3. 1874 Cochise's Chiricahua ordered to move but some
escaped to Mexico but by 1875 most Apache on reservation
4. 1875 some 1,000 Modoc led by Captain Jack in California
defeated
a. on border of Oregon and California on Tule Lake
had been relatively untouched
b. when settlers began to arrive seizing best land,
Modocs fought back with ambush
c. Young Chief Kintpuash could not understand why
could not get along
(1) began trade with whites
(2) didn't mind them building homes
(3) adopted white clothing, wagons, livestock
(4) named Captain Jack by settlers
(5) during Civil War problems developed, Modoc
would kill settler's cows or take horses
as tax to live on land
(6) treaty offered to Capt. Jack to move north,
signed
(7) but that land claimed by Klamath, saw
Modocs
as intruders
(8) supplies to Modoc did not come, hunger
led
300 off the reservation
(9) told to return, refused
(10) Army ordered to move by force
(11) 1872 calvary arrived at Modoc camp, ordered
to
give up guns, one refused, battle followed
(12) Modoc fled to Tule Lake, pursued, one
band
attacked settlers, 12 killed
(13) Jan., 1873, Modoc surrounded by Oregon
and California Volunteers
(14) Capt. Jack and 13 others ready to surrender
but those involved in settler massacre not
(15) Capt. Jack met in council, wanted to
know
if those in massacre would be tried, would
not surrender his men
(16) Another council, same deadlock, but General
killed
(17) full force of Army sent against Modoc
(18) band that murdered settlers surrendered,
agreed to help get Capt. Jack for amnesty
(19) captured, tried without a lawyer, hanged,
body embalmed and toured with carnivals
a. by 1909 only 50 survived
O. Meanwhile rumors of gold in the Black Hills spread -
1. Prospectors descended into the territory; mining towns
appeared
2. Red Cloud & Spotted Tail (Brule' Teton Lacota) traveled
to
Washington DC to plead their case to President Grant
a. READING #4 (see handout)
b. President Grant just ordered a counsel held to
try
to talk Indians in giving up Black Hills
c. CRAZY HORSE and SITTING BULL invited but
refused
(1) CRAZY HORSE - An Oglala Lacota (Sioux)
military leader during an 1876 battle with
the
U.S. near the Black Hills (Battle of Little
Bighorn - also a term)
(a) pre-eminent warrior
(b) major strategist in Fetterman campaign
(c) admired by Cheyenne as much as own
(2) SITTING BULL - A Hunkpapa Lakota (another
division of Oglala Sioux) political leader
during
an 1876 battle with the U.S. near the Black
Hills
(a) remarkable man, fierce warrior,
great organizer, wise politician,
intelligent
(b) elected chief of Lacota in 1851
d. Then government tried to get just mineral rights
to
Black Hills, again Indians refused
e. Decision made to "whip into submission" - ordered
all Indians to report to reservation, refusal
seen as declaration of war
3. The war that followed was the result of the U.S. being
unable
to its own citizens to abide by treaties
4. GEORGE A. CUSTER was already in the territory -
Lt. Col. in U.S. Army who led an attack on Native
Americans near the Black Hills in 1876
a. He claimed his men discovered gold in Black Hills
b. desperate for attention
(1) had distinguished himself in Civil War
(2) eccentric, wore hair in long curls led
to
Indian's nickname for him "Long Hair"
(3) wore individualized costume and had a
talent for writing
c. disliked by soldiers
(1) Diaries & letters - Albert & Jennie
Barnitz, 1867-8
(a) a beautiful couple, he 31, she 25
(2) in West for 3 of their 46 year marriage
(3) wrote on 5-15-67: "Things are becoming
very
unpleasant here. General Custer is very
injudicious in his administration and spares
no
effort to render himself generally obnoxious.
I
have utterly lost all the little confidence
I ever
had in his ability as an officer - and all
admiration of his character, as a man, and
to
speak the plain truth, I am thoroughly
disgusted with him! He is the most
complete
example of a petty tyrant that I have
ever seen."
(4) 5-17-67: "Today General Custer had
the heads
of six men shaved and transported them
through the streets of the camp, to their
own
great humiliation. Now all this shocking
spectacle was occasioned simply by the fact
these men, impelled by hunger, had gone to
the Post, half a mile distant, without a pass,
in order to purchase some canned fruit with
which they immediately returned, not having
been absent 3/4 an hour, and not absent from
roll call, or any duty. They scurvy
is very bad
in camp now, not less than 75 cases being
reported."
(5) 5-18-67 - "I learned 14 men had just deserted
-
gone off armed and mounted - broke through,
the guards and departed. So they go!
If
General Custer remains long in command,
I fear that recruiting will have to go on
rapidly
to keep the regiment replenished!"
d. recently demoted
e. not interested in treaties
f. had led Washita Massacre
g. influenced by men like Gen. Phillip Sheridan who
had said "The only good Indians I ever met were
dead"
8. Attacks on Indians by March, 1876
a. as weather warmed, warriors also warmed to
idea of a fight
b several engagements Indians successful
9. Indians learn that Custer marching toward the Little
Bighorn
River in June
7. On June 25, 1876, Custer divided his troops into 4
detachments
and attacked the Indians gathered at Little Bighorn River
a. largest concentration of warriors ever recorded
b. under capable leadership of:
c. Major Marcus Reno's detachment was the first to
realize
the error in Custer's judgment.
(1) Without warning they charged
(2) disorderly retreat by Reno but 28 men
dead
and 16 missing, almost half his troops
(3) Indians continued their attack until 3
p.m. when
suddenly they galloped off the northwest
(4) in a few minutes more firing
(5) since majority of Indians attacking Reno's
men, Custer found himself in what he thought
was an ideal situation
(6) when arrived at Indian's village, only
four warriors
were in camp as women, children, old men
had fled
(7) Warriors jumped on horses and headed toward
Custer's 200 men - knew could not stop but
faced death fearlessly
(8) down the slope trotted Custer and the
tiny band
began firing from cover, one soldier killed
(9) soldiers halted and dismounted since they
had
no way of knowing only four warriors were
attacking, common sense told them there were
more
(10) by then, warriors attacking Reno arrived
and
surrounded Custer's men
(11) tried to retreat but too late
(12) Indians took rifles from fallen soldiers
(13) lasted about an hour
(14) Custer and all his men killed (264)
(15) Meanwhile, Reno initially glad to hear
action
elsewhere, but by time he moved to support
Custer, too late
(16) somehow some of men managed to survive
the night but at dawn battle reopened
(17) eventually Indians driven back, Reno
discovered Custer's dead troops
8. Battle called the BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN - an 1876
victory by American Indians who fought the U.S. over
control of a large territory including the Black Hills
a. Custer and all his men killed (264)
b. American Indians celebrated
c. But it was the beginning of the end
d. Film Clip - Battle of Little Bighorn that shows aftermath
e. U.S. just passed resolution taking the territory
and
began roundup of Indians
f. Red Cloud and Spotted Tail gave up - their land gone
g. Sitting Bull led people to Yellowstone where still
bison
then in Spring, 1877 to Canada
h. Meanwhile, Army after Crazy Horse but attacked
anyone
found
(1) by April, Crazy Horse's people starving
surrendered
(2) August, his men being enlisted as scouts
against
Nez Perce - some did against Crazy Horse's
orders
(a) said was sick and disgusted, threatened
to
escape
(b) Crazy Horse arrested in custody of
Little Big Man - had fought beside
Crazy Horse but now an agency man
(c) while being held, Crazy Horse bayoneted
to death by Private William Gentles,
Sept. 5, 1877, age 35
P. The end of Indian freedom was coming
1. Nez Perce
a. had saved Lewis & Clark Expedition from starvation
b. long record of friendship broken by greed for
land and
gold
c. 1855 governor of Washington territory got some
chiefs
so sign treaty - Old Joseph (Tuekakas) refused -
"a man could not sell what he did not own"
d. 1863 new treaty was presented to Nez Perce - more
land taken, again Old Joseph refused - called it
"thief treaty"
e. 1871 - Old Joseph died and Young Joseph took over
that band
f. 1873 - President Grant opened Wallowa Valley of
Joseph's to settlement
g. 1877 - ordered to reservation, Joseph arrested
(1) impossible situation, only 100 warriors
(2) agreed to move
h. Young rebellious - began raids
i. Joseph, like other chiefs, trapped between pressures
of soldiers and desperation of own
(1) decided to stay with own and fight
j. June 17, White Bird Canyon, began series of shrewd
maneuvers
(1) joined by other Nez Perce
(2) decided to go to Canada pursued by soldiers
2. September, 1877, Nez Perce defeated in Idaho, although
some escaped and joined Sitting Bull
a. READING #5 Chief Joseph
b. surrendered, sent to reservation in Kansas
c, 1885, only 287 captured Nez Perces alive
3. 1877 also Crazy Horse arrested and killed
4. When Crazy Horse had surrendered, told people
would
share a reservation in Black Hills with Northern
Cheyenne
5. But, government decided to send Northern Cheyenne to
live with Southern Cheyenne in Indian Territory
a. marched South - 937 reached Ft. Reno in
August, 1877
b. did not like, insufficient food, malaria, many died
c. Sept 9, 1878, about 300 led by Dull Knife, Wild
Hog,
Left Hand, and Little Wolf fled and
headed north to join their friends, the Lakota
a. troops were sent to stop them
b. became a running fight
c. Cheyenne killed several settlers in Kansas, party
with Dull Knife surrendered but refused to
go to Indian Territory
d. half went to Red Cloud's agency, half to Tongue
River Valley
d. those going to Red Cloud's surrounded in blizzard
(1)Officer at Ft. Robinson attempted to starve and
freeze them into submission but escaped
Jan. 9 but weakened by ordeal were easy
prey for the soldiers
(2) ordered back to Indian Territory in middle
of
winter
(3) refused, had weapons hidden, fight erupted,
half warriors killed in first hour
(4) eventually allowed to go to Red Cloud's
6. 1879 Utes of Colorado defeated after being accused of
being communists
a. Had considered selves allies of U.S.
b. Had helped fight Navajo
c. 1863 treaty signed with Ouray the Arrow and nine
other Ute chiefs
d, 5 years later, government wanted new treaty and
it was signed
e. 1872 miners demanded Ute land - another treaty
f. 1878 Indian agency decided to turn Ute into farmers,
plow pastures of horses
g. 1879 Colorado settlers demanding removal of Utes
due to raids
h. Calvary sent
i. battle erupted at Milk River, lasted a week
j. Utes defeated
k. 1881 removed to small reservation in Utah
7. 1881 - Last of Cheyenne, Arapaho, Lakota defeated
a. after Battle of Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull and
3,000 followers in Canada
b. 1877 deal between U.S. & Canada allowed
commission to cross border to talk to
Sitting Bull
c. told to surrender all weapons, bring people to
Sioux reservation
d. council held but Sitting Bull and people unmoved
e. But Canadians uneasy with so many potential
troublemakers so cut off aid and refused
reservation
f. 1880 - bad winter, some gave up
g. July, 1881, Sitting Bull and 186 gave up,
Sitting Bull arrested
h. 1883 effort to make Sioux white - Sitting Bull
put on tour
8. 1883 - General Sherman wrote: "I now regard the
Indians as substantially eliminated from the problem
of the Army. There may be spasmodic and temporary
alarms, but such Indian wars as have hitherto disturbed
the public peace and tranquillity are not probable."
9. 1886 - GERONIMO surrendered - a Chiricahua Apache who
was the last Native American leader to surrender in the
late
19th century wars
a. 1875 - Chiricahua ordered from own reservation(San
Carlos) to White Mountain reservation where
seven
other bands of Apache
b. At San Carlos, agent had developed a self-sufficient
reservation, own courts, but 1876 ordered to move
Chiricahua
c. half moved, half with Geronimo did not
d. Began raids on Mexicans accumulating herds of
cattle
and horses
e. 1877 arrested, held four months at San Carlos
in
horrible conditions, no food
f. One group escaped under Victorio, constant
fighting, trapped October 1880
(1) 78 including Victorio killed
g. September, Geronimo and 70 Chiricahua escaped
to Mexico
(1) 1882 went to White Mountain to free their
people
(2) Mexico joined U.S. troops but Geronimo
escaped
(3) raids on Mexican ranches
h. 1884 agreed to go to reservation under General
Crook and for year all peaceful
i Spring, 1885, discontent, boredom, took to brewing
corn alcoholic beverage, Tiswan
k. May 17, Geronimo and three others got drunk and
` decided to go to Mexico with 92 women, children
and 34 men, 8 boys
(1) as left cut San Carlos telegraph wire
(2) wild rumors, hysteria in countryside
(3) but actually trying to avoid people until
got
to Mexico
(4) one group tried to return but attacked
(5) Cochise's son, Alchise, agreed to search
for Geronimo
(6) March 1886, Chiricahuas agreed to surrender
to Crook
(7) after agreed, told chiefs would be moved
to
Florida prison
(a) refused to surrender unless imprisonment
no longer than 2 years
(b) agreed, all surrendered including
Geronimo
(c) but Washington rejected agreement
(d) Geronimo and Naiche had escaped
anyway - Crook criticized and
resigned
(e) new commander, Nelson Miles,
put 5,000 soldiers in field with
500 Apache scouts and
thousands of civilian militia
(f) Geronimo had 24 warriors
(g) Geronimo surrendered, President
Cleveland recommended hanging
but was sent to Florida prison
(h) state of Arizona refused to allow
any
Chiricahua in state
(i) Kiowas and Comanches offered
their reservation although old
enemies
(j) 1894 survivors including Geronimo
to
Ft. Sill
(k) he died 1909
10. But not last of the bloodshed
Q. While several small incidents, the worst incident occurred
as result of
a new religion that swept American Indian communities
1. Followers called GHOST DANCERS - followers of an American
Indian religion that swept the U.S. in late 19th century
2. Believed the wrongs of past would be righted by new
Messiah -
Wovoka, a Paiute
3. Dancing would bring back the dead; some suggested warriors
would return for revenge
4. READING - last page of handout
5. In 1890, Ghost Dancers gathered at Wounded Knee, S.D.
a. settlers and U.S. alarmed at such a gathering
b. military sent in; Sitting Bull arrested
& killed by
scouts (former followers)
c. as his people tried to escape, attached
d. Possible film clip
6. Called MASSACRE AT WOUNDED KNEE - the last
major battle between the U.S. and American Indians
in the late 19th century
a. 200-350 Indians, 25 soldiers killed
R. So let's evaluate U.S. Indian policy in the late 19th
century -
Was it moral, ethical, avoidable? Discuss
S. How do we place some of the participants in history?
1. BUFFALO SOLDIERS - African-American soldiers
who fought the war against American Indians in the
late 19th century
a. Film clip
b. Eveline Alexander "Calvary Wife" wrote:
"These blacks of the 57th Regiment are indeed the
most hideous blacks I have ever seen. There is
hardly a mulatto among them; almost all are coal
black. They must have been the refuse from
the
South." (she from New York)
b. Were they heroes?
