Great Warriors II

Ever since Colonial times, armies had turned traditional rivalry between tribes to their advantage in wartime.  One way to do this was by using warriors of one tribe as scouts against the other.  Familiar with the country, the enemy tribe's ways of doing battle, perhaps even their language or customs, these scouts provided valuable information.  When war broke out between the United States and the Sioux in 1876-77, the Army turned to members of the Arikara and Crow tribes to recruit scouts.  Some of these men would be unwitting witnesses to history. By 1876, the Crow were already living at Crow Agency Montana, and most were considered friendly as opposed to the "hostile" Sioux, Arapahoe and Cheyenne.  When the chance came to work with the Army against their traditional enemies, however, only a few Crow warriors stepped forward.  Among those who agreed to serve were 6 Crow scouts and 39 Arikara.  Custer generally worked with the Arikara, but as he pre...

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,...