Indian Terrors on the Santa Fe Trail
By Colonel Henry Inman in 1897
The Santa Fe Trail, a vital artery of commerce and westward expansion in the 19th century, was not merely a path of opportunity; it was also a corridor of conflict. This trail, snaking its way across the vast American landscape, bore witness to the clash of cultures and the struggle for dominance between the burgeoning United States and the Native American tribes who called the Great Plains and Southwest home. While the trail represented progress and potential for settlers and traders, it became a symbol of intrusion and threat to the indigenous populations whose lives and lands were irrevocably altered by its presence.
The landscape itself contributed to the drama that unfolded. The trail traversed a diverse terrain, from the rolling prairies of Kansas and Missouri to the rugged mountains and arid deserts of New Mexico. This environment presented both challenges and opportunities for both travelers and the Native American tribes who utilized their intimate knowledge of the land for both sustenance and defense. The vastness of the plains provided ample space for ambushes and raids, while the canyons and mountains offered strategic vantage points and hiding places.
Almost immediately after the United States ratified the purchase of New Mexico under the stipulations of the "Guadalupe-Hidalgo Treaty," a significant shift occurred. The Ute tribe, one of the most powerful among the mountain Indian tribes, initiated a prolonged and bloody conflict against the white settlers in the territory. This war, characterized by varying degrees of intensity, etched a grim chapter in history, its pages stained with bloodshed until the military might of the United States eventually subdued the Native American resistance.
Along the strategic route of the Indian Terrors on the Santa Fe Trail, the Ute often allied themselves with the Apache. Together, they engaged in numerous acts of depredation and violence, fearlessly targeting freight caravans, private expeditions, and overland stagecoaches. Their attacks were indiscriminate, resulting in robbery and murder, instilling fear and uncertainty in the hearts of travelers traversing the Santa Fe Trail.
One chilling incident occurred in January 1847 when a mail and passenger stagecoach departed Independence, Missouri, bound for Santa Fe, New Mexico, on its regularly scheduled journey across the plains. The stagecoach carried a full complement of passengers, including a Mr. White, his wife, their small child, and a colored nurse. The lumbering Concord coach proceeded day after day, its journey unbroken by any significant events, traversing the vast prairies and eventually crossing the range into New Mexico. As dawn approached, the unsuspecting travelers entered the canyon of the Canadian River, likely awakening from their long night’s slumber, unaware of the impending danger. A band of Indians, with bloodcurdling yells and terrifying war-whoops, descended upon them in a surprise attack.
In that isolated and rock-sheltered gorge, a group of hostile Indians, led by "White Wolf," an Apache chief, had been lying in wait for the arrival of the coach from the East. They were well-informed about the stagecoach’s schedule and had concealed themselves the night before to ensure they were in position when it reached their chosen ambush site. With faces painted for war and feathered war bonnets adorning their heads, the Indians burst forth, initially appearing as potential friends. They halted the frightened mules, forcefully opened the coach doors, and mercilessly dragged the helpless and surprised passengers onto the ground. The Indians immediately began their butchery, scalping and mutilating the bodies of their victims. Tragically, not a single individual survived to recount the horrific events.
The Indians, failing to conceal their gruesome acts, left the dismantled stagecoach at the scene of the attack, along with the naked corpses of its passengers. This oversight would prove to be their undoing. At the next stage station, employees anxiously awaited the arrival of the coach, perplexed by the delay. As the hours passed, their apprehension grew, and they began to suspect something serious had occurred. They remained vigilant throughout the night, listening for the familiar sounds of the stagecoach’s wheels, but their hopes were dashed. At daybreak, a party of men, convinced that something untoward had transpired, mounted their horses and rode down the trail towards the canyon.
Upon entering the canyon’s ominous mouth, they discovered the ghastly remains of twelve mutilated bodies. The bodies were gathered and buried together in a single grave atop a bluff overlooking the narrow gorge. The exact number of passengers on board the coach remained uncertain until the arrival of the next stage, which would carry a manifest. However, it was initially assumed that the twelve deceased individuals represented the full complement of passengers.
Rather than waiting for the arrival of the next stagecoach, the party dispatched a messenger to the station east of the massacre site to ascertain the precise number of passengers who had boarded the stage. It was then discovered that Mrs. White, her child, and the colored nurse were missing, presumed to have been taken captive. The absence of a woman’s remains among the dead suggested a fate potentially worse than death.
News of the massacre reached Taos, New Mexico, where companies of the Second United States Dragoons were stationed under the command of Major William Greer. The weather conditions were intensely cold and stormy, delaying the transmission of the news for nearly two weeks. Major Greer responded swiftly to the appeal for action and punishment of the responsible Indians. However, preparations for an expedition were further delayed. Despite the persistent storms, five troops of dragoons, led by Major Greer, eventually departed their comfortable quarters to attempt the rescue of Mrs. White, her child, and the nurse.
Kit Carson, Richens "Uncle Dick" Wootton, Joaquin Leroux, and Tom Tobin volunteered their services as scouts and guides, which Major Greer gladly accepted. The Indian Terrors on the Santa Fe Trail had occurred three weeks prior to the arrival of the command at the Canadian River canyon, and continuous snowfall had obscured the trail leading out of the gorge. The location of the Indians’ winter camp remained unknown, potentially hundreds of miles to the south on a tributary of the Canadian River.
Carson, Wootton, and Leroux, employing their expertise in tracking, identified subtle signs indicating that the murderers had departed south immediately after their bloody deed and that their camp was likely situated somewhere along the river. The command followed the scouts’ trail for nearly 400 miles. As the men prepared to break camp one morning, Kit Carson, observing ravens circling in the air, ventured out on a reconnaissance mission. He discovered two Indians driving a herd of ponies, confirming the proximity of a village. The Indians, unaware of Carson’s presence, were not alerted. The scout returned to Major Greer and reported his findings.
Major Greer, after consulting with Tom Tobin and "Uncle Dick" Wootton, learned that numerous teepees were located in a dense grove of timber a mile away. A plan was devised to surprise the Indians in their winter quarters by charging directly into the village, preventing them from mounting their ponies. The command successfully approached the village undetected, but Major Greer, suddenly deciding to parley with the Indians, ordered a halt, much to the frustration of his eager soldiers.
The delay enraged the troops and scouts. Carson unleashed a string of oaths, while Leroux expressed his anger in a mixture of French and mountain dialect. The Indians, alerted to the soldiers’ presence, used the time to hide their women and children, mount their ponies, and seek refuge in deep ravines. As Major Greer attempted to justify his decision, the Indians opened fire, and a bullet struck him in the breast. Fortunately, a suspender buckle deflected the bullet, preventing serious injury.
The sight of their commanding officer in apparent distress ignited the troopers’ pent-up fury. Without waiting for the order to charge, they spurred their horses and attacked the Indians with overwhelming force. In two successful charges, over 100 Indians were killed or wounded. However, the lost time allowed many to escape. The command, unable to pursue the fleeing Indians, returned to Taos. In the village, they discovered the body of Mrs. White, still warm, with three arrows in her breast. The Indian Terrors on the Santa Fe Trail had claimed another victim. The child and the nurse were never found, presumed dead.
The Apache chief, "White Wolf," met a fitting end for his crimes. Lieutenant David Bell, stationed at Fort Union, New Mexico, led a group of men to the Canadian River canyon, where they encountered a similar number of Indians. A parley ensued, likely initiated by the Indians. Bell, having positioned his men strategically, engaged in a mounted interview with the chief, who was none other than the infamous White Wolf. As Bell approached, White Wolf stood before his line of well-armed warriors. Bell, ahead of his troopers, prepared for a potential confrontation.
The parley stretched on, the tension palpable. Finally, the leaders exchanged shots. White Wolf sank to one knee, aiming his weapon, while Bell leaned forward, causing his horse to rear. Both lines fired, and the troopers charged, riding over their enemies. The warriors, or most of them, threw themselves on the ground, resulting in vertical wounds from the horses and riders. The dragoons turned and charged again. The surviving Indians fled to a ravine.
In less than fifteen minutes, twenty-one of the forty-six participants in the battle were killed or disabled. Bell emerged unscathed, but several of his men were killed or wounded. He had shot White Wolf multiple times, as had others. To ensure his demise, a trooper crushed White Wolf’s head with a large stone. This duel was one of the most remarkable events on the Indian Terrors on the Santa Fe Trail, unmatched in its intensity and outcome.
Satank, a Kiowa war chief in the early 1850s, was notorious for his cruelty. After years of atrocities, he was allegedly deposed for cowardice. While the Kiowa village was near Fort Zarah, Kansas, Satank and a few elderly warriors were the only ones present when troops surprised the village. Satank fled, leading to accusations of cowardice from his warriors.
Satank befriended an illicit trader named Peacock, who sold whiskey to the Indians. Satank asked Peacock to write a letter of introduction to wagon bosses on the Trail. Peacock wrote a letter describing Satank as a liar, beggar, and thief. Satank presented the letter to several caravans and received harsh treatment. After learning the letter’s true contents, Satank and his braves rode to Peacock’s ranch and killed him and everyone else, except for one man who had been gored by a buffalo and was therefore avoided for fear of disease.
Satanta (White Bear) was a Kiowa chief known for his hatred of whites and his oratorical skills. He often wore a major-general’s uniform and traveled in an ambulance. However, his friendship was a facade. During General Philip Sheridan’s preparations for a winter campaign against the Plains Indians, Satanta visited military posts, ostensibly to promote peace, but in reality, to gather information.
The article mentions that General Sheridan once visited Fort Harker, Kansas, and Colonel Inman suggested capturing or killing Satanta. Sheridan declined, fearing public outcry. The author defends his suggestion by citing General Washington’s motto: "Exitus acta probat," suggesting that preventing future violence justified the action.
Satanta once addressed a congressional commission investigating the causes of the Indian wars. He claimed that his people only killed buffalo for sustenance, while white settlers ruthlessly slaughtered them for sport. He also accused white hunters of setting fires and destroying timber. Later, after drinking, Satanta revealed his true feelings, boasting about deceiving the commissioners.
On another occasion, Satanta poisoned himself by drinking medicine intended for a mule. In retaliation, he burned government hay and murdered three wood-choppers. At a Comanche agency meeting, Satanta stated that he welcomed breech-loading rifles but disliked the corn rations.
Big Tree, a Kiowa chief and ally of Satanta, was also captured and imprisoned. While Satanta was eventually pardoned, he died while trying to escape. Big Tree was released through the intervention of sentimentalists and sent to the Kiowa Reservation near Fort Sill.
Kicking Bird, another Kiowa warrior, initially participated in raids but later advocated for peace. He surrendered to authorities and encouraged his tribe to adopt the white man’s ways. He famously secured the release of Miss Morgan and Mrs. White from captivity by confronting General Custer.
In 1867, Kicking Bird, wearing a U.S. Army major general’s uniform, visited Fort Larned with his tribe. He argued that the Indians needed to adapt to the changing times. In 1869, he was condemned by his tribe for refusing to participate in a raid into Texas. To regain their respect, he led a destructive raid. Despite this, he continued to work with Indian agents to settle his people on a reservation.
Under President Ulysses S. Grant’s "Quaker Policy," Mr. Tatham was appointed the agent for the Kiowa in 1869. He gained Kicking Bird’s trust, who in turn helped Thomas Batty, a Quaker, establish a school for Kiowa youth. When Lone Wolf threatened Batty’s life, Kicking Bird protected him.
Later, Kicking Bird was chosen to visit Washington, D.C., where he was appointed head chief of the tribe. Lone Wolf, resentful of Kicking Bird’s authority, continued to incite violence. In 1876, Lone Wolf’s band killed an English teamster. Kicking Bird helped bring the murderers to justice, leading to increased animosity against him.
Kicking Bird died suddenly in June 1876, possibly poisoned. He was given an elaborate funeral, and there was a rumor that his grave was robbed.
George Bent, a half-breed Indian desperado, was another major threat on the Old Indian Terrors on the Santa Fe Trail. The son of Cheyenne mother and trader Colonel William Bent, he was educated in St. Louis. Upon returning to his native lands, he became the leader of the "Dog Soldiers," a band of ruthless warriors.
Bent’s band robbed ranches, attacked wagon trains, and murdered indiscriminately. He would infiltrate emigrant trains, gather information, and then lead his band in a deadly attack. He also targeted army scouts. The government offered a reward for Bent’s capture, but he died of malarial fever after a battle with the Kanza.