Cheyenne Raid in Kansas
The vast plains of Kansas, once a shared domain between settlers and Native American tribes, bore witness to a complex and often tragic history. Following the forced removal of many Indian tribes to the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), a fragile hope arose that the conflicts plaguing the western frontier might finally subside. However, this hope was shattered in September 1878, when a band of Northern Cheyenne, led by the determined Chief Dull Knife, embarked on a desperate journey that would become known as the Cheyenne Raid in Kansas.
This pivotal event, the Cheyenne Raid in Kansas, was rooted in the deep dissatisfaction of the Northern Cheyenne with the deplorable conditions and inadequate rations they were subjected to on their reservation. The promise of sustenance and a new life had turned into a grim reality of hunger and hardship. Driven by a yearning for their ancestral lands in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Dull Knife and his followers made the agonizing decision to abandon the reservation and return to their former home.
Their journey northward led them into Kansas, where, on September 17, 1878, they clashed with the burgeoning settlements south of Fort Dodge. Desperate for resources, the Cheyenne attacked cattle camps, resulting in the deaths of several white men and the scattering of livestock. News of the Cheyenne Raid in Kansas reached Governor George Anthony the following day. He, recognizing the severity of the situation, immediately appealed to General John Pope, the commanding officer of the Department of Missouri for the U.S. Army. However, Pope, seemingly underestimating the gravity of the situation, dismissed the events as a mere "scare."
Despite Pope’s dismissive attitude, Governor Anthony took swift action. He dispatched Adjutant-General Peter Noble to Dodge City with much-needed arms and ammunition, recognizing the vulnerability of the settlers. However, the Cheyenne, driven by their relentless pursuit of their northern destination, had already moved on.
Lieutenant-Colonel William H. Lewis, leading a detachment of troops from Fort Dodge, was tasked with pursuing the Cheyenne. The soldiers eventually caught up with the fleeing tribe at a location now known as Battle Canyon, situated along Punished Woman’s Fork in Scott County, Kansas. The ensuing conflict would etch its place in the history of the Cheyenne Raid in Kansas.
On the afternoon of September 27th, Colonel Lewis and his troops advanced upon the Cheyenne encampment from the southwest. As the soldiers approached, the Cheyenne women, children, and elderly sought refuge in Squaw’s Den Cave, a natural formation offering some semblance of protection. The warriors, determined to defend their families and their right to return to their homeland, stood their ground and engaged the advancing soldiers.
The ensuing skirmish, known as the Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork, was a brief but intense encounter. Lieutenant Colonel William H. Lewis sustained a severe wound to his thigh, while one Cheyenne warrior lost his life. The following day, Lewis was placed in a military ambulance, and the soldiers began the arduous journey towards Fort Wallace, Kansas, approximately 40 miles to the northwest. Tragically, Lieutenant Colonel Lewis succumbed to his wounds along the way, becoming the last military casualty of the Indian Wars in Kansas.
The Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork marked a somber milestone as the last Indian battle to occur within the borders of the Sunflower State. Following their escape from Battle Canyon, the Cheyenne continued their journey northwest, leaving behind a trail of fear and uncertainty.
In the aftermath of the skirmish, telegrams flooded the governor’s office from various points across western Kansas, desperately pleading for aid and protection. Despite the escalating situation, General Pope remained reluctant to take decisive action, leaving the settlers feeling vulnerable and abandoned.
On September 30th, the Cheyenne presence was reported in Decatur County, near Oberlin, Kansas. The news ignited a flurry of activity as local residents convened a meeting and formed three small companies of volunteers, led by W. D. Street, J. W. Allen, and Solomon Rees, to defend the area. The companies spread out, scouring the western part of the county in search of the Cheyenne.
Captain Rees’ company was the only one to make contact with the Cheyenne. A running fight ensued, spanning several miles, resulting in the death of one Cheyenne warrior and the suspected wounding of several others. In total, seventeen white settlers lost their lives in Decatur County during this desperate encounter, a tragic testament to the violence and desperation that characterized the Cheyenne Raid in Kansas.
The Cheyenne were eventually overpowered and forced to retreat back towards the reservation. This marked the last significant Indian raid to occur in Kansas. As Clara Hazelrigg noted in her book History of Kansas, "Of the many Indian raids in Kansas, none was ever characterized with such brutal and ferocious crimes, and none ever excited such horror and indignation as the Cheyenne raid of 1878."
Following their encounters in Kansas, the Cheyenne continued their arduous journey into Nebraska. There, the group split, with a portion following Chief Dull Knife and the remainder led by Little Wolf. Dull Knife’s group was eventually captured near Fort Robinson, Nebraska, while Little Wolf’s band sought refuge in the sand hills of Nebraska for the winter, eventually making their way to Montana.
The tragic events surrounding the Cheyenne did not end with their capture. After the Fort Robinson Massacre in January 1879, Chief Wild Hog and six others surrendered and were subsequently taken to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and then to Dodge City for trial. However, the evidence presented was deemed insufficient to secure a conviction, and in October 1879, Judge Stephens of Lawrence, Kansas, ordered their release.
Ultimately, a reservation for the Northern Cheyenne was established in southeastern Montana, near the Black Hills. This new home, known as the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, ensured that they would never again be forcibly returned to the South.
In response to the Cheyenne Raid in Kansas, the government established a cantonment in Indian Territory, situated on the north fork of the Canadian River between Fort Supply and Fort Reno, Oklahoma. This post, occupied by five companies of foot soldiers and one company of mounted infantry, was intended to provide better protection for the settlers in western Kansas. The state of Kansas also took steps to bolster security in the western settlements. Governor John St. John, who succeeded Anthony in January 1879, recommended the establishment of a military contingent fund, and on March 12, 1879, $20,000 was appropriated for this purpose.
The Cheyenne Raid in Kansas serves as a poignant reminder of the complex and often tragic relationship between settlers and Native American tribes in the American West. It highlights the desperation and resilience of the Cheyenne people, their yearning for their ancestral lands, and the devastating consequences of broken promises and inadequate government policies.