Mystic Warrior

"The Mystic Warrior"

[Reprinted excerpts with permission from "From the Heart of Crow Country", by Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, Crow Nation Historian, Orion Books/New York, 1992.]

"In the early summer of 1859 or 1860 a Crow War Party killed a fine young Dakota warrior. Already he had counted a number of battle coups, which entitled him to wear an eagle feather war bonnet. His mother was overwhelmed with grief and decided to mourn until her sons' death was avenged."

Eventually the Sioux mother's wailing affected the tribe deeply, causing them to consider fighting the Raven People, as the Dakota sometimes called the Crows. At last, during a Council Meeting the Head Chief stated, "Surely Wakan'tanka [e.g. Great Power] must have arranged something for the Sioux Nation. It has taken one year before the horse was taken, and I say let us take one whole year to make plans against the Raven People. They are not many, but they are shrewd and tricky in battle. The time has come that we must destroy them. But first we must take time to make plans."

The result of the Sioux Council was a plan, ". . . to join the forces of all the Dakota bands, the Cheyenne, and the Arapahos the following May at the forks of Big Goose Creek and Little Goose Creek where Sheridan, Wyoming, now stands. This was probably the largest gathering of Indians at any one time in North America."

One Sioux Commander estimated, ". . . on the basis of three Crow warriors for each lodge, that the Absarokee were outnumbered at least twenty-five to one (Four hundred Lodges containing twelve hundred Crows against eight to ten thousand Sioux and allied warriors). It has been said that this was the first time in Sioux history that all the bands came together to wage war against a common enemy."

Having been forewarned by a Crow living amongst the Sioux, the tribe took evasive action during a 'strategic retreat' from their encampment near Pass Creek, approximately 20 miles south of present day Billings, Montana. "That evening the travelers reached Pryor Creek, about fifty miles to the west. At sunset the Crows were still very much alive. Their hostile pursuers couldn't catch up and had to wait another day to do what they had come out to do."

"But, a Crow man named, 'Hits Himself Over the Head', was searching for his horses when he suddenly came up a hill to look over upon a seething mass of men and horses ... He ducked himself out of sight and raced for the Crow camp. As he approached he hollered the warning call, and the head chiefs were already gathered to hear his report. Immediately they dispatched ten gallant warriors toward the enemy to hold off the initial charge just long enough to set up battle lines and to put up a fortress of tepee poles and covers, which the women were busy doing. The ten men charged right into the enemy and fired into the ranks, killing a number of Sioux. As they swerved to return, thousands of warriors roared down the hills in hot pursuit, truly a thundering charge."

"Thus the long-awaited day for exterminating the Absarokee began. Suddenly the small valley exploded with war whoops, gunfire, and the thunder of thousands of horses' hooves eating the ground. The followers of the war party now sat in clusters here and there on a high escarpment near the battle scene."

During the battle, ". . . a wise Crow Indian decided to take advantage of the lull to try a bluff, hoping to instill fear into the hearts of the attackers. He rode toward the enemy making the sign that he had something to say. This often happened in Plains Indian warfare. Through the intertribal sign language, he said: 'You have come a long way. By the size of your party, you have come prepared to wage serious battle against the Absarokee this day. You are not an ordinary war party this time. Yes, the Raven People will fight you in a great way. Right now our two other bands are on their way to help us. They will arrive soon, and then you will have a real fight on your hands. I have spoken, Aho, Aho!' However, the truth was, no help was coming at all. But the bluff was quickly followed by strange happenings."

"As the Crow was returning to his ranks, the Sioux onlookers on the hill were on their feet pointing excitedly toward the north; then they waved frantically and shouted to their warriors below that a large war party was coming up the creek. At this moment it so happened that a large herd of elk had become excited by the noises of battle and had started milling around. Their sharp hooves stirred a swirling cloud of dust. Their white rumps looked like war bonnets! Again the ones on the hill hollered--another war party was fast approaching from the west. This time the warriors could plainly see a huge cloud of dust moving rapidly toward the battleground. This phenomenon was caused by a large herd of stampeding buffalo frightened by the noise of battle in the valley . . . The Sioux war chiefs quickly ordered a determined charge, hoping to dislodge the Crow defense lines before help arrived. Once again the lines held and inflicted heavy casualties."

"At this time, a third strange thing took place. Now the Sioux saw a lone warrior riding hard from the hills to join the Crow defenders. He was mounted on a dark horse with white markings on its flanks. His weapon was a two-pronged spear made of elk antler. Suddenly this "Mystic Warrior" hollered, "Kokohay! Kokohay!" and charged . . . The man charged right into a group and began spearing Sioux warriors right and left. Other groups stood their ground and opened fire with many guns. Their shots were harmless; the man was invulnerable to bullets and arrows. He would circle and return, repeating the one-man onslaught. At this time the Crow ranks holding the defense lines broke loose into a full charge. The Sioux and Cheyenne and Arapaho allies gave ground, before long breaking into a full retreat, with every man for himself. The strange Crow Mystic Warrior was right behind them, shouting, "Kokohay! Kokohay!" and continuing to wield his deadly spear!"