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Native American Collection by Castagna
RED CLOUD (MAKHPIA-SHA) C. 1822-1909 Warrior-An Oglala of the Teton Sioux, born at the forks of the Platte River, Nebraska. An orphan, who went on war parties at an early age, in raids against the Crow and Pawnee. Because of his fierce fighting ability he gained the respect of his people and became a leader but not chief. When Red Cloud and other Chiefs were called in to negotiate with the government on opening up The Bozeman Trail to Montana, but found that Colonel Carrington had already been charged with opening up the trail to immigrants, and the building of three new forts. They felt deceived. Red Cloud opposed the Treaty of 1886 since it would have destroyed the last buffalo hunting grounds. He surrounded Fort Keamey with 2000 warriors so that not even a load of hay could get through. The entire detachment of 81 men under Captain Fetterman was cut off and annihilated. In 1868 a treaty was finally made defining the limits and the forts were abandoned. His remaining years were spent, sometimes in Washington, seeing that the treaty was enforced. |