Plight of the Indians Indians were pushed to the East by Europeans –1716 San Francisco de las Tejas * The frontier of Texas 1870 –Red Line –The Indians lived mainly to the west

The Indians & The Plains “I love the land and the buffalo and will not part with it. I want you to understand well what I say. Write it down on paper… Santanta 1 “I was born upon the prairie, where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun…” Ten Bears 2

Treaties were made between the white men and the Indians setting boundaries establishing reservations BUT The treaties were often BROKEN.

Indian Raids Indians would often raid the homes along the frontier –Scalping white people –Abducting women and children

Cynthia Ann Parker Abducted from her home at Fort Parker –May 19, years old Grew up Comanche Married a young chief –Peta Nacona Bore him 2 sons 1 daughter –Quanah Parker –famous Comanche Chief Texas Rangers “rescued” her & her infant daughter in 1860

 Raids continued  Fuel to the Indian fire  Buffalo slaughtered for hides  Charles Rath & the Mooar Brothers developed a market for leather goods from buffalo hide  By 1873 herds north of Texas are wiped out  The buffalo hunters only take the hide leaving the carcass to rot on the prairie  The Indians needed the buffalo  Sympathetic Anglo Americans tried to pass legislation in Texas Congress  “STOP the slaughter”

General Philip Sheridan spoke to the legislature: –“They are destroying the Indians’ commissary, and it is a well known fact that an army losing its base of supplies is placed at a great disadvantage. …let them kill, skin, and sell until the buffaloes are exterminated. Then your prairies can be covered with speckled cattle, and the festive cowboy…” 1 The bill did not pass but… The buffalo hunters continued their slaughter

Adobe Walls Trading Post for buffalo hunters June 1874 –Quanah Parker & –Other warriors of five Native American tribes –Attack the settlement 28 buffalo hunters & 1 woman held them off

Indians Go On A RAMPAGE Angry because their lack of success at Adobe Walls and past treatment –Chiefs and tribes held captive by Anglo’s Indians increase attacks on Anglo settlement Attacks encompass five states and territories –Killing 190 Anglos in 2 months

United States Goes on Rampage President Grant puts the army in charge –Army of approximately 3,000 troops descend upon Palo Duro Canyon –It is estimated that over 5,000 Indians from various tribes and reservations were camped in the canyon Battle of Palo Duro Canyon –Most noted battle of campaign –Few lives were lost BUT over 1,400 Indian horses and mules were taken by the army –The army killed the horses so they would not return to the Indians

June of 1875 Last band of Comanche's surrender –Kwahadies –Quanah Parker is among the band Fort Sill in Indian Territory Native Americans rarely seen on the prairies again

All photos and paintings are property of Panhandle Plains Historical Museum of Canyon Texas. (This does not include the map on slide 2 or the small icons)