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The U.S Army in the Indian Wars 1865-1890
Winning the West The U.S Army in the Indian Wars
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Indian Wars Bozman Trail & Hancock’s War Nez Perce Sioux Modoc Kiowa
Colville Steilacoom Vancouver Shaw Walla Walla Benton Sioux Buford Nez Perce Ellis C.F. Smith Modoc Boise Klamath Phil Kearny Sully Hall Fetterman Reno Randall Laramie Bridger Halleck D.A. Russell Cheyenne/Arapahoe Churchill Douglas Omaha McPherson Kearney Riley Leavenworth Wallace Kiowa Hayes Harker Larned Lyon Garland Dodge Apache Union (Circles represent approximations of traditional hunting grounds) Bozman Trail – Created to connect Montana Gold fields with the Platte Road (main route through the Plains) Sioux (primarily those that had not signed the treaty that established it) in the area resorted to violence to keep whites from using the road. -Col. Henry Carrington established posts to protect the trail (Fort Phil Kearny and C.F. Smith in 1866) However, he did not have sufficient forces to deal with the amount of Indians in the area. Quick and violent raids occurred that Carrington could not properly react to. The Forts were essentially surrounded and the garrisons efforts were most efforts are to directed to simply defend themselves. On December 21 the Indians assaulted the wood train outside Fort Phil Kearney. CPT William Fetterman was sent out to react to it. Fetterman’s force of 81 men was massacred. Plans are made for Col Gibbon to lead a force north and Gen Hancock with a force south to punish the Indians for this and other violence. A peace commission indefinitely delayed Gibbon, but Hancock executed his mission. General Hancock masses a large force vic. Fort Learned. His approach to Indian Hostilities in the southern plains was to march his troops fwd and give each tribe an ultimatum: Peace or War. The Indians Scatter and chose the latter. Violence results. Hancock was forced to break up his force to protect the forts and surrounding communities (much like the situation in the Northern Plains) . Hancock’s one mobile force accomplished little other than the troopers being run to near exhaustion, and the resulting relief of their commander: Custer. Back in Northern Plains, the Indians attacked forces working outside the forts: The Hayfield fight (1 Aug 1867) and the Wagon Box Fight (2 Aug 1867). While the Soldiers/workers were able to hold off the Indians, these incidents demonstrated the helplessness of the cause. A peace treaty had been offered several times prior to these fights, but Red Cloud would not sign until the Army agreed to abandon the forts. The troops finally withdrew in August 68 and the forts were burned by the Indians shortly after. Without protection, the Bozman trail was also abandoned. (The location of these forts are significant later in the lesson, as they are located in the vicinity of the Little Big Horn. Their strategic location may have been key in a different outcome for the battle that occurs there in 1876) Wingate Verde Bascom Comanche McDowell Sumner Yuma Apache Bayard Lowell Stanton Indian Wars Bozman Trail & Hancock’s War Bowie Seldon Cummings Richardson Griffin Bliss Quitman Concho Stockton Davis Clark
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Indian Wars Southern Plains War Nez Perce Sioux Modoc Kiowa Apache
Colville Steilacoom Vancouver Shaw Walla Walla Benton Sioux Buford Nez Perce Ellis C.F. Smith Modoc Boise Klamath Phil Kearny Sully Hall Sioux Fetterman Reno Randall Laramie Bridger Halleck D.A. Russell Cheyenne/Arapahoe Churchill Douglas Omaha McPherson Kearney Riley Leavenworth Wallace Kiowa Hayes Harker Larned Lyon Garland Dodge Apache Union Supply By November 68 both Northern and Southern Plains Indians had signed the Fort Laramie Treaty and the Medicine Lodge Treaty respectively. The Sioux in the north were to settle in South Dakota, west of the Missouri and would retain the right to hunt in the unceded territory to the west. The Southern Plains Indians were to settle in two reservations located in the western side of Oklahoma (the eastern portion of this territory had already been filled with relocated East Coast Indians). The Southern Indians did not take well to reservation life. Continuous misunderstandings and conflict of culture resulted in raiding and violence. Sheridan, the Division of Missouri Cdr, formulated a strategy similar to the Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War – Instead of attacking the Indians as Hancock did, Sheridan would attack their means of survival. (Food, shelter, transportation: Ponies) He further enhanced this strategy by attacking in winter, when it would force the Indians to return to the food and shelter provided at the reservation. To accomplish this, Sheridan formed three independent, but converging forces. These forces did not mass together, but concentrated in the same area, with two columns designed to flush them out, and the third column used to destroy the Indian Camps. This was a highly effective campaign (the most productive battles occurring at Washita by the reinstated Custer, and Summit Springs) which resulted in the Indians returning to the reservations. By May 1869, the Union Pacific Railroad was completed, and it, and the surrounding settlers, were relatively secure from the Indians now occupying their reservations. Wingate Bascom Cheyenne/Arapaho Verde Comanche McDowell Sumner Sill Apache Kiowa/Comanche Yuma Bayard Lowell Stanton Bowie Seldon Cummings Richardson Indian Wars Southern Plains War Griffin Bliss Quitman Concho Stockton Davis Clark
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Indian Wars Nez Perce Sioux Modoc Apache Apache 1871-75
Colville Steilacoom Vancouver Shaw Walla Walla Benton Buford Abraham Lincoln Nez Perce Keogh Ellis Yates Sioux C.F. Smith Modoc Boise Klamath Phil Kearny Meade Sully Hall Sioux Fetterman Reno Randall Laramie Bridger Robinson Halleck D.A. Russell Churchill Douglas Omaha McPherson Kearney Riley Leavenworth Wallace Hayes Harker Harker Larned Lyon Garland Dodge Apache Union Supply (New forts constructed in 1870s and tracks of the Northern Pacific RR get laid to the center of North Dakota by 1872). Apache problems – Difficult terrain/Indians in small bands, separated by long distances. Reservations established in Sept 71, but peaceful attempts to get Apaches to accept reservations fail. Crook was made commander in June 71. He inherited a very difficult situation, but his solution was to: Form small mobile units that could apply constant pressure to the bands (see analysis page for more detail/quote) and utilize mobile pack mules for re-supply (rather than wagons) Utilize friendly Indians to work in conjuncture with soldiers. Additionally, Crook motivated his men with a great fighting spirit. This spirit was necessary to outlast their foe in a land that was inhospitable to both Indian and soldier. Through a long process, the Apaches were eventually worn down. They rose up again in 1881, but similar tactics (along with the return of Crook who had been absent during the deterioration of security) again returned the area to peace. By 1874 the Southern Plains Indians were no longer satisfied with Reservation life. Violence again erupted as Indian warriors conducted raids in their traditional lands. Once again, Sheridan uses the same converging columns to rectify the situation. The columns were still not mutually supportive, but since Indians normally fled the scene, the intent for the columns was to flush them out, and/or destroy their means of survival. The Indians had no place to run with 5 columns of troops in the area, and thus, for the second time, this tactic succeeded. In survey teams were looking for routes for the Northern Pacific RR in the northern plains (Dashed line represents the rail eventually laid in the 1880’s). There was also a renewed interest in the Indian Hunting grounds for economic (gold) and military reasons, so in 1874, Custer conducted a reconnaissance through the Dakota and Montana territories. This all created conflict with the Sioux who, seeing their hunting rights violated, responded with violence. Realizing their inability to keep their own people from entering the area, the U.S. Government and military called for an eviction of the Indians from those lands. The army once again planned to utilize the converging columns to flush them out. Wingate Cheyenne/Arapaho Verde Bascom McDowell Sumner Sill Kiowa/Comanche Yuma Apache Thomas Bayard Lowell Stanton Bowie Indian Wars Apache Red River War Sioux War 1876 Huachuca Seldon Cummings Richardson Griffin Bliss Quitman Concho Stockton Davis Clark
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Arickaree, Mandan, Gros Ventre FT CF SMITH (Abandoned)
FT SHAW FT BENTON Missouri River FT LARAMIE FT FETTERMAN Laramie Mountains FT RENO (Abandoned) FT PHIL KEARNY FT ELLIS Shoshone Reservation Sioux-Assiniboine Devils Lake Crow Great Sioux FT RANDALL FT ABRAHAM LINCOLN FT BUFORD FT TOTTEN FT PECK WYOMING TERRITORY MONTANA DAKOTA NEBRASKA Red Cloud Agency Spotted Tail Agency Lower Brule Agency Crow Creek Cheyenne River Agency Standing Rock Crow Agency Virginia City Bozeman Sun River Niobrara River White River James River Moreau River Belle Fourche River Cheyenne River Grand River Cannonball River Heart River Sheyenne River Musselshell River Yellowstone River Little Bighorn River Tongue River Powder River Little Powder River Bighorn Mountains Black Hills Little Missouri Arickaree, Mandan, Gros Ventre IDAHO Wind Rocky Mountains CAMP BAKER North Platte River MILES 50 100 150 CROOK TERRY GIBBON Century Campaign 1 April–25 June 1876 N Rosebud Creek River FT CF SMITH (Abandoned) Bighorn River Glendive Depot Powder River Depot Camp Supply 30 25 20 15 10 5 June (Arrows shown to orient from the previous slide) On 1 April, Col John Gibbon left Ft. Ellis with 4 Cavalry Co’s and 5 In Co’s (450 men). He established a supply depot, conducted a recon to the south vic. the Big Horn Rivers (finding nothing) and continued movement up the Yellowstone river. On 16 May recon elements found the Indian Camp (which was slowly moving to the Southwest) south of the Yellowstone, but Gibbon was unable to cross it at that location. Indian raiding party harassed Gibbon’s forces. General Alfred Terry left Ft. Abraham Lincoln on 17 May with 12 Cavalry Co’s and 3 ½ IN Co’s (925 men) and General George Crook left Ft. Fetterman on 29 May with 15 Cavalry Co’s and 5 IN Co’s. Terry established a supply base at Glendive Depot and Crook arrived at the abandoned Ft. Reno. On 7 June Terry and Gibbon join forces and establish another Supply Depot and Terry takes command of both columns. On 17 June Crook encountered a sizable Indian force of warriors on Rosebud Creek. Discovering Crooks movement, many warriors traveled south from their camp to intercept Crook. The resulting Battle of the Rosebud was an engagement that Crook did not expect: warriors willing to attack an army column and stand and fight. While the Indians eventually withdrew first, Crook’s force was sufficiently shaken that they also withdrew to their previous camp. Crook reported the attack higher, but Terry did not receive the information until 30 June. Meanwhile, Terry formulated a plan that utilized his and Gibbon’s forces. Terry would take the slow moving infantry and move down the Big Horn to establish a blocking position. The 26th of June was the target date for the position to be in place. Custer, with the majority of the faster moving Cavalry, would move all the way down the Rosebud, then push the Indian camp north, into the blocking position. This was all based on the belief that the Camp was much farther south than it actually was. May April
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Presumed Location of Indians
Yellowstone River Little Bighorn River Tongue River Muddy Creek Tullock Creek Sarpy Creek Armell’s Creek Lame Deer Creek Otter Creek Davis Creek Reno Creek Rosebud Creek Bighorn River TERRY-GIBBON Terry’s Campaign 10–27 June Powder R. MILES 25 50 C R B CUSTER (Arrows shown to orient to the plan on previous slide) Both forces moved out on 21 June. Custer Arrived at Davis Creek on 24 June. The plan called for him to move down the Rosebud to the headwaters. However, he found the main Indian camp trail vic. of Davis Creek, and decided to follow it west. He organized his force into three groups – one with Benteen, one with Reno and Custer himself commanded the third. He sent Benteen south to insure the Indians had not traveled south. Reno was sent directly west with Custer’s force followed him in support. The intention was to travel just short of the Indian Camp, rest on the 25th and attack on the 26th as planned. During the movement however, Custer thought his force had been compromised and ordered an immediate attack on the morning of the 25th. As Reno attacked from the south, he found the Indian Camp was much bigger than expected (the Sioux and the Cheyenne decided consolidate their camps for mutual protection). The Indians, instead of fleeing away from a cavalry attack (what normally happens in previous operations such as this) attacked Reno with superior numbers of warriors. Custer attempted to move north and attack the northern part of the camp to relieve pressure from Reno and called Benteen to move forward and enter the fight, which he did. Custer did in fact draw pressure off of Reno, but then was overwhelmed by almost the entire warrior force, and was wiped out. The Indians then turned back on Reno and Benteen, but were unsuccessful in dislodging them. On 26 June, the Indian Camp displaced and Terry’s force finally arrived at the battlefield on 27 June. Presumed Location of Indians N Crook’s Goose Creek Camp
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Indian Wars Nez Perce Sioux Modoc (North West) Modoc War 1872-73
Colville Steilacoom Vancouver Walla Walla Lapwai Shaw Nez Perce Benton Buford Missoula Abraham Lincoln Nez Perce Keogh Ellis Yates Sioux Sioux C.F. Smith Modoc/ Klamath Modoc Boise Klamath Phil Kearny Meade Sully Hall Sioux Sioux Fetterman Reno Randall Laramie Bridger Robinson Halleck D.A. Russell Churchill Douglas Omaha McPherson Kearney Riley Leavenworth Wallace Hayes Harker Harker Larned Lyon Garland Dodge Union Supply Following Custer’s “Last Stand” the army attacked in force. The Indians conversely dispersed their united force into three smaller groups. They were eventually hunted down and attacked several times during the fall and winter, utilizing the same tactics of destroying their means of survival. By the spring of 1877, the majority of the Sioux had returned to the reservation due to starvation and exposure. Following the Custer Massacre the US Government rescinded the Sioux’s rights to the hunting lands and created two smaller reservations. In the NW, we see two Army failures: the Modocs and the Nez Perce. While both are eventually subjugated, the Army’s methods and execution were flawed. A portion of the Modoc tribe, lead by a chief called Captain Jack, unhappy with reservation life with the Klamath tribe, returned to their old hunting grounds. When a company from Fort Klameth attempted to forcefully move Captain Jack and his followers back to the reservation, a battle ensued and the Modocs escaped to the Lava Beds vic. Lake Tule. The Modocs were able to use these lava beds like a fortress. Instead of attacking the Modoc’s means of survival, the Army attempted unsuccessfully to physically force the Modoc’s back. Three assaults on the lava beds failed and the troop’s moral falls to dangerous levels. Ultimately, the lack of water force the Modoc’s out of their ‘fortress’. They break up and are eventually captured. Nez Perce were sent to a reservation in 1863 IAW a treaty. However, a portion of them revused to acknowledge the treaty and remained in their hunting grounds. By May 1877, with settlers wanting this land and after many peaceful attempts, the non-treaty Nez Perce were given a 30 day ultimatum to move to the reservation. As they begin to move back, (and continue to debate whether they would actually enter the reservation) a few disgruntled warriors killed 4 whites noted for their poor treatment of Indians. Garrison troops from Fort Lapwai were sent to protect the settlers and immediately attacked the NP. The warriors fought back aggressively and defeated the soldiers. General Howard, commander of the department of Columbia, gathered more forces and moved to force the NP back to the reservation. The NP slip away from Howard and stop at Clearwater. Howard clumsily attacked on July 11, and again the superior fighting skills of the warriors defeated the soldiers. The NP decide to attempt to reach Montana or join Sitting Bull in Canada. They begin their trek west on 30 July and stop to rest vic. Big Hole on Aug 17. Col Gibbon from Fort Missoula attacked with his small force on 9 Aug and was forced back and out of action. But he inflicted large losses on the warriors. The NP continue SW with Howard (who delayed movement for two weeks to reorganize) now in the chase. Howard occupied a recently vacated NP camp site at Camas Meadows on 19 Aug. A NP raid (200 warriors who returned to the camp site) captured 150 mules. Col Samuel Sturgis moved to intercept the NP as they exited a mountain pass, but they maneuver around him and flee north (8 Sept). Sturgis attempted to overtake them and the NP again showed superior fighting skill and defeated the soldiers (13 Sept). Col Nelson Miles organizes 5 IN Co’s and 2 Cav Co’s to intercept the Nez Perce. The NP again decide to rest and slowed their pace after they cross the Missouri River. On 29 Sept, they made camp at Snake Creek. Miles moved north and intercepted the NP just short of the border(30 Sept). Unable to defeat them, he put their camp site under siege. With Howard’s forces moving in, the NP realized the hopelessness of their situation and surrendered. Wingate Bascom Cheyenne/Arapaho Verde McDowell Sumner Sill Yuma Apache Kiowa/Comanche Thomas Bayard Lowell Stanton Bowie Huachuca Seldon Indian Wars (North West) Modoc War Nez Perce War 1877 Cummings Richardson Griffin Bliss Quitman Concho Stockton Davis Clark
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Indian Wars 1865 1890 Nez Perce Sioux Modoc Kiowa Apache Comanche
Colville Steilacoom Vancouver Shaw Walla Walla Benton Sioux Buford Nez Perce Ellis Modoc Boise Klamath Phil Kearny Sully Hall Fetterman Reno Randall Laramie Bridger Halleck D.A. Russell Cheyenne/Arapahoe Churchill Douglas Omaha McPherson Kearney Riley Leavenworth Wallace Kiowa Hayes Harker Larned Lyon Garland Dodge Apache Union This slide presented to show the differences between the Indians control in 1865, and the success of the Army in securing the west – the reservations and rail lines represent the connection of east and west and the taming of the west. Wingate Verde Bascom Comanche McDowell Sumner Yuma Apache Bayard Lowell Stanton Indian Wars Bowie Seldon Cummings Richardson Griffin Bliss 1865 Quitman Concho Stockton 1890 Davis Clark
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