Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer

by Wooden Leg, Thomas B. Marquis, Richard Littlebear (Introduction)

Told with vigor and insight, this is the memorable story of Wooden Leg (1858–1940), one of sixteen hundred warriors of the Northern Cheyennes who fought with the Lakotas against Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Wooden Leg remembers the world of the Cheyennes before they were forced onto reservations. He tells of growing up on the Great Plains and learning how to be a Cheyenne man. We hear from him about Cheyenne courtship, camp life, spirituality, and hunting; of skirmishes with Crows, Pawnees, and Shoshones; and of the Cheyennes’ valiant but doomed resistance against the army of the United States. In particular, Wooden Leg recalls the fight against Custer at the Little Bighorn, a controversial and arresting recollection that stands as the first published Native account of that battle.

 

As an old man in his seventies, Wooden Leg related the story of his life and the Little Bighorn battle in interviews with Thomas B. Marquis (1869–1935), formerly an agency physician for the Northern Cheyennes. Marquis checked and corroborated or corrected all points of importance with other Cheyennes. This edition features a new introduction by Richard Littlebear, president of Chief Dull Knife College and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation of Montana.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Native American, War, Biography, Military Fiction, Indigenous

389 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1931

Reviews

[J.N. Bedout · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are plenty of accounts of Custer's last stand, but this text recounts the events from the indian's perspectives. It starts by describing how the indians lived on the plains, delving into the different warrior societies, the etiquette of interacting with other tribes and other tribe members, rank, concerns, hunting practices, customs, etc. A good 40% of the first part of the book is devoted to this, which makes the beginning slow. As the focus shifts from lifestyle to the events leading up to the battle, the pace quickens. Yet, the hefty background adds a lot of depth to these events. If you've been to Montana and Wyoming, you'd have the additional benefit of placing the various present-day landmarks used to identify where historical encounters of events occurred.

I would say this is a worthwhile read for any fan of American history.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read! This book was one of the books recommended in Robert Bausch's recent novel "As Far As The Eye Can See". Wooden Leg (1858-1940) was one of the Cheyenne Indians who fought alongside other Indian Tribes against Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. In this book, Wooden Leg (aged 70) relates the story of his life in interviews with the Author Thomas Marquis, a former Indian Agency physician to the Northern Cheyennes. Wooden Leg tells of his life on the plains during the 1800's. This is both an interesting and educational read and contains significant verifiable information regarding the Battle of the Little Bighorn of which I was totally unaware. Firstly, Custer, whose last stand often depicts him at the battle in his flowing long blond hair. The fact is, he had his hair cut very short prior to the battle, which was subsequently verified by his wife. The Indians also did not have any idea who Custer was nor was any Indian able to identify him after the battle. Although a significant number of Calvary were killed, only 32 Indians were killed. Also, of the Calvary soldiers killed, a large number of them had committed suicide or were killed by their own comrades (at the soldiers request). Most of the 1,600 Indians committed to the attack upon the Calvary only had bows and arrows; very few had any rifles.

I found this story to be extremely enlightening regarding the life of the Indians before and after they were forced to live on the reservations.

[Dakota Goodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hu Chan Sahiyela wan wowapi lila waste. This book of the Cheyenne Wooden Leg is beautiful.

This edition of Wooden Leg’s story begins with a short introduction by Dr. Richard Littlebear. Littlebear is the current president of Chief Dull Knife College on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana. Littlebear revisits Wooden Leg, recalling a time when he was a college student in Kansas and read it then. Years later, with age and a retrospective knowledge of his people the story of Wooden Leg is filled with reminders that the Cheyenne were a changing adaptive people in the course of three hundred years who went from a sedentary life of agriculture to a nomadic hunter-gatherer people - a horse people - to a sedentary people, though this time by no choice of their own.

Littlebear recollects a painful moment in his people’s history in which they scouted for Col. Nelson Miles, “Northern Cheyenne scouts helped to locate Chief Joseph and his nation’s citizens. Perhaps this is not a good chapter in the history of the Cheyenne people,” (Wooden Leg, 2003; vii). Though short, this introduction informs readers of the highs and lows of a people’s history.

Thomas Marquis, MD, a brief one-time physician on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana, wrote a brief author’s statement, acknowledging Cheyenne epistemology - how the Cheyenne know what they know - in their reconstruction of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Along the way in this reconstruction, Marquis took a special interest in the life story of Wooden Leg, from his boyhood days and the Battle of the Little Bighorn to the days the Cheyenne were prisoners of war and removal to Oklahoma, to their eventual return to the Northern Plains. The Little Bighorn from the perspective of the Cheyenne was “checked and corroborated or corrected” by Marquis’ Cheyenne informants to keep the narrative true.

Wooden Leg’s narrative recalls his early life on the Great Plains. This early life was filled with survival on the open plains, violence of intertribal warfare, and even lively challenges with the Sioux. Much of these early recollections took place on the Tongue River. He does recall being informed that Cheyenne had an agency at the mouth of the Cheyenne River which was moved to Red Cloud Agency - which the Cheyenne knew as White River Agency. These recollections recall a familiar landscape in the American west. This is their homeland.

We are informed of the Cheyenne ways of life. These ways include pursuits of excellence of honor and virtues in everyday life. Everyman pursued bravery each day. Women honored each others’ accomplishments as providers, preparers, gatherers, and mothers. This doesn’t mean that women could not be brave in battle. The Cheyenne recall the Battle of the Rosebud as the Fight Where The Girl Saved Her Brother.

Wooden Leg is an invaluable work. Published at a time when there were few books about the Cheyenne - Littlebear makes this point in his introduction as well - it serves as a window into the daily life of the Cheyenne. Daily life is described from making arrows, how they wore their moccasins, marriage too, and to how they communicated over distances using mirrors.

Marquis’ translations are fluid and are in easy to read everyday speech. Marquis does mention that Wooden Leg also employed the Plains Indian Sign Language in his recollections to Marquis, but there are no attributions within Wooden Leg’s narrative that mention this. The inclusion of this method of communication would only have enhanced this already fascinating read.

Of significant interest to this reader is Wooden Leg’s account of his vision quest. Perhaps it is the Lakhota in me, or the sign of the times I live, but vision quests are generally not shared publicly. Perhaps though by sharing his experience in retrospect as an elder Cheyenne, he has graciously shared his vision to construct a positive worldview the reader would have. Wooden Leg said that nothing supernatural happened to him, aside from a visit of a buffalo, during his quest. But the buffalo’s visit was interpreted by Red Haired Bear that the buffalo was Wooden Leg’s friend and that it would provide for him. As Wooden Leg made nothing negative of sharing his experience with Marquis neither shall I.

Marquis interjects in the story of Wooden Leg but once to inform readers of the place the Cheyenne had in the larger story of the “Indian Troubles” following the Civil War. It is minimal and recalls readers to major historical events like gold and silver being discovered, Bozeman’s Trail, Red Cloud’s War, the Little Bighorn Fight, and the fallout of that fight.

Wooden Leg’s first person perspective of the arrival of Isanyati (“Santee”) Dakhota on the western prairie steppe is one of wonder and pity. The Cheyenne called them “Waist and Skirt Indians,” for the unique style of dress the women of that division wore. Wooden Leg also notes how poor they were, “their men had no clothing. They were extremely poor, having but little property and no horses...they had plenty of dogs...to carry their tepees and other scant property,” (Wooden Leg, 2003; 182). Wooden Leg’s perspective gives readers insight into just how poor the Dakhota were when they fled Minnesota following the 1862 Minnesota Conflict.

Wooden Leg is a story of survival. As his story draws to a close, he recalls for readers being taken to Oklahoma to live among the Southern Cheyenne, and there he found his wife - herself a survivor of Custer’s 1868 Washita campaign. Wooden Leg shares many things to be proud of, even the Cheyenne men who served as scouts in General Mile’s campaign against the Nez Perce (we should recognize that these men had families to feed in a time when bison were disappearing), but the most sorrowful event Wooden Leg recalls to us is an incident when Little Wolf got drunk and became angry. What do people do when a great leader falls? They were sad, and Little Wolf was no longer their chief.

This eye-witness account invokes a deep sense of humility and humanity that the Cheyenne culture cultivated. A culture that still exists today.

[RocknRobn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book in the mid-70s. it was in a souvenir shop near Yellowstone where my family and I were vacationing. I was probably 12 at the time. Frankly I cannot remember any details of the book, but I am giving it 5 stars because as a 12 year old I was enthralled and devoured each page...and 40 years later, I don't remember the content of the book, but I absolutely remember the experience of reading it

[R.E. Admore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I found this book, as there are few accounts of Native American culture and battles during the Indian War told by indigenous people. Those with an interest in native culture and the conduct of warfare at that time should read this account. Some of the history is quite detailed as Wooden Leg talks of religion, the difference in earrings worn by different tribes, the making and marking of arrows, buffalo hunting, raiding other tribes, warrior societies, etc. There are also details of battles on the Rosebud, Reno and Custer's fight, and a brief and surprising mention of the fight at Wounded Knee. Wooden Leg then gives an account of life on a reservation, his trip to Washington D.C., and his later life.

Everyone knows of the unfair treatment of Native Americans, the promises and treaties that were broken, the harsh conditions caused by unscrupulous agents at reservations, and the failure of a European culture to understand and respect their traditions. While the U.S. government dictated policy on western expansion and the treatment of natives, the soldiers who engaged in the conflict, killing and dying, often had a different perspective. Numerous autobiographies by soldiers tell of their respect for the fighting abilities of the natives, an understanding of their culture, and sympathy for their plight of being forced from their land. Wooden Leg talks about the unfair treatment the tribes received, his killing of soldiers, and how the soldiers treated him when not involved in hostilities. He also offers a different and surprising account (although brief) of the battle at the Little Big Horn.

Here are a few of his accounts to give an idea of the book:

"At the destroyed camp we saw one lodge still standing. We went to it. There was the missing old blind woman. Her tepee and herself had been left entirely unharmed. We talked about this matter, all agreeing that the act showed the soldiers had good hearts."

"Lots of Cheyennes were angry. We had understood that when we surrendered we were to live on our same White River reservation. We had given up our guns and our horses and had quit fighting because of this promise. Now, after we had put ourselves at this great disadvantage, the promise was to be broken."

"Soldiers hunted with the Indians. All of the soldiers were friendly and good to us. They were good shooters and they killed lots of game. They gave us most of the meat."

Wooden Leg candidly reports the cruelty of some battles as well, as when he scouted for the soldiers:

"It was winter, and there was at that time a deep snow for that country. Soldiers chased the women and children and killed many of them as well as the men."

This may not be the most engaging book, and some may tire of the details, but it should be read by those seeking information and understanding of a difficult time in history.

[Thomas Isern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a used copy of this work, originally published in 1931, on recommendation from Dakota Goodhouse, who is reading in indigenous narratives of the Great Plains. Wooden Leg is an as-told-to memoir, the teller being a Northern Cheyenne Man, the "interpreter" as listed on the title page being an agency physician, Thomas B. Marquis. Interestingly, it seems Marquis conducted his interviews with Cheyenne informants via plains sign language, which says to me that this medium had to have been more expressive and capable of narrative than I would have imagined. The narrative here, however, is that of Kâhamâxéveóhtáhe, Wooden Leg.

The narrative is much richer than can be inferred from the subtitle, which, for promotional purposes, emphasisizes the narrator's participation in the affair on the Little Big Horn. That episode is just part of a work spanning coming of age as well as later life. Of the many things one might bring away from the story, I will mention just two.

First, white-guy historians and the Euro-American public in general over-estimate the amount of time American Indians on the plains spent thinking about the affairs of white people. (I would suspect the same on the basis of winter counts.) While white-guy narratives would have the natives obsessed with impending doom, in fact, they were trying to go about living their customary lives as long as they could. For instance, we read of events immediately following the Battle of the Rosebud, as Wooden Leg says, "I had no thought then of any fighting to be done in the near future. . . . My mind was occupied mostly by such thoughts as regularly are uppermost in the minds of young men. I was eighteen years old, and I liked girls." So following a dance for the young people in the Cheyenne camp, he and his friends rode over to a nearby Sans Arc camp and danced the night away with the girls there.

Second, in matters military, indigenous memory is different than white-guy memory. White-guy history of engagements considered important dwells upon the movements of armies, forces, bodies of men and materiel. Commanders are important. The history is of macro developments. Indigenous memory deals with personages, individuals, the perspective of people focused on their own part of a larger affair. Matters unfold organically, with the deeds and misfortunes of individuals duly noted. A wounded warrior is a friend or family member, not just a casualty.

I have been thinking about the proposition of (and I recognize the contradiction in terms) an indigenous canon for the history of the northern plains--an annotated bibliography of works providing native narrative. The idea being, what if we were to construct a native history from the ground up, setting aside, for the moment, the white-guy narratives commonly imposed on it? Wooden Leg goes on the list.

[Cordell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wooden Legs book was very interesting. I personally found the 2nd halve far more interesting than the first. He describes his childhood, tribal customs, and the hardships of life on the move, always under threat from both enemy tribes and encroaching white settlers in the first half.
He recounts how as a young man, he joined war parties against other native America enemies. A part of history people tend to ignore.
For me the book became more interesting when he began describing the little big horn battle.
He describes camp life before the battle, the confusion when Custer’s troops attacked, and the chaos that followed.
He insists that no Indians knew who Custer was during the fight and they simply responded to soldiers attacking them. I think it’s important to remember to that. He was a 17 year-old boy, and of course his account is narrow in his scope because he was not one of the tribal leaders. He was simply one of the tribal members.
He clearly rejects the notion that Custer’s men were tortured or mutilated for cruelty’s sake, explaining those customs in their spiritual context as well as tribal. Since different tribes behaved differently.
He describes how After the battle, the U.S. Army relentlessly pursued the tribes and describes the starvation, cold, and forced relocation that followed and how eventually, he and his band surrendered and were sent to reservations.
The last chapters his service as an Indian scout for the Army, the decline of the natives old ways and his sadness at seeing the destruction of Cheyenne.
It’s important to know that wooden leg is not the author here. Marquis recorded Wooden Leg’s account that was given through words as well as signed language and gesturing. And as a result, I believe there is a good deal of editorial license or influence that must’ve taken place.
I struggled with the first half of the book because frankly, I did not find it terribly interesting. But I’m glad I pressed forward and read the rest of the book because the last half was extremely interesting as well as very important. I never want to give a five star rating to something simply because of the importance of it, but I don’t want to rate it too low either because it is a very important book. I couldn’t bring myself to give it five stars for that reason and I couldn’t give it three stars because half of the book was very very interesting and very important and that’s how I arrived at a four star rating for this book. I’ve read dozens of books on Custers last stand as well as entice American history and visited many battlefields and that my have influenced my lack of interest I the first half of the book.
My recommendation is that if you read this book, make sure you press through to the end.

[Persephone Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It is comfortable to live in peace on the reservation. It is pleasant to be situated where I can sleep soundly every night , without fear, that my horses may be stolen or that myself or my friends may be crept upon and killed. But I like to think about the old times, when every many had to be brave. I wish I could live again through some of the past days..."

The words of Wooden Leg, a Cheyenne Indian, a plains Indian who was at the battle of Little Big Horn. One cannot say that this book is in any form literature, it's not history analyzed and written up. It's what happened to one young warrior, and that makes the account so real and so much more functional than any other book I've read about this particular clash between the soldiers and the warriors. I haven't read anything better about the battle.

The words I quoted are at the end of the book, after Wooden Leg's displacement, near starvation and reinstatement on traditional land. Note the "some of the days" in the quote, because he does understand the inevitable benefits of the Western White Man's culture as well as the injustice of it all. His two daughters were taken to school, he and his wife moved home within sight of the school, so that they could see their daughters in school. They were only permitted to visit them on Sundays.

Not a very encouraging way to introduce a different culture. Yet at the same time, the description of life before the reservation, while having some idyllic qualities, also relates a long term and fatalist feud with enemy tribes. I gladly reread many passages of this narrative, a man's identity completely described, someone who really stood in his own, well, manly moccasins.

What would be ultimately the best history read or textbook for any educative purposes, would be an illustrated version with photos of the people who fought and photos of the cultures involved at the time. I mention this because again, it's not rehashed literature, and the narrative is plain and straight forward. Illustrations would round out the details.

[Anupam Bansoodeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's more to Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer than an account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The book is a tribute to the life of a simple and humble albeit a sensitive and high thinking Cheyenne, Wooden Leg who not only reminisces about his personal experiences (temporal, spiritual and military) but also gives an explicit insight into the traditions and customs of the Cheyenne as well as the complex political and policing structure of the tribe.

The tale starts with life on the Plains before the arrival of the white man; discusses the Cheyennes' relationship with the Sioux, Crows and Shoshones; the inevitable brutal encroachment by the white man and the latter's attempt to ensconce Indians into reservations by imposing the Western lifestyle on a nomadic people, which eventually led to the legendary Battle of the Little Bighorn. The book concludes with the capitulation and surrender of the Cheyennes and Sioux and life thereafter on the reservations.

A particularly awe inspiring moment is the description of the encounter with the "Custer soldiers", which the Western propaganda machine of the time failed to bring to light, one could surmise, was to protect the image of the US Cavalry. The book is a complementary companion to Nathaniel Philbrick's The Last Stand, which is an account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn from the soldiers' perspective.

Thomas Bailey Marquis has captured beautifully the essence of Wooden Leg. Mr. Marquis' interpretation and transcription appears to be a faithful rendition of how Mr. Wooden Leg would have expressed himself had he had some mastery over the English language. Due to this genuine and untainted approach one is not only left with the feeling of acquiring a better understanding of the Cheyennes but one is also left with the warm feeling, after the last page has been turned, of knowing who Wooden Leg, the man and the warrior was.

[Jim Ballenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Custer story by an Indian.

This is the first book I have read as told by an Indian. It was VERY interesting and Wooden Leg seams to have an incredible memory. His description of his life is very well told and supplies many informative tales of Cheyenne life before and after the Custer battle.
Most suprising ingredients to me is the description of the number of soldiers that committed suicide. That is never stated in the many books I have read about the Custer battle. I think the authors should read this account!!

[Luca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something that will take with me:
- Cheyennes' life was busy, dangerous as hell, unpredictable but free
- The society was decentralized but still prominent. You cannot do anything against the good of the whole society, or you would be punished
- Conversely, also the wealth was naturally shared. Once you have enough skins, meat, horses, what else do you need? Sharing is caring, this is still valid.
- the single man can be self-determined, but the other will laugh at him if he did not earn it

It taught me about society, how a man can be free while supporting the society he lives in.

[Jim White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Big horn from the Indian Point of View

Very interesting book written by a Northern Cheyenne warrior, Wooden Leg. This book was captivating



to me for several reasons. Among these were heading the importance of family to the Indians, learning of their culture, their feelings toward other tribes in the area, particularly the Crows, their feelings about going to war before, during, and after. I came away thinking, after reading this book, "We are really not all that different from our Indian brothers and sisters." Very interesting book.

[a.t.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read of a historical time

Interesting book, well written and researched. It is hard to imagine how much the American Indian suffered as a result of greed and false promises by the American government. Custer and his men suffered terrifying deaths, at the hands of American Indians, protecting their people, their way of life, and it was over so fast. This book is intriguing, sad, and powerful. I highly recommend.

[Kurt Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who knows nothing about the Battle of Little Bighorn, outside the total elimination of US soldiers, I found this account interesting. Wooden Leg comes across as a humble, honest person giving his account, from the Cheyenne perspective. I enjoyed the point of view, with enough backstory to understand the reasoning and logic, values and beliefs of the roaming of the various groups leading up to this battle, and the aftermath.

[Rocklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 1st person account of a seminal battle in the Indian Wars by a Cheyenne warrior. Confirms what the U.S. Army tried to cover up, that most of Custer's soldiers died by their own hand rather than be captured.


Well written without the usual exaggerations or bragging often found in 1st person accounts.

[paul rizzuto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real and New insight about the Battle at Little Big Horn

Fully enjoyed hearing what rea!ly occurred at this historical time in American history. The Hollywood version of the Custer legend is debunked with the truth. It was totally refreshing to hear the truth from an American Indian who fought in this historic battle !!!!!!!!!!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books about the Battle of Little Big Horn, and this is one of the best. Written by a participant, Wooden Leg was 18 years old on this grand and glorious defeat of Custer’s 7th Cavalry. The book is so full of information, not just about the battle, but about the way of life concerning the Great Plains Indian tribes. I loved every word of it.

[Mark Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine sitting around a campfire talking to an old Cheyenne who, as a teenager, fought at Little Big Horn. You get that. But even better, you get the deepest insight into the day-to-day life of the Cheyennes of the old days. It is non-lineal and somewhat "stream of consciousness" recollections. It affected me profoundly.

[John Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of this book describes the Cheyenne culture as it pertains to hunting, marriage, preparations to go into battle, tribal hierarchy and daily life. About half of the book deals with the actual Custer fight. Nonetheless, I would recommend it to anyone wanting insight into the events of that day on the Little Bighorn River.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Western History

Very straight forward and full of details that tell the real for the most part of what really happened
at the little bighorn. Soldiers actions not told in our whitewashed history books.

[Annie Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago. What stayed with me is the culture of the tribe which included the telling of the careful and caring upbringing of the children and the wandering of the people to find food and peace. I should like to read it again.

[Vince Pillig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting facts about the Battle of the Little bighorn!

Probably the best renditions of the battle. Read a couple other books about Custer and his battle at little big horn but this was much more enlightening. Certainly better than Hollywood!!

[sarah h smith]

Excellent historical point of view.

Reading Wooden Legs firsthand account of Little Big horn is very interesting and informative. The whole book is worth reading if you're interested in American history. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[bernard j denver · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent historical record of the truth of the battle with Custer at the Big horn.

To learn about the behaviour of the Indian way of life which was opposite to the way we have supposed.

[WILLIAM SHISLER · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book

I enjoyed reading this Indian version of the Custer fight and of his life in general. Wooden leg provides a lot of good information on the day to day Cheyenne way of life.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was possibly one of the best Native American books I've ever read! It told the Native American side of the Battle of Little Bighorn against Custer. So much good information in this book, and a very moving story.

[Ron Baklarz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest Assessment of Battle of Little Big Horn

Fascinating view into Plains Indian life and customs. Sad commentary on the abuse of native Americans. Feel as though you are in the midst of the battle A must read.

[Debbie Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read About Cheyenne Life and Rituals

I really enjoyed this book. I learned more about the life and struggles of the Cheyenne Indian. I recommend it to anyone looking for more history of the Native Americans.

[Paul Triolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read for History buffs

Very detailed of that time in history. Interesting to hear an American Indian, a Cheyenne, speaking of his memories. A new view of the battle if Clusters Last Stand.

[Phil Bouncer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into Indian culture

A very engaging read regarding the indian perspective about the little big horn battle and the aspects of indian life.