Quanah Parker was a Comanche Indian boy, his mother was Cynthia Ann Parker. Quanah grew up with mixed heritage and he was constantly under pressure to prove himself worthy. He practically grew up on a horse and he soon became a master. He could jump from the back of one horse to another. He was also an expert marksman with his bow and arrow. Young men in the tribe would go on a "vision quest." On his first vision quest Quanah saw an eagle and a serpent. After that he was know as Serpent Eagle. Quanah Parker became chief and led the Comanche people. While in battle he wore a long headdress with eagle feathers and he painted his war horse red with different berries. In 1870 the Comanches were being attacked and they were losing their land. In order to avoid more bloodshed, Quanah went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and surrendered. He was then appointed as the spokesperson for all of the Comanches.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Monday, May 16, 2016
Sand Creek Masascre Vs. Washita Battle
In this blog post I am comparing the events of the Sand Creek Massacre and the Battle of Washita. Specifically to find out why one is refereed to as a massacre and why the other is called a battle. Both instances involved many deaths both to men and women, so why are they called different things?
Let's look at the Sand Creek Massacre to see what happened on November 29, 1864. Chief Black Kettle was the chief of the Southern Cheyenne band. He was chosen to be on the Council of Forty-Four which was the highest government body of the Cheyenne tribe. Black Kettle realized that peace with the white man was the only way for his tribe to survive. Black Kettle tried to convince the other Indians that peace was the only way but still some of the young men in the tribe left to go north and join the Dog Soldiers who were fighting the white men.
In 1864 the governor of Colorado started a law called "Friendly Indians of the Plains." This said that any Indians who reported to nearby forts and were told where to live would be kept safe. However Black Kettle was not told about this law and so his tribe was put in the category of unfriendly. Black Kettle and some of the other chiefs met with the the governor to talk about the law. There was miscommunication which led to Black Kettle thinking his tribe was safe, and they definitely were not. So when Colonel Chivington brought seven hundred troops to attack the camp Black Kettle assured his people that since he was waving an American flag that there would be peace. He was very wrong. The Indians were slaughtered. Men, women, and children were shot down left and right. For a little while the Colonel boasted of his great victory in battle, but when the U.S Congress found out what really happened, governor John Evans lost his job. Chivington escaped any repercussions because his military term expired as the investigation began.
Now what happened at the Battle of Washita? Black Kettle moved with his wife to the Washita River. He tried to convince every one to stop fighting, both the white men and the Dog Soldiers. But the white men were not interested. On November 27, 1868 General George Custer and the 7th Cavalry attacked the Washita Village. Black Kettle and his wife Medicine Woman Later were killed. Again women and children were killed in the battle. So what makes it any different from the massacre at Sand Creek?
I think the difference lies in the knowledge of the Indians. At Sand Creek they thought they were protected by the law. And it turned out they should have been. The massacre never should have happened. Many people died for nothing. While in the instance of Washita, Black Kettle knew that there was not peace and the battle was inevitable.
Let's look at the Sand Creek Massacre to see what happened on November 29, 1864. Chief Black Kettle was the chief of the Southern Cheyenne band. He was chosen to be on the Council of Forty-Four which was the highest government body of the Cheyenne tribe. Black Kettle realized that peace with the white man was the only way for his tribe to survive. Black Kettle tried to convince the other Indians that peace was the only way but still some of the young men in the tribe left to go north and join the Dog Soldiers who were fighting the white men.
In 1864 the governor of Colorado started a law called "Friendly Indians of the Plains." This said that any Indians who reported to nearby forts and were told where to live would be kept safe. However Black Kettle was not told about this law and so his tribe was put in the category of unfriendly. Black Kettle and some of the other chiefs met with the the governor to talk about the law. There was miscommunication which led to Black Kettle thinking his tribe was safe, and they definitely were not. So when Colonel Chivington brought seven hundred troops to attack the camp Black Kettle assured his people that since he was waving an American flag that there would be peace. He was very wrong. The Indians were slaughtered. Men, women, and children were shot down left and right. For a little while the Colonel boasted of his great victory in battle, but when the U.S Congress found out what really happened, governor John Evans lost his job. Chivington escaped any repercussions because his military term expired as the investigation began.
Now what happened at the Battle of Washita? Black Kettle moved with his wife to the Washita River. He tried to convince every one to stop fighting, both the white men and the Dog Soldiers. But the white men were not interested. On November 27, 1868 General George Custer and the 7th Cavalry attacked the Washita Village. Black Kettle and his wife Medicine Woman Later were killed. Again women and children were killed in the battle. So what makes it any different from the massacre at Sand Creek?
I think the difference lies in the knowledge of the Indians. At Sand Creek they thought they were protected by the law. And it turned out they should have been. The massacre never should have happened. Many people died for nothing. While in the instance of Washita, Black Kettle knew that there was not peace and the battle was inevitable.
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