The New Student's Reference Work/Sitting Bull

SITTING BULL

Sit′ting Bull, an Indian warror of the Sioux (q. v.) was born in 1837. When gold was found in the Black Hills, an effort was made by the United States to purchase the land of the Sioux, to whom it belonged. They were very unwilling to give it up, and Sitting Bull, Red Cloud and Spotted Tail, with other chiefs, visited Washington in May, 1875, but would not sign the treaty. The failure of the government to keep its promises and the actions of the settlers in pushing on to the lands kept up a feeling of hostility, and the young braves gathered around Sitting Bull in northern Dakota. General Custer, with a small force, was sent against them, and he and his followers were all killed; but the Sioux were at last conquered and Sitting Bull escaped to Canada, but on promise of a pardon surrendered. In the rising of the Indians of the northwest in 1890 Sitting Bull was killed.