VOICE THREE:

We attacked a fort west of the Black Hills. The white soldiers called it Fort Phil Kearny. It was there we killed almost one-hundred soldiers. They were commanded by a captain named Fetterman.

It was a big fight. Many famous chiefs were there -- Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud. And many young warriors -- Sword, American Horse, Crow King.

The plan for the battle was decided after many meetings. The main group would stay hidden from view and a few of the bravest young men were chosen to attack a group of white men. These men were cutting wood for the fort. We were told not to kill these men, but to chase them back to the fort and then ride slowly away.

We did this. A large group of soldiers commanded by Captain Fetterman followed us. They thought we were only few in number. We led them into the trap. It was a matter of a very few minutes before every soldier lay dead.

The very next year we signed a peace treaty at Fort Rice in North Dakota. Almost all the Sioux chiefs signed the treaty. The treaty said all the country north of the Republican River in Nebraska, including the Black Hills and the Big Horn Mountains, was to be always Sioux country. No white man could go there without our permission.

After the treaty was signed, the white men found the yellow metal they call gold in our country. They came in great numbers. They chased away all the animals we hunted for food. We had no choice, so for the last time we took up arms against them. No one honored the treaty.

VOICE TWO:

When the treaty failed, many hundreds of Sioux families moved north to an area of what is now in the State of Montana. Rain-in-the-Face described what happened then.

VOICE THREE:

In the Spring, the Sioux got together near the Tongue River. It was one of the greatest camps of the Sioux that I ever saw. Some Northern Cheyennes were with us. And there were Santee Sioux from Canada.

We had decided to fight the white soldiers until no warrior should be left. We crossed the Tongue River to the Little Big Horn.

I was eating my food one day when suddenly the Long-Haired Soldier Chief called George Custer began to attack us. It was a great surprise.

I heard a Sioux war cry. I saw a warrior riding his horse at top speed giving the warning as he came. Then we heard the sound of soldiers' guns. I seized my gun, my bow and arrows and my stone war club. As I was about to go join the fight, I saw a group of soldiers near us at the edge of a long line of cliffs across the small river.

We all got on our horses and immediately started toward those soldiers. We quickly began to surround the soldiers. When the soldiers were surrounded on two sides, with the river on the third, the order came to attack.

The soldiers tried to ride the other way, but they could not leave. They fired their guns at us as fast as they could. We mostly used bows and arrows.

The soldiers fought very bravely until they were killed. I had always thought that white men were not brave, but I had a great respect for them after this day.

No one knows who killed the soldier chief Long-Hair Custer. Many lies have been told about me. Some say I killed Custer or his brother Tom Custer that day.

Why, in that fight the excitement was so great that we could not recognize our nearest friends. Everything was done as fast as lightning.

But that was long ago. I have lived in peace now for many, many years. No one can say Rain-in-the-Face has broken the rules. I fought for my people and my country.

When we lost, I remained silent, as a warrior should. My warrior spirit died when I put down my weapons. Now, there is only my poor body that has lived on. Now that too is almost ready to lie down for the last time.

Ahhhhhh… It is well.

VOICE TWO:

Rain-in-the-Face, one of the last of the great Sioux warriors, died at the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota on September Fourteenth, Nineteen-Oh-Five.

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VOICE ONE:

This Special English program was taken from the book "Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains" by Doctor Charles Eastman. Doug Johnson was the voice of Doctor Eastman; Shep O'Neal was the voice of Rain-in- the-Face. Our program was produced by Caty Weaver. I'm Steve Ember. Join us again next week for another PEOPLE IN AMERICA program on the Voice of America.

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