|
In 1865 hundreds of Plains Indians camped on these
prairies to talk peace with government officials. Among
them were Chiefs Black Kettle and Seven Bulls
(Cheyenne), Little Raven and Big Mouth (Comanche), Poor Bear
(Apache), Satanta and Satank (Kiowa). Federal commissioners
with great prestige among the Indians were
General Harney, Colonel Leavenworth, Kit Carson and
Wm. Bent. The whites wanted peace, unmolested traffic
on the Santa Fe trail and limitation of Indian territory.
The Indians demanded unrestricted hunting grounds and
reparation for the Chivington massacre of Black Kettle's
band. Treaties made here gave the Indians reservations
south of the Arkansas, excluded them north to the
Platte and proclaimed peace. Several white captives were
released, among them a woman and four children from
Texas. Later both sides charged violations and warfare
continued until the Medicine Lodge treaties of 1867.
There is a monument one mile west.
|
Visit the Home Page for Kansas