Chapter 20 Frontier Wars

1865 Treaty of Little Arkansas How did the Civil War and Reconstruction affect relations between American Indians and settlers in Texas? Civil War Reconstruction 1865 Treaty of Little Arkansas The Civil War left the Texas frontier settlements unprotected as many soldiers and civilian men left to fight in the war. Plains Indians took advantage of their absence to raid and reclaim lost lands. The war’s end led to the arrival of federal troops to guard the Texas frontier. However, there were not enough troops to protect the scattered frontier settlements. Federal commissioners met with leaders of Comanches, Kiowas, and others. Comanches and Kiowas agreed to settle on a reservation in Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle (but was never created) Some Comanches and Kiowas renewed their attacks on frontier settlements causing settlers to move to safer areas.

Treaty of Medicine Lodge In 1867 government officials met with Comanches, Kiowas, and other Plains Indians at Medicine Lodge Creek in Kansas. The government proposed setting aside 3 million acres of land for a reservation in Indian Territory and they had to stop raiding and take up farming. Not all groups agreed to proposed terms and chose to remain on the plains. Several thousand Comanches, Apaches, and Kiowas agreed and moved to the reservation. In addition, the government promised to provide buildings, schools, farming tools, and a total of $25,000 a year for 30 years.

Peace Policy In 1869 President Grant established the Board of Indian Commissioners to carry out the terms of the peace treaty. The government hoped to teach the Plains Indians to make a living by farming. Unfortunately, the land set aside for the reservation had poor soil and Indians could not grow enough food to survive. As a result, American Indians living on reservations lacked basic supplies and often went hungry.

The Slaughter of the Buffalo Why were buffalo killed? How did it affect the American Indians? Expansion of railroads Buffalo hide industry Buffalo guns Desire to force Plains Indians onto reservations Almost exterminated the buffalo Endangered American Indians food supply and nomadic way of life.

Fighting on the Rio Grande Why did the Indian raids along the Rio Grande end? Victorio and other American Indians began raids into Texas from Mexico. U.S. Army ordered 2,500 troops, “buffalo soldiers”, to the Rio Grande area to stop the raids. https://www.yout ube.com/watch?v= WbcxZM32ZrQ The raids are finally stopped after the Mexican army joined the chase. Victorio dies in 1880 while being pursued.

Reservation Life Farming Traditional Culture Ownership of Land Required to farm and own land individually. Efforts to farm and ranch failed usually because they received poor land and had no experience using the techniques taught. When government officials did not supply food, they faced starvation. Banned from practicing traditions, like Sun Dance, so they held them in secret. Continued to speak their own language as well as English. Preserved many of their customs, myths and styles of dress despite attempts to eliminate them. Shared the land they farmed. Some reservation lands were divided among individual families. Many did not receive enough land to support themselves. Remaining lands were sold. Not granted full citizenship as promised until 1924.

Peace policies officially abandoned. BATTLE U.S. LEADER NATIVE AMERICAN WHAT HAPPENED? EFFECT SALT CREEK RAID   No U.S. military Leader Satanta Satank Big Tree Kiowas attacked wagon train on May 18, 1871, and killed 7 men. Gen. Sherman sent troops after the raiders and traveled to Fort Sill. Indian Agent Tatum asked them about the attack and Satanta claimed responsibility. Sherman arrested the leaders. Satank killed trying to escape. Satanta & Big Tree sentenced to hang, but set free, in 1873, in hopes of peace. Peace policies officially abandoned. U.S. military planned a series of attacks against Plains Indians who refused to live on or move to reservations.

Many Comanches moved to reservations. BATTLE U.S. LEADER NATIVE AMERICAN WHAT HAPPENED? EFFECT MCCLELLAN CREEK Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie Quanah Parker After Indian raids, Mackenzie renewed his attacks on Comanches. Sept. 29, 1872, troops defeated a Comanche force at McClellan Creek killing many Comanches. Troops destroyed the Indian village and took captive about 120 Comanche women & children. Quanah Parker led an attack on Mackenzie’s camp the next evening trying to free to Comanche prisoners. Many Comanches moved to reservations.

Hunters used buffalo guns to defend themselves. BATTLE U.S. LEADER NATIVE AMERICAN WHAT HAPPENED? EFFECT BATTLE OF ADOBE WALLS Buffalo hunters   Quanah Parker (Comanche) Lone Wolf (Kiowa) 700 Indians groups attacked a trading post/buffalo hunters’ camp on June 27, 1874. Hunters used buffalo guns to defend themselves. 4 hunters died and somewhere between 12 and 30 Indians died. Attack failed. Plains Indians began a widespread war against buffalo hunters and settlers. President Grant put army in charge of Native American problems.

Soldiers forced hundreds of Indian women & children onto reservations. BATTLE U.S. LEADER NATIVE AMERICAN WHAT HAPPENED? EFFECT RED RIVER CAMPAIGN Planned by: General Sherman & Philip Sheridan Major John D. Jones led TX Rangers Kiowa Comanche Cheyenne Military campaign to kill or remove remaining Indians in the Panhandle of Texas. Soldiers forced hundreds of Indian women & children onto reservations. Supplies at reservations were in short supply. Frontier Battalion protected Texas settlers. In 17 months they fought 21 battles.

BATTLE OF PALO DURO CANYON U.S. LEADER NATIVE AMERICAN WHAT HAPPENED? EFFECT BATTLE OF PALO DURO CANYON (Last Battle of Red River Campaign) Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie Quanah Parker   (Last chief to surrender at Fort Sill in June 1875) Sept. 28, 1874, 500 troops attacked Comanche villages Indians fled and left behind horses and supplies Army set fire to Native American villages & shot over 1,000 horses Most decisive battle of Red River Campaign With no supplies or horses most Indians moved to reservations. By November, 1875, very few Indians left on the Plains.