By western author Nick Brumby

“When I die, do not bury me in a bacon box doubled up. I want a box long enough so I can stretch my legs if necessary.” Chief Blue Horse

Chief Blue Horse of the Wagluhe Band of the Oglala Lakota and his brother Chief Red Cloud fought for over 50 years to help their tribe survive the worst effects of the arrival of settlers, to feed, clothe and educate their people, and preserve sacred Oglala Lakota land and heritage.

As a young warrior, Blue Horse led war parties with Red Cloud against the Ute, Shoshone, Bannock, Arikara, Crow, Omaha, Pawnee and Piegan. However, the Wagluhe were aware of the power of the U.S Army and of American settlers, their overwhelming numbers and the futility of war.

Chief Blue Horse began service with the U.S. Army at Ft. Laramie, Wyoming, as early as 1854 when General William S. Harney arrived at the onset of the Sioux Wars. Prior to 1866, Indian scouts were considered employees rather than soldiers, and on July 28, 1866 by an Act of Congress, Indian Scouts were enlisted and paid the salary and allowances as U.S. Cavalry soldiers.

Blue Horse was one of the first U.S. Army Indian Scouts formally recruited at Fort Laramie around 1866 and had an excellent reputation with the U.S. Army and white traders as a reliable Native American representative.

Chief Blue Horse was known for saving settlers in distress and swore in the presence of the Great Spirit “Wakan Tanka” that his hand had never risen to kill a white man.

The Wagluhe formed a civil administration at Ft. Laramie, and Old Chief Smoke appointed Chief Blue Horse and Chief Big Mouth the first Indian Police officers. Wagluhe U.S. Army Indian Scouts were a “Band of Brothers” with U.S. Army Cavalry Scouts and later were the first Oglala Lakota to travel with Col. William “Buffalo Bill” Cody and his Wild West throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Chief Blue Horse and Chief Red Cloud were a signatories to the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868. The treaty was an agreement between the United States and the Lakota Nation guaranteeing the Lakota ownership of the Black Hills and land and hunting rights in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.

Chief Blue Horse passed to the “Sand Hills” at the Pine Ridge Agency in 1908 at the age of 87. His epitaph was in in the last letter he ever wrote. “If you ever in your travels should meet my Great Father “Wakan Tanka”, please ask him to remember Blue Horse.”

About Nick Brumby

I like a good story. And of all stories, I love westerns the most.

As a kid, I spent far too many afternoons re-watching Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, picking up ‘Shane’ for just one more read, or saddling up beside Ben Cartwright when ‘Bonanza’ was on TV each afternoon.

I’m a former journalist and I love horses, dogs, and the occasional bourbon whiskey. I live with my wife, daughter and our ever-slumbering hound in a 1800’s-era gold mining town – our house is right on top of the last working gold mine in the area. There may not be much gold left, but there’s history wherever you look.

I hope you enjoy my westerns as much as I enjoyed writing them!

Happy trails,

Nick