Tall Bull facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tall Bull
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|---|---|
| Cheyenne: Hotóa'ôxháa'êstaestse | |
| Chief of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1830 |
| Died | July 11, 1869 |
| Cause of death | Killed in the Battle of Summit Springs |
Tall Bull was an important leader of the Cheyenne people. He was born around 1830 and died on July 11, 1869. His Cheyenne name was Hotóa'ôxháa'êstaestse. Tall Bull was a chief of the Dog Soldiers, a famous group of Cheyenne warriors. He had both Cheyenne and Lakota family roots. He was killed during the Battle of Summit Springs by Major Frank North. Major North led a group called the Pawnee Scouts.
Tall Bull's Leadership
Tall Bull was a very important chief and war leader for the Southern Cheyenne. He was also a strong leader of the Dog Soldiers. In 1864, about 500 people followed him. They lived in areas that are now eastern Colorado and parts of Kansas and Nebraska.
Tall Bull took part in the 1864-1865 Arapaho-Cheyenne War. This war was a response to the terrible Sand Creek massacre. After a while, he realized that winning the war was not possible. So, he decided to stop fighting.
In 1868, he was part of the Beecher Island battle. During this fight, he warned another great warrior, Roman Nose. Roman Nose's special medicine was not working right. Tall Bull told him to fix it quickly so he could join the battle.
In 1867, Tall Bull attended a peace meeting. He argued that white settlers and soldiers should stop fighting the Cheyenne. He said they should stop invading Cheyenne land. He also believed they should not force the Cheyenne to give up their land for peace. The Indian agent, Edward W. Wynkoop, tried to make peace. His words were not very friendly. During one peace talk, Tall Bull even stopped Roman Nose from attacking General Winfield Scott Hancock.
The End of a Leader
Tall Bull was killed on July 11, 1869, at the Battle of Summit Springs. This happened less than a year after his fellow Dog Soldier, Roman Nose, died on September 17, 1868. Chief Black Kettle had also passed away.
The loss of these important leaders greatly affected the Cheyenne warrior groups. The Cheyenne people never fully recovered from these losses. They were no longer a major threat on the southern Great Plains.
A Cheyenne Song
One of Tall Bull's special "wolf songs" is still remembered today. It goes like this:
My love, it is I who am singing. Do you hear me?
See also
