Red Cloud Character Analysis in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Sioux chief who led a long but failed resistance to the U.S. military, culminating in the Sioux Peace Treaty of 1868, a document that paved the way for thirty more years of unlawful U.S. expansion into the west. Though he excelled as a soldier and a military strategist, Red Cloud believed that he could use political savvy to negotiate a fair land deal for his tribe—a belief that caused many of his followers to conclude that he’d “gone soft.” In his final years, Red Cloud lost many of his followers, who were more attracted to the bellicosity of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

Red Cloud Quotes in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

The Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee quotes below are all either spoken by Red Cloud or refer to Red Cloud. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Picador edition of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee published in 2007.

Incidents such as this, combined with Red Cloud’s continuing war, which had brought civilian travel to an end through the Powder River country, had a strong effect upon the United States government and its high military command. The government was determined to protect the route of the Union pacific Railroad, but even old war dogs such as General Sherman were beginning to wonder if it might not be advisable to leave the Powder River country to the Indians in exchange for peace along the Platte Valley.

Related Characters: ,

Page Number and Citation: 139-140

Explanation and Analysis:

Red Cloud Character Timeline in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

The timeline below shows where the character Red Cloud appears in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Around the same time, Colonel Henry Maynadier was trying to contact a Sioux chief named Red Cloud and arrange negotiations. He sent out a group of “trader Indians”—Native Americans who arranged business... (full context)

Within a week, Red Cloud arrived at Fort Laramie to negotiate with Colonel Maynadier. Red Cloud was angry when he... (full context)

On June 5, Red Cloud began negotiations with Colonel Maynadier; however, Red Cloud asked to adjourn until June 13 so... (full context)

...that they had agreed to ‘a lasting peace with the whites.’” But the next day, Red Cloud attacked Carrington’s fort. When soldiers rushed outside to fight, the Native Americans ambushed them. For... (full context)

...divide his army He sent 150 men north, and he sent scouts to negotiate with Red Cloud . Meanwhile, Red Cloud’s army became stronger as other tribes joined the guerilla war. (full context)

Red Cloud ’s troops disrupted white supply routes, shutting down much of the white migration across Native... (full context)

...of the Brulé tribe to agree to peace. However, Sanborn was unable to meet with Red Cloud . (full context)

Expansion and Manifest Destiny Theme Icon

...easily defend the railroads from Native American attack, the federal government continued to search for Red Cloud in the hopes of establishing peace. (full context)

...Native American commissioner, Nathaniel Taylor, reached out to a group of Native American chiefs, including Red Cloud . Red Cloud refused to negotiate with Taylor, but several important chiefs attended. Taylor opened... (full context)

In mid-November, Red Cloud sent word that he wouldn’t negotiate with Taylor until the white men withdrew from the... (full context)

Red Cloud signed a peace treaty with the U.S. government, promising to keep the peace forever However,... (full context)

In the spring of 1866, a large group of Southern Cheyennes migrated south with Red Cloud . One of these was George Bent, the son of William Bent. George returned to... (full context)

In the spring of 1869, Red Cloud and a thousand Oglala tribesmen traveled to Fort Laramie. There, the traders warned him that... (full context)

...of a widespread rebellion among the Native Americans, in retaliation for the massacre. He invited Red Cloud to visit the White House, and Red Cloud agreed. In Washington, D.C., Donehogawa bargained with... (full context)

On June 9, Red Cloud met with President Grant. He explained that his people were being denied their trading rights—rights... (full context)

Red Cloud returned to his home, where he began working closely with white administrators to set up... (full context)

...more than a thousand soldiers out to the Black Hills. This angered the Sioux chief Red Cloud , who saw Custer as encroaching on Native American land. At the time, Red Cloud... (full context)

...Sioux, but the Sioux warriors were eager for conflict. They began to gravitate away from Red Cloud , a more moderate leader, and toward the more bellicose Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. (full context)

...but still painfully aware that the government was stealing the Black Hills from his people, Red Cloud agreed to the new laws. (full context)