War on the Plains! Ch. 20

Overview The Basics! The Civil War/Reconstruction affected the relationship between Natives and Texans The Federal Government is about to bring the hammer down! Natives are going to be headed to reservations...but not without a fight!

Change on the Horizon Most settlements were left open to raids when soldiers went off to war Plains Natives took advantage of their absence Between 1865 and 1867 there were many federal troops in TX, but not enough to protect the frontier and the settlers! Attempt to Reconcile #1: a formal agreement (treaty)

Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek Federal troops go to Kansas to negotiate with Comanche, Kiowa, and other plains natives Gov’t offers 3 million acres of land for a reservation in Indian Territory Several thousand Comanche, Apache, and Kiowa moved and the gov’t agreed to provide buildings for schools, $25,000 and tools

Small Success, Large Failure Natives had to stop fighting and start farming Government food supplies, aide, money, etc. were intercepted or sold illegally and never made it to the reservations (hello, government corruption!) Supplies that did make it weren’t enough to make up the difference so often natives lacked basic necessities and food Buffalo were being hunted to extinction...we will come back to this

War on the Plains is Coming... Natives are still riled up! Natives on the reservation were upset with their quality of life. Natives on the plains were upset with westward expansion.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: 1871-1873 A Series of Unfortunate Events: A group of Kiowas attack a stagecoach near Fort Richardson Kiowa and Comanche groups attack a wagon trail near Salt Creek, which will prompt the arrest of several Indian leaders In response to Salt Creek, the U.S. War Department plans attacks on Natives who refuse to live on reservations Federal Troops meet with Quanah Parker (last chief of the Comanche) at Blanco Canyon By the end of 1873, General Mackenzie (recommended by General Grant...remember him?) brought a stop to most of the border raids

Important Individuals Quanah Parker General Mackenzie

Battle of Adobe Walls (June 1874) The Last Stand Battle of Adobe Walls (June 1874) About 700 Comanche and Kiowa are led by Quanah Parker Natives unsuccessfully attack the trading post trying to run buffalo hunters out

Battle of Palo Duro Canyon (Sept. 1874) The Last Stand (cont.) Battle of Palo Duro Canyon (Sept. 1874) General Mackenzie and 500 U.S. Troops launched a surprise attack on Natives camped near Amarillo The attack caught Natives off guard and they fled, abandoning their camp, supplies, horses, etc. This defeat ultimately forced the Natives on to reservations and ended the era of control that Natives used to have on the plains

The End of the Buffalo Railroad companies cleared thousands of acres to build lines Non-Native hunters killed for sport, profit (hides), and food Used “buffalo guns” with telescopes to hunt from a still position According to the terms of the Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek buffalo hunters weren’t allowed on reservation land, but the army did not enforce it Between 1872 and 1874 4.3 MILLION buffalo were killed