In life a prominent Lakota warrior-chieftain, in death an American legend.

In his final moments of freedom, nervous and bewildered, Crazy Horse accepted the hand of Kennington who began to lead him to Fort Robinson’s jail within the guardhouse.  Lee facilitated this process by explaining to Touch the Clouds and the others that they should stay with Crazy Horse overnight and hopefully a meeting with Bradley could happen the next day.  Lee did not have the heart or the courage to admit that he knew that this would never happen.    

The realization that he was about to be confined suddenly became clear to Crazy Horse.  In anticipation, both Kennington and Little Big Man attempted to restrain him but he escaped their grasp and lunged for the front door.   From under the red blanket he was wearing he produced a six-inch blade he typically used to cut tobacco and as Little Big Man grabbed him by both elbows, Crazy Horse cut a deep gash into his wrist.  The two continued to grapple in the doorway and Crazy Horse’s blanket fell to the ground.  Other natives attempted to restrain him but he continued to thrash wildly as Kennington finally drew his saber.  The captain quickly realized that the crush was too great and he began shouting repeatedly to the sentry: Stab the sonovabitch!  Like much of Crazy Horse’s life, what happened in the next few seconds is controversial but the result was undeniable.  Clearly injured by something, Crazy Horse, yelled “let me go, you’ve got me hurt now!,” His assailants released their grip and he groaned, staggered and fell to the ground.  Although official accounts would initially maintain that Crazy Horse stabbed himself with his own knife and then claim he accidentally was pushed against the bayonet of the sentry, his injury indicated otherwise.

The injured warrior was placed on his blanket and carried into the administrative office.  Although an army cot was available, Crazy Horse insisted that he put on the ground.  There, he was examined by an agency doctor, Valentine McGillycuddy.  Understanding that Crazy Horse was slowly bleeding to death, he administered morphine intravenously, stopping the chief’s agony.  Night fell upon the agency, the parade ground deserted, only Captain Kennington, an officer of the guard and an interpreter remained as an official presence.  Touch the Clouds and his son, Charging First were also admitted.  Eventually, Crazy Horse’s father, Waglula and one of his step mothers, Red Moccasins, arrived at the agency and found their son.  Waglulla asked how he was doing.  Crazy Horse replied stoically: “I am hurt bad. I am going to die.  Tell the people they cannot depend on me anymore.”