to his company with his crushing grief fresh
upon him. He played nightly to crowded houses, but it was plain that his
heart was not in his work. A letter from Colonel Mills, informing him
that his services were needed in the army, came as a welcome relief.
He canceled his few remaining dates, and disbanded his company with a
substantial remuneration.

This was the spring of the Centennial year. It has also been called the
"Custer year," for during that summer the gallant general and his heroic
Three Hundred fell in their unequal contest with Sitting Bull and his
warriors.

Sitting Bull was one of the ablest chiefs and fighters the Sioux nation
ever produced. He got his name from the fact that once when he had shot
a buffalo he sprang astride of it to skin it, and the wounded bull rose
on its haunches with the Indian on its back. He combined native Indian
cunning with the strategy and finesse needed to make a great general,
and his ability as a leader was conceded alike by red and white man. A
dangerous man at best, the wrongs his people had suffered roused all his
Indian cruelty, vindictiveness, hatred, and thirst for revenge.

The Sioux war of 1876 had its origin, like most of its predecessors
and successors, in an act of injustice on the part of the United States
government and a violation of treaty rights.

In 1868 a treaty had been made with the Sioux, by which the Black Hills
country was reserved for their exclusive use, no settling by white men
to be allowed. In 1874 gold was discovered, and the usual gold fever
was followed by a rush of whites into the Indian country. The Sioux
naturally resented the intrusion, and instead of attempting to placate
them, to the end that the treaty might be revised, the government sent
General Custer into the Black Hills with instructions to intimidate
the Indians into submission. But Custer was too wise, too familiar with
Indian nature, to adhere to his instructions to the letter. Under cover
of a flag of truce a council was arranged. At this gathering coffee,
sugar, and bacon were distributed among the Indians, and along with
those commodities Custer handed around some advice. This was to the
effect that it would be to the advantage of the Sioux if they permitted
the miners to occupy the gold country. The coffee, sugar, and bacon were
accepted thankfully by Lo, but no nation, tribe, or individual since
the world began has ever welcomed advice. It was thrown away on Lo.
He re