Oklahoma Journeys
Week of November 22, 2008
The Battle of the Washita November 27, 1868
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The collision of two cultures this week. As white culture moved across the North American continent, inevitably they ran into the Native American cultures already settled here for thousands of years. As always happens when two cultures meet, they either must meld together or battle for dominance. Once such battle occurred during this week of 1868, and that’s the topic of this week’s Oklahoma Journeys from the Oklahoma History Center.
From the Oklahoma History Center, this is Oklahoma Journeys. I’m Michael Dean.
It was 140 years ago this week that the US Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Colonel George Custer, engaged in a pre-dawn attack on the Cheyenne Camp of Chief Black Kettle. In the frozen blackness of November 27th, 1868, with the country blanketed by over a foot of fresh snow, US forces charged into the Cheyenne Camp, located on the banks of the Washita River near present day Cheyenne, Oklahoma. They killed everyone and anything they could find. Between 50 and 100 Cheyenne were killed with 50 more captured while the cavalry suffered only two losses. To add further injury, over 800 Indian horses and ponies were systematically slaughtered by US troops and all 51 lodges and their contents were incinerated. Imminent retaliation from large bands of Arapahos, Kiowas, and Cheyennes camped further downstream forced Custer to gather up the captives and head back to his base at Camp Supply.
The events leading up to this battle of the Washita involve the collision of two cultures; the manic desire of whites to conquer and control every possible bit of land, and the nomadic wandering culture of the plains Indians. The plains tribes, including Chief Black Kettle, known as the Peace Chief, had signed a variety of treaties between 1864 and 1867 saying that they would accept life on reservations and stop their nomadic lifestyle. Under the provisions of the 1867 Medicine Lodge treaty, the Cheyennes, Kiowas, Commanches, Arapahos, as well as other plains tribes, agreed to live peacefully on allotted reservation lands. In return the tribes were to receive from the government various food and equipment annuities. A problem occurred in that these treaties were obeyed by some of the tribal members but not by all. While most of the plains tribes quietly accepted the reservation life that was to be their fate, other “war parties” made up usually of younger members refused to abide by the laws and treaties and continued roaming and raiding.
It was in retaliation for these raids that the US Army conducted the Washita attack although Black Kettle was flying the US Flag at his Washita camp and thought that he was on good terms with the white government. General Custer discovered the quiet village by tracking raiders into the camp and attacked at dawn. By destroying one Cheyenne camp whether or not it was guilty or innocent, a message was sent to all plains tribes: stay on the reservations or face harsh punishments. The Washita Battle site is now a national historic site and much more can be learned about this event by visiting the area located just a few miles west of the present day Cheyenne, Oklahoma.
You can learn more about the Battle of the Washita by visiting the Oklahoma History Center, on NE 23rd Street, just east of the state capitol in Oklahoma City. You’ll find an exhibit explaining the battle and featuring artifacts from the battle field. Oklahoma Journeys is a production of the Oklahoma History Center, dedicated to the collection, preservation, and sharing of our state’s past. I’m Michael Dean.