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Sitting Bull Facts

Sitting Bull Facts
Sitting Bull was a Lakota Indian chief who played a major role in the Sioux War of 1875-76, particularly in uniting the different bands of Lakota and forming an alliance with the Cheyenne. He was viewed by his people as a spiritual man capable of great visions, but he was also respected by white military and civilians alike as reasonable, fair, and wise leader. After surrendering to the U.S. Army, he toured with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show for a few years. Sitting Bull was born around 1831 near what is today Mobridge, South Dakota to Jumping Bull and Her Holly Door. He had at least five wives during his lifetime and at least three of his own children.
Interesting Sitting Bull Facts:
Sitting Bull was actually born Jumping Badger. He was named after his father when completed a successful raid on some Crow Indians when he was a teenager. The name was slightly amended, though, and became "Sitting Bull."
His first known combat against the U.S. military came during the Dakota-U.S. War of 1862. Although that war was fought primarily in Minnesota, the military attacked some Sioux camps in the Dakotas, including one where Sitting Bull lived in July 1864.
Sitting Bull was involved in Red Cloud's war from 1866-1868 for control of the Powder River Country in what is today Wyoming and Montana. Although Red Cloud agreed to end hostilities, Sitting Bull continued to attack U.S. outposts.
The Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868 created the Great Sioux Reservation, which was essentially the western half of South Dakota.
Sitting Bull was the leader of the Hunkpapa band of Lakota.
In 1874, the Black Hills were in the middle of Lakota territory but largely ignored by Americans and viewed by many as an obstruction on the way to California. When gold was discovered there in 1874, it led to renewed hostilities between the Lakota and the U.S.
Sitting Bull led his band off the reservation in 1876 and then augmented their numbers by inviting Indians from other bands and even tribes to join their effort. He eventually assembled a moving community of about 10,000.
The chief claimed to have had a vision where grasshoppers died in great numbers outside of a Lakota camp. After the Indian victory at Little Big Horn, more Cheyenne and Lakota warriors joined Sitting Bull's camp, believing that the vision had come true.
After evading the Army for quite some time, Sitting Bull surrendered on July 19, 1881.
After spending more than two years in a military prison as a prisoner of war, Sitting Bull was allowed to tour in wild west shows for two years. He toured with Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Cody, and other notable Indian leaders.
Sitting Bull returned to the Standing Rock reservation in South Dakota, ostensibly to retire, but controversy followed him when he became associated with the Ghost Dance movement.
Sitting Bull was killed on December 15, 1890 when federal officers attempted to arrest him for planning to leave the reservation and for taking part in the Ghost Dance movement. A struggle ensued with Sitting Bull, several of his supporters, and some federal officers dying in a shootout.


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