Plenty Coups
Plenty Coups, meaning "Many Achievements" in Crow, was a prominent leader of the Crow Nation during a pivotal period in American Indian history, particularly during the Plains Wars. As principal chief, he advocated for collaboration with the U.S. Army against other Plains tribes, which included providing scouts for George Armstrong Custer during the infamous Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Plenty Coups's leadership was deeply influenced by personal tragedy, including the early loss of a brother to the Sioux, which fueled his enmity toward the tribe. Following the battle, he continued to support U.S. military efforts, including the pursuit of notable leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Beyond military involvement, Plenty Coups championed the transition of his people from traditional nomadic lifestyles to agriculture and ranching. He embraced modernity, moving from a tipi to a log farmhouse and opening a general store to ensure fair trade for the Crow people. His commitment to improving their circumstances extended to advocacy for education and military service, encouraging Crow youth to join the U.S. Army during World War I. In recognition of his contributions, he represented all American Indians at the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1921. Upon his death in 1932, the Crow council held him in such high regard that they chose not to appoint a successor in his place.
Subject Terms
Plenty Coups
- Born: c. 1849
- Birthplace: Near Billings, Montana
- Died: c. May 3, 1932
- Place of death: Pryor, Montana
Tribal affiliation: Crow
Significance: Plenty Coups allied the Crows with the U.S. Army against other Indian tribes
Plenty Coups, whose Crow name means “Many Achievements,” was the principal chief of the Crows during the latter stages of the Plains wars. He spearheaded the Crows’ decision to cooperate with the U.S. Army in its pursuit of the Cheyennes, Sioux, Arapahoes, and other “hostiles.” Plenty Coups’s Crows provided scouts for George Armstrong Custer in his 1876 defeat at Little Bighorn.
Plenty Coups was groomed for chieftainship from an early age, and uncommon attention was paid to him as a child by the Crows. When Plenty Coups was nine years old, one of his brothers was killed by the Sioux, creating a lifelong enmity.
After Little Bighorn, the Crows under Plenty Coups continued to support the U.S. Army as it drove the Cheyennes and Sioux into subjugation. Crow warriors aided in the pursuit of Sitting Bull into Canada, the hounding of the Northern Cheyennes, and the surrender of Crazy Horse. Plenty Coups urged his people to become farmers and ranchers, and he abandoned his tipi for a log farmhouse. Plenty Coups also opened a general store so that the Crows could buy trade goods at fair prices.
Plenty Coups traveled to Washington, D.C., several times after 1880 to assure trade and aid for the Crows. He was noted for his sagacity in business dealings. During World War I, Plenty Coups encouraged young Crow men to leave the enforced idleness and alcoholism of the reservation and join the U.S. Army. After the war, in 1921, he was chosen to represent all American Indians at the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. In 1928, his health failing, Plenty Coups willed his personal real estate, about 200 acres, to the U.S. government for the future use of the Crow people. Plenty Coups died May 3, 1932. The Crow council at the time so revered him that its members refused to name another principal chief in his place.