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.