The Death of Crazy Horse: A Tragic Episode in Lakota History

Rating:
Summary: In Death, Crazy Horse Comes to Life
Review: I purchased this book since I am researching one of the army officers who witnessed the death of Crazy Horse, Officer-of-the- Guard Lt. Henry Lemly, who left behind an account that appeared in the New York Sun and is reproduced herein. I found that and much more. For anyone who is familiar with Hardorff's similar treatments of the Little Big Horn, CUSTER BATTLE CASUALTIES I and II, HOKAEHY! A GOOD DAY TO DIE, this work follows a familiar approach, compiling numerous Lakota accounts of the circumstances surrouding the famous warrior's death.

Beyond that, it is much, much. Many of the first-person accounts describe other aspects of the life of Crazy Horse--his appearance, deeds in battle, his demeanor, marriage, nicknames, family etc. All of this culminates with the recollections of his fatal wounding, how it happened, who was to blame, and the reaction of both the Lakota and the army. In other words, a treasure trove of biographical information on Crazy Horse that is far more instructional than any existing biography of him. The general reader should be warned that such accounts can be repetitious and certainly aren't as readable as, say, Stephen Ambrose's CRAZY HORSE AND CUSTER. If it is unedited first person recollections you are after though, you will find them here.

Two items of mystery especially surround the great warrior--was he ever photographed? (Hardorff is very skeptical of any such photographic claims), and where was he buried? On this last question, there are various accounts of his body being buried and then moved, etc. to the point that no one knew where he ultimately rested. There is even a photograph of his first burial site that I have never seen published before, showing an army-built wooden structure surrounding the temporary sepulcher of Crazy Horse's remains, erected on a bluff above Camp Sheridan, Nebraksa. The inclusion of such photographs and the many conflicting details of his burials make this a fascinating aspect of this book.

In all, an excellent source of information for anyone interested in Crazy Horse, the Lakota, the Little Big Horn and the frontier military.

Rating:
Summary: Primary sources at your fingertips
Review: Like The Killing of Chief Crazy Horse this book comprises various interviews with individuals who knew Crazy Horse or were present at his death. However there is no repetition here. Those accounts that are by the same people, have different dates (which, in itself makes for interesting comparisons). This book also includes valuable additions such as telegrams between the various officers involved--giving us the true picture of what their plans for Crazy Horse actually were--and many newspaper accounts, showing just how important an event this was throughout the country.

Anyone who has studied this period knows the controversy that rages over Crazy Horse and his death. Was he the quiet man beloved by his band and betrayed by the agency chiefs out of jealousy? Or was he sullen and withdrawn, plotting a return to the warpath, and stopped just in time? What you find in these pages, as you would expect, is that the answer depends largely on who is doing the telling. E!ven the physical descriptions of this man, of whom no photo exists, vary greatly. Some say he was tall. Most say he was slight. Some call him handsome. One man said he was downright ugly. The only agreement seems to be on his unusually light hair and complexion.

This book is not recommended for someone who is not already familiar with the story of Crazy Horse. However, for those who are, it provides access to some great primary sources, that you will probably want to re-read many times.

Rating:
Summary: A must to read for any serious student of Lakota history
Review: The Death Of Crazy Horse: A Tragic Episode In Lakota History is a collection of interviews of Indian and mixed blood contemporaries of his last days between May 15, 1877, when he was sworn in as a noncommissioned officer in the U. S. military and September 5, 1877, when he was killed by a military guard, bayonetted in the back. Recollections and interviews are supplemented by a collection of official documents, including telegrams, military dispatches, newspaper accounts, and other eyewitness reports. Stark, bloody detail emerges quickly, along with complex shadows of views of the man known as Crazy Horse. The aspect of betrayal and fear of this charismatic, modest young Oglala Sioux man is underlined again and again. A dark fascination arises from the accumulated documents.

What was the cause of the martyrdom? One response comes from the newspaper account in The New York Sun, dated September 14, 1877, titled "The Death of Crazy Horse:" Crazy Horse's father is quoted as saying 'His boy...would never have fought the whites, but they (the military) hunted him and his village in their own country, and they had to defend themselves, all would have perished. He had enough buffalo in that country to last several years, and (he) wanted to stay. He fought only the Crows and Snakes and stole their ponies. But he was not left alone. Every courier that came North to him said,"Come in! Come in! Or the Gray Fox (Crook) will drive you after Sitting Bull!: At last he came. Spotted Tail and Red Cloud, the greatest chiefs of the Brules and the Oglalas, had to stand aside and give him the principal place in council, and on this account they and their young men became jealous. They were the cause of his poor boy lying there. He was killed by too much talk. He had said (p. 243).'

The Death Of Crazy Horse has a documentary quality. Though brief, less than 300 pages, its impact is gut-wrenchingly huge. It will take more than one reading of even these few pages to construct a new truthful understanding of the end of this man's life. Though events described are often brutal, the information is presented in a tone of respect. Additional informational details such as the genealogy of Crazy Horse, in Appendix C, and the description of Crazy Horse from the Campbell letters help enflesh the image of the man. There is a hard, painful beauty about this book. The Death Of Crazy Horse: A Tragic Episode In Lakota History is a must to read for any serious student of Lakota history.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer