Sitting Bull

Emily Evans

October 31, 2013

Sitting Bull

            Sitting Bull was marked in history as an extraordinary leader and an all around great man.  He was a great father, very religious and always friendly.  He was a great war general for his tribe during the years of great resistance to the government policies put forth by the United States.  He was a part of the Hunkpapa Lakota tribe, which was one of the seven council fires of the Sioux tribe.  He once said, “I am here by the will of the Great Spirit, and by his will I am chief.” His great leadership skills motivated his tribe, and inspired other leaders to rise up.

            Sitting Bull was in his first battle at the age of fourteen, in a raid on the Crow tribe.  He was first recognized for his great bravery because of the Battle of Killdeer mountain and the siege that he led on Fort Rice.  He became chief of the Hunkpapa Lakota nation in 1868.  He was well respected by his people.  He and his people protected a sacred land called the Black Hills from General Custer’s gold rush, which was his first major battle.  This is what started the rivalries between the General Custer’s Seventh Cavalry of the US army and Sitting Bull’s tribe. Sitting Bull claimed to have a “vision” of another encounter with General Custer, and defeating him.  After celebrating a victory of the Battle of Rosebud, the Hunkpapa Lakota army moved to Little Bighorn River.  They were then attacked by General Custer’s Seventh Cavalry. The Arapaho and Northern Cheyenne tribes were also involved, lead by Crazy Horse and Chief Gall who were great military leaders as well.  It was a very successful battle and General Custer was killed.  Sitting Bull’s vision had proved to be true.  This is known as the Battle of Bighorn, or Custer’s Last Stand. When there was a shortage of buffalo for his men to eat, Sitting Bull was forced to surrender.  He was sent to Fort Randall and was kept as a prisoner of war. After two years, he was finally able to go back to his home at Standing Rock.

            Sitting Bull joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.  He was paid fifty dollars a week just for riding around an arena once. He toured all around Europe with Bill Cody’s show.  He met Annie Oakley when he was involved in the show.  She was a girl who he respected very much for her shooting skills.  Sitting Bull adopted her as his daughter in 1884.  He gave her the name “Little Sure Shot” because she was able to shoot so well with both hands. 

            There were rumors that Sitting Bull converted into Catholicism and was baptized, but these ended up being false.  Sitting Bull moved back to his reservation and kept with the traditional Hunkpapa Lakota ways of living.  He had two wives and refused to accept Christianity.  He did send his kids to a Christian school, though, hoping that they would learn to read and write.  In 1890 there was news of a Ghost Dance.  This was a ceremony that was supposed to get rid of white people and return the old ways of the tribes. The reservation’s policemen were worried that Sitting Bull would join the Ghost Dancers.  Sitting Bull was shot and killed by one of these policemen.

            Sitting Bull lead some battles that were of major importance in the Dakota war.  He kept his people motivated and willing to fight.  The major turning points of the war arguably could not have happened without him. 

            

Sitting Bull and Bill Cody

Sitting Bull

      

Works Cited

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