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1 THE PLACE OF THE NORTHERN ARAPAHOES IN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE INDIANS OF THE PLAINS, 1851— 1879. by James C. Murphy B.A., University of Wyoming, 1937 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of History We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard 'THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA April, 1966 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study- I further agree that per• mission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the Head of my Department or by his representatives., It is understood that copying, or publi• cation of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of History The University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, Canada* Date April 30th, I966 Abstract Whites, commonly class the Northern Arapahoes as a warlike tribe, but they call themselves a peaceful people. This study represents an attempt to discover the part of the Northern Arapahoes in the relations between the United States and the Indians of the plains from l8£l t© 1879, and to determine whether they really were a peaceful group. This was a bellicose period, including raids along the Platte, the P©wder River Wars, the Sand Creek and Washita massacres by whites, and the Fetterman and Custer massacres by Indians. The Northern Arapahoes associated with the mighty Sioux, dreaded by the whites, and with the Cheyennes, called the Fighting Cheyennes by Grinnell, who knew them well. Anthropological works c©ntributed importantly to an understanding ©f plains Indian culture and the societal structure and practices of the Arapahoesj~ Correspsndence with the Indian Office and a former Commissioner of Indian Affairs produced important references ©n Indian policy, used to clarify the significance of material found in Government reports. Information from general works was crosschecked wherever possible, and each author's predilection considered. Historical bulletins from Colorado and Wyoming, and ether periodicals gave scraps of information which, unimportant by themselves, some• times helped in solving problems. Contemporary newspapers, iii especially the Cheyenne Leader, also contributed in this respect, as well as showing the attitude of settlers toward the Indians who barred them from the free exploitation of lands and resources. An acquaintance with the Northern Arapahoes, through residence ©n their reservation, contributed toward an under• standing of their character, learning ©f their traditions, developing an interest in their history and culture. Although the Pt. Laramie Treaty of l8£l was expected to usher in fifty years ©f peace between the United States and the Indians ©f the plains, three factors f©red$©med the dream to failure: the Indian policy ©f the United States with its vacillations and misunderstandings; public attitude toward the Indians, colored by desire f©r their lands, fear of the braves, and a dogmatic faith in their own destiny to p©pulate and civilize the plains; and lastly, the Indian's way of life, which he was loath t© abandon, as it satisfied his social and emotional needs. Misunderstandings contributed to clashes between reds and whites; pressure upon their lands by gold seekers, stock• men and farmers, and the destruction of their game by immigrants made the Indians apprehensive; forays of hungry braves sn settler's stock, and their reluctance to abandon their game ©f inter-tribal raiding for horses, scalps and prestige kept the whites on edge. Despite the fact that Federal troops waged war against iv their SIsux and Cheyenne friends a few years after the Treaty af 18^1, nearly fourteen years elapsed befsre an appreciable number Northern Arapahoes engaged in hostilities. Even then a majority of the tribe abstained. During the Powder River Wars, 1865 te 1868, mere participated, but never the entire tribe. Only once during the period from l8£l to I879 is there any likelihood that all ©f the Northern Arapahoes' fought against the whites-* This was in the Bates Battle of I87I4,* an<^ erven here: pos• itive evidence is lacking* During Custer's final days, when hundreds ©f Sieux: and Cheyennes fallowed Crazy Horse and Sit-* ting Bull, the Northern Arapahoes, almost to a man, refrained from hostilities. This fact, with others of a kindred nature, finally brought recognition by the Government of the peaceful disposition of the Northern Arapah®es, On the basis of the evidence examined: the Northern Arapahoes shauld be classed among the most peaceable of the plains tribes. V Dedicated te Scalper and Weman - runs - »ut, Bill and Cle»ne Calling Thunder •f Ethete, Wyaming. vi Acknowledgments The Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, l853-l88l has been of especial value in the preparation of this paper. This is the chief source through which the year to year movements of the Northern Arapah© bands has been treced, and the attitudes in Indian white relations have become appar• ent. The Annual Reports of the Board of Indian Commissioners, first to eleventh, have als© been helpful in both respects, as well as the other Federal Government publications listed in the bibliography at the end of this paper. The Cheyenne Leader, I867-I879 na^ scattered througk its pages much Important data not available elsewhere, by means of which the Indian problem was presented as seen through the eyes of partisan frontier reporters. The works of Le^oy H. Hafen and the co-authors or co- editors of the various volumes used, contributed much val• uable information concerning the peace and war activities of the Northern Arapahoes, among whick appeared the unique peace proposal which Black Bear's band msde to Colonel Sawyers in the Big Horns of Wy»ming, after attacking his wagon train. The writings of Ge©rge A. Dersey, Alfred E. Kroeber and Harold E. Driver helped importantly in developing an understanding of Arapah© societal structure. The Life, Letters and Travels of Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, S. J., I80I-I873, edited by Chittenden and Richardson, gave an especially interesting and vii useful account of the Ft. Laramie Treaty of l8£l, Indians and Other Americans, by Fey and McNickel presented a picture of United States Indian policy which was borne in mind throughout the writing of this paper, though lit tie material was taken directly from it. The Fighting Cheyennes, by George Bird Grinnell, afforded Information which filled in the gaps in the semi-independent activities of Northern Arapaho bands. Especial thanks is due t© the Librarians at the Universities of Washington and Oregon in supplying references not readily available closer by; to the University of Wyoming for the microfilm, Index to the Cheyenne Leader. 1867-1890; to the Wyoming State Historical Department for the microfilm of the Cheyenne Leader, 1867-1879, and the use of their equip• ment; to the State Historical Society of Colorado for the Rocky Mountain News photostat, and for other information; and to the Library staff of the University of British Columbia, without whose patient, cordial assistance this paper could net have been written. Gratitude is due ta John Collier, Sr., former United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for direct information and suggested readings ©n United States G©vernment Indian policy. Thanks is als© due to Jessie Rewlodge, Southern Arapaho Indian who visited in Wyoming, for information which only an Arapaho could supply, used to clarify a situation otherwise difficult to explain. Finally is due a belated expression of gratitude to William C. Thunder and his wife, viii Cleone — the latter a descendant of Henry North, and Ba-yet, the woman who escaped from the Utes in the early l360s and married the white man who aided her in returning tes her people. These two, William and Cleone Thunder, gave accurate information when they c©uld, and when unable to do s©, led on to other informants whose knowledge of their people, the Northern Arapahoes ©f Wyoming, was greater than their own. Table of Contents Chap. 1 A Picture ©f Troublous Times; A View ©f Indian-White Relationships on the Great Plains'of the United States, 1851 to 1879. 1 Chap. 2 Tb.e Northern Arapaho Indians. 30 Chap. 3 Treaty ©f 1851 as the Hopeful Promise of a New Era. lj.8 Chap. Ij. Disillusionment and Distrust Appear, 1851-1861. 56 Chap. 5 The Civil War Period, 1861-1865.' Conflict Erupts on a Br®ad Scale. 67 Chap. 6 The Powder River War, l8'6£-l868. A Temporary Respite is Gained. 88 Chap. 7 Land Pressure and Sp«radic Warfare, 1863-1871]-. 103 Chap. 8 The Second Sl©ux War and the Loss af Tribal Lands, I87V-I878. 132 Chap. 9 The End ef the Trail, 1879. ^Q Bibliography 15*9 1 Chap. 1 A Picture ef Troublous Times; a View ef Indian-White Relationships on the Great Plains of the United States, 1851 te 1879 East ef the Rocky Mountains the Great Plains of North America run through the United States from north te south, spilling ever the Mexican border at the southern end, and broadening Inte the prairie provinces of Canada in the north. The pertien within the United States forms a vast area seme 1300 miles long and up te 600 miles In width. From an elevation ef scarcely 2000 feet at the eastern fringe, they rise gradually toward the west, blending with the foothills ef the Rockies at altitudes ef lj.000 te 6000 feet. They embrace the greater part ef the states ef North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, include portions ef Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, and are heme te 7,000,000 people.