The Death of Crazy Horse

 

Crazy Horse, born around 1840 as Tashunke Witko, was a revered Oglala Lakota warrior and leader known for his fierce resistance against U.S. encroachment on Native lands. He played a pivotal role in the Great Sioux War of 1876-1877, notably at the Battle of Little Bighorn, where Lakota and Cheyenne forces defeated Lt. Col. George Custer's 7th Cavalry.

After the harsh winter of 1876-1877 depleted resources, Crazy Horse surrendered with about 900 followers at Camp Robinson (later Fort Robinson) in Nebraska on May 6, 1877, under General George Crook. Promised a reservation in their homeland, tensions arose amid rumors of his potential flight or uprising. On September 5, 1877, military authorities ordered his arrest to prevent disruption.

Escorted to the guardhouse, a scuffle erupted when Crazy Horse resisted confinement. In the chaos, he was bayoneted in the back by a soldier—accounts vary on whether it was intentional or accidental—and mortally wounded. He died that evening, around midnight, at age 37.  Crazy Horse's remains were move to an undisclosed location, His final resting place remains unknown.

Today, the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota honors his legacy as a symbol of Indigenous resilience.

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