Warren Wagon Train Raid, Texas
The Warren Wagon Train Raid, also known as the Salt Creek Massacre, stands as a stark reminder of the violent clashes that punctuated the westward expansion of the United States and the resistance of Native American tribes to the encroachment on their lands. This infamous event unfolded in 1871, forever etching itself into the history of Texas and the broader narrative of the Indian Wars. The incident involved a freight train contracted to supply various Texas forts, including Fort Richardson, Fort Griffin, and Fort Concho.
In 1871, Henry Warren secured a contract to transport much-needed supplies to several military outposts scattered across the vast expanse of Texas. These forts served as crucial hubs for the U.S. Army, tasked with maintaining order and protecting settlers from Native American raids. The lifeline provided by wagon trains like Warren’s was essential for the forts’ continued operation and the sustenance of the soldiers stationed there. The Jacksboro-Belknap Road, a rough and dusty track connecting these settlements, became the setting for a tragic encounter that would reverberate through the region and beyond.
On May 18th, 1871, Warren’s freight train, laden with provisions destined for the forts, was making its way along the Jacksboro-Belknap Road. As the wagons lumbered towards Salt Creek Crossing, the teamsters encountered an unexpected and unsettling sight: General William T. Sherman. Sherman, a prominent figure in the U.S. Army, was known for his role in the Civil War and his subsequent involvement in the Indian Wars. The encounter was brief, and Sherman allowed the Native Americans to pass without interference.
Little did the teamsters know that this seemingly innocuous encounter foreshadowed impending danger. Less than an hour later, as the wagon train continued its journey, the horizon revealed a far more menacing sight. A large group of Indian riders, numbering approximately 100 warriors, appeared in the distance, their silhouettes stark against the Texas sky. This was no mere scouting party; it was a war party, led by some of the most prominent and respected Kiowa chiefs of the time: Satanta, Ado-eete (also known as Big Tree), and Satank. These chiefs were renowned for their leadership, their prowess in battle, and their unwavering commitment to defending their people’s ancestral lands. The Warren Wagon Train Raid was about to begin.
Recognizing the imminent threat, the experienced teamsters reacted quickly. They instinctively pulled the wagons into a defensive ring formation, a common tactic employed by wagon trains to protect themselves against attack. The wagons, arranged in a circle, provided a makeshift barrier, offering some degree of protection from arrows and gunfire. However, the odds were heavily stacked against the 12 teamsters. Outnumbered and outgunned, they faced a formidable force of seasoned warriors, determined to strike a blow against the encroaching tide of settlers and soldiers. The Warren Wagon Train Raid would test their courage and resilience to the limit.
The Kiowa warriors, under the leadership of Satanta, Big Tree, and Satank, launched a fierce and coordinated attack on the wagon train. They charged towards the wagons, their war cries echoing across the plains, unleashing a barrage of arrows and gunfire. The teamsters, armed with rifles and pistols, fought back valiantly, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number and ferocity of the attackers. The battle was brief but brutal, a chaotic melee of gunfire, arrows, and hand-to-hand combat.
When the dust settled, the Warren Wagon Train Raid had claimed a heavy toll. The Kiowa warriors had captured the supplies, seizing the much-needed provisions intended for the forts. More tragically, seven of the teamsters lay dead, their bodies mutilated as a symbol of the Kiowa’s defiance and rage. The remaining five men, battered and bloodied, managed to escape the carnage, fleeing into the vast Texas landscape in a desperate bid for survival.
Thomas Brazeale, one of the survivors, embarked on a perilous journey to Fort Richardson, some 20 miles away. He stumbled through the harsh terrain, driven by a desperate need to alert the authorities and seek help. His arrival at the fort, exhausted and traumatized, sent shockwaves through the military command. Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, a renowned Indian fighter, immediately informed General Sherman of the devastating attack.
Sherman, enraged by the audacity of the Kiowa warriors, dispatched Mackenzie to bring the offending Indians to justice. He was determined to send a clear message that such acts of violence would not be tolerated. However, fate intervened, rendering Mackenzie’s mission unnecessary. Shortly after returning from the raid, the Kiowa, seemingly unaware of the gravity of their actions, traveled to Fort Sill in Oklahoma to claim their rations.
At Fort Sill, the Kiowa chiefs encountered Lawrie Tatum, the Indian agent responsible for overseeing the affairs of the tribe. During a routine questioning, Satanta, in a moment of extraordinary hubris, boasted about the Warren Wagon Train Raid. He recounted the details of the attack, seemingly proud of his role in the bloodshed. Tatum, horrified by Satanta’s confession, immediately recognized the gravity of the situation. He promptly turned the chiefs over to General Sherman, setting in motion a chain of events that would have profound consequences for the Kiowa people.
Sherman, upon hearing Tatum’s account, ordered that Satanta, Satank, and Big Tree be sent to Jacksboro, Texas, to stand trial for murder. This decision marked a significant departure from previous policies, which often treated Native American raids as acts of war rather than criminal offenses. The trial of the Kiowa chiefs would be a landmark event, testing the boundaries of justice and the relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes.
On June 8, 1871, Satanta, Satank, and Big Tree, bound hand and foot, departed Fort Sill under heavy guard, their destination Jacksboro, Texas. However, the journey would be marked by further tragedy. Satank, a proud and defiant warrior, refused to submit to the indignity of being tried by the white man’s court. He attempted to escape, knowing full well that his actions would likely result in his death. In the ensuing struggle, Satank was killed by the guards, his life ending in a final act of resistance.
Big Tree and Satanta were brought to trial in Jacksboro, Texas, where they faced charges of murder. The trial was a highly publicized event, attracting widespread attention from across the country. The two chiefs were found guilty and sentenced to death, a verdict that reflected the public’s outrage over the Warren Wagon Train Raid. However, Texas Governor Edmund Davis, recognizing the potential for further violence and unrest, overruled the court and commuted their sentences to life imprisonment.
The decision to spare the lives of Big Tree and Satanta sparked controversy, with some praising Davis for his prudence and others condemning him for his leniency. However, the saga of the Kiowa chiefs was far from over. In October 1873, Kiowa Chief Lone Wolf negotiated for their early release, arguing that their continued imprisonment was detrimental to the peace and stability of the region. The pair were allowed to leave prison, conditional upon the good behavior of their people.
However, the promise of peace proved to be short-lived. In 1874, Satanta, unable to reconcile himself to the loss of his freedom and the destruction of his people’s way of life, returned to the warpath. He and his warriors attacked buffalo hunters, engaging in what is known as the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, a desperate attempt to drive the white man from their lands. Satanta was later captured and imprisoned once again. In despair, he committed suicide in prison, bringing a tragic end to his life.
Big Tree, along with other chiefs suspected of harboring hostile sentiments, were confined as prisoners at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After his release, he lived on an allotment from the reservation until his death in 1929. The Warren Wagon Train Raid and its aftermath had a profound impact on the lives of these Kiowa chiefs, shaping their destinies and contributing to the tragic history of the Indian Wars. The Warren Wagon Train Raid, though a single event, encapsulates the broader conflict between Native Americans and the United States government during the westward expansion.