Lithograph "Battle of Washita" - Washita Battlefield National Historic Site ~ Cheyenne, Oklahoma
1851-Treaty of Fort Laramie divides Great Plains into specific tracts of land for Cheyenne, Arapaho & other signatories, who promise to live forever in peace in return for protection against white depredations.
1859-Discovery of gold, in Colorado Territory brings influx of miners, farmers, & speculators with little regard for Indian rights or ways of life.
1861-Treaty of Fort Wise moves Cheyenne & Arapaho to a small reservation south of the Arkansas River to avoid conflict with emigrants & gold seekers.
1864-1865-Cheyenne & Arapaho War begins after younger members of the tribes refuse to abide by the provisions of the Fort Wise treaty & range far beyond the reservation, clashing frequently with whites. This creates conditions that lead to Sand Creek Massacre. In retaliation Cheyenne, Arapaho, & allied Sioux attack Julesburg, Colorado Territory and raid ranches & stage stations on South Platte.
1865-Treaty of Little Arkansas ends Cheyenne Arapaho War. US government repudiates Sand Creek & promises reparations to the Cheyenne & Arapaho.
1866-Cheyenne warriors who had not signed the Little Arkansas treaty raid along Smoky Hill River in Kansas.
1867Maj. Gen. Philip/ Sheridan takes command of US forces in the West, proposing to bring peace to the Plains. Maj. Gen Winfield S. Hancock begins campaign against Cheyenne & other tribes rumored to be planning attacks on Kansas settlements & transportation routes.
Treaties of Medicine Lodge signed in hope of ending hostilities.
1868-Party of Cheyenne, Arapaho, & Sioux attack settlements along the Solomon & Saline Rivers.
Southern Plains War begins against the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sioux, Kiowa, & Comanche. Lt. Col. Alfred Sully's summer campaign fails to suppress the tribes.
Sioux & Cheyenne attack & besiege a group of US Army scouts on Beecher's Island in the Arikaree River, Colorado Territory.
Sheridan winter campaign begins in October.
Custer's attack along the Washita River, Indian Territory, destroys Black Kettle's village for a second time, killing Black Kettle in the process.
Sheridan's winter campaign continues with attack & destruction of Comanche village at Soldier Spring, Indian Territory, & the surrender of many Cheyenne & Arapaho in 1869.
1869-Battle of Summit Springs, last major encounter between US Cavalry & Plains Indians in Colorado Territory, destroying the cohesiveness of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers & ending their effectiveness as a fighting group.
President Ulysses S. Grant's so-called "Peace Policy" is initiated, emphasizing "conquest by kindness" & viewing Indians as "domestic dependent nations" with which the US must negotiate. It last on the Southern Plains until1 1874.
Lithograph "Battle of Washita" - Washita Battlefield National Historic Site ~ Cheyenne, Oklahoma
1851-Treaty of Fort Laramie divides Great Plains into specific tracts of land for Cheyenne, Arapaho & other signatories, who promise to live forever in peace in return for protection against white depredations.
1859-Discovery of gold, in Colorado Territory brings influx of miners, farmers, & speculators with little regard for Indian rights or ways of life.
1861-Treaty of Fort Wise moves Cheyenne & Arapaho to a small reservation south of the Arkansas River to avoid conflict with emigrants & gold seekers.
1864-1865-Cheyenne & Arapaho War begins after younger members of the tribes refuse to abide by the provisions of the Fort Wise treaty & range far beyond the reservation, clashing frequently with whites. This creates conditions that lead to Sand Creek Massacre. In retaliation Cheyenne, Arapaho, & allied Sioux attack Julesburg, Colorado Territory and raid ranches & stage stations on South Platte.
1865-Treaty of Little Arkansas ends Cheyenne Arapaho War. US government repudiates Sand Creek & promises reparations to the Cheyenne & Arapaho.
1866-Cheyenne warriors who had not signed the Little Arkansas treaty raid along Smoky Hill River in Kansas.
1867Maj. Gen. Philip/ Sheridan takes command of US forces in the West, proposing to bring peace to the Plains. Maj. Gen Winfield S. Hancock begins campaign against Cheyenne & other tribes rumored to be planning attacks on Kansas settlements & transportation routes.
Treaties of Medicine Lodge signed in hope of ending hostilities.
1868-Party of Cheyenne, Arapaho, & Sioux attack settlements along the Solomon & Saline Rivers.
Southern Plains War begins against the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sioux, Kiowa, & Comanche. Lt. Col. Alfred Sully's summer campaign fails to suppress the tribes.
Sioux & Cheyenne attack & besiege a group of US Army scouts on Beecher's Island in the Arikaree River, Colorado Territory.
Sheridan winter campaign begins in October.
Custer's attack along the Washita River, Indian Territory, destroys Black Kettle's village for a second time, killing Black Kettle in the process.
Sheridan's winter campaign continues with attack & destruction of Comanche village at Soldier Spring, Indian Territory, & the surrender of many Cheyenne & Arapaho in 1869.
1869-Battle of Summit Springs, last major encounter between US Cavalry & Plains Indians in Colorado Territory, destroying the cohesiveness of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers & ending their effectiveness as a fighting group.
President Ulysses S. Grant's so-called "Peace Policy" is initiated, emphasizing "conquest by kindness" & viewing Indians as "domestic dependent nations" with which the US must negotiate. It last on the Southern Plains until1 1874.