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350&352 11/18/02 10:25 AM Page 349 Why It Matters Now 2 The U.S. Army Returns Many Native Americans were removed from their lands and forced to live on reservations. TERMS & NAMES OBJECTIVES MAIN IDEA Treaty of Medicine Lodge 1. Explain why the Treaty of Medicine Although several attempts were Creek, Satanta, buffalo Lodge Creek failed. made to establish peace, conflicts hunter, buffalo soldier, 2. Identify the contributions of the buffalo between Native Americans and Quaker Peace Policy, soldiers. Texas settlers continued along the Lawrie Tatum 3. Analyze the Quaker Peace Policy. frontier. Imagine that you live along the Texas frontier. Both Native Texans and WHAT Would You Do? Texas settlers support their claims to the land. Neither group is willing Write your response to give up to the other. What actions could you take to lessen the to Interact with History in your Texas Notebook. conflict between these two groups? Frontier Conflicts Continue When the Civil War ended, federal troops returned to Texas. Many Texans expected the army to return to defending the frontier right away, but they were disappointed. Rather than guarding the frontier, the soldiers worked to restore federal authority and to aid Reconstruction. Many simply registered voters. Some federal soldiers were not willing to risk their lives defending the same Texans they had just fought a war against. This lack of protection along the frontier line gave Native Americans a chance to fight back. They raided settlements along the edge of the frontier. According to unconfirmed reports, Native Americans took the lives of 162 Texans, wounded 24, and captured 43 in raids between May 1865 and July 1867. The settler population of the frontier counties shrank. In addition, the line of settlements was pushed back to the east. The state government asked federal authorities to reassign the army to defending the frontier. The Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek In the fall of 1867 the U.S. government sent agents to arrange a peace treaty. They met with Comanche, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Restored U.S. Army barracks at Fort Kiowa-Apache chiefs from the entire region at Medicine Lodge Creek Davis on the Texas frontier War on the Frontier ✯ 349 350&352 11/18/02 10:25 AM Page 350 Image not available for use on CD-ROM. Please refer to the image in the textbook. in Kansas. The Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek established a 3-million- acre reservation located in Indian Territory (later Oklahoma). The government agents promised to send food and supplies to the reserva- tion and to restrict access to the area. In return, the Native Americans would move onto the reservation and stop the raids against settlers. Some of the chiefs signed the treaty and agreed to live on the reser- vation. Others refused to attend the meeting at all. A few of the leaders at the meeting, including Quanah Parker, rejected the treaty. These lead- ers were angry with the Anglo Americans who wanted to take their lands. Satanta (sah•TAHN•tah), the principal Kiowa chief at the meeting, spoke out against the treaty. TEXAS VOICES I have heard that you intend to set apart a reservation near the mountains. I don’t want to settle; I love to roam over the prairie; I feel free and happy; but when we settle down we get pale and die....A long time ago this land belonged to our fathers; but when I go up to the river I see camps of soldiers on its banks. These soldiers cut down my timber; they kill my buffalo; and when I see that my heart feels like bursting; I feel sorry. Satanta, speech at the Medicine Lodge Creek Council ▲ Satanta, the most famous Kiowa chief, was known for his ability to give powerful speeches. Failure of the Treaty ● What arguments would you use to persuade a nation not to put you The Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek did not bring peace to the on a reservation? Texas frontier. Some Native Americans refused to move onto the reser- vation. They would not accept the loss of independence that life on a reservation brought. Many felt a strong spiritual connection to the land. They fought to preserve their way of life, hunting buffalo and living on the plains. Furthermore, the U.S. government failed to keep its promise. The government did not provide enough food or supplies for the reservation. buffalo hunter person who Also, buffalo hunters and outlaws were allowed to enter and hunt on the slaughtered buffalo for the value reservation. Without enough food to eat, some Native Americans left of their hides the reservation to hunt. Some also raided white settlements. 350 ✯ Chapter 16 350&352 11/18/02 10:25 AM Page 351 Fort Davis in the 1850s The restored Fort Davis today FORT DAVIS Fort Davis in West Texas was named longer useful. They abandoned it in 1891. In 1961 after Jefferson Davis, the U.S. secretary of war in 1854. Fort Davis became part of the national park system as a The fort protected the southern route to California against historical site. Today, some of the original stone and Native American raids. It was occupied until the Civil adobe buildings have been restored to an 1880s-era War began and was then abandoned. In 1867 federal appearance. Demonstrations by cavalry and infantry units troops once again occupied the fort and began new can be seen during the summer season. ● What do efforts construction. After most Native Americans were moved to preserve historic forts tell us about their importance to reservations, the military decided that the fort was no to Texas history? Traders called Comancheros, operating in New Mexico, encouraged such Native American raids. They accepted cattle, horses, and property that the Native Americans took during the raids. In exchange, the Native Americans received guns, ammunition, and other goods. In 1872 Texas buffalo soldier African rancher John Hittson led armed men to the Comancheros’ property and American fighter on the frontier recovered thousands of stolen livestock. In 1868 the U.S. Army again occupied forts built before the Civil War. They also built new posts such as Fort Griffin on the Brazos River near Albany and Fort Concho in San Angelo. Soldiers patrolled the frontier, hoping to catch raiding parties. They made extra efforts to watch the area during the full moon when Comanches could move at night. However, Native Americans were still successful. They were familiar with the land and could move easily between forts that were miles apart. The Buffalo Soldiers Many of the forts were guarded by African American troops known as buffalo soldiers. The name was given to them by Native Americans who respected their bravery. Most were former slaves who had joined the army when they were freed. The Ninth and Tenth Cavalries and the Twenty-Fourth and Twenty- Fifth Infantry Regiments were stationed in Texas. The buffalo soldiers carried out many difficult tasks along the Texas frontier. They scouted, mapped, and built roads between settled and ▲ Buffalo soldiers were sent to the frontier to protect settlers from unsettled areas of the state. They also patrolled the frontier, protecting Native American raids. ● Who settlers from Native American raids. nicknamed these soldiers? Why? War on the Frontier ✯ 351 350&352 11/18/02 10:25 AM Page 352 Although they played an important role in guarding the frontier, many buffalo soldiers faced discrimination from the Anglo American Henry O. Flipper settlers they defended. Soldiers were often harassed and some were killed as they performed their duties. Despite such obstacles, African American Born into slavery, Lieutenant soldiers served bravely in action, and a number of them were awarded Henry Ossian Flipper became the Congressional Medal of Honor. the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Later The Quaker Peace Policy he wrote a book about his experiences at West Point, In 1869 President Ulysses S. Grant’s administration introduced the including his struggles to over- Quaker Peace Policy. The policy was based on the ideas of a religious come racism. Lt. Flipper came group named the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers. In Pennsyl- to Texas to defend Fort Concho vania, the Quakers’ gentle ways, respect for life, and fair treatment of and other posts. He later worked as a surveyor on the Native Americans had brought about peace between the two groups. border, becoming fluent in Some officials hoped they could do the same thing in the Southwest. Spanish. West Point now The peace policy proposed to move native groups to reservations, gives an award in Flipper’s give them supplies, educate them, and protect them. It also proposed name to the student who to punish any who raided settlements. It was felt that Quaker agents shows “the highest also would be more honest than some of the agents, who often qualities of leader- ship, self-discipline, cheated the Native Americans out of their supplies. Quaker and perseverance in Image not available Lawrie Tatum was named the government’s agent to the the face of unusual for use on CD-ROM. Kiowa-Comanche reservation. Even though he used a more difficulties while Please refer to the peaceful approach, the government did not provide enough a cadet.” ● What image in the textbook. food or supplies. The army failed to stop buffalo hunters does naming this from shooting buffalo on the reservation. With nothing award after Lieu- tenant Flipper to hunt or eat, the Native Americans again raided Texas say about him? settlements. When the army chased them, the Quakers usually would not let the soldiers enter the reservation to capture the raiders.