Welcome to Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, Cheyenne, OK
**Washita Battlefield National Historic Site** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 66000633, date listed 10/15/1966
NW of Cheyenne on U.S. 283
Cheyenne, OK (Roger Mills County)
A National Historic Landmark (www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks/list-of-nh...).
The Washita Battlefield lies in the center of Roger Mills County, which borders the Texas Panhandle. The essential features of the site are generally unchanged and the area of original military action stretches some six miles along the Washita River. The terrain of this battlefield was most important in the success of the campaign. Custer and his subordinate commanders used the various ridge lines and mountains as a shelter to completely encircle the camp and effectively reduce the escape route. Black Kettle's forces were thereby trapped in the valley, causing such a high number of killed.
The cultural collision between white man and Indian reached its tragic climax in the post-Civil War years on the Great Plains. The white pioneer-settler— with his farms, villages, rails and roads— aimed to domesticate the land, to own it, to locate permanently upon it. The nomadic Plains Indian— with his horse, mobile home and migratory buffalo herds— aimed to adapt to bountiful nature, not conquer and subdue it. Two such diametrically opposed philosophies were like flint and steel: whenever they met sparks flew.
The Battle of the Washita, November 27, 1868, was the first victory in a campaign destined to bring an end to the Plains Indian barrier. By demonstrating that U. S. troops would fight in the winter when the Indians preferred to be left alone, it dealt a heavy blow to Indian morale. It also demonstrated the practicality and effectiveness of winter campaigning in the long struggle against the hostile Plains Indians. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg...
Welcome to Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, Cheyenne, OK
**Washita Battlefield National Historic Site** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 66000633, date listed 10/15/1966
NW of Cheyenne on U.S. 283
Cheyenne, OK (Roger Mills County)
A National Historic Landmark (www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks/list-of-nh...).
The Washita Battlefield lies in the center of Roger Mills County, which borders the Texas Panhandle. The essential features of the site are generally unchanged and the area of original military action stretches some six miles along the Washita River. The terrain of this battlefield was most important in the success of the campaign. Custer and his subordinate commanders used the various ridge lines and mountains as a shelter to completely encircle the camp and effectively reduce the escape route. Black Kettle's forces were thereby trapped in the valley, causing such a high number of killed.
The cultural collision between white man and Indian reached its tragic climax in the post-Civil War years on the Great Plains. The white pioneer-settler— with his farms, villages, rails and roads— aimed to domesticate the land, to own it, to locate permanently upon it. The nomadic Plains Indian— with his horse, mobile home and migratory buffalo herds— aimed to adapt to bountiful nature, not conquer and subdue it. Two such diametrically opposed philosophies were like flint and steel: whenever they met sparks flew.
The Battle of the Washita, November 27, 1868, was the first victory in a campaign destined to bring an end to the Plains Indian barrier. By demonstrating that U. S. troops would fight in the winter when the Indians preferred to be left alone, it dealt a heavy blow to Indian morale. It also demonstrated the practicality and effectiveness of winter campaigning in the long struggle against the hostile Plains Indians. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg...