Doane Robinson, historian of South Dakota, says "though hailed as a great victory, and an additional plume in Harney's crest of fame, Ash Hollow was a shameful affair, unworthy of American arms, and a disgrace to the officer who planned and executed it. It was a massacre as heedless and as barbarous as any which the Dakotas have at any time visited upon the white people." I am led to believe, however, that the battle was precipitated by the alarm of the squaw, and the hysteria of the Indians who imagined they were about to be attacked, when in fact the purpose may have been only to prevent escape.

sion to camp near the fort. One morning Red Leaf and Long Chin, two brothers of Ma-to-io-wa, together with Spotted Tail rode into the fort in full war paint, and surrendered themselves as hostages for the killing of the Grattan party, and the murder of the mail party. Red-Plume and Spotted Elk soon followed the example. All with their squaws were sent to Kearney, and then to Leavenworth, but how long they were kept is not known, or given out.

Butler says that Spotted Tail was not a chief until made so by the whites, but if not, he was a leader of great influence, and functioned the same as a chief, so wherein is the difference?

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

MURDER OF SPOTTED TAIL -- CROW DOG'S PUNISHMENT SCOTTSBLUFF MOUNTAIN PASS

BATTLE IN

Eastman, in the Outlook, says that Spotted Tail was killed because he betrayed the Brules to the whites, and Crow Dog's killing him was the result of a pact made thirty years before by the Brules, that Spotted Tail should die if it were ever proved that he had played false to his tribe. This sounds like an apology for the murder of the great Indian, and the thought has probably been fostered by the friends of "the old man with a withered arm." No doubt there are those among the Indians who hated "the King of all the Sioux," through all the years, and were glad when he was finally assassinated.