The 1853 Treaty with the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache represents a significant moment in the complex and often fraught relationship between the United States government and the Native American tribes inhabiting the vast territories of the American West. This treaty, forged at Fort Atkinson in what was then known as the Indian Territory, aimed to establish peace and regulate interactions between these tribes and the burgeoning American presence in the region. Understanding the context surrounding this treaty requires examining the rapid westward expansion of the United States, the role of Fort Atkinson, and the specific terms agreed upon by the involved parties.
Fort Atkinson: A Bastion on the Santa Fe Trail
The story of the 1853 Treaty with the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache is inextricably linked to Fort Atkinson. Established as the first regular army post along the Santa Fe Trail, Fort Atkinson served as a critical node in the expanding American military frontier. The post’s strategic location placed it directly within the heart of what was considered "Indian country," a region increasingly traversed by settlers, traders, and prospectors eager to exploit the West’s abundant resources.
Following the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the United States gained vast new territories, fueling a surge of westward migration. Driven by the promise of fertile lands for farming and ranching, the allure of gold and silver deposits, and the exploitation of other natural resources, waves of Americans pushed westward. This influx inevitably led to increased contact – and often conflict – with the Native American tribes who had long called these lands home. Fort Atkinson was established, in part, to provide a semblance of military protection for these westward-bound Americans, ostensibly safeguarding them from potential hostilities with the indigenous population. However, its presence also served as a stark reminder of the encroaching American power and the diminishing autonomy of the Native tribes.
The Treaty’s Genesis: A Need for Regulation
The accelerating pace of westward expansion created an urgent need to regulate interactions between the United States and the Native American tribes. The influx of settlers and travelers inevitably led to friction over land, resources, and cultural differences. The US government sought to establish a framework for peaceful coexistence, albeit one that often prioritized American interests and expansionist goals. The 1853 Treaty with the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache was one such attempt to define the terms of engagement and prevent widespread conflict.
The treaty negotiations took place against a backdrop of growing tensions. The Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache were renowned for their nomadic lifestyles, their fierce independence, and their equestrian skills. They depended on the vast plains and its buffalo herds for their sustenance and way of life. The increasing presence of American settlers, the depletion of buffalo populations, and the disruption of traditional hunting grounds threatened their very survival.
Key Provisions of the 1853 Treaty with the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache
The treaty, formally concluded on July 27, 1853, at Fort Atkinson, outlined a series of articles designed to establish peace and regulate relations between the United States and the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache tribes inhabiting the territory south of the Arkansas River. Thomas Fitzpatrick, an experienced Indian agent, represented the United States as the sole commissioner for the treaty.
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Article 1: Perpetual Peace: This article declared that "peace, friendship, and amity shall hereafter exist between the United States and the Camanche and Kiowa, and Apache tribes of Indians." This aspirational statement laid the foundation for the entire treaty, aiming to establish a lasting peaceful relationship.
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Article 2: Inter-Tribal Peace: Recognizing the potential for conflict among the tribes themselves, this article obligated the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache to maintain peaceful relations with each other, abstaining from hostilities and cultivating mutual goodwill and friendship.
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Article 3: Acknowledgment of US Rights: This article proved particularly contentious. It required the tribes to "fully recognize and acknowledge the right of the United States to lay off and mark out roads or highways – to make reservations of land necessary thereto – to locate depots – and to establish military and other posts within the territories inhabited by the said tribes." This effectively granted the United States the right to establish infrastructure and maintain a military presence within tribal lands, further eroding tribal sovereignty.
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Article 4: Restitution for Injuries: The tribes agreed to make restitution or satisfaction for any injuries caused by their members to US citizens lawfully residing in or passing through their territories. They also pledged to abstain from levying contributions or molesting these individuals and to provide assistance to those in need.
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Article 5: Restraint from Mexican Incursions: The treaty forbade the tribes from conducting warlike incursions into Mexican provinces and from committing depredations against Mexican inhabitants. They also agreed to restore any captives taken from Mexican provinces and to provide compensation for any wrongs inflicted upon the Mexican people.
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Article 6: Annuities: In exchange for the tribes’ agreements, the United States pledged to provide them with $18,000 per annum for ten years, with a possible five-year extension at the discretion of the President. This annuity was to be provided in the form of goods, merchandise, provisions, or agricultural implements, as deemed best suited to their needs.
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Article 7: US Protection: The United States committed to protecting the tribes from depredations committed by US citizens within their territories and to compensate them for any resulting injuries.
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Article 8: Penalties for Violations: This article stipulated that if any tribe violated the treaty’s conditions or failed to fulfill its obligations, the United States could withhold annuities until proper satisfaction was made or until offenders were delivered to justice.
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Article 9: Annuity Distribution: The treaty specified that annuities would be delivered to the tribes collectively at or near Beaver Creek each July, unless the President designated a different time and place within tribal territories.
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Article 10: Potential for Agricultural Development: The final article allowed the President, with the Senate’s approval, to convert the annuities into a fund for establishing farms among the tribes if deemed a proper policy.
Signatures and Subsequent Amendments
The 1853 Treaty with the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache was signed by Thomas Fitzpatrick on behalf of the United States and by a number of chiefs and headmen representing the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache tribes. The signatures of these Native American leaders, often marked with an "x" due to illiteracy in English, stand as a testament to their participation in the treaty process, however unequal the power dynamics may have been.
The treaty subsequently underwent amendments by the US Senate, which were accepted and consented to by representatives of the Comanche and Kiowa tribes on July 21, 1854. This demonstrates the ongoing negotiation and modification of the treaty terms, highlighting the evolving relationship between the US government and the Native American tribes.
The Legacy of the 1853 Treaty
While the 1853 Treaty with the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache aimed to establish peace and regulate relations, its long-term impact was complex and often detrimental to the Native American tribes. The treaty’s provisions, particularly those concerning the acknowledgment of US rights to establish roads, depots, and military posts within tribal lands, served to further erode tribal sovereignty and facilitate westward expansion. The promise of annuities, while intended to provide support and improve the tribes’ social condition, often proved inadequate and unreliable.
The 1853 treaty, like many others negotiated between the United States and Native American tribes during this period, ultimately failed to prevent conflict and protect the tribes’ way of life. The relentless pressure of westward expansion, the depletion of resources, and the cultural clashes between settlers and Native Americans continued to fuel tensions, leading to further treaties, broken promises, and ultimately, the forced removal and confinement of many tribes to reservations. The 1853 Treaty with the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache serves as a poignant reminder of the complex and often tragic history of US-Native American relations, a history marked by both attempts at peaceful coexistence and the devastating consequences of expansion and displacement.
