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American Legends
American Legends: The Life of Sitting Bull
"When I was a boy the Sioux owned the world. The sun rose and set on their land; they sent ten thousand men to battle. Where are the warriors today? Who slew them? Where are our lands? Who owns them? Is it wrong for me to love my own? Is it wicked for me because my skin is red? Because I am Sioux? Because I was born where my father lived? Because I would die for my people and my country?” – Sitting Bull
A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
In 1872, during a fight along the Yellowstone River between U.S. troops protecting railroad workers and Sioux warriors, one of the Sioux did something both unusual and inspiring. At the height of the battle, with bullets whizzing all around him, this warrior sat down, loaded his cannupa (sacred pipe), and began to smoke, partaking in his people’s religious sacrament. For the Sioux, smoking a pipe was akin to praying, and the smoke, wafting up through to the heavens, represented those prayers as they floated up to Wakan Tanka, the “god” of the Native Americans who occupied the North American Plains. Wakan Tanka is not the name of their god but rather a description, for the words literally mean “Great Mystery.” The Sioux warrior continued smoking until done with his pipe, and after carefully reaming and cleaning out the pipe, he rose to his feet, and rejoined the battle.
Of course, it was not that battle which made Sitting Bull one of the most famous Native Americans in American history. Like Geronimo in the Southwest during the same era, Sitting Bull was a warrior who fought in several skirmishes against settlers and U.S. forces across the Plains during the 1860s, and while it is still debated whether he was the "Supreme Chief of the whole Sioux Nation" by 1868, it’s clear that he was one of the influential leaders of the Lakota. And when The Great Sioux War of 1876 began, Sitting Bull was recognized as the most important leader among all Native American tribes on the Plains, and the one to turn to for those who intended to keep fighting whites.
Sitting Bull ensured he would become a legend at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, during which an estimated 2,000 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors inspired by one of his visions routed and then annihilated the 7th U.S. Cavalry led by George Custer. That disaster led the American government to double down on its efforts to “pacify” the Sioux, and by the end of the decade many of them had surrendered and been moved onto a reservation. Sitting Bull defiantly refused to surrender, instead heading with a smaller band into Canada and remaining exiled.
When he finally surrendered to the U.S. in 1881, he was a celebrity of sorts, and Sitting Bull went on to appear in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show during the decade. Not surprisingly, his death was as controversial as his life; in 1890 Sitting Bull was killed on a reservation after plans to arrest him went terribly awry, leading to fighting in the aftermath that left over a dozen dead.
American Legends: The Life of Sitting Bull chronicles the amazing life of the Sioux leader who defiantly fought to save his people’s homeland, but it also humanizes the man who became one of the most famous Native Americans in American history. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Sitting Bull like you never have before, in no time at all.
A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
In 1872, during a fight along the Yellowstone River between U.S. troops protecting railroad workers and Sioux warriors, one of the Sioux did something both unusual and inspiring. At the height of the battle, with bullets whizzing all around him, this warrior sat down, loaded his cannupa (sacred pipe), and began to smoke, partaking in his people’s religious sacrament. For the Sioux, smoking a pipe was akin to praying, and the smoke, wafting up through to the heavens, represented those prayers as they floated up to Wakan Tanka, the “god” of the Native Americans who occupied the North American Plains. Wakan Tanka is not the name of their god but rather a description, for the words literally mean “Great Mystery.” The Sioux warrior continued smoking until done with his pipe, and after carefully reaming and cleaning out the pipe, he rose to his feet, and rejoined the battle.
Of course, it was not that battle which made Sitting Bull one of the most famous Native Americans in American history. Like Geronimo in the Southwest during the same era, Sitting Bull was a warrior who fought in several skirmishes against settlers and U.S. forces across the Plains during the 1860s, and while it is still debated whether he was the "Supreme Chief of the whole Sioux Nation" by 1868, it’s clear that he was one of the influential leaders of the Lakota. And when The Great Sioux War of 1876 began, Sitting Bull was recognized as the most important leader among all Native American tribes on the Plains, and the one to turn to for those who intended to keep fighting whites.
Sitting Bull ensured he would become a legend at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, during which an estimated 2,000 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors inspired by one of his visions routed and then annihilated the 7th U.S. Cavalry led by George Custer. That disaster led the American government to double down on its efforts to “pacify” the Sioux, and by the end of the decade many of them had surrendered and been moved onto a reservation. Sitting Bull defiantly refused to surrender, instead heading with a smaller band into Canada and remaining exiled.
When he finally surrendered to the U.S. in 1881, he was a celebrity of sorts, and Sitting Bull went on to appear in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show during the decade. Not surprisingly, his death was as controversial as his life; in 1890 Sitting Bull was killed on a reservation after plans to arrest him went terribly awry, leading to fighting in the aftermath that left over a dozen dead.
American Legends: The Life of Sitting Bull chronicles the amazing life of the Sioux leader who defiantly fought to save his people’s homeland, but it also humanizes the man who became one of the most famous Native Americans in American history. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Sitting Bull like you never have before, in no time at all.
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2012
19 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
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Charles River Editors
5,666 books279 followersCharles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 16, 2012
When I nabbed this, I was expecting some insight to Sitting Bull. I am fascinated with history and always seeking new nuggets to savor. SSadly, this is not as much about Sitting Bull as it is an introduction to the Lakota. I actually learned more about Sitting Bull in [[ASIN:B007MXB4TO The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn]] by Nathaniel Philbrick. If you have even a basic background knowledge, seek something else. If you are looking for a place to start...this is okay.
September 29, 2012
This was a very brief biography that touched on just a few points in Sitting Bull's life. The Kindle version of this book had many errors and in some places, the text was chopped up enough as to be unreadable.
November 7, 2020
SITTING BULL WHAT HISTORY. LEGENDS. GREAT WARRIOR YES.
April 24, 2022
Historical Accounting
An interesting historical accounting of the life and death of the great Sitting Bull. Very interesting if you enjoy history. Well written.
An interesting historical accounting of the life and death of the great Sitting Bull. Very interesting if you enjoy history. Well written.
March 26, 2025
Concise information on a true hero of his people
December 1, 2012
My best friend is half Rosebud Sioux so I wanted to read this book. I love history and Native American culture.
Since I read this for free, I cannot complain about the length. One can read the entire book in an hour. I wish it was WAY longer and more in depth.
Sitting Bull sounds as if he was a very good hearted, peace loving man. The white men during this time period, thought they owned everything and everyone. What the Natives had to endure was horrible. Loss of land, loss of rights, loss of lives, loss of basically everything they knew. The US government lied to all the Native tribes.
If you want a quick read, you will learn something. If you are looking for more of a biography or history book, this is too short to go into those depths.
Since I read this for free, I cannot complain about the length. One can read the entire book in an hour. I wish it was WAY longer and more in depth.
Sitting Bull sounds as if he was a very good hearted, peace loving man. The white men during this time period, thought they owned everything and everyone. What the Natives had to endure was horrible. Loss of land, loss of rights, loss of lives, loss of basically everything they knew. The US government lied to all the Native tribes.
If you want a quick read, you will learn something. If you are looking for more of a biography or history book, this is too short to go into those depths.
January 20, 2013
Enjoyed reading the perspective albiet short of this warrior, seer, and participant of Battle of Little Big Horn. Knew U.S. had treated the Native Americans unfairly but treaties broken for gold relate to treaties broken for oil today. People suffer.
March 1, 2013
Interesting look at the life of Sitting Bull. I hadn't learned about him much in school, probably because I live in the South (so we usually just stuck with the Civil War). I'd like to read additional books by this publisher in a similar vein about other Native American heroes.
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February 1, 2014American History
Love learning about the native Americans. True master's of the land they lived on. Seems this book left alot out about Sitting Bull. Good start but I'd recommend finding a more detailed source.
Love learning about the native Americans. True master's of the land they lived on. Seems this book left alot out about Sitting Bull. Good start but I'd recommend finding a more detailed source.
September 3, 2012
Nice quick bio of Sitting Bull. Not very in depth; just a quick overview. One in a series of these little books from Charles River Editors.
September 16, 2012
It was ok but not very detailed
November 14, 2012
it was ok. kind of dry
December 13, 2012
Short, highlights of Sitting Bull's life. Not intended to be a serious scholarly look at his life. Does what it's sets out to do and no more.
November 12, 2014
A nice concise synopsis of Sitting Bull's life although I would have liked a few more details on his later years.
February 27, 2013
Interesting as a very brief overview of Sitting Bull. Not a lot of depth.
May 23, 2015
I enjoyed this book. A quick read that was very informative and although it was factual, it wasn't dry reading in the least. I learned a lot and would recommend this book.
December 31, 2013
Well written with great information. Now to research and compared the details.
January 21, 2014
The short book just whet my appetite on learning about Sitting Bull.
I will find others
I will find others
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews