Indian Massacre in the Old West

Developed after the dispersal of horses to the Great Plains nomads on horseback whose domiciles were tipis They lived off buffalo The Plains Indians A New Culture

World’s Greatest Cavalry Pueblo Revolt scattered horses A new culture born on the Plains Free, Strong and fearless Comanche, Cheyenne & Sioux the epitome The Plains Indians

California Gold Rush The Plains cultures would clash with the westward-pushing Americans sporadically for a hundred years, but when gold was discovered in the newly acquired California whites raced across the plains, trampling fragile ecospheres.

Ft. Laramie Treaty 1851 To the safety of the migrants crossing the plains, the U.S. government summoned the various tribes of the Northern Plains to Ft. Laramie to hash out a treaty. Over 10,000 Indians are reported to have shown up. The result of the meeting was the Ft. Laramie Treaty, which satisfied the United States and seemed to satisfy the Indians. Actually, the Indians were placated by the realization that the whites were simply passing through their land, not wanting to stay.

Pike’s Peak or Bust! However, With the Pike’s Peak gold rush of the Civil War years the Indians, rather than being a nuisance in the road, became an obstacle to possession! One particular tribe was in the way: The Cheyenne

Pike’s Peak or Bust! The Colorado gold rush destroyed the Cheyenne’s way of life as the Front Range filled with settlers. Tensions mounted when troops were withdrawn because of the Civil War & the Cheyenne viewed the withdrawal as an opportunity to take back their land.

Pike’s Peak or Bust! Seeking to avoid the bloodshed tearing his people apart, Chief Black Kettle took his band of Cheyenne to land supposedly set aside for the protection of friendly Indians. At a place called Sand Creek

Militia, reacting to Indian depredations, decided to teach the Indians a lesson. They just chose the wrong Indians. The military has been described as Scoundrels, cowards, & drunkards They were commanded by Ambitious, hating, egotistical, John Chivington.

November 29, 1863 Black Kettle believed his band of Cheyenne were protected by a flag that had been presented to him for that purpose. On the morning of Nov. 29, 1863 he would discovered what the U.S. flag was worth to an American Indian.

As the soldiers rush through the village killing women and children Black Kettle raised an United States flag and a white flag in attempt to stop the butchery. His wife was wounded and 270 Cheyenne were murdered by the soldiers.

Chivington and his men returned to Denver with bloody souvenirs from the bodies of the dead Cheyenne. The people of Denver rejoiced in the streets as Chivington and his men displayed the grisly trophies.

The Peace Chief Despite the horrendous carnage of Sand Creek, Black Kettle remained determine to journey down the road of peace. He took his shattered people to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) where they would be safe along the Washita River.

Along the Washita Faces of History Almost five years to the day after the Sand Creek Massacre, George Armstrong Custer, using a strategy of winter-warfare attacked Black Kettle’s peaceful village on the Washita. Custer was pursuing hostile Cheyenne and claimed that he followed hoofprints to Black Kettle’s village

One hundred and three Cheyenne warriors were killed. Among the dead were Black Kettle and his wife.

Custer lost a detachment led by Major Eliot. Eliot and his men were killed dies Fifty-three women and children were held as captives until the late spring of They were used as a bargaining chip to gain the release of white women held by other bands of Cheyenne.

Almost certainly every woman taken prisoner was raped. The Seventh Cavalry had a saying when it came to Indian women. Indian women are easy to rape 1

1 Nathaniel Philbrick, The Last Stand, (New York, Viking, 2010) Kindle Location First Peoples Background, firstpeople.us