Little Wound facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Little Wound
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Little Wound in 1877
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| Born | ca. 1835 |
| Died | Winter 1899 |
| Nationality | Oglala Lakota |
| Occupation | chief of Kuinyan Kiyuksa Lakota, Indian scout |
Little Wound (born around 1835, died Winter 1899) was an important leader of the Oglala Lakota people. His name in the Lakota language was Tȟaópi Čík’ala. He became a chief after his brother, Bull Bear II, passed away in 1865. Little Wound then led the Kuinyan branch of the Kiyuksa band, also known as the Bear people.
Contents
Little Wound's Family History
Little Wound came from a family of leaders. His father, Chief Old Bull Bear, was a chief of the Eastern Oglala from 1834 to 1841. Sadly, his father was killed in 1841 near Fort Laramie by another well-known chief, Red Cloud.
Little Wound's grandfather was named Stone Chief. Later, Little Wound's own son was named George Little Wound. After his father's death, Little Wound's younger brother, Young Bull Bear III, was cared for by Old Chief Smoke for some time.
Key Battles and Leadership
Little Wound was involved in important events during his lifetime.
The Battle of Massacre Canyon
On August 5, 1873, Little Wound was present at the Battle of Massacre Canyon. This battle took place in Hitchcock County, Nebraska. It was one of the last major battles between two large Native American tribes, the Pawnee and the Sioux. It was also the last big battle of its kind in what is now the United States.
Role as an Indian Scout
In 1877, the Indian scout program was reorganized at the Red Cloud Agency. Indian scouts were Native American people who worked with the U.S. Army, often to help with communication or tracking. The Oglala people made up most of Company B. Little Wound was promoted to be the first sergeant of this company.
Some very important chiefs, like Red Cloud, Young Man Afraid of His Horses, Yellow Bear, and American Horse, served under Little Wound as sergeants. This made Little Wound a significant leader.
Political Influence and Washington Trip
Because of his role, Little Wound became a political figure. He had some disagreements with other chiefs like Crazy Horse and Red Cloud at the Red Cloud Agency and Camp Robinson. Crazy Horse tried to choose other leaders for a trip to Washington D.C. that year, but Little Wound was not among them. However, Little Wound eventually did join a group that traveled to Washington. The photo of him on the right side of this page was taken during that trip.
