S03 · E51

Crazy Horse: The Last Warrior

Crazy Horse was a legendary war leader of the Oglala Lakota who dedicated his life to defending Native American territory and culture from U.S. government expansion. Known for his fierce bravery, tactical brilliance, and refusal to be photographed, he became a central figure in the Plains Indian Wars. He earned immense prestige during Fetterman's Fight (1866) and the Battle of the Rosebud (1876). His most famous triumph came on June 25, 1876, when he led a major Lakota and Cheyenne force to decisively defeat Lt. Col. George A. Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Despite this historic victory, relentless military pressure and the destruction of the buffalo herds forced his people into starvation. To protect his followers, Crazy Horse surrendered in May 1877. Just months later, on September 5, 1877, he was fatally bayoneted during an altercation at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. He remains a powerful symbol of resistance, freedom, and indigenous pride.