Plum Buttes Massacre, Kansas
The vast, undulating plains of Kansas, a landscape etched with the stories of westward expansion and the clash of cultures, hold many somber tales within their soil. Among these is the tragic narrative of the Plum Buttes Massacre, an event that unfolded on September 9, 1867, along the historic Santa Fe Trail. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by travelers venturing into the American West and the volatile relationship between settlers and Native American tribes. The Plum Buttes Massacre is a significant, albeit grim, chapter in the history of the Santa Fe Trail and the broader narrative of the Indian Wars.
Franz (Frank) Huning, a seasoned Santa Fe Trail merchant hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, found himself in a precarious situation on that fateful day. Huning, returning from a business trip to Dayton, Ohio, led a small caravan consisting of seven wagons, a carriage, and an ambulance. Accompanying him were several drivers, his mother-in-law, and his sixteen-year-old brother-in-law. The return journey promised to be long and arduous, traversing the challenging terrain of the Great Plains.
As Huning’s party approached Junction City, Kansas, they received warnings about increased Native American activity in the area. Other wagon trains and freight companies had gathered at the end of the railroad line, opting to travel together in a larger, more defensible group. These groups understood that collective strength offered a better chance of survival against potential attacks. However, Huning, driven by a sense of urgency and perhaps overconfidence, decided to press on despite the looming threat. Impatience, it seemed, would outweigh caution. This fateful decision would soon prove catastrophic. The Plum Buttes Massacre might have been avoided had Huning heeded the warnings and waited for a larger convoy.
Undeterred, the small group ventured southward, heading toward the Santa Fe Trail and their ultimate destination in New Mexico. After traveling approximately 45 miles, they arrived at the Little Arkansas River Crossing. There, Huning encountered Captain Edward Byrne of the Tenth Cavalry, leading a contingent of Buffalo Soldiers – African American troops who played a crucial role in the Indian Wars. Recognizing the inherent danger of traveling with such a small party, Huning requested a military escort from Captain Byrne. Surprisingly, Byrne refused, claiming his soldiers were occupied with a picnic, even though they were stationed there for the express purpose of protecting travelers. This refusal, whether due to negligence, incompetence, or other reasons, left Huning and his party vulnerable and exposed. The lack of military assistance directly contributed to the tragedy of the Plum Buttes Massacre.
Left with no other option, Huning continued his journey alone. Now acutely aware of the potential danger, he rode ahead of the freight train, scouting for any signs of Native American presence. His fears were soon realized. The alarm came from the rear of the wagons, as a teamster frantically shouted, "Indians, Indians!" Turning back, Huning discovered that a group of Kiowa, Arapaho, and Cheyenne warriors had stealthily approached the wagons on foot, taking advantage of the terrain and the party’s limited defenses.
Seeking cover behind the third wagon from the front, Huning began to fire upon the warriors attacking the rear of the train. However, his efforts were in vain. The warriors stampeded the mules and separated the four wagons at the back, along with the carriage and the ambulance, from the rest of the group. The remaining three wagons quickly formed a defensive circle, bracing for an imminent attack. Oddly, the warriors did not immediately engage the encircled wagons. Instead, they focused their attention on the wagons they had already seized, moving them several hundred yards away from the main trail.
As Huning desperately fought to defend his remaining wagons, he heard the agonizing screams of his mother-in-law as the warriors attacked her. He continued to fire upon them until his rifle jammed, rendering him helpless. He could only watch in horror as the warriors plundered his goods, loading them onto the backs of his mules and setting fire to the larger items. The cries of terror from his mother-in-law were finally silenced by a pistol shot. Overwhelmed by grief and fear, Huning saddled a mule and raced towards Fort Zarah, located approximately 15 miles away, seeking assistance.
Upon reaching Fort Zarah, Huning found the camp devoid of soldiers. However, two civilian scouts, Captain Charles Christy and a man named Roma, volunteered to assist. They set out with an ambulance towards Plum Buttes, the site of the attack. What they discovered was a scene of unimaginable horror. They found the scalped and mutilated body of one of the teamsters under a wagon. Inside a featherbed, they discovered the mutilated remains of Huning’s mother-in-law and brother-in-law. The prairie was littered with the remnants of burned wagons and scattered goods, a testament to the brutality of the attack.
The scouts loaded the three bodies into the ambulance and began the somber return trip to Fort Zarah. However, their journey was far from over. They were ambushed by the same group of warriors and forced into a desperate four-mile chase. Fortunately, they managed to hold off the attackers until a larger contingent of soldiers from Fort Zarah arrived, forcing the warriors to flee.
Huning eventually returned to his family in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he continued his career as a successful merchant. He is said to have been the first person in the American West to utter the now-famous lament, "Where’s the damn cavalry when you need them?" The site of the Plum Buttes Massacre remained a grim reminder of the event for years afterward, with partially burned wagons, barrels, and broken dishes scattered across the landscape. Many historians believe that the attack was led by Charley Bent, the mixed-race son of William Bent, a prominent fur trader, and a group of Dog Soldiers, a militant faction of the Cheyenne tribe.
Today, the Plum Buttes Massacre site is located about one mile west of "Ralph’s Ruts" in Rice County, Kansas, approximately five miles west of Chase, north of US Highway 56. It stands as a silent testament to the dangers faced by those who traversed the Santa Fe Trail and the complex, often violent, relationship between settlers and Native American tribes during the westward expansion of the United States. The story of the Plum Buttes Massacre serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the human cost of ambition, the importance of heeding warnings, and the tragic consequences of cultural conflict. The Plum Buttes Massacre remains a poignant reminder of a turbulent era in American history.