Chief Red Cloud was a Native American war leader who became an important part of history for his role in fiercely defending his peoples land against the U.S. government. As leader of the Lakota Indians in the 1860s, a time when the United States was attempting to seize Indian territory, he is best known for his long standing opposition to a proposed road through Indian territory. The two year battle with the U.S. government where Chief Red Cloud fought to protect Indian land in Montana and Wyoming became known as Red Clouds War. The below facts about the life of Chief Red Cloud focus on what made him such an interesting leader and why he became such an important historical figure. Red Clouds War Facts During the Gold Rush period in the 1860s, settlers began using a newly discovered direct route called The Bozeman Trail to get them from Montana to Wyoming. The route went directly through several Indian territories including the Lakota territory. As the Bozeman Trail became more heavily traveled, the road was widened to accommodate caravans and the army set up forts along it. This threatened to destroy the Indians hunting ground and prompted Chief Red Cloud to take action. Chief Red Cloud led one of the most successful and unforgettable attacks against the U.S. government of any Indian attack in history. This valiant attempt to fend off the intruders to his peoples land became called Chief Red Clouds War. The war lasted for two years as Chief Red Cloud and his men prevented further advancements on the trail, attacked army forts, and ambushed soldiers. During Red Clouds War, his biggest accomplishment was successfully forcing the U.S. government off the section of the Bozeman Trail from the North Platte River to the gold fields in Montana. Since the U.S. Army was unprepared for such a show of force by the Indians, their attempt at forcing them off their land dissolved into more peaceful negotiations.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 23:34:29 +0000
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