Frontier Wars in Texas

The Peace Policy

West Texas Forts of the 1870’s

U.S. Army vs. IndiansToo few men

Inexperienced in frontier warfare

Forts too wide spread

Too few supplies

Familiar land

Skillful warriors

Rapid fire bow/arrow

Torture and Ambush

Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek, Ks.

Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek, Kansas - 1867

Indians move to reservationsUS gov’t would provide food, supplies, & education/religious trainingIndian council could ruleNot under Army jurisdictionNo Anglo buffalo hunts south of Arkansas River white man had restricted access to the area

Peace Policy Problems

Many tribes not present

Indians unwilling to change

Indians’ pride

Corrupt Indian agents

Result:1871 – Gen.

Sherman

Was sent to the TX

frontier to deal with the

problem

Fort Richardson

Infirmary

Officers Quarters

I love the land and the buffalo and will not part with it.

The buffalo is our money. . .our cattle given to us by the Great Father above.

A person who slaughtered buffalo for the value of their hides.

They killed the Native Americans buffalo which forced some Native Americans to leave the reservation and raid white settlements

Buffalo Hunters

Killing for Sport

Analyze natives’ reactions . . .

Rath brothers’ market for buffalo hides

“For the sake of a lasting peace, let them kill and sell until the buffalo are exterminated.” Gen. Philip Sheridan

1871 – Salt Creek Massacre

Chiefs: Satanta, Satank, Big TreeMed. Man: Mamanti & pet owl

Sherman: last stop Ft.Richardson; 1st to cross Salt Crk. Prairie

2nd wagon train was attacked

Result: Peace Policy (treaty) ended

Battle of Adobe WallsJune, 1874

War chief - Quanah ParkerMedicine man - Isa-taiLocation: Tx. panhandle800 (?) Indians/30 buffalo huntersIndians were defeated, angeredIncreased Indian raids

Adobe Walls

Red River CampaignAugust, 1874

Col. Ranald Mackenzie

4th Cavalry, 3,000 soldiers

Persistently searched Tx. Panhandle

Maj. John B. Jones, Frontier Battalion

Protected frontier settlers

6 months - 15 battles

Palo Duro Canyon

Battle of Palo Duro CanyonSept. 1874

Tonkawa scouts led 4th Cavalry

Comanches fled

Army destroyed Indians’ food, tepees, horses

Col. Ranald Mackenzie

Kwahadi Comanches last to give up

Chief Quanah Parker

Surrendered June 1875

Fort Sill, Indian Territory

Quanah Parker

BEFORE AFTER

Buffalo Soldiers

**African American soldiers who guarded the Texas frontier after the Civil War.**

They scouted, mapped, and built roads between the settled and unsettled areas of the state.

They also patrolled the frontier, protecting settlers from Native American raids.

After the Indian Wars

Cattle thieves were common

Outlaws robbed stagecoaches and trains

Ranchers fought over land

Violence against Mexican Americans and African Americans was on the rise

Mexican bandits raided Texas towns

Texas was not a safe place to live…

Texas Rangers

Were called upon to bring the law back to Texas.