Chief Flying Hawk’s Tales: The True Story of Custer’s Last Fight

By Israel McCreight

Flying Hawk (March 1854 - December 24, 1931) was an Oglala Lakota warrior, historian, educator and philosopher. Flying Hawk's life chronicles the history of the Oglala Lakota people through the 19th and early 20th centuries, as he fought to deflect the worst effects of white rule; educate his people and preserve sacred Oglala Lakota land and heritage. Chief Flying Hawk was a combatant in Red Cloud's War and in nearly all of the fights with the U.S. Army during the Great Sioux War of 1876. He fought alongside his first cousin Crazy Horse and his brothers Kicking Bear and Black Fox II in the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876, and was present at the death of Crazy Horse in 1877 and the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890. Chief Flying Hawk was one of the five warrior cousins who sacrificed blood and flesh for Crazy Horse at the Last Sun Dance of 1877. Chief Flying Hawk was the author of commentaries and accounts of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Crazy Horse and the Wounded Knee Massacre.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Borodino Books
• Release date: Dec 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781789126617

Israel McCreight

Major Israel McCreight (Oglala Lakota: Cante Tanke “Great Heart”) (April 22, 1865 - October 13, 1958) is notable in American history as a Progressive Era banker, conservationist and expert on Native American culture and policy. McCreight was a founder of the Pennsylvania Conservation Association, and authored President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation policy on public education and Cook Forest State Park, the first Pennsylvania State Park acquired to preserve a natural landmark. McCreight dedicated his life to public education about Native American culture and was a nominee for U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. His relationship with the Lakota people began as a young man in the Dakota Territory in 1885 when he lived with them during a period of great sorrow. He returned to Du Bois, Pennsylvania, became a successful banker, and led the region into prominence as the biggest bituminous coal producers in the United States between 1890 and World War I. McCreight collaborated with Flying Hawk, an Oglala Lakota Chief, to write a Native American’s view of U.S. history and classic accounts of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Crazy Horse and commentaries on Native American philosophy. The Wigwam, McCreight’s home in Du Bois, Pennsylvania, was a Native American heritage center and once the Eastern home of Oglala Lakota “Oskate Wicasa” Wild Westers. McCreight was a founder of the Pennsylvania Banker’s Association and member of the Pennsylvania Society of New York. McCreight was an ardent student of the Indian, a lover of fair play and an author of books and articles.

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Text originally published in 1936 under the same title.

© Borodino Books 2018, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

Chief Flying Hawk’s Tales

The True Story Of Custer’s Last Fight

by

M. I. McCREIGHT (TCHANTA TANKA)

CHIEF FLYING HAWK

Chief Flying Hawk at 62

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

FOREWORD 5

Chapter 1—CHIEF FLYING HAWK’S TALES 6

Chapter 2—THE STORY OF CHIEF FLYING HAWK’S LIFE 9

Chapter 3—NEW AMSTERDAM 11

Chapter 4—THE CUSTER FIGHT 13

Chapter 5—THE CHIEF TELLS OF RED CLOUD 16

RED CLOUD’S SPEECH 16

RED CLOUD, The Man of 200 Battles 18

Fights Against Fearful Odds 19

Gives Up Unequal Strife 19

Chapter 6—WOUNDED KNEE 21

Chapter 7—SITTING BULL 22

Chapter 8—THE LAST SUN DANCE 25

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 33

FOREWORD

As Troop Commander, Headquarters Troop, 7th Cavalry, U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, I am interested in the completion of history outlining the misfortunes this Regiment encountered while under the command of General Custer at the battle of Little Big Horn. I have read the manuscript of the old Indian Chief telling his experiences, in company with his cousin, Crazy Horse, in that historic affair. It is something new, and I think it is important because it helps clear up the fog of mystery, which for sixty years, has clouded the happenings and sustained the controversy regarding that unfortunate military disaster.

It is well known that Crazy Horse had a leading part in the fight; he led the Sioux in nearly every contest with U.S. Troops during the strenuous days following the Bozeman Trail troubles, and he was never conquered; his fame increases with the passing of time; for him the only monument erected by the Government, was placed recently, to mark the spot where he met a sad and untimely death, at Fort Robinson. Cousin and constant chum of the war chief, the author of this account of the fight gives us a story that merits the serious consideration of every fair-minded reader.

Personal acquaintance with the author of the book; his early day experiences on the frontier; his intimate acquaintance and long intercourse with Indians, justifies me in believing that a grateful public will read Flying Hawk’s Tales with more than ordinary delight and satisfaction.

JOHN P. SCOTT, Captain, 7th Cavalry.

Fort Bliss, Texas, April, 1936.

Chapter 1—CHIEF FLYING HAWK’S TALES

In the spectacular parades of the Great Wild West Shows of old days Buffalo Bill mounted a beautiful