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Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull, born in South Dakota in 1834, acquired influence in his own Sioux tribe as a peace-maker. His refusal, however, to go upon a reservation in 1876, led General Sheridan to proceed against him and his followers - a campaign resulting in the annihilation of Custer's troops on Little Bighorn River, in Montana. Sitting Bull escaped to Canada, but in 1881 he surrendered, and was confined to Fort Randall until 1883. In that year, with the interests of the Indians at heart, he influenced his people to refuse to sell land, and was shot and killed in 1890. Among the Indians he was noted for his generosity, quiet disposition, accuracy of judgment, and fidelity to Indian ideals.