Bear Soldier, a Hunkpapa Sioux warrior and a follower of Sitting Bull in 1876, was an Akicita or policeman of the Fox Warriors doing camp police duty in defending the vast pony herds against Custer’s Arikara scouts early in the Battle of Little Big Horn. Later he took part in the fighting against Custer’s immediate command.
“It was an honor for us to be on guard. We fought off the Palanis (Rees), who scouted for Long Hair Custer. They tried to capture our ponies, but we fought them off. They ran like women, once we charged them. I think they lost heart once the saw us charging.” – Fort Yates, ND 1941