Chapter 20: The Indian Wars

Section 3: The Red River War

The Battle of Adobe Walls

• Spring 1874: Situation desperate for Plains Indians

• Isatai calls for war to drive out buffalo hunters

• June 1874: Plains Indians leaders, including Quanah Parker & Lone Wolf meet

Quanah Parker

The Battle of Adobe Walls

•Target trading post at Adobe Walls

•Battle of Adobe Walls—where 700 Indians attacked a trading post and were defeated by fewer than 30 whites with buffalo guns

The caption on this illustration reads: "Glistening with war paint and decked in his battle raiment, every Indian believed that he galloped to certain victory."

“The Battle of Adobe Walls," Pearson's Magazine, January 1908.

The Battle of Adobe Walls

•Four defenders died

•12 to 30 Indians died

•Plains Indians launch attacks in CO, KS, NM, OK, & TX

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

• Gen. William T. Sherman ordered to attack raiding Indians “wherever found…the Reservation lines should be no barrier.”

• Gens. Sherman & Sheridan organize campaign to remove Indians

General William T. Sherman

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

•August 1874: army begins offensive known as “Red River War”

•3000 troops divided into 5 groups headed toward Indian villages along upper Red River

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

•Texas Rangers participated

•Col. Nelson Miles led force of 750 soldiers against 600 Cheyenne who escaped in late August

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

•Maj. William Price defeated a band of Indians near Sweetwater Creek

•Col. John Davidson & LTC George Buell’s forces destroyed many Indian villages and forced many Indians onto reservations

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

• Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie learned that Comanche, Kiowa, & Cheyenne are camping in Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

• Sept. 28, 1874: Mackenzie & 500 troops enter canyon

• Launch surprise attack against villages

• Killed three Comanche

Ranald Mackenzie

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

•Mackenzie defeated the Comanche at Palo Duro Canyon by destroying their villages, horses & supplies

•Flee out on the Plains

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

•Leave behind supplies, including 1400 horses

•Mackenzie ordered horses shot

•Ordered men to burn villages

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

•Battle of Palo Duro Canyon—battle which finally defeated the Texas Plains Indians by wiping out their horses, villages, & supplies

• Indians left with no choice but to accept reservation life