Lone Wolf – Kiowa Chief
The figure of Lone Wolf, or Gui-Pah-Go as he was known to his people, emerges from the annals of the American West as a compelling and complex character. Born around 1820, he rose to prominence as a principal chief of the Kiowa tribe, a nation renowned for its equestrian skills, nomadic lifestyle, and fierce independence on the Southern Plains. His life unfolded against the backdrop of relentless westward expansion by the United States, a period marked by treaties made and broken, cultures clashing, and the tragic displacement of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands. To understand Lone Wolf, it’s essential to delve into the world he inhabited, a world shaped by the Kiowa traditions and the encroaching influence of the white man.
The Kiowa people, closely allied with the Comanche, roamed a vast territory stretching from present-day Oklahoma and Texas into parts of Kansas and New Mexico. Their society revolved around the buffalo, which provided them with food, clothing, shelter, and tools. Skilled horsemen, they were formidable warriors who defended their hunting grounds and way of life against rival tribes and, increasingly, against the relentless advance of settlers and the U.S. Army. Oral tradition played a vital role in their culture, with stories passed down through generations, preserving their history, beliefs, and values. The Kiowa were deeply spiritual, with ceremonies and rituals that honored the natural world and the spirits that inhabited it.
Lone Wolf’s rise to leadership coincided with a period of intensifying pressure on the Kiowa. The U.S. government, eager to secure land for settlement and resource extraction, sought to confine the tribes to reservations, a policy that directly threatened their nomadic existence and traditional way of life. Treaties were negotiated, often under duress, promising protection and provisions in exchange for land cessions and relocation. However, these promises were frequently broken, leading to resentment, distrust, and ultimately, conflict.
Lone Wolf found himself at the center of these tumultuous events. He participated in the negotiations of the Arkansas Treaty in 1865 and the Medicine Lodge Treaty in 1867. These treaties, ostensibly designed to ensure peace and stability, ultimately required the Kiowa to relinquish their freedom and settle on a reservation in present-day Oklahoma. The allure of promised supplies and protection proved to be a deceptive mirage, as government agents were often corrupt, and the promised provisions were inadequate or nonexistent. The Kiowa, accustomed to self-sufficiency and freedom of movement, found the constraints of reservation life unbearable.
The initial reluctance of the Kiowa to move to the reservation following the Medicine Lodge Treaty led to a drastic response from the U.S. military. General George Armstrong Custer, a name synonymous with the Indian Wars, seized Lone Wolf and Satanta, another prominent Kiowa chief, as hostages. This act of coercion underscored the government’s determination to enforce its policies, regardless of the impact on the Kiowa people. The chiefs were held until the tribe complied with the order to relocate, a humiliating experience that further fueled resentment and resistance.
As the 1870s dawned, discontent simmered among the Kiowa and other Southern Plains tribes. The reservation system proved to be a breeding ground for poverty, disease, and despair. Faced with starvation and the erosion of their cultural identity, many Kiowa warriors, driven by desperation and anger, began to launch raids on wagon trains and settlements in Texas. These attacks, often portrayed as acts of unprovoked aggression, were in reality desperate attempts to secure food, supplies, and a measure of revenge against those who had dispossessed them.
Although Lone Wolf initially counseled peace, recognizing the overwhelming power of the U.S. military, he found it increasingly difficult to restrain the younger, more militant members of his tribe. He was present when Satanta, Setangya (Sitting Bear), and Big Tree were arrested at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for their involvement in raids. This event, rather than deterring further resistance, seemed to galvanize the Kiowa warriors, including Lone Wolf himself.
By 1872, Lone Wolf had abandoned his policy of peaceful negotiation and joined the ranks of those actively resisting the reservation system. On April 30, 1872, he and his warriors attacked a government wagon train on the San Antonio-El Paso Road, resulting in the deaths of seventeen Mexican teamsters. This act marked a significant turning point in Lone Wolf’s life, transforming him from a reluctant negotiator into a defiant warrior. Following the attack, Lone Wolf and his men engaged in a skirmish with a patrol of the Ninth United States Cavalry from Fort Concho, further cementing his reputation as a leader of armed resistance.
Despite his involvement in the raid on the wagon train, Lone Wolf continued to navigate the complex political landscape of the era. In the fall of 1872, he traveled to Washington D.C. for a peace conference, demonstrating his willingness to engage in dialogue even while simultaneously participating in armed conflict. While in Washington, he used his influence to secure the parole of Satanta and Big Tree, demonstrating his commitment to his fellow Kiowa leaders.
However, tragedy struck in December 1873, when Lone Wolf’s son, Tau-ankia, and nephew, Guitan, were killed by cavalry troops. This loss, a devastating blow to the aging chief, fueled his hatred of the white man and solidified his resolve to resist further encroachment on Kiowa lands and culture. This personal tragedy transformed Lone Wolf into an even more determined opponent of the reservation system.
In the aftermath of his son’s death, Lone Wolf joined the ranks of those who participated in the attack on Adobe Walls on June 27, 1874. This large-scale assault, led by Quanah Parker, brought together warriors from various tribes in a desperate attempt to drive the buffalo hunters from the Southern Plains. He also participated in the Lost Valley Fight the following month. In late August, he and his warriors raided the agency at Anadarko, Oklahoma, further escalating the conflict.
Following the raid on Anadarko, Lone Wolf and his band fled to the Texas Panhandle, seeking refuge in the vast and rugged terrain. In September 1874, they launched an unsuccessful attack on a wagon train, highlighting the growing desperation of the Kiowa warriors. Retreating into Palo Duro Canyon, a natural fortress carved by the elements, they hoped to evade the pursuing U.S. Army. However, Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, a relentless and effective military leader, launched a surprise attack on Lone Wolf’s village, destroying their lodges, supplies, and horses. This devastating blow crippled the Kiowa’s ability to sustain themselves and effectively broke their resistance.
Despondent, famished, and facing the prospect of starvation, Lone Wolf finally surrendered his band to the military authorities at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in February 1875. This surrender marked the end of his active resistance and the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one marked by imprisonment and the slow erosion of his health.
Following his surrender, Lone Wolf was sent to prison at Fort Marion, Florida, along with other Kiowa leaders. The harsh conditions and unfamiliar climate took a toll on his health, and he contracted malaria. After his release, he returned to Fort Sill, a broken man. He died in the summer of 1879, his spirit dimmed by the years of conflict, loss, and imprisonment. He was buried somewhere in the Wichita Mountains near Mount Scott, his final resting place a testament to the enduring legacy of a Kiowa chief who fought to defend his people’s way of life.
The life of Lone Wolf serves as a poignant reminder of the complex and often tragic history of the American West. He was a warrior, a negotiator, a father, and a leader who struggled to navigate the tumultuous events of his time. His story is a testament to the resilience of the Kiowa people and their unwavering determination to preserve their culture and identity in the face of overwhelming adversity. The name Lone Wolf echoes through history, a symbol of defiance, loss, and the enduring spirit of the American Indian.