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Post by dickmill on Jan 13, 2010 15:06:47 GMT -5
A few months ago a friend discovered a newspaper article which called Whirlwind Soldier a son of Spotted Tail. That was a new piece of information to me, having studied the Spotted Tail family and descendents in the 1880’s. I began to gather information available in books, archives, and on the internet. Additionally I spoke to descendents now residing on Rosebud. According to his family, this is the relationship of Whirlwind Soldier to Spotted Tail: There are few detailed written descriptions of Whirlwind Soldier. His birth year can be estimated at 1833 from census records: 1887 age 54 and 1891 age 58. (Spotted Tail’s birth year was c. 1823: “Spotted Tail’s Folk”, Hyde, page 3.) One winter count entry contains Whirlwind Soldier’s death. (Google Books snippet “Sioux Winter Count”, Cheney): “1917 Death of Chief Whirlwind Soldier.” A descendent states that Whirlwind Soldier was originally buried in the Rosebud Spotted Tail Cemetery, but his body was exhumed and received a scaffold burial in Bad Nation after his death on May 15, 1915. Whirlwind Soldier is noted as present at the death of Crazy Horse (September 5, 1877) in Kingsley’s book “Crazy Horse: A Lakota Life”, pg. 376: (Buy a copy if you already haven't!) Whirlwind Soldier was a contemporary of Spotted Tail Jr., the eldest biological son of Chief Spotted Tail. Spotted Tail Jr. was born c. 1855 and died of tuberculosis in June, 1888. Whirlwind Soldier would have been approximately 22 years older, but was apparently in good standing with Jr., having achieved mention in Jr.’s last will and testament: “I give to Whirlwind Soldier my buffalo bull shield.” Here are photos of Whirlwind Soldier (or NOT, as you'll see): From Anderson's 1894 group photo: From Donovan Sprague's book: The man in the above photo is George Whirlwind Soldier, according to descendents. I should mention here that I have quite a bit of information on George and Clement, Whirlwind Soldier's sons, and on Hugh from Carlisle -- but those stories are for another day! And now for the photos you've seen on these boards: The bottom photo has ID's noted as "Roaster, Standing Elk, Whirlwind Soldier, Walk About And Talk, Use The Shield, Jumper, Black Eyes." And now, here's where Agent Cicero Newell (Rosebud 1879) comes in with his "book" (I'm sorry to be so negative, but he wasn't a nice man and his 2 "books" are total rubbish.) The 1912 book was "Indian Stories", but the first "book" was only 15 pages entitled “History of Sitting Bull and His Sioux Indians”, Cicero Newell, 1884. I would guess that its purpose was to capitalize on the "tour" Newell made with (guess who?) Standing Elk, Roaster, and Whirlwind Soldier! The "book" has almost nothing to do with Sitting Bull (probably mentioned in the title to draw attention), most to do with Standing Elk, Roaster, and Whirlwind Soldier (to support the "tour"), and pathetically tiny snippets of "Indian Life" -- all in 15 pages! I hate to promote such junk, but read it yourself here: books.google.com/books?id=KSMoAAAAYAAJ&dq=cicero+newell+sitting+bull&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=zwFzlF7Kw5&sig=RuHKFSI3ga8aqhcEAYvvWJlfFwM&hl=en&ei=eA1OS7bCJ8_TlAfv26CODQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=falseNote that someone wrote on the title page "At Barnum's Circus April 25, 1884." Former Agent Newell identifies Whirlwind Soldier as a son of Spotted Tail in the following article (Cedar Rapids Journal, 1883.) He also states that Whirlwind Soldier and Standing Elk were at the Little Big Horn. However, the website below does not have Whirlwind Soldier present and the only Standing Elk present was killed in battle: custer.over-blog.com/article-10542515.html Spotted Tail wasn’t at the Little Big Horn. If Whirlwind Soldier was a close associate of Spotted Tail would he have been there? And our still-living Standing Elk obviously wasn't the Standing Elk killed at the Little Big Horn. The following article is from the Newark (OH) Daily Advocate, Dec 21 1883 (and begins to mention children): But the real evidence for photo ID's comes from Newell's 15 page "book" “History of Sitting Bull and His Sioux Indians”, Cicero Newell, 1884: Newell’s estimate of Whirlwind Soldier’s age of 45 in 1884 would put his birth in 1839. The census information (54 in 1887 and 58 in 1991) is consistent and probably more accurate. Whirlwind Soldier appears to be much shorter than 5’ 9” in photos. Newell states the wife of Whirlwind Soldier is “Use the Shield”, but his wife in the 1887 census is At the House and Big Ax in the 1891 census. The articles do seem to verify the photo caption of the group (3 men, 2 women, 2 children.) At some point, I'll put up information on sons George and Clement and what I've found about "Hugh" at Carlisle.
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Post by Dietmar on Jan 14, 2010 9:05:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the great photo's everyone, and special thanks to dickmill for the very interesting new information on Whirlwind Soldier. Dietmar I think I may have posted somewhere the suggestion that WS was a son-in-law of Spotted Tail. That was based on the fact that the New York Public Library photos of Brule children taken at Carlisle in 1880-81 includes an image of a Daniel Whirlwind Soldier, identified as the grandson of Spotted Tail. I think the photo is reproduced in George Hyde's A SIOUX CHRONICLE. Knowing that WS was not a biological 'son' of ST I made the wrong assumption. I should have allowed for the fact that Lakota relationships could have been interpreted differently! I'm looking forward to reading more details on Whirlwind Soldier. According to the Big Missouri winter count WS was a leader in the Bad Nation (Oyate Sicha) band, which settled on the north edge of the Rosebud Reservation. Victor Douville, the historian at Sinte Gleska University, told me in 2001 that the Bad Nation band at Rosebud was an offshoot of the Brule Kiyuksa band. There was a Cheyenne council chief called Spotted Crow, killed in the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. I wonder if this was the man who married Spotted Tail's sister? If so it hints at the personal grief and tragedy that underwrote Spotted Tail's smoking of the Cheyenne war pipe in December 64 and his leading in the fights at Julesburg and along the Platte in Jan-Feb. 1865. From Alexander Gardner's group photo taken at Ft Laramie in April 1868 we can see that WS was by then part of the Spotted Tail 'bodyguard'. The treaty commission brought ST and a party of his headmen to Ft Laramie by rail and stage from the Upper Platte Agency. WS was likely one of these men. Kingsley I repeat the above post of Kingsley also here, in case it "gets lost" in the Spotted Tail thread. Excellent stuff, Dick! Whirlwind Soldier at Ft. Laramie in 1868 by A. Garner
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Post by Dietmar on Jan 14, 2010 11:40:01 GMT -5
Here´s the complete image from SIRIS: standing left to right: Quick Bear, Spotted Tail, White Eyes, Swift Bear, Whirlwind Soldier, Long Mandan
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Post by Dietmar on Jan 15, 2010 11:40:11 GMT -5
I looked through my files and found another photo of Whirlwind Soldier, Roast and Standing Elk. I think it´s from the Denver Public Library.
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Post by dickmill on Jan 15, 2010 14:09:44 GMT -5
Since this appears to be the same group (men, women, children) as in other photos, along with a tipi this time, I'd assume that it was taken as part of the "tour" with Cicero Newell. Probably advertised as an "Indian village!"
It would be interesting to ID the man sitting -- maybe an interpreter?
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Post by Dietmar on Jan 19, 2010 9:21:02 GMT -5
This newspaper article is interesting, because there´s some information about the first Whirlwind Soldier in it. I´m not sure if the right name is cited here, because Hugh Whirlwind Soldier should be the boy who went to Carlisle in the early 1880s, so he was too young to be a warrior in 1863. The presence of WS at Sand Creek in 1864 supports the thought we had of WS´s father being the Cheyenne chief killed there. Whirlwind Soldier gets his title, Falcon Senior is State Champ
By Rich Winter Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009 4:16 PM CDT
Todd County High School senior, Marc Whirlwind Soldier, fulfilled his destiny Saturday, with a dominating run that culminated in a State Cross County Championship.
After six years of qualifying for the State’s biggest event, and thousands of miles of preparation, Whirlwind Soldier’s spot atop the podium was finally secure, and his family couldn’t be prouder.
“I’m so proud of Marc and excited for track (this spring) and a future running in college,” said Coach and Mom Tonya Whirlwind Soldier.
While the path to a State title has previously been blocked by Class A standouts, Eamin Entwisle (University of Mary), Alex Muntefering (Oklahoma), Andy Coy (USD) and Kiko Mendoza (USD), Whirlwind Soldier came into this season thinking this would be his year.
“I’ve been knocking on the door for the past few seasons and felt like I could have won either year,” said Marc. “We all beat each other throughout the past two years, but they were just a little better than me at state. This year I’m going to show everybody that I’m not going to win just because they’re gone, but that I can beat their times too.” - Quote from September.
As a 12 year old seventh grader, Whirlwind Soldier finished 110th at the state meet. The following season (23rd, only 8th grader to medal), thirteenth as a freshman, third as a sophomore, fourth as a junior.
Coming into the season the goal was simple.
“Win State,” said Marc in an August interview.
Goal accomplished!
But....There’s more to the story of Whirlwind Soldier than being Todd Counties first boy’s State Champion since Gerald Cournoyer in 1984.
Marc’s grandfather Homer Whirlwind Soldier recently shared the story of the first Whirlwind Soldier.
“In 1863, Marc’s great - great - great - great grandfather Hugh, was involved in a fight-to-the-death with the Pawnee Indians. Hugh attacked from the four directions, and staked himself to the center of the battle, while arrows and musket shot flew in every direction around him. After the battle was over, and the victory dance was held, Hugh told the story of how the arrows and artillery were flying all around him, but not hitting him. Hugh was given the name, Whirlwind Soldier at that moment, because, ‘You can see him, but you can’t touch him,” - Homer Whirlwind Soldier.
One year later in December of 1864, the newly named Whirlwind Soldier was involved in another battle against the United States Army at Sands Creek, Colorado.
“Col. Shivington and his calvary attacked the group of which Whirlwind Soldier belonged, and scattered the horses in every direction. Without horseback for transportation, someone had to go for help, and Whirlwind Soldier volunteered. In a 24-hour period in late December of 1864, Hugh Whirlwind Soldier ran from Sands Creek up the Platte River and to Little Thunder’s camp in Nebraska to bring back help. In one day and one night, the first Whirlwind Soldier, ran over 100 miles.” - Homer Whirlwind Soldier.
www.trib-news.com/articles/2009/11/04/sports/doc4ae9efd9a7a36187531619.prt
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Post by kingsleybray on Jan 19, 2010 9:38:33 GMT -5
That is very interesting Dietmar, indeed helping to confirm that Whirlwind Soldier was the son of the Cheyenne council chief killed at the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. So the first word of the massacre could have been brought to the Southern Brule village by WS, the nephew of its ranking war chief Spotted Tail.
dickmill, in your first posting you mentioned that WS was not only ST's nephew, but adopted by him in some way. I wonder if that could be after Sand Creek?
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Post by dickmill on Jan 19, 2010 13:56:58 GMT -5
The indications from Homer Whirlwind Soldier and all the press about Whirlwind Soldier being a son (adopted, according to Homer) of Spotted Tail seem to be long after Sand Creek. Homer's term was that WS was also "bodyguard" in the Spotted Tail entourage.
As for the name "Hugh" -- here's a very plausible explanation for the name:
Whirlwind Soldier’s full Indian name was “Hiyu Wamniomni Akicita”. The first part, “he-you”, may have been interpreted by whites as “Hugh” and the chief thus became “Hugh Whirlwind Soldier.” Thus in 1864 the name Hugh was used.
When his 8 year old son (identified as a grandson of Spotted Tail because Whirlwind Soldier was called Spotted Tail’s “son”) registered at Carlisle, his Indian name was most likely “Running Horse”, thus the confusion in photos and Carlisle records calling him “Hugh Running Horse”, as though Running Horse was his last name.
It’s likely that the school adopted what sounded like his father’s name (“Hiyu”, thus Hugh.) He then became “Hugh Whirlwind Soldier.”
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Post by Gary on Jan 20, 2010 3:43:16 GMT -5
This is George Bent's letter to George Hyde, identifying Spotted Crow as being among the chiefs killed at Sand Creek.
Geo. E Hyde
Dear Sir Your letter of March 11th is at hand[.] Cheyennes and Spotted Tail's band of Siouxs were camped on Solomon river. in Summer of 1864 and had big council. I was at this council and they got me to write letter to Agent at Fort Lyon. saying in this letter that they wanted to make peace and return two White women. they had as prisoners[.] this letter was taken to the Agent to Fort Lyon by two Cheyennes. One Eye and Minimick both head men. John Prowers white man was married to One Eye's daughter and was clerking there in Suttler's store. County in Colorado is named after Prowers. Maj Wynkoop came out on Hackberry Creek that runs into Running Creek south of Fort Wallace. I was with the Indians[.] One Eye & Minimick came with Wynkoop to get these women. the Dog Soldiers wanted to fight Maj Wynkoop. Black Kettle and other Chiefs. prevented the fight. I was away with war-party. hunting pawnees when he took. the Chiefs to Denver. Wynkoop is right. the Cheyennes and Siouxs were in line. ready for fight[.] after this being no fight Black Kettle's band moved to-wards Arkansas River and got far as Sand Creek. and were camped there for several weeks. I was at My father's Ranch for good while and never heard of Chivington coming to attack the cheyenne Village as I wrote to you. he stoped every body coming down the Arkansas river. Chivington attacked the Village early in Morning. I had not got out of bed when. I heard soldiers were coming. when I went out of the lodge. I seen soldiers charging towards the Village. one company went around East side of the Camp and one Company. west side. I looked towards Black Kettles Lodge and he had Flag on Lodge pole in front of his Lodge. just than the Soldiers opened fire from all sides of the Village. I was with of about 10 Middle age Cheyennes. we started for sand hill. across sand creek west of the Camp. to make stand. but got to hot for us so we started up to where. Old Men and women dug holes about two Miles above the Camp when we got there the soldiers were all around them shooting. two Companies were behind us of course shooting at us all the way. we past good many men women and children. killed. good many of these were scalped. I suppose you have read how some women were cut up and the men also. I was wounded just before going into the holes that were dug. these were dug against the banks. this what saved good many. men women and children[.] Chivington's Men did not leave us until 5. o. clock in evening. of course the Indians did not have time to bury their dead. they took their wounded all away from there. custom of most Indians. is not to leave any wounded on battle grounds. Chivington took nine prisoners. three women and 6 small children. six prisoners were turned over to My father. three women and three children. one month after the fight at sand creek I went back to My father's camp. he was camped 25 miles above his ranch on Las Animas River. when I went back to Cheyenne Village I took these 3 women and 3 children back with me to the Village[.] Chivington's Men took 2 girls and. boy with them. the government got the boy back from show. this boy of course now Man is living. Name Tom White Shirt[.] Arapahoe. I will give you the names of princible [sic] Chiefs killed at Sand Creek[.] White antelope. Standing Water. One Eye. War. bonnet. Spotted Crow. Two Thighs. Bear Man. Bear Robe. Yellow Shield. Yellow Wolf who was very old. one of old chiefs. one of Arapahoe chiefs was killed. name Left Hand. 15 Lodges of Arapahoes were in Black Kettle's camp at the Chivington fight. only 4 came out alive. big Village of Cheyennes were camped on Smoky. River. Dog Soldiers on Solomon. with Siouxs. at the time. Chivington took put near all their ponies. 8 head of my horses were taken all I had. all the Indians that were not killed. walked to Smoky River. to this Camp. I was with the party after this fight. Cheyennes and Siouxs send war-parties. in all directions to kill all white men they ran across.
Respectfully
Geo Bent Colony. Okla
March 15th 1905
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Post by Gary on Jan 20, 2010 3:56:16 GMT -5
I have some notes which I am still trying to decipher, but they seem to say that Spotted Crow's wife was called Wild Cat Woman and that she and her baby were killed at Sand Creek. Presumably, this would make Wild Cat Woman Spotted Tail's sister.
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Post by Dietmar on Jan 20, 2010 14:15:26 GMT -5
According to Father Powell, Spotted Crow was born in 1814. In 1854, when he was only 40 years old, he was chosen as one of the younger Southern Cheyennes to sit in the Council of the 44. His office as a Cheyenne Council Chief was reniewed in 1864. Shortly after he was killed at Sand Creek at age 50.
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Post by grahamew on Jan 23, 2010 7:26:55 GMT -5
Whirlwind Soldier and Ring Thunder (drawn in 1881): From www.skinnerinc.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?refno=++825215&salelot=2473+++++245+&t=4416334& "An 8½" x 7" bound book of 22 Native American pictographs in pencil, colored pencil, and ink sold to a phone bidder for $34,365. Doug Deihl said a collector bought it and added that it may end up in a museum someday. The images were mostly of mounted Brule Lakota Sioux warriors attacking Pawnee. Dating from 1881, they were said to have been drawn for Elizabeth K. Fales and Joseph W. Freeman in Deadwood, Black Hills, Dakota Territory. Apparently drawn by the same hand, the drawings have ink captions, e.g., “Ring Thunder Running off Pawnee Ponies,” “Shooting Bear Killing Two Pawnee Squaws,” and “Bad Gun in style of armor for fighting Pawnee.” A tintype of Fales and Freeman accompanied the lot." www.maineantiquedigest.com/stories/index.html?id=1631Here are the rest. I wonder if the majority reference the defeat of the Pawnee at Massacre Canyon; I also wonder if the pictures were drawn when the men were in Deadwood for the trial of Crow Dog... Knock Off Two (Two Strike) and... Chasing Hawk killing a Ponca (Pawnee) Bad Gun Iron Tail (the Iron Tail of Wild West Show fame?) He Dog (the Sicangu one) Bad Gun Kills on Horseback Kills on Horseback Ring Thunder Windy Horse Shooting Cat Shooting Cat in full style Shooting Cat Shooting Cat killing/counting coup on a Crow "Captain" Thigh Two Strike, wounded while killing a Pawnee Windy Horse. Is this a reference to him saving White Thunder? I can't make it out.
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Post by kingsleybray on Jan 23, 2010 10:39:36 GMT -5
grahamew
many thanks for posting these drawings by Whirlwind Soldier. Amazing!
I read the caption about Windy Horse as:
Windy Horse In Battle with Pawnee saving White Thunder the chief of Brule sioux Indian myself and Horse wounded
I think it's worth noting that several pictures show distinctive warrior society regalia. In one image Ring Thunder is wearing the horned warbonnet of the Strong Heart society (the one with rows of feathers laying flat), in another he carries one of the banner lances of the same society (with alternating bands of black and white feathers). Iron Tail is carrying either a bow lance of the Kit Fox society or a Sacred Bow. Like you I wonder if this Iron Tail is the same as the man who later worked with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show. He, incidentally, was a son (maybe we should write 'son') of Little Hawk the Oglala chief (brother to Crazy Horse's father Worm).
Whirlwind Soldier himself, in the first image, is carrying a fur-wrapped crooked lance. This type of lance was used by the Strong Heart, Wichiska, and Ihoka societies, but nb that also it was one of two types of lances given out by the blotahunka (council of war chiefs) to noted warriors immediately before a battle.
It has occurred to me that many of these drawings may relate to the Lakota rout of the Pawnee hunting camp at Massacre Canyon, Neb. in August 1873 - the last major action between these traditional enemy tribes.
Thanks also to Gary for the transcription of George Bent, valuable details about Spotted Crow.
Kingsley
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Post by grahamew on Jan 23, 2010 12:19:24 GMT -5
I didn't mean to give the impression that Whirlwind Soldier is the artist - unless you know something else about this; in fact, now you've deciphered the Windy Horse caption, I wonder if he isn't the artist.
I thought the bulk of the drawings might relate to the 1873 fight too. Interesting to see the 'banner' carried by Windy Horse has a feather attached. I wonder if this was part of his war 'medicine' or whether it was lifted from the Pawnee. Both tribes, after all, were under the protection of US agents during this fight, weren't they?
Can anyone read the caption naming the man behind Knock Off Two?
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Post by dickmill on Jan 23, 2010 17:19:55 GMT -5
Graham: From my experience in reading Agent Spencer's bad handwriting, I think the caption says, "Knock Off Two & another man escape from water in battle." Also, the man is not behind, but also riding the horse (look at the legs.)
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