Spotted Tail – Warrior, Chief & Negotiator

by Charles A. Eastman, 1918

Spotted Tail, a name that resonates through the annals of Native American history, embodies the complex and often contradictory roles played by indigenous leaders during a period of profound upheaval and transition. Among the Sioux chiefs navigating the tumultuous era of increasing white encroachment, Spotted Tail distinguished himself as a figure of exceptional insight and adaptability, a leader capable of discerning the shifting tides of power and acting accordingly. He was a warrior, a diplomat, and a visionary, forever caught between the traditions of his people and the encroaching reality of a changing world. This article will delve into the life and legacy of this remarkable man, exploring the qualities that allowed him to rise to prominence and the choices that ultimately defined his place in history.

According to historical accounts, the young Spotted Tail displayed a contemplative nature, preferring the role of strategist and planner in childhood games rather than the heat of simulated battle. This inclination towards council and deliberation quickly established him as a leader among his peers. His aptitude for mimicry and impersonation, coupled with a keen intellect, earned him the respect and admiration of his community. It was often remarked that he possessed the wisdom of his elders, a testament to his insightful observations and thoughtful consideration.

Raised by his grandparents after becoming an orphan, Spotted Tail faced adversity early in life. This circumstance, while challenging, may have fostered the resilience and resourcefulness that would later characterize his leadership. Despite lacking the advantages of those born into prominent families, he began to carve out his own path through determination and inherent abilities.

An anecdote from his youth illustrates his quick thinking and ability to diffuse conflict. During a game, a dispute between two boys escalated to the point of drawing knives. The young Spotted Tail, instead of intervening directly, cleverly cried out, “The Shoshone are upon us! To arms! To arms!” His diversionary tactic, echoed by the other boys’ war cries, successfully distracted the combatants and averted a potentially dangerous situation.

While the details of his boyhood may not be as widely recounted as those of other prominent figures, Spotted Tail‘s inherent qualities shone through. In a society where personal merit was highly valued, he steadily gained recognition. By the age of seventeen, he was a skilled hunter and marksman, demonstrating his prowess in traditional pursuits. More importantly, he exhibited a superior intellect and an insatiable curiosity about the world around him.

His interactions with white people at trading posts were particularly formative. Spotted Tail, according to his own accounts, meticulously studied their customs, habits, and ways of thinking, especially their emphasis on economy and the accumulation of property. He observed their interactions with his people, carefully weighing arguments presented in councils. While other young men might shy away from these encounters, Spotted Tail sought to understand the perspectives and motivations of this unfamiliar race.

When Spotted Tail embarked on the warpath, he demonstrated a fierce determination to prove himself to his people. This was particularly crucial for him, given his orphaned status and his father’s connection to a different band. Despite facing challenges in establishing himself among the Brules, he quickly distinguished himself through his courage and skill in battle, earning recognition and respect despite suffering wounds.

In a pivotal engagement against the Ute, Spotted Tail‘s strategic brilliance saved the day. The Ute, possessing superior numbers, launched a fierce attack that threatened to overwhelm the Brules. With the situation dire and many warriors fallen, Spotted Tail led a small band of horsemen in a daring maneuver. They circled around the enemy flank and attacked from the rear with such ferocity that the Ute, believing reinforcements had arrived, retreated in disarray. The Sioux pursued, and the victory was secured. This act of bravery and tactical acumen earned Spotted Tail the gratitude of the old chiefs and solidified his position as a war chief.

Even before the older chiefs recognized the potential dangers, Spotted Tail harbored concerns about the increasing presence of white people in their territory. The opening of the Oregon Trail heightened his vigilance, and he closely observed the conduct of the American settlers as they traversed westward. He noted in council that these newcomers were different from the French and Spanish, with whom the Sioux had previously interacted. While he was not entirely satisfied with the agreement reached with General Harney, his relatively junior position in the council prevented him from fully asserting his views.

Following the establishment of the Oregon Trail, Fort Laramie and other frontier outposts were reinforced, leading to increased tensions and perceived arrogance from the soldiers. The Sioux soon realized that the whites were prepared to disregard the terms of the treaty as they understood it. The presence of Mormon emigrants further complicated the situation, as they sought to manipulate events to provoke conflict between the soldiers and the Indians. Every summer, disputes along the trail threatened to erupt into full-scale conflict.

By 1854, an event that had already been described, severed the last vestiges of friendship between the two cultures.

Spotted Tail had demonstrated his bravery and leadership both in battle and in defending his people. In a duel with a lesser chief who had attacked him, he killed his opponent with an arrow but sustained a severe blow to the head from a battle-ax, leaving him unconscious and presumed dead. Fortunately, he revived just as preparations were being made for his burial.

The Brules supported Spotted Tail in this conflict, recognizing that he had acted in self-defense. For several years, he led them in raids against the whites along the Oregon Trail, ambushing stagecoaches and emigrant trains. He was responsible for the capture of the Kincaid coach, which contained a substantial sum of money. These actions prompted General Harney to confront the Brule Sioux and demand redress.

Faced with the potential for widespread retribution, the old chiefs of the Brules pleaded with Spotted Tail and his young warriors to avoid bringing further calamity upon the tribe. To everyone’s surprise, Spotted Tail declared that he would surrender himself. He asserted that he had defended the rights of his people to the best of his ability, avenged the blood of their chief, Conquering Bear, and was prepared to accept the consequences of his actions. He voluntarily surrendered to General Harney, followed by two of his lieutenants, Red Leaf and Old Woman.

Spotted Tail‘s surrender marked a crucial turning point in the relationship between the Sioux and the United States government. While the full extent of his foresight remains unknown, his decision proved to be a masterful stroke, earning him the admiration of his people and the respect of the military.

As a prisoner and hostage, Spotted Tail faced an uncertain future. Despite rumors of harsh punishment, General Harney upheld his promises to the Brule chiefs, ensuring his safety. During his two-year imprisonment, Spotted Tail continued to observe and learn about the ways of the white man. His engaging personality and unwavering honor won him kindness and sympathy from those around him.

On one occasion, when Indian horse thieves from another tribe raided the garrison’s horses and mules, Spotted Tail requested permission to join the pursuit. The commanding officer, trusting in his honor, provided him with a fast horse and a carbine, tasking him with guiding the soldiers to recapture the stolen animals.

The soldiers successfully recovered the horses, but Spotted Tail continued to pursue the thieves. Many assumed that he would not return to the fort. However, the next day, he reappeared, bearing the scalp of one of the marauders. Shortly thereafter, he was released and returned to his people, who honored him by making him the successor to Conquering Bear, whose death he had avenged.

Having made effective use of his time at the fort, Spotted Tail was convinced of the futility of armed resistance and sought to reconcile the Indian and the white man. He maintained communication with the military, but his views were met with suspicion by other chiefs.

During the conflict between the Southern Cheyenne and Comanche and the whites in 1860-1864, some Brule and Ogallala were suspected of aiding the hostile tribes. Two men, Thunder Bear and Two Face, brought two captive white women to Fort Laramie. Allegations of mistreatment arose, prompting the commander to demand their surrender from Spotted Tail, then head chief.

Despite the outcry from his people, Spotted Tail had the two men arrested and delivered to the fort. He argued that if the charges were true, the men deserved punishment, and if false, they should be tried and cleared by law. The two men were subsequently hanged, and their relatives, harboring resentment, stirred up trouble.

The Sioux, camped near the fort, were initially restrained by the winter season. However, with the arrival of spring, they moved their camp across the river and rose in rebellion. Even Big Mouth, the associate chief, opposed Spotted Tail, who was reluctantly drawn into the conflict once again.

Simultaneously, the Minnesota Sioux launched a bloody uprising in the east. Sitting Bull’s campaign in the north gained momentum, while the Southern Cheyenne, Comanche, and Kiowa engaged in warfare in the south. Around this time, Spotted Tail envisioned a grand confederacy uniting all the Rocky Mountain Indians. He lamented the internal conflicts that weakened their cause, emphasizing the need for unity to effectively resist the power of the white man.

However, old rivalries proved too strong to overcome. Spotted Tail was further hampered by his reputation as “the white man’s friend” and his desire to maintain the trust of the military. Despite his sympathies with his people, he recognized the inevitable outcome of the conflict. His primary concern was to determine the best course of action in the face of an overwhelming force.

In a speech delivered at the great council on the Powder River, just before the attack on Fort Phil Kearny, Spotted Tail made a final plea for conciliation. He invoked the wisdom of the elders, urging his people to consider the power and ingenuity of the white man and to avoid being driven by revenge.

His words were met with silence. Sitting Bull immediately countered with a powerful harangue. The decision to attack Fort Phil Kearny was unanimous, and Spotted Tail, to maintain his position among his tribesmen, reluctantly joined the charge.

When the commission of 1867-1868 was sent to negotiate with the Sioux, Spotted Tail eagerly sought to obtain the best possible terms for his people. He often confounded and challenged the commissioners with his insightful speeches and pointed questions. Meanwhile, Red Cloud remained aloof, and Sitting Bull refused to participate.

Following the signing of the treaty, Spotted Tail never again took up arms against the whites. He played a crucial role in persuading the hostile tribes to surrender. He encouraged his young men to enlist as government scouts and assisted in negotiations. General Crook appointed Spotted Tail head chief of the Sioux, further alienating Red Cloud and creating resentment among the Ogallala. To avoid conflict, he moved his band to a new agency on Beaver Creek, known as the “Spotted Tail Agency.”

Shortly before surrendering to the military, Crazy Horse confronted Spotted Tail, rebuking him for surrendering the freedom of his people. While some accused Spotted Tail of complicity in the conspiracy that led to Crazy Horse’s assassination, the evidence does not support this claim.

Despite his humble beginnings, Spotted Tail achieved renown through his bravery and wisdom. However, his embrace of white political tactics led to accusations of manipulation and arrogance. Furthermore, a long-standing feud within his band, stemming from his killing of Big Mouth and the unfulfilled ambitions of Conquering Bear’s son and nephew, created deep divisions.

Crow Dog, Conquering Bear’s nephew, repeatedly reminded Spotted Tail that his chieftainship was bestowed by the white soldiers, not by the will of the tribe. He vowed to avenge any dishonor to his position. On the eve of Spotted Tail‘s departure for Washington, where he was suspected of negotiating the sale of more land, Crow Dog fulfilled his threat, viewing himself not as a murderer but as an executioner.

Thus ended the life of Spotted Tail, a man whose intellect and foresight were unparalleled. He remains a figure remembered with greater admiration by the white man than perhaps by his own people.