Cheyenne Warriors, Essay Example

Cheyenne Indian Warriors: 1865-1998

Cheyenne Indian warriors, from 1865-1898, possessed strengths and weaknesses. Their strengths had to do with their ability to rise up, from within their people, as leaders. Without campaign or election, they ruled by general acclamation and consent. Their weaknesses had to do with their general trust in the United States that it would keep its part of treaties that they entered into with them. Most met with death at the hands of the United States Army.

There were geographic distinctions made for northern and southern Cheyenne settlements. Dull Knife, of the north, was the Chief who, in 1868, signed a treaty with the United States at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, and a year later joined the Sioux in the devastation of George Custer and his forces at Little Bighorn. Dull Knife’s arrest and resettlement to Oklahoma proved to be unacceptable to him. He and his band were killed in Nebraska during an escape attempt in 1878. Dull Knife is best known for his wisdom more than his ability as a fighter (Boye, 1999). Chief Little Wolf, Dull Knife’s contemporary, lived out his days in a reservation.

A council of 44 chiefs started for preservation of the tribe as a whole. Some of these were: Turkey Legs, Two Moons, Wooden Legs, and Little Chief. Black Kettle was an advocate for peace. He was killed by soldiers at the Washita Massacre in 1868. “His poor decision-making and inability to control his warriors were disastrous for the tribe,” one historian has observed (Michno, 2005). Roman Nose, another Chief, was killed as a result of fighting Union soldiers in 1868. Roman Nose, as a leader was consumed with “turning back White interlopers (Keenan, 2004). Tall Bull, a southern Cheyenne war lord, was killed at the Battle of Summit Springs.

The Cheyenne had a rather sophisticated leadership and societal structure when compared to other tribes of the Plains. The Northern Band was formed by Executive Order in 1884. Practices of Indian religion were banned. Leaders developed a “kill or be killed” mentality. Gender roles were altered. The United States Bureau of Indian Affairs appointed Chiefs. Culture disintegrated.

References

Boye, A. (1999). Northern Cheyenne leader Dull Knife fought to avoid the removal of his people. Wild West, 12(4).

Michno, G. (2005). Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle reassessed: General Phil Sheridan called him a ‘worthless old cipher.’ Wild West, 18(4), 16-73.

West, J. (2004). Warriors and chiefs. Wild West, 16(5).