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Sand Creek Massacre
In Colorado territory, the Cheyenne raided nearby ranches in 1864. Army officals offered forgiveness IF they returned to their reservations at Sand Creek. The Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle wanted peace so he led his people back. Colonel John Chivington arrived at Sand Creek with about 700 troops. Kettle raised an American and white flag as a sign of peace, but Chivington didn't want peace. His 700 troops opened fire and killed about 150 people. They were successful and soon returned to Denver. -
Medicine Lodge Treaty
After the 2nd Treaty of Ft. Laramie the Medicine Lodge Treaty was signed. A U.S. Indian Peace Commission signed three treaties at Medicine Lodge Creek, near Medicine Lodge, Kansas. The treaties were made with the Comanche, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Apache, and Arapaho. This treaty said that the U.S. promised the tribes peace and protection from white intruders in return for amity and relocation to reservations in western Indian territory. -
2nd Treaty of Ft. Laramie
After the Sand Creek Massacre there were many more raids. Some travelers along the Bozeman Trail were passing through sacred Sioux hunting ground. Then the Sioux attacked a supply of wagon train outside newly built Ft. Kearny. When about 80 soldiers tried to drive off the war party the Sioux killed them all. Finally, the government closed the Bozeman Trail. In exchange, the Sioux signed the 2nd Treaty of Fort Laramie saying they agreed to live on a reservation along the Missouri River. -
Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
Ever since the summer of 1874 the Indians used the Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas panhandle as a storage area for food and supplies for the winter. Colonel Mackenzie, the leader of the the U.S. Cavalry wanted to surprise attack the Indians. Mackenzie's troops were trying to find a path to the Indians camp, but didn't find one, so they ended up going straight down the canyon. When they attacked many of the Indians fled, leaving their possessions behind and the U.S. got many of their stored items. -
Battle of the Little Bighorn
At the Battle of the Little Bighorn, about 2,000 Indians gathered near the Little Bighorn River. The leader, Sitting Bull, started a sun dance because he had a vision of a victory over the soldiers. The leader of the U.S. army troops, Custer, also predicted a vitory. Custer led his troops into an attack against a much bigger Indian army. The U.S. army was quickly defeated and it was a huge vitory for the Sioux Indians. -
Relocation of the Nez Perce
In 1855 the Nez Perce agreed to move onto reservations in Idaho and Oregon. Then in 1863, as gold miners and settlers began coming on the reservations, the U.S. government took back 90% of the Nez Perce land. In 1877 the Indians were ordered to leave the last part of land and move to a small section in Idaho. Chief Joseph and some others thought it would be better to go to Canada and relocate, but others started violence and battles, and ended up surrendering at Bear Paw, Montana. -
Capture of Geronimo
In 1850, the Apache tribe went to Old Mexico to trade. When they got back, they found that they had been attacked by the Mexicans. The government moved them to the San Carlos Reservation. Geronimo fled the reservation with dozens of others. Then they led raids on settlements. Captured in September 1886 Geronimo and his followers were sent to an internment camp as prisoners of war. -
Ghost Dance Movement Begins
Wovoka, a Shaman of the Northern Paiute in Nevada, had a vision that he spoke with God. The vision said to bring the Indians a new message and a sacred dance. This dance was to be performed five nights in a row. Then God would save only the Indians.The Ghost Dance movement spread across the Central Plains and during these dances people saw visions of buffalo herds returning and white settlers leaving the west. This dance developed into a religious movement and it offered hope for the Indians. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
After the Ghost Dance and the Sioux surrender they were took to Wounded Knee Creek to set up camp. There Colonel Forsyth ordered them to give up their rifles. A young man named Black Coyote didn't want to give up his gun and in the process of taking the gun from him, the gun went off. Everyone began shooting. By the end of the fighting 300 Sioux were dead. This massacre marked the end of the bloody conflict between the army and the Plains Indians.
