The period between 1866 and 1898 represents a particularly turbulent and tragic chapter in the history of the American West, marked by intense and often brutal conflict between the United States government and various Native American tribes. This era, frequently referred to as the "Indian Wars," witnessed a series of battles, massacres, and campaigns fueled by westward expansion, broken treaties, and cultural clashes. This Indian Wars Timeline 1866-1898 details some of the most significant events that shaped this period, including Red Cloud’s War, the Washita Massacre, Custer’s Last Stand, the Nez Perce War, and the Wounded Knee Massacre. These events serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of Manifest Destiny and the enduring legacy of conflict and displacement.
A Chronological Overview of Conflict
This Indian Wars Timeline 1866-1898 offers a detailed look at the significant battles, campaigns, and massacres that characterized this period:
1866-1868: Red Cloud’s War
Red Cloud’s War, a pivotal conflict in the early years of the era, pitted the Lakota Sioux, led by the formidable Chief Red Cloud, against the U.S. Army. The war was primarily triggered by the construction of the Bozeman Trail, which cut directly through the heart of Lakota territory, threatening their hunting grounds and way of life. Red Cloud, a skilled strategist and charismatic leader, orchestrated a series of successful attacks against U.S. military outposts and supply lines.
The culmination of Red Cloud’s War was the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868. This treaty, a significant victory for the Lakota, granted them a vast reservation encompassing the entire Black Hills region, a sacred area to the Lakota people. The treaty stipulated that the U.S. government would not maintain a military presence within the reservation, nor would it allow settlement or road construction. This agreement, however, would prove to be short-lived, as the discovery of gold in the Black Hills would later reignite conflict.
December 21, 1866: Fetterman Massacre
One of the most devastating defeats suffered by the U.S. Army during Red Cloud’s War occurred near Fort Phil Kearny in Wyoming. Captain William J. Fetterman, leading a force of 80 soldiers, was lured into an ambush by Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Fetterman, known for his boastful and aggressive approach, disregarded orders to avoid engaging the Native Americans and pursued them into a carefully laid trap. The entire detachment, including Fetterman, was wiped out in a fierce and bloody battle. The Fetterman Massacre, also known as the Fetterman Fight, sent shockwaves through the nation and fueled public demand for a more aggressive approach to dealing with Native Americans.
1867-1875: Comanche Campaign
As westward expansion continued, the U.S. Army turned its attention to the Southern Plains, where the Comanche, Kiowa, and other tribes fiercely resisted encroachment on their lands. Major General Philip Sheridan, in command of the Department of the Missouri, implemented a strategy of winter campaigning in 1868-69 to subdue these tribes. Sheridan believed that by attacking Native American villages during the winter months, when they were most vulnerable, he could break their resistance. This strategy involved relentless pursuit and the destruction of villages, food supplies, and livestock, forcing the tribes to surrender.
July 2, 1867: Kidder Massacre
A tragic incident that highlighted the dangers faced by U.S. soldiers on the Great Plains, the Kidder Massacre involved a detachment of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry led by Lieutenant Lyman Kidder. Kidder and his eleven men, along with an Indian guide, were ambushed and killed by Cheyenne and Sioux warriors near Beaver Creek in Sherman County, Kansas. The massacre underscored the vulnerability of small military units operating in hostile territory and the effectiveness of Native American ambush tactics.
August 1, 1867: Hayfield Fight
Near Fort C.F. Smith in Montana Territory, a small group of 31 soldiers and civilians found themselves facing overwhelming odds in the Hayfield Fight. More than 700 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors launched a determined attack on the hayfield where the soldiers and civilians were working. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the defenders managed to hold their ground, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers. The Hayfield Fight demonstrated the resilience and determination of U.S. soldiers in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
August 2, 1867: Wagon Box Fight
Another notable engagement near Fort Phil Kearny, the Wagon Box Fight saw Captain James Powell and his force of 31 men defend themselves against repeated attacks by over 1,500 Lakota Sioux warriors led by Chiefs Red Cloud and Crazy Horse. The soldiers, tasked with guarding woodcutters, created a makeshift corral by arranging 14 wagons in an oval formation. This defensive position, combined with the use of rapid-firing breech-loading rifles, allowed the soldiers to repel wave after wave of attackers. The Wagon Box Fight was a significant tactical victory for the U.S. Army, demonstrating the effectiveness of defensive fortifications and superior firepower.
November 27, 1868: Washita Massacre
The Washita Massacre, a controversial event that remains a subject of intense debate, involved Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry attacking a Cheyenne village led by Chief Black Kettle on the Washita River near present-day Cheyenne, Oklahoma. The attack resulted in the deaths of an estimated 250 Cheyenne men, women, and children. Custer claimed that the village was a haven for warriors who had been raiding white settlements, while critics argued that the attack was a brutal and indiscriminate slaughter of innocent civilians. The Washita Massacre further inflamed tensions between Native Americans and the U.S. government.
January 23, 1870: Marias Massacre
In Montana, white Americans perpetrated a horrific act of violence against the Piegan people, killing an estimated 173 individuals, primarily women, children, and the elderly. This event, known as the Marias Massacre, stands as a stark example of the brutality and indiscriminate violence that characterized some aspects of the Indian Wars Timeline 1866-1898.
1872-1873: Modoc War
The Modoc War, fought in northern California and southern Oregon, was sparked by the forced relocation of the Modoc tribe to a reservation alongside the Klamath tribe, with whom they had a long-standing animosity. Led by Captain Jack, a charismatic Modoc leader, a group of Modoc warriors fled the reservation and took refuge in the lava beds of Tule Lake, a rugged and defensible terrain. For six months, they held out against U.S. Army forces, inflicting heavy casualties. The Modoc War was notable for the assassination of Major General Edward Canby during a peace conference, the only U.S. general to be killed during the Indian Wars. Captain Jack was eventually captured and executed for his role in Canby’s death.
1876-1877: Black Hills War
The Black Hills War, also known as the Great Sioux War of 1876, was triggered by the discovery of gold in the Black Hills, a region considered sacred by the Lakota Sioux and guaranteed to them by the Treaty of Fort Laramie. The influx of prospectors and settlers into the Black Hills violated the treaty and sparked renewed conflict between the Lakota and the U.S. government. Led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, the Lakota and their allies fought to defend their land and way of life.
June 25-26, 1876: Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, often referred to as "Custer’s Last Stand," was the most famous and decisive victory for Native Americans during the Indian Wars. Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, leading the 7th Cavalry, attacked a large encampment of Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors on the banks of the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory. Custer’s force was overwhelmed and annihilated by the Native American warriors, who were led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The Battle of the Little Bighorn sent shockwaves through the nation and fueled public outrage and a determination to avenge Custer’s defeat.
1877: Nez Perce War
The Nez Perce War, fought in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, was sparked by the U.S. government’s attempt to force the Nez Perce tribe onto a smaller reservation. Led by Chief Joseph, a brilliant military strategist and eloquent spokesman, the Nez Perce embarked on a remarkable retreat of over 1,170 miles, attempting to escape to Canada. They fought a series of skillful delaying actions against U.S. Army forces, earning the respect of their adversaries. However, just 40 miles from the Canadian border, the Nez Perce were intercepted and forced to surrender. Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, in which he declared "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever," became a powerful symbol of Native American resistance and the tragedy of their displacement.
December 29, 1890: Wounded Knee Massacre
The Wounded Knee Massacre, one of the most tragic and controversial events in the history of the Indian Wars, occurred on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. U.S. Army soldiers of the 7th Cavalry, the same regiment that had been decimated at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, opened fire on a group of Lakota Sioux, killing an estimated 200 men, women, and children. The Lakota had been participating in the Ghost Dance, a religious movement that promised a return to their traditional way of life and the expulsion of white settlers. The Wounded Knee Massacre marked a symbolic end to the Indian Wars and the era of armed resistance by Native Americans.
October 5, 1898: Battle of Leech Lake
Often considered the last official "Indian War," the Battle of Leech Lake in northern Minnesota was a brief but tense confrontation between U.S. Army soldiers and Chippewa Indians. The conflict arose when a Chippewa man was arrested on Lake Leech, sparking an uprising among his tribe. While the battle itself was relatively minor, it served as a reminder of the lingering tensions between Native Americans and the U.S. government.
The Legacy of Conflict
The Indian Wars Timeline 1866-1898 represents a period of intense conflict and profound loss for Native American tribes. Fueled by westward expansion, broken treaties, and cultural misunderstandings, these wars resulted in the displacement, dispossession, and decimation of Native American populations. The events of this era continue to shape the relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government, serving as a reminder of the injustices and hardships endured by Native Americans in the pursuit of Manifest Destiny. Understanding this history is crucial for fostering a more just and equitable future. The events in this Indian Wars Timeline 1866-1898 had far reaching consequences.
The Indian Wars Timeline 1866-1898 concludes a dark chapter.