Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska
The year 1864 witnessed a surge of violence across the plains of Nebraska and neighboring territories, a conflict ignited by simmering tensions and escalating desperation. This period, known as the Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska, was a brutal chapter in the long and complex history of interaction between Native American tribes and the encroaching tide of American settlers. The war was marked by raids, massacres, and acts of profound cruelty on both sides, leaving a lasting scar on the landscape and the collective memory of the region. This article delves into the intricate details of this conflict, examining its causes, key events, and far-reaching consequences.
The backdrop to the Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska, was a landscape increasingly strained by westward expansion. The promise of land and opportunity lured settlers onto the Great Plains, disrupting the traditional way of life for the indigenous populations who had called this region home for centuries. Treaties, often broken or unfairly negotiated, relegated tribes like the Cheyenne and Arapaho to shrinking reservation lands, where resources were scarce and conditions were often deplorable. The disruption of buffalo hunting, a cornerstone of their sustenance and culture, further exacerbated their plight.
By the early 1860s, the situation had reached a breaking point. The Cheyenne and Arapaho, facing starvation and despair on their reservations, began to retaliate against the perceived injustices. Their frustration manifested in attacks on stagecoaches, wagon trains, and isolated settlements along the vital Oregon Trail. These raids, often opportunistic and driven by the need for supplies, quickly escalated into a full-blown conflict. The Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska had begun.
The initial acts of resistance were met with swift and often disproportionate responses from settlers and the U.S. military. Fear gripped the frontier communities, and calls for protection echoed across the territory. The Oregon Trail, a lifeline for westward migration and commerce, became a dangerous gauntlet. The most intense fighting occurred along the upper reaches of the Little Blue River in Nebraska, an area that became synonymous with the violence of the Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska.
One of the most devastating incidents occurred at "The Narrows," where the Eubanks family was attacked. Seven members of the family were killed in the brutal assault. Mrs. Eubanks, along with two children and a young woman named Laura Roper, were taken captive, enduring months of captivity and hardship. Similar tragedies unfolded across the region. Teamsters were slain, wagon trains were burned, and ranches were left in smoldering ruins. Panic spread among the settlers, who fled eastward towards Beatrice and Marysville, or sought refuge at Fort Kearny, a military outpost strategically located on the Platte River.
The attacks along the Little Blue River in August 1864, proved particularly devastating. Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, along with Arapaho and Sioux warriors, unleashed a wave of destruction along a 60-mile stretch of the Overland Trail, between what is now Fairbury and Hastings, Nebraska. The raids resulted in the deaths of 38 settlers, the wounding of nine, and the capture of five more. Today, historical markers stand as silent witnesses to these events, but the exact locations of many of the attacks remain unmarked and inaccessible, hidden within the vast expanse of private farmlands.
The Eubank Homestead, situated northwest of Oak, Nebraska, became a scene of unspeakable horror. Warriors attacked the ranch, killing two children who were home alone. Further north, three Eubank men and a teenage boy were slain while working in the fields. A young boy, Ambrose Asher, aged nine, was taken captive. Lucinda Eubank, her two young children, and a visiting teenager, Laura Roper, were also captured after the father was killed defending his children. These captives were taken to a Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment on the Smoky Hill River.
Within the encampment, the captives were bartered and traded. Arapaho Peace Chief Left Hand, known for his fairness and education, intervened, securing the release of Ambrose Asher, Laura Roper, and three-year-old Isabel Eubank. Tragically, Lucinda Eubank and her infant son Will were sold to a renegade Sioux warrior named Two Face, who immediately disappeared with them.
Left Hand, along with Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle, attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution, offering the safe return of the captives in exchange for a truce with the soldiers. They reached an agreement with Major Wynkoop, commander at Fort Lyon, Colorado, and Laura Roper was eventually reunited with her family. Young Isabel Eubank, however, never recovered from the trauma of her captivity and died shortly after her release. Ambrose Asher was sent to live with his grandmother in Illinois.
Lucinda Eubank’s ordeal was far from over. Held captive by a renegade band, she and her son endured months of abuse and hardship. Finally, in May 1865, they were brought to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, in a severely weakened state. Two Face and another warrior, Blackfeet, were subsequently hanged at the fort for the abuse of the captives. Lucinda Eubank eventually recovered, learning of her daughter Isabel’s death. She remarried in Missouri, attempting to rebuild her life after the unimaginable trauma she had endured.
Another harrowing incident occurred at Plum Creek, Nebraska, where Cheyenne warriors attacked a bull train and two wagon trains. A 14-year-old bullwhacker was wounded in the initial assault, but the teamsters managed to fight off the attackers. However, the same day, two Denver-bound wagon trains were ambushed. All the men in the first wagon train, including the owner, E.F. Morton, were killed, and Mrs. Morton was taken captive. The Indians also drove off the 50 mules belonging to the train. In the second wagon train, a boy named Dannie Marble was captured, and the rest of the men were killed. In total, 13 emigrants lost their lives in the attacks near Plum Creek.
The Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska, also saw attacks on stage stations. At Oak Grove Station, a group of Cheyenne and Sioux warriors feigned friendship before launching a surprise attack, killing two men and wounding two more. The warriors then stole or destroyed a significant amount of property and livestock before being driven off by an approaching ox train. The station was later burned to the ground. Further west, near Kiowa Station, a stagecoach was ambushed, and a pioneer couple was slain in their home.
These raids effectively severed communications to Denver, prompting Colorado Governor John Evans to plead for authorization to raise a militia. A volunteer regiment was authorized, promising pay and supplies for 100 days. This marked a turning point in the conflict, as the settlers began to organize and retaliate with greater force.
The Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska, was a complex and tragic conflict, driven by a combination of factors, including broken treaties, dwindling resources, and the relentless pressure of westward expansion. The raids and massacres left a deep scar on the landscape and the collective memory of the region.
The culmination of the Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska, and the preceding tensions arrived with shocking brutality on November 29, 1864. The Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado Territory, where a 700-man force of Colorado Territory Militia, led by Colonel John Chivington, attacked a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village. The attack resulted in the slaughter and mutilation of an estimated 70-163 Native Americans, with a disproportionate number of women and children among the victims. This event sent shockwaves across the nation, further fueling the conflict and solidifying the image of the Indian Wars as a period of intense violence and injustice.
Following the Sand Creek Massacre, the surviving Cheyenne and Arapaho eventually accepted a reservation in the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). However, even this did not bring an end to the conflict. In 1866, a large band of Cheyenne was intercepted by Colonel George A. Custer near the Washita River in Oklahoma and subdued. This event further diminished their ability to resist the encroaching settlers and the policies of the U.S. government.
The Cheyenne War of 1864, Nebraska, stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of westward expansion and the devastating consequences of broken promises and cultural misunderstandings. The events of that year continue to resonate today, prompting reflection on the complex and often tragic relationship between Native Americans and the United States.
