Little Wolf was born in Montana in about 1820. A member of the Cheyenne tribe he developed a reputation as a fearless war leader. It is believed he took part in the Fetterman Massacre and the battle at Little Bighorn.

The U.S. army now responded by increasing the number of the soldiers in the area. When soldiers commanded by Ranad Mackenzie attacked Cheyenne villages, Little Wolf and Dull Knife led a party of 300 on a 1,500 mile journey north to their old hunting grounds.

Dull Knife surrendered at Fort Robinson but Little Wolf went back to Montana. A long-term friend, First Lieutenant William Clark, persuaded Little Wolf to surrender and for a while served as a scout under General Nelson Miles.

Little Wolf died in 1904.