In October 1865 hundreds of Plains Indians camped on these prairies to
negotiate peace with U.S. government officials. Among them were Chiefs
Black Kettle and Seven Bulls (Cheyenne), Little Raven and Big Mouth
(Arapahos), Rising Sun and Horse's Back (Comanches), Poor Bear (Apache),
and Satanta and Satank (Kiowa). Federal commissioners with great
prestige among the Indians were General Harney, Jesse H. Leavenworth,
Christopher "Kit" Carson and William Bent.
Both sides wanted to end the hostilities on the Plains. The
commissioners also hoped to reach an agreement that would make travel on
the western trails safer and further restrict Indian lands. Native
Americans sought unrestricted hunting grounds and reparation for the
Sand Creek Massacre suffered the year before by Black Kettle's band.
The negotiations resulted in treaties that gave the Indians reservation
lands south of the Arkansas River and denied them their hunting grounds
north to the Platte River. Peace was proclaimed; however, the treaties
were never ratified by the U.S. Congress and both sides later charged
the other with violating the agreement, resulting in further conflict.
There is a monument one mile west.
Erected by the Kansas
Historical Society & Kansas Department of Transportation
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