Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 2000; Stanley,
George F.G. The War of 1812: Land Operations.
Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1983; Turner, Wesley.
British Generals in the War of 1812: High Com-mand in the Canadas.Montreal: McGill-Queens Uni-
versity Press, 1999; Whitehorne, Joseph A. While
Washington Burned: The Battle for Fort Erie, 1814.
Baltimore: Nautical and Aviation, 1992.DULLKNIFE
Dull Knife
(ca. 1810–1883)
Cheyenne War Chief
F
ormerly a fierce
Dog Soldier, Dull
Knife is best re-
membered for leading his
people on an epic winter
trek back to their home-
land. Despite great suffer-
ing and loss of life among
the Cheyennes, persever-
ance paid off when the
survivors finally secured
a reservation on their
own territory.
Morning Star (Tash-me-
la-pash-me) was born near
the Rosebud River, Mon-
tana, around 1810. He was
a member of the Chey-
enne nation, but in the
course of many military
campaigns against the
Pawnees and Shoshones,
he became closely associ-
ated with the Oglala
Sioux, who called him
Dull Knife. In his youth he
proved himself an adept warrior and was se-
lected for membership into the elite band of
fighters known as the Dog Soldiers. Dull Knife
was also well-respected for his intelligence and
bearing, so around 1854 the Cheyenne Council
of Forty-Four elevated him to the exalted posi-
tion of Old Man Chief of the Ohmeseheso
(Northern Cheyenne) band. In this capacity
Dull Knife was expected
to render sagacious advice
in matters pertaining to
peace and war. Around
this time, the Cheyenne
people were experiencing
their first conflicts with
the U.S. Army, whose
cavalry began patrolling
the Northern Plains. In
the wake of the 1864
Sand Creek Massacre—
the slaughter of Black
Kettleand his followers
in Colorado Territory—
Dull Knife accompanied
his warriors in many
vengeful raids against
American frontier settle-
ments. In 1866, he accom-
panied Crazy Horseand
American Horsein their
successful ambush of
Capt. William J. Fetter-
man’s command. How-
ever, Dull Knife soon con-
cluded that it would be better for his people
to enjoy peaceful relations with these power-
ful intruders. He first came to the attention of
whites on May 10, 1868, when he signed the
Treaty of Fort Laramie, which ended the
Bozeman Trail War under Red Cloud.
Despite the best efforts of many other
peace chiefs, resentment over white encroach-Dull Knife
National Archives