Sioux camp was discovered in
which one lodge had been left to shelter
a dead Indian. From this point a park I
or level prairie surrounded by hills was
visible over the Little Big Horn, the
site of
THE INDIAN RENDEZVOUS,
as outlined in our map. The river was
about three miles away. About two
miles beyond it heavy clouds of dust
were rising. Some thought the Indians
were decamping and it is probable Custer
thought the same. The subsequent discovery
of a large fresh trail leading into
the Sioux camp from the southeast would
RENO'S ADVANCE.
Custer sent forward to Major Reno,
who. was leading with companies A,
and to push the scouts rapidly forward
and to head, for the cloud of dust.
A steady gallop of near three miles
brought Reno to the mouth of the little
creek and a natural ford over the Little
Big Horn. The scouts warned him that
the Sioux were coming in force, but he
crossed and formed his companies and
moved forward on the prairie about a
mile, where he dismounted his men, sent
the horses into the timber on the right
and advanced a short distance on foot.
indicate, however, that this cloud of dust
may have been caused by the arrival of
heavy reinforcements for the Sioux., It
is, indeed, certain that all the Indian
forces were united just before the battle,
but the dust may have been caused by
the Indians assembling for the coming
fight.
RENO'S ADVANCE.
Custer sent forward to Major Reno,
who was leading with companies A,
and to push the scouts rapidly forward
and to head, for the cloud of dust.
A steady gallop of near three miles
brought Reno to the mouth of the little
creek and a natural ford over the Little
Big Horn. The scouts warned him that
the Sioux were coming in force, but he
crossed and formed his companies and
moved forward on the prairie about a
mile, where he dismounted his men, sent
the horses into the timber on the right
and advanced a short distance on foot.
AFTER SKIRMISHING ,
a few minutes, under heavy fire, Reno fell
back to his horses in the timber and, the
Indians beginning to collect in force between
him and the river, remounted.
Just then the Indians opened fire from
close range in the timber, and one soldier
fell. The men were again dismounted for
skirmishing, but being thought unequal
to the contest, were again mounted and
moved from the timber over the open
prairie toward the ford. The Indians
pressed them fiercely and soon forced
THE RETREAT
into a run for the ford. The Sioux on
their ponies dashed along, firing at close
range and meeting little resistance. At
the ford and on the run towards it the
companies engaged suffered nearly all
their loss. Lieutenant Mcintosh, Charley
Reynolds, a scout, Dr. DeWolf, Bloody
Knife, a scout, and others, were killed
before reaching the river. Lieut. Hodgson
and many others were killed while ford
ing the river. A number of men, either
cut off from the retreat or preferring the
shelter of the timber, remained in the
timber and subsequently joined Reno in
safety as described below. Reno's retreat
ended at the top of a bluff on the
right bank of the river about a mile from
the ford, where he entrenched himself as
well as he could, and was joined by Capt.
Benteen with companies D, and and
subsequently by Capt. McDougall with
company and a train of pack mules,
These four companies were about two
miles in the rear when Reno forded the
river on his advance.
THE MEN LEFT BEHIND.
George Hernedon, a scout, tells that
thirteen cavalrymen, three of whom
were wounded, (two so badly they could
not use their arms,) remained with him
in the timber where Reno placed his
horses when he advanced his skirmish
line into the Indian village. They remained
there about three hours and
meantime saw that nearly all the Indians
went from the upper end of the valley
down the river and from there they
heard heavy firing which lasted about
one hour and then began to die away.
Then Hernedon persuaded eleven of the
soldiers to go with him and escape. They
met on their way to the ford five Indians
who were driven off by pistol shots and
the twelve (including the three wounded
soldiers above mentioned) waded the
river and proceeded to Reno's position
ith out opposition,
RENO ATTACKED.
Indian skirmishers had meantime surrounded
Reno's position and kept up a
scattering fire from commanding positions,
but inflicted little if any loss. The
wounded had been placed in the center,
and the dead horses and mules were piled
in front of such rifle pits as the men could
dig. Soon after the firing below ceased,
the Indians came up the river in great
force, and Reno's skirmishers retired to
his entrenched position, which he strengthened
during the succeeding night. The
evening attack lasted about an hour and
covered the Indian chiefs getting their
warriors in position.
Early next morning the Sioux renewed
the attack and several times charged close
up. These attacks ended about ten
o'clock with a sortie led by Benteen,
which dispersed a large body gathered in
front for another charge. Desultory
among the wounded, had become terrible
CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE FIELD,
firing was kept up, however, all day, and
one notable event was the procuring of
water from the river at the foot of the
bluff, by a volunteer detachment of soldiers,
one of whom was killed and several
wounded in this service. At the time,
the suffering for want of water, especially
THE INDIANS WITHDRAW.
During, the afternoon the Indians began
to withdraw, and near dark the firing
ceased altogether. In the morning not
an Indian was to be seen, and 'about ten
o'clock runners sent out by-Reno brought
intelligence of the approach of Gen.Terry
with Gibbon's cavalry, the infantry and
the Gatling guns.
CUSTER'S FATE.
So far as known not one except a Crow
scout whose knowledge is extremely
limited, is left alive to tell the story of
Custer's movements and the loss of all his command
From such traces as are
left he appears to have moved with companies
C, E. F, I and L on the right side
of the bluffs on the right bank, of the
river something Over two miles and there
to have met the Indians in force near the
river, where he perhaps attempted to
cross. Here, either then. Or later in the
action, Captain Smith's company fell.
Among the bluffs there were numerous
evidences of a desperate defense against
overwhelming numbers and indications of
repeated defeats of attempts to reach the
river or to break through the encircling
savages. A mile below the remains
of Smith's company were found
the bodies of a number of men and
horses, indicating an attempt
to cross the river at that
point. Three-quarters of a mile back
were found the remains of Custer and the
last of his gallant comrades. On the
lines of advance and retreat indicated on
the map were found the dead singly as if
they had fallen during flight or attack,
and also lines of soldiers and horses where
unavailing stands had been made., One
company after another was annihilated.
The Indians were ten to one and the fight
was at last at close quarters, when there
was nothing left for the survivors but to
sell their lives as dearly as possible.
All accounts are agreed that Custer's
fight lasted about an hour, during which
the firing was very heavy. It began
about the time that Reno was reforming
his routed troops and providing for his
wounded after his retreat to the bluffs
where Benteen joined him, and while it
lasted the main body of the Indians went
down the river and engaged in it, returning
afterwards to renew the attack upon
Reno.
What reason Custer had for dividing
his force and why he attacked at all may
be explained by Reno and Benteen, but
does not appear in any of the reports yet
published. We can only presume that,
having followed a fresh trail, indicating
a movement of the Indians
in retreat and, not being will informed by
his scouts of the actual position, he imagined
that the Indians in the Little Big
Horn valley were breaking up their village
and were likely to get away from
him in the very direction he had been
cautioned by Gen. Terry against permitting
their flight. This thought that the
Indians were retreating explains his
closely following their trail, and his rapid
march and the fact that the Indian force
he had followed was estimated by Reno,
Gen. Terry and himself at not over fifteen
hundred, all told, accounts for the confidence
with which he sent Reno forward
to the attack with less than two hundred
men while he proceeded to make a flank
attack with less than three hundred men.
Instead of fifteen hundred men, women
and children, he had to meet alone not
less than two thousand and probably all
of three thousand Sioux warriors. He
was overwhelmed by numbers far beyond
the anticipations of himself and Gen.
Terry. Reno and Benteen estimated the
Indian force which they engaged at
2.500. The number of lodges which were
in the village is estimated by Gen. Terry's
engineer at 1,800. This would indicate
a total population of 8,000, while it
is known there were comparatively few
women and children, so that the whole
fighting force of the Sioux could not
have been less than 5,000 and may have
been a thousand more.
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Aug 11, 2020 15:42:05 GMT -5
THE GRANGE ADVANCE JULY 19. 1876.
ON THE BIGHORN
Thrilling Story of a Scout who was Present
at the Terrible Slaughter of Custer's Regiment.,
George Herndon, a scout sent by
Gen. Terry with Gen. Custer's column,
relates the following as his experience
in the recent battle. He was sent by
Gen. Terry from the mouth of the
Rosebud with Gen. Custer's command,
to carry dispatches from Custer to
Terry:
HIS STORY.
"We left the Rosebud on the 22nd of
June'at 12 o'clock marched up the
Rosebud about 12 miles and encamped
for the night. On the morning of the
23rd we broke camp at 5 o'clock and
continued up the Rosebud until 9
o'clck, when we struck a large lodge pole
trail about ten days old, and followed
it along the Rosebud until toward
evening, when we went into
camp on the trail. On the morning of
the 24th we pulled out at 5 o'clock,
and followed the trail 5 or 6 miles,
when we met six Crow Indian scouts,
who had been sent out the night previous
by Gen. Custer to look for the
Indian village. They said they had
found fresh pony tracks, and that 10
miles ahead the trail was fresher.
Gen. Custer had the officers' call
blown, and they assembled around
him, but I did not hear what he said
to them. The scouts were again sent
ahead, and moved along at a fast walk.
We moved at 1 o'clock, and, while the
officers were eating their lunch, the
scouts came back and reported that
they had found where the village had
been quite recently. They moved
again, with flankers well out to watch
the trail and see that it did not divide.
About 4 o'clock we came to the place
where the village had been apparently
only a few days before, and went into
camp 2 miles below the forks of the
Rosebud. The scouts all again pushed
out to look for the village, and at 11
o'clock at night Custer had everything
packed up and followed the scouts up
the right-hand fork of the Rosebud.
THE VILLAGE DISCOVERED
About daylight we went into camp,
made coffee, and soon after it was
light the scouts brought Custer word
that they had seen the village from
the top of a divide that separates the
Rosebud from the Little Horn River.
We moved up the creek until near its
head, and concealed ourselves in a ravine.
It was about three miles from
the head of the creek where we then
were to the top of the divide where
the Indian scouts said the village could
be seen, and after hiding his command,
Gen. Custer, with a few orderlies, galloped
forward to look at the Indian
camp. In about an hour Custer returned
and said he could not see the
Indian village, but the scouts and a
half-breed guide, Nuch Bayer, said
they could distinctly see it some 15
miles off. While Gen. Custer was
looking for the Indian village, the
scout came in and reported that he
had been discovered, and that news
was then on its way to the village he
was coming to. Another scout said two
Sioux war parties had stolen up and
seen the command; and on looking in
a ravine near by, sure enough, fresh
pony tracks were found. Custer had
officers' call blown, gave his orders,
and the command was put in fighting
order. The scouts were ordered forward
and the regiment moved at a
walk. After going about three miles
the scouts reported Indians ahead, and
the command then took the trail.
Our way lay down a little creek, a
branch of the Little Horn, and after
going some six miles we discovered an
Indian lodge ahead, and Custer bore
down on it at a stiff trot.
In coming to it we found ourselves
in a freshly-abandoned Indian camp,
all the lodges of which were gone except
the one we saw, and on entering
it we found it contained a dead Indian.
From this point we could see into the
Little Horn Valley, and observed heavy
clouds of dust rising about 5 miles .distant.
Many thought the Indians were
moving away, and I think Gen. Custer
believed so, for he sent word to Col.
Reno, who was ahead with three companies
of the Seventh Regiment, to
push on the scouts rapidly and head
for the dust. Reno took a steady gallop
down the creek bottom 3 miles to
where it emptied into the Little Horn,
and found a natural ford across Little
Horn River. He started to cross, when
the scouts came back, and called out
to him to hold on, that the Sioux were
coming in large numbers to meet him.
He crossed over, however, formed his
companies on the prairie in line of
battle, and moved forward at a trot,
but soon took a gallop. The valley was
about three-fourths of a mile wide.
On the left a line of low, round hills,
and on the right the river bottom, covered
with a growth of cottonwood
trees and bushes. After scattering
shots were fired from the hills, and a
few from the river bottom, and Reno's
skirmishers returned the shots, he advanced
about a mile from the ford to a
line of timber on the right and dismounted
his men to fight on foot. The
horses were sent into the timber, and
the men formed on the prairies and
advanced toward the Indians. The Indians,
mounted on ponies, came across
the prairies, and opened a heavy fire
on the soldiers. After skirmishing for
a few minutes, Reno fell back to his
horses in the timber.
The Indians moved to his left and
rear, evidently with the intention of
cutting him off from the ford. Reno
ordered his men to mount and move
through the timber. Just as' the men
got into the saddle the Sioux, who had
advanced in the timber, fired at close
range and killed one soldier.
Col. Reno then commanded the men to dis-
mount, and they did so, but he soon
ordered them to mount again and
move out on the open prairie. The
Indians were every moment getting
thicker between the companies on the
river bottom and the reserve on the
hill.
"Col. Reno ordered his men to
mount and cut their way through. A
wild scramble for life now began. It
was every one for himself. Indians on
every side rose up and fired at the fly
ing horsemen, and hundreds mounted
on swift ponies pursued the soldiers,
easily enough coming up with the
heavy American horses. It was a
hand-to-hand fight, one trooper often
having as many as five Indians after him.
The troops used their revolvers
at short range, emptying an Indian
saddle at every shot. At the ford,
about a mile distant, a strong force of
Indians was found holding it. But the
troopers dashed on them, crossed the
river, and began to ascend the high
bank opposite. It was a mere Indian
trail leading up the face of a bald hill.
The Indians rallied, and, taking shelter
in the bushes about the ford, opened a
deadly fire on the soldiers as they
forded and ascended the opposite
bank.
SLAUGHTER AT THE FORD.
"On account of the narrowness of
the ford a great crowd soon collected
about the crossing and became jammed
there and into this mass of men and
horses the Indians fired at short range.
The loss of life here was fearful.
Lieut. Hodgson fell while gallantly endeavoring
to get his men across the
stream. Hodgson had already crossed
the stream himself and was ascending
the opposite bank when his horse was
shot and rolled down the bank with
him. Detaching himself from the
fallen animal he grasped the stirrups
of a passing soldier to help himself up
the bank, and had nearly reached the
top when a shot struck him and he
fell back. The Sioux, mounted on
their swift ponies, dashed up by the
side of the soldiers and fired at them,
killing both men and horses. Little
resistance was offered, and it was a
complete rout to the ford. Just as I
got out my horse stumbled and fell
and I was dismounted, the horse running
away after Reno's command: I
saw several soldiers who were dismounted,
their horses having been
killed or having run away. There
were also some soldiers mounted who
had remained behind. I should think
in all there were as'many as thirteen
soldiers, and, seeing no chance to get
away, I called on them to come into
the timber and we would stand off the
Indians. Three of the soldiers were
wounded, and two of them so badly
they could not use their arms. The
soldiers wanted to get out, but said
no, we can't get to the ford, and, be
sides, we have wounded men and must
stand by them. The soldiers still
wanted to go, but I told them I was
an old frontiersman and understood Indians,
and if they would do as I said, I
would get them out of the scrape,
which was no worse than scrapes I
had been in before. About half of the
men were mounted, and they wanted
to keep their horses with them, but I
told them to let the horses go and fight
on foot.
"We stayed in the bush about three
hours, and I could hear heavy firing
below in the river, apparently about 2
miles distant. I did not know who it
was, but knew the Indians were fighting
some of our men, and learned afterward
it was Custer's command. Nearly
all the Indians in the upper end of
the valley drew off down the river,
and the fight with Custer lasted about
one hour, when the heavy firing ceased.
When the shooting below began
to die away I said to the boys. "Come,
now is the time to get out." Most of
them did not go, but waited for night.
I told them the Indians would come
back, and we had better be off at once.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
"Eleven of the thirteen said they
would go, but two stayed behind. I
deployed the men as skirmishers, and
we moved forward on foot toward the
river. When we had nearly got to the
river we met five Indians on ponies,
and they fired on us. I returned the
fire and the Indians broke, and we
then forded the river, the water being
breast deep. We finally got over,
wounded men and all, and headed for,
Reno's command, which I could see
drawn up on the bluffs along the river
about a mile off. We reached Reno in
safety. We had not been with Reno
more than fifteen minutes when I saw
the Indians coming up the valley from
Custer's fight. Reno was then moving
his whole command down the ridge to-
ward Custer.
The Indians crossed the river below
Reno and swarmed up the bluff on all
sides. After skirmishing with them
Reno went back to his old position,
which was one of the highest points
along the bluffs. It was now about 5
o'clock, and the fight lasted until it
was too dark to see to shoot. As soon
as it was dark, Reno took the packs
and saddles off the mules and horses
and made breastworks of them. He
also dragged the dead horses and mules
on the line and sheltered the men behind-them.
Some of the men dug
rifle-pits with their butcher knives,
and all slept on their arms.' At the
peep of day'the Indians opened a heavy
fire, and a desperate fight ensued, lasting
until 10 o'clock. The Indians
charged our position three' or four
times, coming up Close enough to hit
our men with stones, 'which they
threw by hand. Captain Benteen saw
a large mass of Indians' gathering on
his front to charge, and ordered
his men to charge on foot and scatter
them. Benteen led the charge, and
was upon the Indians before they knew
what they were about, and killed a
great many. They were evidently
much surprised at this offensive movement,
and I think in desperate fighting
Benteen is one of the bravest men I
ever saw in a fight. All the time he
was going about through the bullets,
encouraging the soldiers to stand up to
their work and not let Indians
whip them.
"He went among the horses and
pack-mules and drove out the men who
were skulking there, compelling them
to go into the line and do their duty.
He never sheltered his own person
once during the battle, and I do not
see how he escaped being killed. The
desperate charging and fighting was at
about 1 o'clock, but firing was kept
up on both sides until late in the afternoon.
SUFFERING OF THE MEN.
"I forgot to state that about 10
clock in the forenoon, and soon after
Benteen made his charge, the men began
to clamor for water. Many of
them had not tasted water for thirty six
hours, and the fighting and hot
sun parched their throats. Some had
their tongues swollen and others could
hardly speak. The men tried to eat
crackers and hardtack, but could not
raise enough saliva to moisten them.
Several tried grass, but it stuck to
their lips, and not one could spit or
speak plainly. The wounded were reported
dying for want of water, and a
good many soldiers volunteered to go
to the river to get some or perish in
the attempt. We were fighting on the
bluffs, about 800 yards from the river,
and a ravine led down from the battlefield
close to the river edge.
The men had to rim over an open
space of about 100 yards to get into
the head of the ravine, and this open
space was commanded by the Indians
on the bluffs. The soldiers, about fifty
strong, dashed over the open plateau
and entered the ravine. They pushed
down it to the mouth and found it
closely guarded by a party of Indians
posted in the timber across the river.
The water could be approached to
within about 30 feet under cover but
then one had to step out on the river
bank and take the Indians' fire. The
boys ran the gauntlet bravely. Some
would dash down to the river with
camp kettles, fill them, and then take
shelter in the bend of the ravine, behind
the rocks, and whose canteens
were filled and carried up the hill.
Before all the men and wounded were
supplied one man was killed and six
or seven wounded in this desperate attempt.
One man had the bone of his
leg shattered by a ball, and it has since
been amputated.
"About 2 o'clock the Indians began
drawing off, but kept skirmishing until
late in the afternoon, and near dark
all drew off. We now got water for
the animals, many of them being almost
dead, and they were put? out to
graze on the hillside.
"In the evening Col. Reno changed
his position and fortified the new one,
it being higher and stronger than the
old one. We expected the Indians
would renew the attack next day, but
in the morning not an Indian was to be
found. Every one felt sure that Crook
or Terry was coming to our relief, and
Col. Reno sent out runners. About 10
o'clock the glad intelligence was received
that Gen. Terry, with a large
column of troops, was moving up the
valley, 6 miles distant, and the head
of his column soon came in sight."
In reply to questions, Mr. Herndon
said:
"I went in with the scouts on the
left of Reno's line. There were about
sixty of us, thirty-five being Ree Indians,
six friendly Sioux, six Crows,
and the rest white men. I saw Bloody
Knife, a Ree Scout, throw up his arm
and fall over, and I think he was
killed. The two cavalry soldiers I left
on the timber when I went out I have
no doubt were killed, as they have not
been seen since.
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Aug 17, 2020 0:49:55 GMT -5
Louie Garcia was so kind to send me a word for word translation of an article written by Enoch Appearing Cloud(Mahpiyahdinape) a famous person who was the son of Eagle Helps (Riggs translation). Note that it not an English language translation. The basis of the article is that Enoch is telling who is living and who died at Middle Butte (Birdtail Reserve, Virden, Manitoba), so it provides simply a list of names. Enoch eventually returned to the States and settled at Lake Traverse (Sisseton Reservation, South Dakota).
Thank you Louie!!
www.startribune.com/remembering-the-dakota-warrior-who-took-the-first-shot/572127462/
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Aug 21, 2020 1:08:50 GMT -5
THIS IS THE STARTRIBUNE STORY OF TAWASUOTA-MANYHAILSTONES.AKA MANY HAIL. THIS STORY WAS MEANT TO BE FREE, SO HERE YOU GO. I FOUND THE DOCUMENTS THAT PROVED HIS STORY AND DID THE RESEARCH. ITS A FREE ARTICLE, BUT NOT NOW I GUESS SO HERE YOU GO. TAWASUOTA- MANY HAILSTONES.AKA MANY HAIL. His Dakota name, Tawasuota, roughly translates to “Many Hailstones.” But it was just one shot that blasted his name into the history books as the warrior who, most scholars agree, fired the first deadly bullet in the U.S.-Dakota War. Starving, tired of broken treaties and frustrated by delayed government payments, Dakota leaders decided to go to war in southern Minnesota 158 years ago this week. Tawasuota’s shot came after a violent outburst on Aug. 17, 1862, when four young Dakota hunters killed five white settlers in a dispute that began over a farmer’s eggs in Acton Township in rural Meeker County. The next day, following Chief Little Crow’s orders, Tawasuota carried a double-barreled shotgun into the reservation store at the Lower Sioux Agency 40 miles northwest of New Ulm on the Minnesota River and fatally shot Kentucky-born trader James Lynd, a man the Dakota considered a friend. Almost immediately, Tawasuota regretted killing an unarmed man, according to an account published 45 years later. As war erupted in the Minnesota River Valley, the warrior made a secret trek to Faribault, where his wife and two sons had fled with other Indians willing to adopt white people’s ways. “Tawasuota took each boy in his arms, and held him close for a few moments,” Charles Eastman wrote in “Old Indian Days,” a book published in 1907. “He smiled to them, but large tears rolled down his cheeks. Then he disappeared in the shadows, and they never saw him again.” Tawasuota rejoined the war raging in the 4-year-old state of Minnesota, the bloodiest six weeks in state history. When it ended, an estimated 600 white soldiers and settlers were dead, along with more than 100 Dakota fighters. Gov. Alexander Ramsey insisted that the vanquished Dakota “must be exterminated or driven forever beyond the borders of the state,” which had been their home for centuries. In the largest mass execution in U.S. history, 38 Dakota were hanged in Mankato four months after Tawasuota fired that first deadly round. “There was no glory in it for him; he could wear no eagle feather, nor could he ever recount the deed,” Eastman wrote. “It was dreadful to him — the thought that he had fired upon an unarmed and helpless man.” Stacks of books have been written about the war, but few mention Tawasuota’s role. “Old Indian Days,” in which Eastman devotes a 3,500-word chapter to Tawasuota, was one of 11 books he wrote in the early 1900s. Eastman’s story “humanizes and adds nuance to the complicated and complex decisions made during the chaos of war,” said Kate Beane, a distant Eastman relative with a University of Minnesota doctorate who directs Native American initiatives for the Minnesota Historical Society. Eastman, born in a tepee near Redwood Falls, was only 4 when the U.S.-Dakota War broke out. His family fled to Canada, where he got the name Ohiyesa, or Winner. He eventually followed his father into white society and took the name Charles Alexander Eastman, graduating from Dartmouth College and earning a medical degree in Boston. He became a reservation physician in South Dakota and supervised YMCA programs for Indians in the western United States and Canada. Beane said Eastman published the stories he’d heard from relatives and told his kids through the years. His wife, Elaine Goodale, a white teacher and writer, “helped shape the narratives to appeal to a white audience,” Beane said. “It’s not historical fiction because these things actually happened, but as with anything, the stories might be embellished.” Eastman’s story portrays Tawasuota as more than a violent, impulsive instigator of an awful war. Like many Dakota displaced by the war, Tawasuota escaped to Canada, where years later he acknowledged his role in the conflict. He died in 1902 near Birdtail Creek in southwestern Manitoba, according to Mitchell Cody Hunter, 33, another Eastman descendant who lives in Brandon, Man., amid Dakota whose elders fled north in 1862. “Tawasuota was a great warrior who had earned the respect of his tribe. They even chanted his name,” said Hunter, who has extensively researched his Dakota roots. “Tawasuota lived and died an enemy of the United States, but he was doing what he thought was best for the Oyate [the people].” Eastman’s account shows a merciful side of Tawasouta, adding a wrinkle to the story of Andrew Myrick. He’s the white trader who reportedly said, “Let them eat grass,” when Dakota leaders requested credit to buy food until their late annuity payments arrived in 1862. Eastman wrote that a “nearly nude” Myrick jumped from the roof of a store after the shooting broke out. Tawasuota could have killed him, but he took an errant shot and yelled at him to “run, run!” They’d been on good terms, but other Dakota fighters shot Myrick as he fled. His corpse was found later with grass stuffed in his mouth. Curt Brown.
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Post by Mitchell BigHunter on Sept 5, 2020 4:59:29 GMT -5
Robert GoodVoice Wahpeton Reserve, Prince Albert Sask. Born 1901 -76 years old when shared story.
Correct Spelling Tawasuota, Many Hailstones.
he first shot that was done was done by Tarasota and from there they started. They moved southward and they killed
everything that was in their path, chickens, dogs, cats, and
horses, women, children, anything that was alive that was in
their path, they killed it, up to a river. The Dakotas calledthat river Wiattachah. What river is that today? I don't
know. I have often asked people what is the English name for
that river but nobody knows. But that is the name of the river
in Dakota language, Wiattachechah. When they got there the
American army met them. But they turned back from there and
then everybody scattered this way and that way. Tarasota and
his bunch moved northward until they came to a river and they
made rafts and they crossed that river. All the men who were
able to swim swam across that river pulling this raft loaded
with men, women, children, sick people, crippled people. They
would unload them and go back. They kept on doing that until
everybody was on the north side of the river and from there
they moved northward until they came to a place. When they
came to that place they felt safe so they stayed there and th
a few young fellows went back to see which way the army was
moving. They said the army was moving westward along the
river, south of the river, towards the west and the Indians
ahead of them. They caught up to them and there were dead
Indians all the way. Tarasota and his bunch, they stayed there. They stayed there a few days and then they moved
eastward. My grandfather and grandmother were in that gro up They moved eastward for a few days and then they swung north. From 1862 to 1875 they lived there an d moved back and forth. Sometimes there would be a messenger from the south
telling them to go back to where they came from. I just can' tell you what is the name of the place where this war started.
But anyway they told them to go back up into that part of the
country and the government would build them houses and they
would give them monthly rations of food, clothing. They would
build a school there for the children and they would be allowed
to have all of their dances and any entertainment that they
enjoy. A few times this message was brought to them Tarasota
said that he would go back but not just then, but sometime in
the future. Another messenger came and he told them to go
back, that there were some houses built already and they were
going to keep on building the houses for the Dakotas until all
of the Dakotas were gathered there and there would be only one
Dakota community. They would be looked after by the United
States government. In the future they would have their own
teachers, their own ministers and if they want to farm they
would help them to do so. So they were asked to go back. As
the messenger said, "Nothing would happen to you people. What
you did you will be forgiven." But Tarasota said, "That's not
so. What damage we did is great and Wasitiu, the white man,
is not going to forgive us that. They are going to round us up
and they are using this system to do that."
Most of the people were
around Prince Albert. And the people in the United States and
the people in the southern part of Canada, they say the people
that were cruel and were criminals were all living around
Prince Albert, which is not right. But Prince Albert - the
Dakotas that lived around Prince Albert got the blame for what
cruelties that were committed in 1862, for that Minnesota
Massacre. So the United States offered so much for Chief
Little Crow, Eekbadoota, Wakaeaska, White Tent, who else
now...Chadasoppa, Black Hawk, (201), that means - now let's see,
Many Hail Stones. That was his name. And (208), he was
here too but he moved back to Manitoba. And what else now did
he say? There was another person...oh yes, Packoqwa, that is
the name. I can't translate that. Now these people, they were
- they took part in that Minnesota Massacre. So did some
people in Fort Qu'Appelle, they took part too and they are
there. And Griswold, Manitoba, which is now called the Sioux
Valley, and Pipestone and Portage. And there is people in the
United States, they remain over there and they class themselves
as innocent people. But they are just as much guilty as the
ones that are in Canada.
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