Great Plains Studies, Center for
Date of this Version
Spring 2011
Citation
Great Plains Quarterly 31:2 (Spring 2011).
Abstract
Major General Winfield Scott Hancock headed west from Fort Riley in late March of 1867, well prepared to engage the Cheyennes in western Kansas. Seven companies of infantry, eight of cavalry, and an artillery battery accompanied him. A man with political ambitions, he also brought the press along to publicize his efforts. Hancock had neither knowledge nor curiosity about the culture of the people he sought. He wanted to fight them. "I think it would be to our advantage to have these Indians refuse the demands I intend to make, a war with the Cheyennes would answer our purpose."
Traveling the Santa Fe Trail and picking up supplies at forts along the way, Hancock's forces turned west from Fort Larned, heading up Pawnee Creek. On April 13, at a point about fifty miles north of Fort Dodge, the expedition was confronted by several hundred Cheyenne and Oglala warriors. Speaking through the agent and interpreter Edward Wynkoop, the Indians indicated they would be willing to talk, but begged Hancock to keep the soldiers away from their village as their people were fearful of an attack like the one Chivington had perpetrated at Sand Creek in November of 1864. Hancock ignored their concerns and proceeded to the village, which consisted of some three hundred lodges.
Comments
Copyright © 2011 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska.