During the first part of the nineteenth century, the United States had forcibly relocated many American Indian nations onto lands west of the Mississippi River. As the population density increased, so did conflicts between the diverse tribes and between the Indians and the invading Americans. Briefly described below are a few of the American Indian conflicts from 1870.
Lakota and Crow
Near the Little Big Horn River in Montana, a Lakota war party attacked a Crow camp of 160 lodges. Thirteen Crows were killed, and the entire camp beat a hasty retreat. According to historian Keith Algier, in his book The Crow and the Eagle: A Tribal History from Lewis and Clark to Custer:
“This incident marked the end of Crow control over that part of their reservation which was situated east of the Big Horn River.”
Arapaho and Shoshone
In Wyoming, Arapaho leaders Medicine Man, Black Bear, Sorrel Horse, Little Wolf, Knock Knees, and Little Robe established peace with the Shoshone leader Washakie. The Arapaho were seeking permission to live temporarily on the Shoshone’s Wind River Reservation.
Pawnee and Sioux
In Nebraska, Pawnee women who were gathering wood were attacked and killed by a Sioux war party. U.S. Troops in the area pursued the Sioux and killed one warrior. Some Pawnee warriors were allowed to ride with the troops.
Vigilantes
In Wyoming a group of American vigilantes were formed to find some Arapahos who had been accused of raiding livestock. The American vigilantes assisted by some Shoshone warriors encountered the unarmed camp of Chief Black Bear whom they killed, along with 13 others. They captured a child, Swiftest Runner, who was adopted by an American captain. The boy’s name was changed to Sherman Coolidge. As a consequence of this attack, the Arapahos left the Shoshone reservation.
Kiowa and Comanche
A Kiowa and Comanche war party under the leadership of Satanta, Eagle Heart, and Big Tree passed into Texas. Medicine man Maman’te had had the owls come to him in a vision and tell him that they would see two American parties. They were to let the first one pass and attack the second.
The following day the war party saw an army ambulance with a cavalry escort. The Indians let the soldiers go past, not knowing that General William T. Sherman was in the ambulance. Later in the day, a second wagon train came down the road and was attacked. Seven of the 12 teamsters were killed, and the war party looted the wagons.
When later questioned about the raid, Satanta freely admitted that he led it. Consequently, the Army arrested Santanta, Satank, and Big Tree and had them taken to Texas to stand trial for murder. The moderate Kiowa chiefs, Kicking Bird and Stumbling Bear, argued vehemently against this action even though they personally opposed Satanta.
Army and Comanche
In the Texas Panhandle, troops attacked a Comanche camp, killing 24 Indians and taking 124 prisoners. The prisoners, almost all women and children, were to be held as hostages to insure good behavior from other Comanches. The troops burned the Indian lodges and captured most of the horse herd. Within two days, however, the Comanche managed to recapture most of their horses.
Kickapoo
In Texas, Mexican Kickapoo raiders from Coahuila captured about 40 horses from a ranch near Fort Clark. Two ranchers trailed the raiders back into Mexico, and, while the warriors were sleeping, they recaptured the horses. However, they were caught by the Mexican army and arrested on suspicion of stealing horses. When the Kickapoo warriors came to Santa Rosa to claim the horses, the Texans filed a suit against the Indians in the local court. Jesus Galan, acting as the attorney for the Kickapoo, argued that since the Kickapoo were at war with the Texans, they had a right to steal north of the border. In the end, 17 horses were awarded to the Texans.
In response to raids by the Mexican Kickapoo, the Texas state legislature authorized the formation of 20 companies of Texas Rangers. In his book The Kickapoos: Lords of the Middle Border, A.M. Gibson reports:
“Poor financing, however, nullified the force of this measure; only about half of the companies were ever formed, and these were disbanded in 1871.”
The United States Army, in violation of federal laws and in violation of international treaties, invaded Mexico in an attempt to capture Mexican Kickapoos and force them onto a reservation in Oklahoma. The invasion was in response to complaints about Kickapoo raids into Texas. The army succeeded in capturing some Kickapoos and placing them on an Oklahoma reservation where they became known as Mexican Kickapoos.
Kiowa
In Oklahoma, the Kiowas carried out a series of raids on the Indian Agency Headquarters at Fort Sill. They captured horses and mules, killed cows, and plundered the fields. At the end of the summer, the Kiowa sent a message:
“The white people need not sit trembling in their tents, peeping out to see if our warriors are coming. You can now send your horses out to graze, and your men out to chop wood.”
The army had 500 men at the Fort at this time.
Pawnee
In Nebraska, an Indian agent arbitrarily “arrested” two men from each of three Pawnee bands which were believed to have stolen horses. All of the accused were U.S. Army Scouts, and the Secretary of War advised no other punishment beyond making restitution. However, the Pawnees stayed in jail as the Indian Office and the War Department exchanged correspondence on this matter.
Navajo
In Arizona and New Mexico, Navajo leaders Manuelito and Narbono used force to recapture a herd of sheep from a raiding party. In their book A History of the Navajos: The Reservation Years, Garrick Bailey and Roberta Glenn Bailey report:
“This event marked a major change in the Navajo political system: for the first time, the chiefs were attempting to assume control over raiding.”
Indians 101
Twice each week Indians 101 explores a variety of American Indian topics. More from this series:
Indians 201: Leopold Pokagon, Potawatomi leader
Indians 101: Sacagawea (Sacajawea)
Indians 101: Traditional Pawnee marriage and family
Indians 101: Everyday life among Washington Indians (museum diary)
Indians 101: Iroquois Farming
Indians 101: American Indians 500 years ago, 1520
Indians 201: Mourning Dove, first American Indian woman novelist
Indians 101: The Horse and the Great Basin Indians