What's up with Counting Coup? (Plus Joe Medicine Crow’s Story!)

It's time to learn something cool again! This time we're talking about counting coup. As always, feel free to leave a comment, shoot me an email, and thanks for watching!
Email: [e-mail]
Patreon: patreon.com/TheStoryOutWest
Twitter: / storyoutwest
Timestamps/Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:19 What is Counting Coup?
01:12 Why is Counting Coup Important?
03:14 How Do You Count Coup?

[@efraim3364]

Joe Medicine Crow also had to steal horses from an enemy to become a War Chief and since the German Army had A LOT of horses he got special permission to do that on one scouting mission

[@iangarrett741]

I understand he was scouting behind enemy lines and came across several horses used, for riding, by SS officers. He rode them back to his lines under the noses of SS who were quartered in the farmhouse. Where are the statues, books and films celebrating this great man?

[@the98themperoroftheholybri33]

@@iangarrett741 I'm sure I've seen a movie about native Americans in ww2

[@marco0445]

@@iangarrett741 Fr I can picture this in Inglorious Bastards for some reason

[@matc87]

@@iangarrett741 probably to much racism to glorify that man's great actions...but we can make multiple versions of batman

[@TedH71]

He also was a tribal historian who had college degrees. I believe he had a Ph.D.

[@MANNYREFRESH]

My Great-Great Grandfather was the last warrior of our tribe (Northern Cheyenne) to count coupe on an enemy. Thank you for explaining these traditional acts of bravery. I wish his coupe stick was passed down to me, but was lost amongst the beginning of our tribe’s reservation days.

[@TheStoryOutWest]

That’s incredible! Shoot me an email at [e-mail], I’d love to hear the story

[@MyName-pl7zn]

This comment shows how important a count coupe was to the tribe by the fact that you were told by your elders that 3 generations ago your ancestor was the last to get one. Great comment 👍

[@malcolmmeer9761]

When I became aware of 'counting coup I thought that would have to be a very brave and fearless man

[@nokiot9]

Your grandpa was joe crow? And do you mean of the crow nation? Because he is the last man to have been confirmed to take an enemy’s horse in battle

[@nokiot9]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Medicine_Crow#World_War_II

[@rextucker3184]

Some U.S. Calvary soldiers saw this done in battle against their own troops and wrote about it in their diaries. One soldier wrote of a battle and how he just could not believe how one particular warrior continued to attack their line again and again, only to tap his enemy with coup stick rather than strike with his lance. It's hard to shoot so brave a man as these, to shoot them off their horse to just disappear, and all that was there suddenly gone. I imagine many troopers hesitated or simply did not.

[@tianna1116]

I don’t know how romantic and brave it would’ve looked to soldiers of the time. That might just be our modern perspective, history has a way of seeming better than it was

[@JackDiamond21]

I'm a Dakota person, I descend from the Dakota sub bands who had warrior societies. I can say that it was done to intimidate the opposing force, one warrior counting coup could save the day. So really counting coup was my people and other tribes way of doing psychological operations. And one warrior from either side could win the day without even firing a shot. It's sends a message, look at how brave we are!! As for how the opposing side felt well you would need to ask them. The one man you mentioned wrote about how he couldn't believe a warrior could do such a thing. Well that one warrior was most likely trying to psyche them out so no one fought that day, or it's done to gain prestige and influence.

[@MG-fn9xw]

Please send me the first hand written account about your story. I call BS, I’ve read Wt hamiltons book about fighting Indians, I’ve read Warren angus Ferris book about wandering the Rocky Mountains, I’ve read Billy dixons book about Indian fighting in the mid west in the early 1800s. I’ve read lewis and Clark’s expedition book. I’ve read many other first hand accounts, an I’ve never read an account of an Indian in battle who jus taps ppl on the head a claims victory. I need to see some quotes, or what novel you read this from

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

@@JackDiamond21 I am a part Maori New Zealander, I had ancestors on both sides of the last war we had here, between rebellious tribes and the "white" Government. Maori had something similar to counting coup, and that was to go into a spear fight with a small club. There are stories of single warriors dancing out into the fray and killing their opponent who was better armed, and no one on the other side of the battle would attack him until he got back to his side of things. One of the chiefs in South Island was with a party of men when they were attacked suddenly. He was knocked down, and lost his greenstone club, and they all had to run away. That night he told his brothers son to come watch for "history" and he walked back to where the enemy were sitting around a fire, laughing and taking turns to make strikes with his Mere ( club ) He walked straight up out of the dark, reached between two of them and took the club from the hand of the guy holding it, and said "Penei" which is as we would say "Thus". And he struck left and right, and killed both men. As he turned and ran someone stabbed him through the side, and he and the nephew got away but the Chief died later on. And we KNOW this is true because even his enemies told that story in their own legend of that war, because it was so AWESOME that even they wanted his Mana ( respect ) to be known. The best way to prove your tribe is great, is to have AWESOME powerful enemies, after all.

[@c.d.halfhill876]

When Joseph Medicine Crow earned the honor of war chief it wasn't just because of counting coup. He's sold a horse from the SS. He also let loose a team of horses in order to set up distraction on an SS building. There was one more I don't quite remember what it was. After the war he went on to get his doctorate. He fought for native rights until he passed away in 2016.

[@c.d.halfhill876]

The fourth task that he needed to complete was to lead a war party. He led a group to attack a building of SS. In the middle of this there was a corral of horses. He distracted the SS I climbing on the back of a horse opening the corral letting out a war cry. So is the horses scattered the SS came out. That was fourth task. 1) Counting coup. 2) Lead a successful war party. 3) Stealing enemies horse. 4) Taking an enemy's weapon.

[@highadmiraljt5853]

I heard that he also needed to defeat an enemy without killing him. He achieved this after trying to fight a young German soldier to the death, until the German called out for his mother. Then he let him go.

[@JackDiamond21]

@@highadmiraljt5853 that's considered counting coup, you touch the enemy and let him live. Task 1, I know what I'm talking I may not be a Crow but I am a Dakota and understand how to achieve the war chief status.

[@JackDiamond21]

@@highadmiraljt5853 you don't need to defeat him either, you just need to touch a warrior from the opposing side. He also completed task 4 with the young German, he took his luger I believe.

[@looseunit1615]

I enjoy these videos. I enjoy all kinds of military history. My step son is a member of the Shoshone excuse any spelling mistake and Paiute tribes. I am a New Zealand Maori and member of the Nga Puhi tribe. The largest and in the past most warlike of Maori tribes. Cody and I enjoy sharing the history of our peoples.

[@sheepsfoot2]

Well i'm an Aussie but i have always thought of the Mauri race would have had a similar warlike existence as the native American Indians. Have you read Cook's Journal " back in 1770s the Mauri wars were full on " Cook said much of a tribes existence was building massive fortifications against enemy tribes. and later there was the " Mauri musket wars " even more deadly .!

[@looseunit1615]

@@sheepsfoot2 Yes. My ancestors chiefs. They are in the history books. Tamate Waka Nene and Kawati of Ruapekapeka fame.

[@sheepsfoot2]

@@looseunit1615 You must be very proud mate being from the Mauri race and from chieftains !

[@looseunit1615]

@@sheepsfoot2 I am. Thank you.

[@bobwallace9814]

Two things. About the young boys trying to become warriors for honor. At the Little Big Horn and before the battle, a large party of teenage Indian boys made a suicide charge at the command post on Last Stand hill. They were successful in running off the troopers horses that were tethered where the cemetery is today. That sealed the 7th's fate as they didn't have enough horses to escape. Next I saw a program about 10-15 years ago about the wild west and the guest on the show was Roger Daltrey (singer for the Who). He was having a great time dressed as an old west cowboy, shooting a six gun and Winchester when the host asked him if he had ever heard of a coup stick. The host had a whippy stick about 3+ feet long with a small round rock on the end. He popped Daltrey on the shin and Daltrey started swearing and hopping on one leg and the guy popped his other shin so he was hopping back and forth between legs.

[@DeadPixel1105]

"Successfully counting coup disgraces your opponent. It’s a way of publicly shaming them. We believe that if you are shamed, you must admit defeat. It’s a far more prideful and honorable way to defeat the enemy without having to kill." ~ Greg Grey Cloud of the Crow Creek Nation

[@clecticmaniac5207]

For lakotas, this was one way along with stealing horses. Horses were very valuable, and if you go to pow wow, and I mean traditional pow wow. We still use the coup stick, as a part of the regalia. Also I believe that Joe medicine crow was not the last chief in all plains, maybe in the crow tribe but certainly not all plains tribe. Many warriors are very quiet about the wars, and some became war chieves. But, many were very secretive and quiet about it. Many of the old lakotas believe that boasting too much can attract bad luck.

[@Runwithme418]

I searched for this because my 5yo son recently invented a game, "i can touch you before you touch me." He spends a lot of his time trying to run up and touch me, then get away before I can touch him back. He's not painting feathers about it yet, but I had to look this up to see how close he was to counting coup on me! 😂

[@scottcoley1906]

This is the way history should be taught. Laughed my ass off! 🤣 🤣🤣 loved the video and please, please make more @The Story Out West

[@p51nion]

Another valuable lesson in American history - well presented, as usual. I was motivated to go to the only source I have on the subject - a volume in the Time-Life "Old West" series called "The Indians". This was published in 1973. The subject of counting coup is given only cursory mention but does have a couple pretty good photos of coup sticks.

[@c.d.halfhill876]

I like the fact you spoke about enemy tribes. The Sioux it was a very large tribe who were pushing out the Crow and Pawnee. So when the United States came into the plains during and after the civil War the Pawnee and Crow allied with themselves with the United States as scouts. This was a way for the young man and boys to partake in the Warrior culture during the plains Indian Wars. From what I understand, the natives that fought a Little bighorn where around 13 and 14 years old from what I am to understand. The Pawnee and Crow were never enemies of the United States during the Indian wars.

[@One-Two-T]

If I'm understanding this, when Maverick flew over the enemy plane in Top Gun he was basically counting coup.

[@ar-sithf.austin3744]

"There are many like it but this one is mine??" Hell yeah... 👍

[@bwake]

This made the plains tribes especially difficult neighbors. The young men could not get married unless they were proven warriors. The way to become a proven warrior was to go raiding. The presenter glossed over the fact that killing people, stealing their livestock, and burning their buildings and fields were perfectly valid ways to count coup.

[@nicanornunez9787]

That sounds interesting. I guess different tribes count different things. Those acts sound like regular Comanche activities. But why did everyone uses a french word for it, just like coup d'etat.

[@JC-wg5xn]

@@nicanornunez9787 because France settled large parts of North America

[@bwake]

@@nicanornunez9787 I imagine that the various tribes had their own words for it. In English we borrowed the French word to use for this specific thing.

[@bwake]

@@nicanornunez9787 All the tribes did all those things, perhaps in different proportions. Any barbarian tribe is continually at war with its neighbors. A tribe must have a territory of a certain size, or it begins to starve. The hunters can’t find enough game, and the gatherers can’t find enough. Like any territorial carnivore, the tribe maintains and seeks to expand their boundaries versus their neighbors.

[@ManiacMayhem7256]

@@bwake Some tribes were far more violent than others. California tribes were on average pretty chill while plain tribes were notoriously brutal. True every people in the world needs to expand, raid, and such but then so did everybody else in the world. Europeans weren't know for their peace and stability at the time, the Chinese had sky high kill counts and the Middle East on a conquering spree

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Another excellent video. Really detailed research and fascinating history

[@svene.3856]

"This is my coup stick. There are many like it, but this is mine. ..."

[@teresitasantos4710]

Thank you so much for this information. I t will help our students to understand counting coup well. It was well explained. So So niceee!

[@Theo1505]

Love your channel. Quality research presented well. Keep up the great work.

[@joyford91]

I am using this video in my classroom in conjunction with a subunit on Sitting Bull, part of unit on Great Leaders. You have done a fantastic job of explaining in terms my 2nd graders will understand. We have a large native population at my school, so I am very excited to teach this unit.

[@TheStoryOutWest]

I love it! Email me if your curriculum development people need sources for any of the material. Good luck!

[@jeffsilverman6104]

I've always been fascinated with this area of history. Thanks for explaining things in such an informative and easy way.

[@linofacioli3344]

What a fantastic channel!! Thank you for your great content!

[@sdickinson5234]

Interesting and well presented. I never heard of this before.

[@BotsWeekendCovers]

Another great one!! Thanks

[@AshitakaYakul]

Good video. Thanks for sharing some knowledge with us. The Scalp video is what lead me here. Thanks!

[@oswaldomayberry9260]

Love the channel man, so glad I found this!

[@dlmsarge8329]

This is the second video of your's I've seen, and I've enjoyed them both! You earned a new subscriber!

[@ImMataza]

Love that your videos arent padded but still go in enough detail

[@marcbrule4018]

love this channel. thank you very much.

[@nelsoncolon174]

Very well narrated.

[@dhelix85]

I just found your channel. This is now the second video I've watched. Really awesome content. It's stuff we already know about, but no idea what it really means. You e got my subscription!

[@stockarboy]

Great info, thanks.

[@bongdonkey]

I knew about this. But rarely do you hear it talked about. Excellent content. Saludo desde San Diego

[@jamesmershon1540]

Very interesting vid, well done!

[@Gumby56]

Awesome video and information.

[@cmcc5825]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you.

[@TheStoryOutWest]

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[@bladethorn]

Great content! Thanks!

[@siouxdawg1023]

appreciate your knowledge.

[@jondunn1551]

Counting Coup, also a rad indigenous band from Billings Montana.

[@lakesandrivers]

what a great video!!

[@0773W]

awesome stuff

[@raulperez518]

loving ur channel

[@Juiceboxdan72]

It would suck to be on the receiving end. I'd imagine the feeling would be: "Dang it..."

[@Issa.nicholas]

As a native I absolutely loved this and idk why the bit at 4:05 made me laugh my ass off for some reason 😂

[@alexontiveros3591]

Dude, I dig your videos

[@CharleyBrown69]

Great video

[@jamesferris4573]

I really enjoy your videos and I am glad I didn't spoil this video with my last comment. lol 😂.

[@AntonKozikowski]

nicely done! cheers from nm

[@edgarserna5042]

I have effectively touched the enemy 3 times with no shots fired no wound acquired. Just now, I have the first hand picture and depiction of our modern enemy. I stand with my native brothers and sisters around the world. The fight back against oppression. True freedom the way intention set to be. We are stronger just blind like a baby. Time to grow

[@chimmichurri6940]

godsdamn, i love this kind of history so much! The native peoples need more info about them out there so we can know how it was back then. History needs to be kept alive, even if some of it is dark as hell, IMO though it needs to be known so modern day people know how hardit actually used to be instead of living in a super comfy day and age.

[@keithbernard6597]

Good show

[@craigsmith8217]

Very interesting.

[@OldJong]

Very interesting! I would like to see a video about the gunstock war club. Interesting weapon.

[@roberthenry9319]

Awesome.

[@sppv3120]

5:25 WOOOW that is badass

[@StockBrokersLTD]

Chris hanson went from studying the chats of peds to studying the history of different cultures. Either way it's still entertaining asf

[@scottcoley1906]

The way he translates it to modern street cred terminology is funny af! 🤣🤣🤣

[@p51nion]

Thanks!

[@vintagecapgunsatyourmomshouse]

The process of arguing over who was able to claim coup actually reminds me of squabbling over aerial victories during the first and second world wars

[@larry1824]

Signs of ultimate bravery and fearless

[@nozrep]

i thought I had heard about another wwii story of an American Indian who counted coup by actually stealing real horses from the Germans? Like he went in with the intention of counting a coup? But maybe I am getting my stories mixed up?! Lol I been watching a lot of history videos lately. Anyways great video.

[@TheStoryOutWest]

Joe Medicine Crow stole some SS horses during a patrol, I know that for sure. I wouldn’t surprise me if someone else did too

[@iangarrett741]

He became a war chief because he Lead a patrol that fought the enemy and returned with no casualties; Put his hand on a living enemy Took a weapon from an enemy Captured enemy horses. The middle two were the same incident but tribal elders felt he had reasonably fulfilled the spirit, if not the letter, of the law. You have to have all four to be considered a war chief. Respect to anyone who respects this man’s actions. ( notice, killing people is not required)

[@ragin2490]

Way to go Joe!

[@delontaerich187]

Good ol Joe Crow

[@ahorsewithnoname935]

Gotta say, Native Americans certainly had one thing European settlers did not, a sense of humor

[@kingsantacruz2866]

Ultimate game of tag

[@lloydgush]

Horses all confused "i'm not a puddle and this isn't the 20th century!"

[@sagesarrazine6270]

Native American battles were pretty much just super intense tag

[@toastymctrigger6061]

In "le coup" and "les coups", you would pronounce both the same way as the "s" in prural form does not give a "z" sound to the word it is added to! Great video!👏🏻

[@shesh2265]

battles where people dont even get killed is hilarious. counting coup is also extremely funny sounding

[@ajamfuego8822]

The feathers are important very skillful

[@malcolmmeer9761]

Anyone can shoot someone from a few hundred yards. Ride up to an armed enemy and smack him with a stick. Now that's something else

[@daddybaker1586]

I would participate In a modern version of this make a weekend out of it, keeping tradition alive is important

[@j.vincento7152]

I was thinking same. What game would be best? Capture the flag Martial arts battles? UFC OCTAGON FIGHTS? Tae kwondo tournaments?

[@Star_cab]

So tea bagging. Got it.

[@TheStoryOutWest]

Lol basically

[@stephengreene1856]

Excellent!

[@TheStoryOutWest]

Thank you!

[@MountainRaven1960]

Tip!…..you’re IT!!!

[@realityisreal1360]

I get coup all the time!

[@elshebactm6769]

🤠👍🏿

[@dotdot2560]

I'm glad I found this its very interesting to learn about native culture my family has a lot of history in America I have a lot of native American ancestry I'm 43% and my great great grandfather Richard gardiner came over on the mayflower

[@drinksnapple8997]

My family had been here 100+ years before. We arrived in 1521. VIVA EL DESCUBRIMIENTO DE AMERICA!!!!

[@karenhodges7545]

I've seen this in Western movies. Now I know what to call it if I see it again.

[@uncareid5557]

the warrior's name at 2:40 is Kramer

[@christianwilson5956]

Coup feathers have a very similar culture to military medals.

[@doomguy19931]

Chad Medicine Crow: >walks up to Nazi soldier >choke the shit out of him until he surrenders >come home >get declared war chief

[@robertwaid3579]

Great Video 📸💭📸 excellent research, & narrative also. I'd say the Native American's view on Counting Coup? Could actually be Similar to The Knights of Old. Who earned the Honor & Accolades being bestowed upon them in The Staged Tournaments, that they Battled in. FYI, Those Tournaments we're used too keep the Knights, in Fighting Fitness. During the Times of Peace n Tranquility. They too were given Tokens, Ribbons, Award's & such too Show how well they Had Competed. All that & what the Native American's did? All can be summoned up under the Term. "HONOR" At the minimum of my limited, Education, anyway that is what I would think Honor is about? These are just my thoughts! So please don't be Harsh or over Criticize Me.

[@TheYeti308]

Eie , keeping score .

[@eliasfarmer1219]

We used to do this playing tag, you touched them and yelled coup I never knew this was why though

[@nonprogrediestregredi1711]

White Bull gives you wings!! Get it?!

[@lawrenceawassisfut653]

Thank you for your presentation and knowledge also for the respect you show in your words. Those kinds of frequencies will keep safe and sound in this wartime that's coming....

[@TheStoryOutWest]

Much appreciated

[@wesleyestill7653]

The Europeans were shocked to see the savagery of the American Indian tribes

[@bambooblinds]

re: *_''Oftentimes during these battles nobody got killed or even hurt, because that wasn't the point.''_* - Really? I can imagine that being the case occasionally, but wouldn't it have to be rare? As I understand it, the point was to display bravery. If it was common to have battles where everyone involved went home unscathed, I wouldn't think that would be sufficient. Wouldn't the danger need to be greater if it's to be a legitimate test?

[@coyotestylepro1150]

👁️ tried to tell em 😎

[@generalismoGrosMichel]

Coup there it is

[@erict3728]

Very interesting. Now how does this practice meld with scalping? I see the two actions as being separate. Scalping maybe counts as a coup, but why scalp if you've already counted a coup? Plus coup sounds like it usually led to both parties surviving...

[@allenpasquale5580]

"Mr. Midshaft" 😆

[@kleddit6400]

This man just counted a history coup on me lol

[@matthayden1026]

How were they presented their first coup stick?

[@Natanel-Alers]

Lmfao I couldn’t stop laughing on this one

[@pha-q-all5073]

Coupe is the original bitch slap natives were pimps at heart

[@ceqm8387]

I do this on a daily basis 😂

[@crassiewassie8354]

I would Caviat that a lot of the Natives had wars due to european medeling Like putting a reservation in a place where you couldn't really farm anything was a good way to get a tribe going to war with other tribes.

[@cyclingcmdr]

Counting coup is like getting Steam achievements. It's a completionist's game. 😸

[@bigblue6917]

It's a pity coup sticks aren't still used today. Wars would be a lot less bloody if ll you had to do is touch your enemy with a stick