Book Review: The Killing of Chief Crazy Horse

 The Killing of Chief Crazy Horse: Bison Classic edition: Three eyewitness views by the Indian, Chief He Dog, the Indian-White, William Garnett, and the white doctor, Valentine McGillycuddy, Edited and with a new introduction by Robert A. Clark, Commentary by Carroll Friswold, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London, c1976.

About a year after the events of the Little Big Horn and the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, Crazy Horse's band of Oglala Lakota had had enough.  Food was scarce, his people were being constantly pursued, they were starving and freezing.  He surrendered in May of 1877.  There was considerable jealousy between different chiefs.  An Indian scout Frank Grouard misinterpreted a remark made by Crazy Horse.  He and a few of his warriors were being asked to help with the Nez Perce.  He responded passively saying he had had enough war, but if asked he would track the Nez Perce till they were all dead.  Grouard said Crazy Horse said we would hunt White people until they were all dead.  This interpretation caused considerable alarm among the officers.  There was worry Crazy Horse would leave to the north and go on the warpath again.  Grouard did not care for Crazy Horse.

General George Crook, on his way to a peace meeting was intercepted by Woman's Dress, an Indian scout and nephew or cousin to Chief Red Cloud.  Woman's Dress said he had heard Crazy Horse discussing plans to kill General Crook.  This was not true but the meeting was cancelled.  Orders were issued to arrest Crazy Horse.  But when they went to Crazy Horse's camp he was not there.  Word got to Crazy Horse that he was to go to Camp Robinson.  He did not understand that this was to be arrested an locked up.   

When he arrived, and they arrested him and lead him to the stockade, he began to protest.  He had a knife.  His friend Little Big Man tried to restrain Crazy Horse.  He was cut.  An enlisted soldier bayoneted Crazy Horse, causing the fatal wound.  The bayonet entered his kidney area and caused internal bleeding.  Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy attended to him in the adjutant's office.  He died several hours later at midnight.   

The last page of the book reveals that the enlisted soldier was William Gentles, an Irish enlisted man.  He was rushed out of camp to avoid any possible trouble.  Grouard also was whisked out of camp as well.  Gentles would die about a year later due to asthma.  

Documentary: Washakie: Last Chief of the Shoshone

Washakie made his historical claim to greatness as chief of the Eastern Shoshone.  As such his territory ranged from eastern Wyoming, through southern Idaho and into Utah.  He served as chief for over 50 years.  He had been a warrior, leader and diplomat.  He was born in 1804, but farther north.  His father was of the Salish tribe and his mother Lemhi Shoshone.  As a young man he was with his father.  His father was killed by Blackfeet.  Washakie survived.  A man told him he was to be a leader.  The man was surrounded by light and disappeared.  Shortly a group of Lemhi Shoshone, speaking his mother's language, found him.  He became art of his mother's tribe.  He was trained by them.  He also lived amongst the Bannock.  They were more aggressive and warring.  During this period he got his name Washakie which was a distorted name for the rattle he used to spook the horses of his enemy.  

He would make his name in the Wind River Valley.  The Shoshone hand sign was that of the snake.  Common language with Utes, Paiutes, Comanche and Aztecs.  Horses increased the mobility of the Shoshone and they became much more powerful.  Washakie participated in several raids.  He followed initials, but eventually became the leader.  He was a good friend of Jim Bridger who promoted Washakie.

Washakie ruled in a time of tremendous upheaval with clashing cultures competing for limited resources.  Many groups coveted the Wind River area.  Washakie attended the Laramie Treaty of 1851 at great risk to his own life.  They were in Sioux territory.  However this treaty did not include the Shoshone.  Wind River was Crow territory even though the Crow and Shoshone shared this area.  There was a small battle between Crow and Shoshone and Washakie killed a Crow chief.

The Sioux were hostile during the early 60s.  The Shoshone were ambushed and lost many horses, and Washakie's son was killed.  The mourning period reportedly caused Washakie's hair to turn white.  Many left Washakie to follow other bands.  However after the Bear River Massacre many Shoshone returned to him.

It wasn't until the treaty of 1868 that established Wind Rivers as the reservation for the Shoshone.  Washakie was always a force for peace.  

Washakie lived to be an old man.  He died in 1900 at age 96 and is buried in Fort Washakie.  

 

Documentary Review: Streetcars of Omaha and Council Bluffs 1947 to 1955

 Streetcars of Omaha and Council Bluffs 1947 to 1955, Richard Orr, Omaha, Nebraska, 1996.

This documentary is more than you ever cared to know about the Omaha streetcar system.  It is a companion to the book by Richard Orr of the same name.  The video shows old footage, mostly taken by himself of the street cars running.  It starts with the beginning in 1866 when the idea of horse drawn streetcars was developed.  These began running in 1869.  There was a period with cable cars in Omaha starting in 1887.  However in 1888 electric traction cars begin service.  In 1901 the Omaha and Council Bluffs Railway Company was formed.  The streetcars ran until 1955 when they were replaced by buses.  This documentary shows how the cars were electrified from wires above the street cars.  It also shows how they dealt with snow.  The streetcars handled light snows very well.  There was a streetcar snow removal car.  It was important to get the rails clean to avoid slippage.  

I was interested in following the route of the street car up and down 24th from North Omaha to South Omaha.  Howe er it appears the cars id not go strait but went through downtown and made a circuitous trip.  It ended and turned around at Q and 27th. It documentary followed several different lines including to Dundee.  

The film did not show a lot of Council Bluffs.  It did appear the cars in Council Bluffs were smaller.

I was hoping for more information on the street car bridge over the river.  

Native American Portraits at the Pine Bluffs Archeology Site

 These are a few of the portraits of Native Americans at the archeology center.

Pretty Nose who fought at Little Big Horn

Chief Washakie and his son

Chief Red Cloud

Pine Bluffs History as per Pine Bluffs Archeology Site

 Pine Bluffs, which is on the Wyoming Nebraska border had any travelers during the days of the westward movement pass through.  This included John C. Fremont.  The area was first settled by homesteaders.

Archeological Dig at Pine Bluffs, Wyoming

 The archeological dig is close to the rest area and can be accessed from there via a short hike, or from town via a dirt road.  The interpretive center presents information from several archeological diges throughout Wyoming, including several buffalo pits.