# Crazy Horse — A Cycle of the West character guide

> Crazy Horse in A Cycle of the West by John G. Neihardt.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Young Crazy Horse, the mad Sioux

**First appearance:** 0025-the-song-of-the-indian-wars

## Snapshot

An undefeated Oglala war chief whose name rides every wind of the frontier as he leads his starving people down to the soldier's town at Robinson.

## Who they are

Crazy Horse is the last great Sioux, a giant shrunken to the size of any sergeant as he dismounts before the silent double row of soldiers and the glint of steel. His people straggle in with twice a thousand beggars, ponies cheating the crows, famine making a grisly jest of their pride, while the whole frontier reads ten thousand hoofs into his every silence. His coming-in marks the pivot of the later cycle, where the wild rebellion of the spring yields to the slow arithmetic of hunger and surrender.

## Relationships

### [Spotted Tail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/characters/spotted_tail)

_rivalry_

Crazy Horse and Spotted Tail are rivals within Lakota leadership, representing different strategies toward white encroachment.

### [Red Cloud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/characters/red_cloud)

_friendship_

Crazy Horse and Red Cloud are allies and fellow Lakota war leaders, united in resistance against U.S. expansion.

### [Spotted Tail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/characters/spotted_tail)

_rivalry_

Crazy Horse and Spotted Tail are rivals within Lakota leadership, representing different strategies toward white encroachment.

### [Red Cloud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/characters/red_cloud)

_friendship_

Crazy Horse and Red Cloud are allies and fellow Lakota war leaders, united in resistance against U.S. expansion.

## In the story

### [The Song of the Indian Wars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/the-song-of-the-indian-wars)

Crazy Horse is depicted as a key Sioux leader, instrumental in the victory at the Little Bighorn and later killed while resisting capture.

### [The Song of the Indian Wars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/the-song-of-the-indian-wars)

Portrayed as a lean, fierce warrior with wizard eyes and a haggard face, he leads the charge with the cry 'There never was a better day to die!' and inspires the Sioux.

### [III: The Council on the Powder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/iii-the-council-on-the-powder)

Mentioned among the great warriors present, though his thunder is yet to come.

### [VIII: The Yellow God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/viii-the-yellow-god)

Mentioned as one of the strong-hearted Sioux leaders shepherding their people on the Tongue and Powder rivers, resisting alien ways.

### [IX: The Village of Crazy Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/ix-the-village-of-crazy-horse)

The young Oglala leader, described as slender and mysterious, with a spiritual aura. He refuses the government's ultimatum, restrains his warriors from a rash attack, and leads with wisdom and restraint.

### [X: The Sun Dance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/x-the-sun-dance)

His name is a rallying cry; his town is the subject of spreading tales.

### [The Seventh Marches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/xi-the-seventh-marches)

Leads the Sioux forces in the Battle of the Rosebud, driving Crook back.

### [XII: High Noon on the Little Horn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/xii-high-noon-on-the-little-horn)

Rides a white-faced roan, inspiring the Sioux with his lean, swift fighting spirit and the cry 'There never was a better day to die!'

### [XIII: The Twilight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/xiii-the-twilight)

Grows distant and brooding, refusing Dull Knife's plea for help; later, out of powder, agrees to surrender.

### [XIV: The Death of Crazy Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/chapters/xiv-the-death-of-crazy-horse)

The last great Sioux, surrenders at Fort Robinson, grows sad and despondent, is tricked and killed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/characters/crazy_horse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_cycle_of_the_west_se/characters