ATTACK AT THE WASHITA
At
daybreak on November 27, 1868, Lt. Col. George A. Custer ordered the 7th Cavalry
to charge into the 
sleeping
camp of Cheyenne Peace Chief Black Kettle on the Washita River in western
Oklahoma. In line with General Philip Sheridan's strategy of winter warfare
against the Plains Indians, the attack was designed to destroy their ponies,
supplies, and shelters, with the ultimate goal of driving them onto reservations
and freeing the Great Plains for white settlement. The attack replicated the
1864 Sand Creek Massacre, which also targeted Black Kettle's followers, and
it became a watershed in the Indian Wars, uniting the Plains tribes in resistance
to Anglo-American intrusion into the Plains and leading to the 1876 Battle
of the Little Bighorn. In recognition of its significance, the Washita site
was designated a National Historic Site on November 12, 1996. To this date
the events of that November dawn still engage historians and the Cheyenne
people.
November 28, 1864--Sand Creek Massacre
Though reassured that his camp would be safe while camped in the vicinity of Sand Creek, on November 29, 1864, nearly four years to the day before the attack at the Washita, Black Kettle's band was attacked by the Colorado Third Regiment under the command of Colonel John M. Chivington at Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado.
In the fall of 1865 at the Treaty of the Little Arkansas, Black Kettle said of Sand Creek,
"…my shame is as big of the earth…I once thought that I was the only man that persevered to be the friend of the white man, but since they have come and cleaned out our lodges, horses, and everything else, it is hard for to believe the white man any more…" (Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1865, 704.)
"
1867--Broken Promises: Treaty of Medicine Lodge
After
the signing of the 1867 Treaty of Medicine Lodge the Cheyennes were satisfied
that their lives would continue as before. The treaty provided them with reservation
lands between the Arkansas , Cimarron river and the 37th parallel. However
in order to get the Cheyennes to sign the treaty it was implied that they
would be continue to be free to hunt north of the Arkansas river as long as
they kept clear of white settlements and there was buffalo to hunt. When there
were no more buffalo to hunt then the Cheyennes would move to the reservation
set aside for them in Indian Territory. In exchange for confining themselves
within reservation boundaries and for ending attacks against settlers they
would receive an annuity of $20,000 for 25 years in addition to other annuities.
The
Cheyennes felt cheated by the Treaty of Medicine Lodge. The annunities promised
were not delivered during the winter months when the tribes were depending
on them the most. Restlessness and resentment grew until a small group of
Cheyenne warriors made a series of attacks on settlers. Sheridan labeled all
of the Cheyenne people as hostile and preparations were being made to punish
the Cheyenne people, peaceful or not. Though there were military retaliations
after the attacks none were completely successful. Sheridan came up with the
strategy to attack during the winter months when the tribes would be most
vulnerable. 
