Distinctly Montana Magazine

52 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 6 As Raymond DeMallie wrote in the foreword to Campbell's book Warpath, about White Bull's experiences, "Both had been trained to fight in their youth, the one in the Indian wars, the other in World War I. Both savored the excitement of war, the courage of the individual fighter tested to the limit. Such a collaboration, of course, re- sults in a composite view—the interpretation by an outsider with literary skills…" They discussed everything, but their favorite subjects were the particulars of Plains Indian life, the historical events White Bull had wit- nessed, from the Battle of the Rosebud to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Lame White Man was one of only seven Chey- enne casualties at the Battle of the Greasy Grass. White Bull was Minneconjou Sioux and would have known Lame White Man's Sioux names, which were Bearded Man or Mustache. White Bull himself was the eldest nephew of Sitting Bull, who, along with the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was also frequently the subject of the two men's discussions. Historian Richard G. Hardorff, in his book Indi- an Casualties of the Custer Fight, includes a foot- note to a sentence about the Cheyenne War Chief Lame White Man's seemingly foolhardy attack on Custer's line: "This reckless charge by the Chey- enne leader was confirmed by the Minneconjou, White Bull, who was astonished and then appalled by the apparent senseless act. This shocking inci- dent was sealed forever in White Bull's mind. Half a century later, he told his friend, Walter Camp- bell, that this was the only time that he had ever seen a man 'throw his life away.'" On the night of June 24, 1876, four Cheyenne youths watched as a group of Sioux men took the suicide vow, promising to die in the next day's battle against Custer and his soldiers. The Dying Dancing ritual was performed. Moved by what they saw, they decided that they too would die tomorrow. Their names were Cut Belly, Closed Hand, Lit- tle Whirlwind, and Noisy Walking. Little Whirl- wind and Noisy Walking were 16, but Closed Hand and Cut Belly were 20 and 30 years old. The next day they were honored by a parade. According to surviving accounts, as they walked through the encampment, two old men walked on either side of the procession intoning, "Look at these men for the last time they will be alive; they have thrown their lives away." Around noon, Reno's men attacked the village and the battle began. It only lasted around 20 minutes, according to White Bull. National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution, "Warriors charging U.S. soldiers at Battle of Little Bighorn," Folder 5 (2367A_08569000)

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