Chronology of American Indian History

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July 19

Sitting Bull and his followers surrender to
the United States.
In the early months of the year, many members of
Sitting Bull’s camp in Canada (see entry for OCTO-
BER 1876), faced with starvation, crossed the border
and make their way to the Lakota’s reservations,
where they can collect rations. A desperate Sitting
Bull decided to follow suit and lead his diminishing
band back to the United States.
Upon the arrival of Sitting Bull’s followers at
Fort Buford in Dakota Territory, they endure the
humiliation of surrendering their weapons and
horses to U.S. troops. The Indians expect to be con-
fined to a reservation, but the army, still wary of
Sitting Bull, instead sends the Indians to Fort Ran-
dall, where they will be imprisoned for two years.

“A warrior

I have been

now

it is all over

a hard time

I have”

—a song composed by

Sitting Bull after his surrender

to U.S. authorities

August 5

Crow Dog kills Lakota Sioux leader.
During a heated dispute, a Lakota Sioux named
Crow Dog shoots and kills his cousin Spotted Tail,
an influential leader who had long sought peace by
cooperating and negotiating with whites (see entry
for JUNE 1866 and for APRIL TO AUGUST 1868). The
tragic confrontation emerged from increasing tension
between Spotted Tail and Crow Dog as Crow Dog
began to challenge his friend’s political authority.

A tribal court finds Crow Dog guilty and, in

keeping with Sioux tradition, orders the killer to

make restitution to Spotted Tail’s family. The non-

Indian press is outraged by the court’s decision

and demands that Crow Dog be imprisoned. The

controversy will result in the landmark Supreme

Court case Ex parte Crow Dog (see entry for DE-

CEMBER 17, 1883).

August 30

Apache prophet Nakaidoklini is murdered.

Among the White Mountain Apache, a prophet

named Nakaidoklini preached that he could commu-

nicate with dead Apache and bring deceased leaders

back to life. Fearing his growing following, Colonel

Eugene A. Carr arrests Nakaidoklini at his village on

Cibicue Creek and imprisons him at Fort Apache.

Apache swarm around the fort, and amidst their

protest fighting breaks out. Nakaidoklini is shot and

killed by a soldier. Soon soldiers from throughout the

Southwest rush to the Apache’s San Carlos Reserva-

tion, responding to erroneous news reports that the

Apache have massacred Carr and his troops.

October

Geronimo and his followers escape from San

Carlos.

Alarmed by the increased military presence on the

San Carlos Reservation (see entry for AUGUST 30,

1881), Apache leaders Geronimo, Juh, and Naiche

and 74 followers flee to Mexico. There the runaways

are reunited with the remnants of the Apache led by

Victorio, who had escaped to Mexico five years ear-

lier (see entry for SEPTEMBER 2, 1877).

1882

Traditionalists battle the Creek government

in the Green Peach War.

Charged with misusing his office, tribal court

judge Isparhechar is removed from his position by

Samuel Checote, the principal chief of the Creek