a chief. His success and influence was purely a
matter of personality. He had never fought the whites up to this time,
and indeed no "coup" was counted for killing or scalping a white man.

Young Crazy Horse was twenty-one years old when all the Teton Sioux
chiefs (the western or plains dwellers) met in council to determine upon
their future policy toward the invader. Their former agreements had been
by individual bands, each for itself, and every one was friendly. They
reasoned that the country was wide, and that the white traders should be
made welcome. Up to this time they had anticipated no conflict. They
had permitted the Oregon Trail, but now to their astonishment forts were
built and garrisoned in their territory.

Most of the chiefs advocated a strong resistance. There were a few
influential men who desired still to live in peace, and who were willing
to make another treaty. Among these were White Bull, Two Kettle, Four
Bears, and Swift Bear. Even Spotted Tail, afterward the great peace
chief, was at this time with the majority, who decided in the year 1866
to defend their rights and territory by force. Attacks were to be made
upon the forts within their country and on every trespasser on the same.

Crazy Horse took no part in the discussion, but he and all the young
warriors were in accord with the decision of the council. Although so
young, he was already a leader among them. Other prominent young braves
were Sword (brother of the man of that name who was long captain of
police at Pine Ridge), the younger Hump, Charging Bear, Spotted Elk,
Crow King, No Water, Big Road, He Dog, the nephew of Red Cloud, and
Touch-the-Cloud, intimate friend of Crazy Horse.

The attack on Fort Phil Kearny was the first fruits of the new policy,
and here Crazy Horse was chosen to lead the attack on the woodchoppers,
designed to draw the soldiers out of the fort, while an army of six
hundred lay in wait for them. The success of this stratagem was further
enhanced by his masterful handling of his men. From this time on a
general war was inaugurated; Sitting Bull looked to him as a principal
war leader, and even the Cheyenne chiefs, allies of the Sioux,
practically acknowledged his leadership. Yet during the following ten
years of defensive war he was never known to make a speech, though his
teepee was the rendezvous of the young men. He was depended upon to put
into action the decisions of the council, and was frequently consulted