|
Henry Bullhead (Unknown - December 19th, 1890) was an Indian agent responsible for the assassination of Lakota chief and warrior Sitting Bull.
Biography edit
When a Lakota tribe began performing a ritual known as the Ghost Dance, the U.S. Army, not understanding its intent to restore peace and balance between Native Americans and make the white settlers leave the country, believed this was a militant uprising that would incite an insurrection against the American government. Lieutenant Bullhead received a letter from Indian agent James McLaughlin ordering him to arrest Sitting Bull out of paranoia that he would leave the Standing Rock reservation.
Bullhead then set out with a group of Indian agents working for the BIA and they arrived at Sitting Bull's cabin. Bullhead woke up Sitting Bull and placed him under arrest, but the chief refused to comply. When Lakota reinforcements came to Sitting Bull's aid, one warrior named Catch-the-Bear shot Bullhead, who then retaliated by shooting Sitting Bull in the chest and another officer named Red Tomahawk shot the chief in the head, killing him. Bullhead later died from his injuries after the assassination.