disasters in United States commonly known as Custer?s Last Stand. This was a costly battle and sparked Congress to come up with alternatives on how to deal with the Sioux. Belligerent Sioux. One suggestion was to completely uproot them from South Dakota and move them south to the Indian Territory. Another alternative was to place the Sioux under permanent military control. This suggestion was put forth by General Sheridan who was in charge of a regiment in the Dakota Territory around the time of the Custer. He felt that the Sioux were incurable savages who could not be taught civilized methods. The only way to control the Sioux in his eyes was to keep them on reservations under strict military control. This was granted in 1876 as a war measure. The Sioux who were led by Sitting Bull remained off the reservation and were in constant pursuit by the United States military in the plains of Montana. The army was relentless even in the winter months and the Sioux?s morale was low. Their shelters and food had been lost, taken or burned and by February the Sioux who remained off the reservation felt that the war against the United States could not be won. The famished Sioux on reservations soon offered peace that meant unconditional surrender. In the early spring of 1877 three thousand Sioux on reservations surrendered. A small group led by an Indian named Lame Deer would not surrender. Soon the rebellious Sioux were discovered on the Rosebud River by soldiers and Lame Deer was killed. Their camp was burned and the surviving Sioux fled. After this defeat, Sitting Bull now seriously weighed his two options, flee to Mexico or Canada. Canada seemed more realistic and that sanctuary could actually be found. There were still some problems though, such as poor relations with Canadian tribes such as the Chippewas or Blackfoot. An increase of Indians in the one of these tribes? hunting grounds could sever already fragile relations be...
