Great Sioux War of 1876 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

The Great Sioux War of 1876

Part of the Sioux Wars and American Indian Wars

Custer's last stand at Little Bighorn
in the Crow Indian Reservation.

Date	1876–1877
Location	Montana Territory, Dakota Territory, Wyoming Territory, Nebraska, Crow Indian Reservation
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

Commanders and leaders

Casualties and losses

300+ killed

265 killed

The Great Sioux War of 1876, also known as the Black Hills War, was a series of battles and talks. It happened in 1876 and 1877. This war was between the Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne tribes on one side, and the United States on the other.

The main reason for the war was the US government's wish to own the Black Hills. Gold had been found there, and settlers began moving onto Native American lands. The Sioux and Cheyenne tribes refused to give up their land. Many people see the Lakota as the main tribe in this story. But some Native Americans believe the Cheyenne were the main target of the American army.

One famous battle was the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It is often called Custer's Last Stand. Even though the Native Americans won this battle, the US used its power to make them surrender. They did this by attacking and destroying Native American camps and belongings. The Great Sioux War happened when Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes were US Presidents. A law called the Agreement of 1877 officially took Sioux land. It also created permanent Indian reservations.

Why the War Started

The Cheyenne people moved west to the Black Hills and Powder River Country around 1730. They taught the Lakota how to use horses. By the late 1700s, the Lakota tribe grew and started taking over land west of the Missouri River. They pushed out the Kiowa tribe. They also made friends with the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. This helped them control the rich buffalo hunting grounds in the northern Great Plains.

A map of the Great Sioux Reservation from 1868. The "unceded lands" for Cheyenne and Sioux were west of the reservation. The US government wanted the Black Hills, which caused the Great Sioux War.

The Black Hills, in what is now western South Dakota, became very important to the Lakota. They used it for wood, plants, and small animals. The Lakota people also saw the Black Hills as a sacred, or holy, place.

By the early 1800s, the Northern Cheyenne became very strong in warfare. The US Army destroyed many Cheyenne camps before and during 1876. This was more than any other tribe suffered. The Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) was signed by Lakota and Northern Cheyenne leaders. It set aside the Great Sioux Reservation for their use. This included the Black Hills. It also created a large "unceded territory" in Wyoming and Montana for hunting. White people were not allowed in these areas, except for US government officials.

However, more and more miners and settlers moved into the Dakota Territory. The US government could not keep them out. By 1872, officials thought about cutting down trees in the Black Hills. These trees would be floated down the Cheyenne River for new settlements. People also thought there might be valuable minerals there. An official named Colonel John E. Smith said the Black Hills were the "only portion [of their reservation] worth anything to them." He believed the Lakota would never give it up easily.

In 1874, the government sent the Custer Expedition to explore the Black Hills. The Lakota were worried by this. Before Custer's group returned, news of their gold discovery spread across the country. More gold was found the next year. Many gold seekers, facing money problems from the panic of 1873, started entering the Black Hills. This was against the Fort Laramie Treaty. Soon, thousands of miners flooded into the area.

At first, the US Army tried to keep miners out. But these efforts increased pressure on the government to get the Black Hills from the Lakota.

Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa leader, was one of the main Sioux chiefs.

In May 1875, Sioux leaders like Spotted Tail, Red Cloud, and Lone Horn went to Washington, D.C. They hoped to convince President Ulysses S. Grant to honor the treaties. They wanted him to stop miners from entering their lands. They met with Grant and other US leaders. The US offered to pay the tribes $25,000 for the land. They also wanted the tribes to move to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). The Native American leaders refused this new treaty. Spotted Tail said, "You speak of another country, but it is not my country... If it is such a good country, you ought to send the white men now in our country there and let us alone." These chiefs did not join Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull in the war that followed.

Later that year, a US group visited the Native American agencies. They wanted to get the people's approval for a new treaty. But the government's plan to get the Black Hills failed. The Lakota were also upset about US plans for other parts of their land. For example, the Northern Pacific Railroad was planned to cross their best buffalo hunting grounds. Also, the US Army had attacked several Cheyenne camps before 1876.

Who Fought in the War

The number of Native American fighters in the war is not fully known. Estimates range from 900 to 4,000 warriors. The Lakota Sioux had about 15,000 people in the 1870s. But most lived on the Great Sioux Reservation and did not fight. An agent in 1875 said only "a few hundred warriors" lived in the unceded areas. General Crook thought he might face up to 2,000 warriors.

Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. About 268 soldiers also died with him.

Most Sioux in the unceded territory were Oglala and Hunkpapa, about 5,500 in total. There were also about 1,500 Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho. This meant about 7,000 Native Americans were living in the hostile areas. Up to 2,000 of them might have been warriors. At the Battle of the Little Bighorn, between 900 and 2,000 warriors fought.

The Native Americans knew the land well and could move quickly. But all Native Americans were part-time warriors. In spring, their horses were weak from winter. In summer and fall, they hunted buffalo to feed their families. About half of the warriors had guns, from new rifles to old muskets. The other half used bows and arrows. Native American bows were good for short distances from horseback. Ammunition was hard to get. Native American warriors usually fought for personal honor, not big war goals. But Crazy Horse seemed to make the Sioux work together more. The Cheyenne were the most organized of the Plains Indians. The Sioux and Cheyenne also fought their old enemies, the Crow and Shoshone tribes. This used up many of their resources.

The US Army had forts around the Great Sioux Reservation. The largest US force was in summer 1876. It had 2,500 soldiers in the unceded territory. They were joined by hundreds of Native American scouts and civilians. Many soldiers were new immigrants and not used to fighting on the frontier. Cavalry soldiers used .45 caliber revolvers and the Springfield model 1873 rifle. This rifle gave them a longer range than most Native American guns.

Starting the War

The Lakota Wars (1854–1890): Battlefields and the Lakota treaty territory of 1851. Most battles between the army and the Lakota were on lands they had taken from other tribes since 1851.

President Grant and his team looked for other ways to solve the Black Hills issue. In November 1875, military leaders met with Grant. They agreed the Army should stop removing miners from the reservation. This opened the way for the Black Hills Gold Rush. They also talked about fighting the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne who refused to come to the agencies. An Indian Inspector supported this idea. He wrote, "The true policy... is to send troops against them in the winter... and whip them into subjection."

To avoid starting a war without reason, the government told all Lakota and Sioux to return to the reservation by January 31, 1876. If they did not, they would face military action. An agent at Standing Rock Agency worried this was not enough time. Winter travel was very hard. His request to extend the deadline was denied. General Sheridan thought the notice was a waste of time. He said the Native Americans would probably see it as "a good joke."

Meanwhile, Lakota leaders discussed the order to return. Short Bull, an Oglala, remembered that many groups gathered on the Tongue River. He said they agreed to come to the agency the next spring. They needed to hunt buffalo for their tipis (homes) first.

When the January 31 deadline passed, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs said military action should start. His boss, Secretary of the Interior Zachariah Chandler, agreed. He said the Native Americans were "turned over to the War Department." On February 8, 1876, General Sheridan ordered Generals Crook and Terry to start their winter campaigns. This began The Great Sioux War of 1876–77.

Early Campaigns

Reynolds' Campaign

General Crook quickly launched the first attack. He sent Colonel Joseph J. Reynolds with six cavalry companies. On March 17, 1876, they found a village of about 65 lodges and attacked. Crook was with the soldiers but did not lead the attack. His troops first took control of and burned the village. But they soon had to retreat under enemy fire. The US troops left several soldiers behind. This led to Colonel Reynolds being put on trial. The US captured the tribe's horses. But the next day, the Lakota got many of their horses back. The Army thought they had attacked Crazy Horse. But it was actually a village of Northern Cheyenne and some Oglala.

Summer Expeditions

The three columns of the 1876 summer campaign

In late spring 1876, a much larger campaign began. General Alfred Terry led the Dakota Column from Fort Abraham Lincoln. It had 15 companies, about 570 men, including Custer and his Seventh Cavalry. Colonel John Gibbon led the Montana Column from Fort Ellis. General Crook led a third column north from Fort Fetterman. The plan was for all three groups to meet in the Lakota hunting grounds. They hoped to trap the Native Americans between them.

Battle of the Rosebud

General Crook's column was the first to meet the northern tribes. This happened at the Battle of the Rosebud on June 17. Crook said he won, but most historians say the Native Americans stopped his advance. So, the Battle of the Rosebud was at least a tie, if not a victory for the Native Americans. After this, General Crook stayed in camp for weeks. He waited for more soldiers, which kept his group out of the fighting for a long time.

Battle of the Little Bighorn

Custer and his last men were killed and buried here. The Native American village was across the Little Bighorn River. To visit the battlefield today, you must enter the Crow Indian Reservation, just like in 1876.

Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry were sent to scout the Rosebud and Big Horn river valleys. On June 25, 1876, they found a large village on the west bank of the Little Bighorn. The US troops were badly defeated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Nearly 270 men were killed, including Custer. Custer had split his forces before the battle. His immediate command of five cavalry companies was completely wiped out. Two days later, Colonel Gibbon's column and Terry's infantry arrived. They rescued the US soldiers who survived the fight. Gibbon then chased trails to the east but could not find the Sioux and Cheyenne warriors.

Battle of Slim Buttes

General Crook's forces were joined by the Fifth Cavalry. He went back into the field. He met briefly with General Terry, then moved out alone. He did not find a large village. Running low on supplies, his column turned south. This became known as the Horsemeat March as they looked for food. On September 9, 1876, a group from his column found a small village at Slim Buttes. They attacked and looted it. Crazy Horse learned of the attack. The next day, he led a counter-attack, but it was stopped. After reaching Camp Robinson, Crook's forces broke up.

Actions at the Agencies

After Custer's defeat at the Little Bighorn, the Army changed its plans. They sent more troops to the Native American agencies. That fall, they took horses and weapons from friendly tribes at the agencies. They feared these would be given to the fighting tribes in the north. In October 1876, Army troops surrounded the villages of Red Cloud and Red Leaf. They arrested these leaders for not turning in people from hostile tribes. The US sent another group to the agencies. Congress passed a law that took away all Lakota rights outside the Great Sioux Reservation.

Later Campaigns

Mackenzie's Campaign

Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie and his Fourth Cavalry moved to the Department of the Platte. They became the main part of the Powder River Expedition in October 1876. Their goal was to find the northern villages. On November 25, 1876, his column found and defeated a Northern Cheyenne village. This was the Dull Knife Fight in Wyoming Territory. Their homes and supplies were destroyed, and their horses were taken. The Northern Cheyenne soon surrendered. They hoped to stay with the Sioux in the north. But they were pressured to move to the reservation of the Southern Cheyenne in Indian Territory. After a hard discussion, they agreed to go.

When they arrived in Oklahoma, conditions were very tough. There was not enough food, no buffalo nearby, and malaria. Some Northern Cheyenne, led by Little Wolf and Dull Knife, tried to return north in fall 1877. This was called the Northern Cheyenne Exodus. They made it north. But after splitting into two groups, Dull Knife's group was captured. They were held in an unheated building at Fort Robinson without food or water. When the Cheyenne escaped on January 9, 1878, many died in the Fort Robinson massacre. Eventually, the US government gave the Northern Cheyenne a northern reservation. This is the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in southern Montana today.

Miles' Campaigns

Another US Army plan was to put troops deep inside Lakota Territory. In fall 1876, Colonel Nelson A. Miles and his Fifth Infantry set up a camp. It was called Cantonment on Tongue River (later Fort Keogh). From there, he fought against any hostile tribes he could find through the winter of 1876–77. In January 1877, he fought Crazy Horse and other tribes at the Battle of Wolf Mountain. In the next months, his troops fought the Lakota at Clear Creek, Spring Creek, and Ash Creek. Miles' constant fighting pushed many Northern Cheyenne and Lakota to either surrender or go into Canada. Miles later led the US Army during the Spanish–American War.

Land Taken by the US

The Agreement of 1877 officially took away Sioux land. It also set up permanent Indian reservations. This law was passed on February 28, 1877.

Peace Efforts

An Indian warrior, painting by Frederic Remington

While military leaders planned for spring fighting, many peace efforts were also happening. They hoped to end the war.

The "Sell or Starve" Law

After the defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876, Congress reacted. They added a rule to the Indian Appropriations Act of 1876. The Sioux called this the "sell or starve" rule. It stopped all food supplies for the Sioux. This would continue until they stopped fighting and gave the Black Hills to the United States.

George Sword's Mission

As winter went on, rumors reached Camp Robinson that the northern tribes wanted to surrender. The commanding officer sent out a peace group. About 30 young men, mostly Oglala and Northern Cheyenne, left the Red Cloud Agency on January 16, 1877. They made the dangerous trip north. One important member was a young Oglala named Enemy Bait, later known as George Sword. He was the son of a leader named Brave Bear. The group found Crazy Horse on the Powder River. But he did not seem ready to surrender. Other Oglala camps nearby were more willing to listen. They seriously thought about surrendering at the agencies. In late February, part of the group went on to find the Northern Cheyenne. They gave them the same message.

Spotted Tail's Mission

The important Brulé leader Spotted Tail also agreed to lead a peace group. He left his agency on February 12, 1877, with about 200 people. Spotted Tail moved north along the Black Hills. They soon found a large village of Miniconjou led by Touch the Clouds. This was near the Little Missouri River. After several days of talks, they agreed to go and surrender at the Spotted Tail Agency.

Spotted Tail's group continued to the Little Powder River. There, they met Miniconjou, Sans Arc, Oglala, and some Northern Cheyenne. Leaders like Black Shield, Fast Bull, Lame Deer, and Roman Nose were there. Most of these groups also agreed to surrender at the Spotted Tail Agency. Crazy Horse was not in the camp. But his father gave a horse to a member of the group. This showed that the Oglala war leader was ready to surrender.

Johnny Brughier's Mission

Colonel Miles also sent out a peace effort from his camp. Scout Johnny Brughier, helped by two captive Cheyenne women, found the Northern Cheyenne village. This was on the Little Bighorn. They talked for several days. His effort led to many Northern Cheyenne eventually surrendering at the Tongue River Cantonment.

Red Cloud's Mission

On April 13, a second group left the Red Cloud Agency. It was led by the famous Oglala leader Red Cloud. He had nearly 70 other members from different tribes. This group met Crazy Horse's people on their way to surrender. They went with them most of the way to the agency.

Surrenders

The constant military campaigns and strong peace efforts finally worked in early spring 1877. Many northern tribes began to surrender. In April 1877, an aide to General Crook wrote that the Great Sioux War was ending. A large number of Northern Cheyenne, led by Dull Knife and Standing Elk, surrendered at the Red Cloud Agency on April 21, 1877. They were sent to Indian Territory the next month. Touch the Clouds and Roman Nose arrived with their groups at the Spotted Tail Agency. Crazy Horse surrendered with his group at Red Cloud on May 5.

Death of Crazy Horse

The respected Oglala leader Crazy Horse stayed with his group at the Red Cloud Agency for several months. There was a lot of political tension. The Army feared he would leave. So, they surrounded his village to arrest him on September 4, 1877. Crazy Horse escaped to the Spotted Tail Agency. The next day, Crazy Horse was brought back to Camp Robinson. He was told he could meet with the commander. Instead, he was taken to the guard house under arrest. As he struggled to escape, a soldier stabbed him with a bayonet. He died from this injury.

Flight to Canada

Many Lakota surrendered at agencies along the Missouri River or in Nebraska. But Sitting Bull led a large group across the border into Canada. General Terry was part of a group sent to talk with them. He hoped to convince them to surrender and return to the US. But they refused.

They did not return until the buffalo numbers dropped greatly. Also, problems started with other Native American tribes in Canada. In 1880–81, most of the Lakota from Canada surrendered at Fort Keogh and Fort Buford. US forces moved them by steamboat to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in 1881.

What Happened After

The Great Sioux War of 1876–77 was very different from Red Cloud's War ten years earlier. In the 1860s, Lakota leaders had wide support for fighting. But in 1876–77, almost two-thirds of all Lakota lived at Indian agencies. They accepted food and supplies there. These groups did not support or join the fighting.

The strong political differences within the Lakota continued for many years. In 1889–90, the Ghost Dance movement grew. Most of its followers were from the groups who had fought in the Great Sioux War.

The Lakota tribes were many in number. But they were often independent and made their own decisions about war. Many groups did join with the Cheyenne. There was also marriage between the tribes. Some people believe the war of 1876–77 should be called "The Great Cheyenne War."