The Night He Died

Near midnight on September 5, 1877, at Fort Robinson in northwestern Nebraska, an Oglala Lakota war leader died of a bayonet wound sustained in a struggle at the door of the post guardhouse.

His name was Tȟašúŋke Witkó — His-Horse-Is-Crazy, a name rendered in English as Crazy Horse.

He was approximately 37 years old.

He had surrendered to the United States Army four months earlier after a winter campaign had finally exhausted the resources needed to sustain resistance.

He had been promised, in various ways, that surrender would bring a degree of protection for his people.

He had spent those four months as a restless and uneasy presence on the Nebraska reservation, a man whose reputation and influence made the military and civilian authorities around him nervous, whose presence inspired the Lakota followers who were watching what he did, and whose future plans were the subject of constant rumor and surveillance.

On September 4, he had been brought to Fort Robinson on what he believed was a conference with authorities about a possible return to his people’s homeland.

He was instead to be imprisoned.

When he realized this — at the door of the guardhouse — a struggle broke out.

In the confusion, he was bayoneted in the back by a soldier named Private William Gentles.

The wound pierced through his kidney and lung.

He was carried into the adjutant’s office.

His father, Worm, was with him.

His friend Touch the Clouds was present.

The fort’s physician, Dr.

Valentine McGillicuddy, attended to him.

He died around midnight.