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Sitting Bull Timeline

(1831 – 1890)

Sitting Bull was a revered Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux chief and holy man, best known for uniting the Sioux tribes against the U.S. government and leading his people to victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life

Birth of Sitting Bull

1831

Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake) was born on land later included in the Dakota Territory sometime between 1831 and 1837. He would grow up to become a Hunkpapa Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance against United States government policies.

Image source: Sitting Bull

Birth of Sitting Bull

Claim of birth along the Yellowstone River

2007

In 2007, Sitting Bull's great-grandson asserted from family oral tradition that Sitting Bull was born along the Yellowstone River, south of present-day Miles City, Montana.

Resistance and Conflict

Interest in Black Hills gold grows

1848

After the 1848 discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada and dramatic gains in new wealth from it, other men became interested in the potential for gold mining in the Black Hills.

Image source: Black Hills Gold Rush

Interest in Black Hills gold grows

Northern Cheyenne battles among the Plains Indians

1860

Since 1860, the Northern Cheyenne had led several battles among the Plains Indians.

Image source: Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation

Northern Cheyenne battles among the Plains Indians

Dakota War of 1862

1862

During the Dakota War of 1862, in which Sitting Bull's people were not involved, several bands of eastern Dakota people killed an estimated 300 to 800 settlers and soldiers in south-central Minnesota in response to poor treatment by the government and in an effort to drive the whites away.

Image source: Dakota War of 1862

Dakota War of 1862

U.S. Army retaliation against Dakota bands

1863 - 1864

Despite being embroiled in the American Civil War, the United States Army retaliated in 1863 and 1864, even against bands that had not been involved in the hostilities.

Alfred Sully attacks a Lakota village

1864

In 1864, two brigades of about 2,200 soldiers under Brigadier General Alfred Sully attacked a village.

Image source: Alfred Sully

Alfred Sully attacks a Lakota village

Sitting Bull raids forts in support of Red Cloud

1865 - 1868

In support of Red Cloud, Sitting Bull led numerous war parties against Fort Berthold, Fort Stevenson, and Fort Buford and their allies from 1865 to 1868.

Red Cloud's War

1866 - 1868

From 1866 to 1868, Red Cloud, a leader of the Oglala Lakota, fought against U.S. military forces in the Powder River country.

Image source: Red Cloud's War

Red Cloud's War

Named Supreme Chief of the whole Sioux Nation

1866 - 1868

The events between 1866 and 1868 mark a historically debated period of Sitting Bull's life. According to historian Stanley Vestal, who conducted interviews with surviving Hunkpapa in 1930, Sitting Bull was made 'Supreme Chief of the whole Sioux Nation' at this time.

Rise as a major Native American political leader

1868 - 1876

During the period 1868–1876, Sitting Bull developed into one of the most important Native American political leaders. After the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie and the creation of the Great Sioux Reservation, many traditional Sioux warriors, such as Red Cloud of the Oglala and Spotted Tail of the Brulé, moved to reside permanently on the reservations.

Treaty of Fort Laramie signed at Fort Rice

Jul 2, 1868

Gall of the Hunkpapa and other representatives of the Hunkpapa, Blackfeet and Yankton Dakota, signed a form of the Treaty of Fort Laramie on July 2, 1868, at Fort Rice near Bismarck, North Dakota. By early 1868, the U.S. government sought peace with the Lakota.

Image source: Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868)

Treaty of Fort Laramie signed at Fort Rice

Northern Pacific Railway survey meets resistance

1871

In 1871, when the Northern Pacific Railway conducted a survey for a route across the northern plains directly through Hunkpapa lands, it encountered stiff Lakota resistance.

Image source: Northern Pacific Railway

Northern Pacific Railway survey meets resistance

Renewed resistance halts railroad construction

1873

In 1873, the military accompaniment for the surveyors was increased again, but Sitting Bull's forces resisted the survey 'most vigorously.' The Panic of 1873 forced the Northern Pacific Railway's backers, such as Jay Cooke, into bankruptcy, which halted construction of the railroad through Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota territory.

Image source: Panic of 1873

Renewed resistance halts railroad construction

Custer's Black Hills expedition

1874

Although Sitting Bull did not attack Custer's expedition in 1874, the U.S. government faced growing pressure after gold was reported in the Black Hills. Failing in an attempt to negotiate a purchase or lease of the Hills, the government in Washington had to find a way around the promise to protect the Sioux in their land, as specified in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie.

Sun Dance alliance with Northern Cheyenne

1875

In 1875, the Northern Cheyenne, Hunkpapa, Oglala, Sans Arc, and Minneconjou camped together for a Sun Dance, with Sitting Bull in alliance with the Cheyenne medicine man Ice (also known as White Bull). This ceremonial alliance preceded their fighting together in 1876.

Image source: Sun Dance

Sun Dance alliance with Northern Cheyenne

President Grant issues ultimatum on Black Hills

Nov 1875

In November 1875, President Ulysses S. Grant took action regarding the Black Hills, setting the stage for conflict with the non-treaty bands.

Image source: Ulysses S. Grant

President Grant issues ultimatum on Black Hills

Ultimatum issued January 1, 1876

Jan 1, 1876

After the ultimatum on January 1, 1876, when the U.S. demanded that all Lakota come into the reservation, Sitting Bull refused to comply.

Image source: Great Sioux War of 1876

Ultimatum issued January 1, 1876

Non-reservation bands certified as hostile

Feb 1, 1876

As of February 1, 1876, the Interior Department certified as hostile those bands who continued to live off the reservation.

Reynolds' attack drives refugees to Sitting Bull's camp

Mar 17, 1876

They had been impoverished by Captain Reynolds' March 17, 1876, attack and fled to Sitting Bull's camp for safety. Over the course of the first half of 1876, Sitting Bull's camp continually expanded as natives joined him for safety in numbers.

Image source: Battle of Powder River

Reynolds' attack drives refugees to Sitting Bull's camp

Battle of the Little Bighorn

Jun 25, 1876

On June 25, 1876, Custer's scouts discovered Sitting Bull's camp along the Little Big Horn River, known as the Greasy Grass River to the Lakota. Custer came across this large camp that day, and Lakota and Cheyenne warriors annihilated Custer's battalion, seeming to fulfill Sitting Bull's prophetic vision.

Image source: Battle of the Little Bighorn

Battle of the Little Bighorn

Exile and Surrender

Years of exile at Wood Mountain

May 1877 - 1881

He remained at Wood Mountain in the North-West Territories until 1881, when hunger and desperation eventually forced him and most of his band to return to the United States.

Image source: Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan

Years of exile at Wood Mountain

Flight to Canada

May 1877

Sitting Bull refused to surrender, and in May 1877, he led his band north across the border into the North-West Territories, Canada, settling at Wood Mountain, now Saskatchewan.

Surrender at Fort Buford

Jul 19, 1881

Hunger and desperation eventually forced Sitting Bull and 186 of his family and followers to return to the United States and surrender on July 19, 1881.

Image source: Fort Buford

Surrender at Fort Buford

Visit by U.S. officials

Aug 26, 1881

On August 26, 1881, he was visited by U.S. officials following his surrender.

Return to Standing Rock Agency

May 1883

After being held at Fort Randall, Sitting Bull and his people were allowed to return north to the Standing Rock Agency in May 1883.

Image source: Standing Rock Sioux Reservation

Return to Standing Rock Agency

Later Life and Legacy

Baptized into the Catholic Church

1883

In 1883, The New York Times reported that Sitting Bull had been baptized into the Catholic Church.

Tour with Alvaren Allen

1884

In 1884, show promoter Alvaren Allen asked Agent James McLaughlin to allow Sitting Bull to tour parts of Canada and the northern United States.

Adopts Caroline Weldon as a daughter

1884

As a result of his esteem, he symbolically 'adopted' her as a daughter in 1884.

Image source: Caroline Weldon

Adopts Caroline Weldon as a daughter

Curses audience at Northern Pacific Railway celebration

1884

The historian Edward Lazarus wrote that Sitting Bull reportedly cursed his audience in Lakota in 1884, during an opening address celebrating the completion of the Northern Pacific Railway.

Joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West show

1885

In 1885, Sitting Bull was allowed to leave the reservation to go Wild Westing with Buffalo Bill Cody's Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.

Image source: Buffalo Bill

Joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West show

Caroline Weldon becomes his advocate

1889

In 1889, Indian rights activist Caroline Weldon from Brooklyn, New York City, a member of the National Indian Defense Association (NIDA), reached out to Sitting Bull, acting to be his voice, secretary, interpreter, and advocate.

McLaughlin moves to arrest Sitting Bull

1890

In 1890, James McLaughlin, the U.S. Indian agent at Standing Rock, grew concerned about Sitting Bull's influence amid the Ghost Dance movement and moved to have him arrested.

Image source: James McLaughlin (Indian agent)

McLaughlin moves to arrest Sitting Bull

Plan drafted to capture Sitting Bull

Dec 14, 1890

On December 14, 1890, McLaughlin drafted a letter to Lieutenant Henry Bullhead, an Indian agency policeman named as Bull Head in the letter's beginning, which included instructions and a plan to capture Sitting Bull.

Image source: Sitting Bull

Plan drafted to capture Sitting Bull

Death of Sitting Bull

Dec 15, 1890

Sitting Bull was killed on December 15, 1890, during an attempt by Indian agency police to arrest him at his cabin on the Grand River.

Legacy

Cabin exhibited at World's Columbian Exposition

1893

Following Sitting Bull's death, his cabin on the Grand River was taken to Chicago for use as an exhibit at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

Image source: World's Columbian Exposition

Cabin exhibited at World's Columbian Exposition

Annie Get Your Gun film released

1950

Annie Get Your Gun (1950), played by J. Carrol Naish, depicted Sitting Bull in the popular musical film about Annie Oakley.

Image source: Annie Get Your Gun (film)

Annie Get Your Gun film released

Remains reburied near Mobridge

1953

In 1953, his Lakota family exhumed what were believed to be his remains, reburying them near Mobridge, South Dakota, near his birthplace.

Sitting Bull film released

1954

Sitting Bull (1954), with J. Carrol Naish in the title role, portrayed the Lakota leader's life on screen.

Image source: Sitting Bull (film)

Sitting Bull film released

U.S. honors Sitting Bull's legacy

Sep 1989

In September 1989, the U.S. government took steps to honor Sitting Bull's memory and legacy.

Crazy Horse film features Schellenberg as Sitting Bull

1995

Crazy Horse (1995), Sitting Bull is played by English, Mohawk and Swiss-German actor August Schellenberg, who said it was his favorite role.

Image source: Crazy Horse (1996 film)

Crazy Horse film features Schellenberg as Sitting Bull

Standing Rock College renamed Sitting Bull College

Mar 1996

In March 1996, Standing Rock College was renamed Sitting Bull College in his honor.

Genome sequencing project announced

Aug 2010

In August 2010, a research team led by Eske Willerslev, an ancient DNA expert at the University of Copenhagen, announced its intention to sequence the genome of Sitting Bull, with the approval of his descendants, using a hair sample obtained during his lifetime.

Image source: Eske Willerslev

Genome sequencing project announced

DNA confirms Ernie LaPointe lineage

Oct 2021

In October 2021, Willerslev confirmed Lakota writer and activist Ernie LaPointe's contention that he and his three sisters were Sitting Bull's biological great-grandchildren.

Image source: Ernie LaPointe

DNA confirms Ernie LaPointe lineage

Key Facts

  1. Sitting Bull was born around 1831 into the Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux in present-day South Dakota.
  2. He became a war leader and holy man, resisting U.S. encroachment on Sioux lands.
  3. He played a key role in the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, where Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho forces defeated General Custer's troops.
  4. After years of exile in Canada, he returned to the U.S. in 1881 and later toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
  5. He was killed on December 15, 1890, during an attempt to arrest him, shortly before the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Source

This Sitting Bull timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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