Great Leader: Gall of the Hunkpapa Sioux, c 1840-1894
Native command structure during campaigns and battles differed significantly from European-American structure. While White armies generally had a sole commander who crafted the strategy and took credit if the battle was won, Native forces were led by command teams of several leaders who jointly decided strategy and shared credit equally. The Battle of Little Bighorn/Greasy Grass, June 25-26, 1876, is often boiled down in history to Custer versus Crazy Horse/Sitting Bull. However, other leaders from various Sioux bands as well as Arapahoe and Cheyenne also participated in the strategy and leadership that gained victory for their side. Gall, c 1840-1894, a Hunkpapa war chief, has gotten little credit over the years for some key surveillance and maneuvering that tipped the balance for the Natives.
Gall was born in what is now South Dakota. He was orphaned early and dependent on others for food and other necessities. He received his name Gall, or Phizi, meaning Gall Bladder, after he devoured the gall bladder of a animal killed by a neighbor. He became a skilled warrior while in his teens and by his twenties was commanding Hunkpapa war parties. On the day of the Greasy Grass, men under the command of Maj. Marcus A. Reno initially attacked the Southeastern end of the Native encampment. Among those killed was Gall's two wives and several children. Grieving and angry, Gall nonetheless kept his head and tried to locate his enemy's next point of attack. He believed that Custer would attempt a two-pronged attack and that the north end of the camp would be it. He headed that direction, and observed Custer's scout, Mitch Bouyer, in the area and spotted Custer's five companies of men. Knowing he'd guessed correctly, Gall found Crazy Horse and the two put their heads together. Gall forced two of Custer's companies into a ravine, where they were eventually slaughtered, while Crazy Horse dealt with the remaining three, including Custer himself. Gall believed and later stated, that Custer's men fled because of lack of ammunition. However, other warriors found full rifles and used them against the cavalry, indicating that Custer's men panicked and ran for it at the last minute. Gall and his men were able to keep up a withering fire on the fleeing men until they were killed.
After the victory, Gall and his band fled with Sitting Bull to Canada. Once there, Gall came to believe that resistance was not the best course in the long run and wanted to return to South Dakota. He and Sitting Bull disagreed, but Gall took his people home and surrendered. Along with other leaders and their bands, they were shipped by steamship to the Standing Rock Reservation in 1881. Once there, Gall urged his people to assimilate and make their lives as best they could. He became a farmer, and later converted to Christianity, taking the baptismal name of Abraham, sitting on the Reservation's Court of Indian Affairs. He was well-known to the Agent, James McLaughlin, and still a responsible leader in 1885.
The Ghost Dance fervor swept the Reservation and Native leaders were divided on how to deal with it. Sources differ on how involved Sitting Bull became with it, whether he actively promoted the new religion or simply tolerated it among his people. He and Gall disagreed again, because Gall was adamantly opposed to it, believing the Ghost Dance would bringing trouble to their people. In the end he was right. Authorities blamed Sitting Bull for the spread of the religion. He was killed by a tribal policeman in 1890. Repressive measure against the Ghost Dance would ultimately lead to the tragedy at Wounded Knee, also in 1890. Gall lived until 1894 and was buried in Wakpala, South Dakota.
Gall was born in what is now South Dakota. He was orphaned early and dependent on others for food and other necessities. He received his name Gall, or Phizi, meaning Gall Bladder, after he devoured the gall bladder of a animal killed by a neighbor. He became a skilled warrior while in his teens and by his twenties was commanding Hunkpapa war parties. On the day of the Greasy Grass, men under the command of Maj. Marcus A. Reno initially attacked the Southeastern end of the Native encampment. Among those killed was Gall's two wives and several children. Grieving and angry, Gall nonetheless kept his head and tried to locate his enemy's next point of attack. He believed that Custer would attempt a two-pronged attack and that the north end of the camp would be it. He headed that direction, and observed Custer's scout, Mitch Bouyer, in the area and spotted Custer's five companies of men. Knowing he'd guessed correctly, Gall found Crazy Horse and the two put their heads together. Gall forced two of Custer's companies into a ravine, where they were eventually slaughtered, while Crazy Horse dealt with the remaining three, including Custer himself. Gall believed and later stated, that Custer's men fled because of lack of ammunition. However, other warriors found full rifles and used them against the cavalry, indicating that Custer's men panicked and ran for it at the last minute. Gall and his men were able to keep up a withering fire on the fleeing men until they were killed.After the victory, Gall and his band fled with Sitting Bull to Canada. Once there, Gall came to believe that resistance was not the best course in the long run and wanted to return to South Dakota. He and Sitting Bull disagreed, but Gall took his people home and surrendered. Along with other leaders and their bands, they were shipped by steamship to the Standing Rock Reservation in 1881. Once there, Gall urged his people to assimilate and make their lives as best they could. He became a farmer, and later converted to Christianity, taking the baptismal name of Abraham, sitting on the Reservation's Court of Indian Affairs. He was well-known to the Agent, James McLaughlin, and still a responsible leader in 1885.
The Ghost Dance fervor swept the Reservation and Native leaders were divided on how to deal with it. Sources differ on how involved Sitting Bull became with it, whether he actively promoted the new religion or simply tolerated it among his people. He and Gall disagreed again, because Gall was adamantly opposed to it, believing the Ghost Dance would bringing trouble to their people. In the end he was right. Authorities blamed Sitting Bull for the spread of the religion. He was killed by a tribal policeman in 1890. Repressive measure against the Ghost Dance would ultimately lead to the tragedy at Wounded Knee, also in 1890. Gall lived until 1894 and was buried in Wakpala, South Dakota.
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