As a youngster, Crazy Horse was known as Curly, referring to his unusual curly light hair. He would not receive his adult name until he performed a memorable deed as a youth. The Oglala people also called him "our strange one" because his physical features were different from most Oglalas and he did not abide by most customs. For example, he did not dance, sing, or take on the warriors' common practices of wearing full body paint, taking scalps and boasting.

His courtship of Black Buffalo Woman was disappointing, and he did not marry Black Shawl until both were well past the common age for marrying.

The Crow, his tribe's enemies, believed that Crazy Horse had a magical gun that hit whatever it looked at and made him bulletproof. Most likely this belief developed not only from his brave battle deeds but also after...