Chief Black Kettle – A Peaceful Leader
Within the tapestry of the American West, the figure of Chief Black Kettle stands as a poignant symbol of peace amidst relentless conflict. Born Motavato, or Moke-ta-ve-to, around 1803 near the Black Hills of South Dakota, his life became inextricably linked with the tragic collision between the expanding United States and the indigenous tribes who called the Great Plains home. This is the story of a leader who tirelessly sought harmony for his people, the Southern Cheyenne, only to be repeatedly met with betrayal and violence.
The early life of Motavato remains somewhat shrouded in the mists of history. However, by 1832, he had migrated south, integrating himself into the Southern Cheyenne tribe. The Cheyenne, a nomadic people deeply connected to the land, roamed freely across the vast expanse of western Kansas and eastern Colorado. Their existence was intricately woven with the cycles of nature, their lives dictated by the movements of the buffalo herds and the changing seasons. As time passed, Motavato displayed exceptional leadership qualities, earning the respect of his peers. In 1861, he ascended to the position of chief, leading the Wuhtapiu band of the Southern Cheyenne. This marked a pivotal moment, not just for Motavato, but for his people as well, as they faced an increasingly uncertain future.
Prior to Motavato becoming Chief Black Kettle, the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 had ostensibly guaranteed peace and defined territories for various Plains tribes, including the Cheyenne. This treaty acknowledged the Cheyenne’s right to their ancestral lands. However, the discovery of gold at Pikes Peak in 1859 shattered this fragile peace. A tidal wave of prospectors, settlers, and entrepreneurs flooded into Colorado, disregarding the treaty and encroaching upon Cheyenne territory. This influx of people placed immense strain on resources, disrupted traditional hunting grounds, and led to escalating tensions.
Even the U.S. Indian Commissioner acknowledged the injustice of the situation, admitting that the government had "substantially taken possession of the country and deprived the Indians of their accustomed means of support." Instead of upholding the Fort Laramie Treaty, the U.S. government sought a convenient solution that favored the settlers. They pressured the Southern Cheyenne to sign a new treaty, one that would cede the vast majority of their lands, confining them to a small, inadequate reservation at Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado.
Faced with an impossible choice, Chief Black Kettle, fearing an even more unfavorable outcome, reluctantly agreed to the treaty in 1861. He understood the power dynamics at play and believed that cooperation, however painful, was the best path to survival. He urged his people to abide by the treaty’s terms, hoping to maintain peace and prevent further conflict. However, the Sand Creek Reservation proved to be a cruel deception.
The reservation was a barren and desolate tract of land, wholly unsuitable for supporting the Cheyenne. The soil was infertile, making agriculture impossible. The nearest buffalo herds, the Cheyenne’s primary source of food and sustenance, were over 200 miles away, placing them beyond practical reach. Disease spread rapidly through the overcrowded conditions, claiming countless lives. The Cheyenne, once a proud and self-sufficient people, were reduced to a state of desperation and starvation.
Driven by hunger and despair, many of the younger Cheyenne warriors began to leave the reservation, resorting to raiding livestock from nearby settlers and pilfering supplies from wagon trains and mining camps. These acts, born out of necessity, were viewed as acts of aggression by the settlers, further fueling the cycle of violence. The already fragile peace teetered on the brink of collapse.
As the Civil War raged in the east, the number of federal troops stationed in the West dwindled, leaving the settlers feeling vulnerable and unprotected. This perceived vulnerability led to the formation of volunteer militias, eager to "protect" themselves from the perceived threat of the Cheyenne. This volatile mix of fear, prejudice, and dwindling resources ignited the Colorado War of 1864-1865, a brutal conflict marked by atrocities on both sides. The most infamous event of this war was the Sand Creek Massacre.
On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington, a Methodist preacher and commander of the Colorado militia, led a surprise attack on a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment at Sand Creek. Despite the presence of an American flag and a white flag of truce, Chivington’s men mercilessly slaughtered the unsuspecting villagers, most of whom were women, children, and elderly men. The Sand Creek Massacre was a horrific act of barbarity, a stain on American history.
Chief Black Kettle miraculously survived the Sand Creek Massacre, though his wife was severely wounded. The massacre shook him deeply, but it did not extinguish his desire for peace. Even in the face of such unimaginable brutality, he continued to counsel his people to seek peaceful solutions. He believed that retaliation would only lead to further bloodshed and destruction.
Despite his efforts, the Cheyenne, understandably enraged by the Sand Creek Massacre, retaliated with continued raids on wagon trains and ranches. The cycle of violence continued unabated. In October 1865, Chief Black Kettle and other Indian leaders managed to negotiate an uneasy truce, signing a new treaty that exchanged the Sand Creek Reservation for reservations in southwestern Kansas. However, this new treaty did not include their traditional Kansas hunting grounds, further restricting their ability to sustain themselves.
As Chief Black Kettle led his band to Kansas, many Cheyenne refused to follow him. Some headed north to join the Northern Cheyenne in Lakota territory, while others, known as Dog Soldiers, ignored the treaty altogether and continued to roam their ancestral lands, engaging in sporadic acts of resistance. These Dog Soldiers, allied with the charismatic war chief Roman Nose, represented a growing faction within the Cheyenne who believed that armed resistance was the only way to protect their way of life.
The U.S. Government, frustrated by the Cheyenne’s refusal to fully comply with the treaty, dispatched General William Tecumseh Sherman to force them onto their assigned lands. However, Roman Nose and his followers continued their attacks on westward-bound pioneers, disrupting traffic and further escalating the conflict. Seeking a final solution, the government decided to move the Cheyenne once again, this time onto two smaller reservations in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).
The Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867 was intended to bring lasting peace to the region. Chief Black Kettle, ever the pragmatist, was among the leaders who signed the treaty, believing that it offered the best chance for his people’s survival. The treaty promised the Cheyenne annual provisions of food and supplies in exchange for their relocation to the new reservations. However, as had happened before, the promises were broken.
Once the Cheyenne moved to the new reservation, the promised provisions never materialized. Starvation and disease once again plagued the tribe. Disillusioned and desperate, even more Cheyenne warriors abandoned the reservation to join Roman Nose in his campaign of resistance.
As the renegade Cheyenne continued to raid farms in Kansas and Colorado, General Philip Sheridan launched a new military campaign against the Cheyenne encampments. In November 1868, Seventh Cavalry Commander George Armstrong Custer, acting on information about a small raiding party, led his troops to a Cheyenne village on the Washita River. Unbeknownst to Custer, this was Chief Black Kettle’s village, located well within the boundaries of the Cheyenne reservation.
Despite the presence of a white flag flying above Chief Black Kettle’s tipi, a symbol of peace and surrender, Custer ordered an attack at dawn on November 27, 1868. The Battle of Washita River resulted in the deaths of Chief Black Kettle and his wife, along with approximately 150 Cheyenne, including warriors and civilians. The survivors were taken prisoner.
The death of Chief Black Kettle marked a tragic end to a life dedicated to peace. It also signaled the demise of the Cheyenne’s hope of maintaining their independence. By the following year, all Cheyenne had been driven from the plains and confined to reservations, their traditional way of life forever altered. Chief Black Kettle remains a symbol of the tragic fate of Native Americans during the westward expansion of the United States, a testament to the devastating consequences of broken treaties and unfulfilled promises.