A brief follow-up to the American Ranch video.
After the raid on Julesburg on the 7th, the allied tribes, still brimming with anger from Sand Creek, broke off into smaller parties and launched attacks all along the S Platte River road. On January 14-15, 1865 the first wave began. Three road ranches/stage stations were struck within a twenty-five-mile stretch, two of which were completely destroyed, being burned to the ground - the American Ranch, and Wisconsin Ranch. The third place, Godfrey's Ranch was successfully defended and escaped a similar fate.
"Bent" on revenge, the tribal conglomerate (Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota) struck out from the Cherry Creek encampment likely around January 3-5, 160 years ago, to attack the whites. Numbering around 1,000, they traveled a little west of north. As George Hyde wrote, the Sioux were most familiar with the country. Because they were the ones to first smoke the war pipe they led the enlarged force. Their target? Julesburg. In the tiny trail town there was a store and a warehouse owned by Holladay's Overland Stage Co. Both bulged with provisions. It was just what the Indians needed.
#SandCreekMassacre #WesternHistory #AmericanWest #GeorgeBent #kansashistory
Those who traveled upon the spider web that was the nineteenth century trail system were able to stop, layover, and/or re-fit at various stage stations or road ranches. Traces of the Past visited the site of one such place, take a listen. . .
. . .and a sincere thank you for following us here on FB. Book a tour to learn more, https://www.tracesofthepasthistorytours.com - hope to see you soon!
#coloradohistory #cherokeetrail #americanwest #parkercolorado #20milehouse
To-day marks the 145th anniversary of the Meeker Massacre and beginning of the Battle (and siege) of Milk Creek in NW Colorado. This video is quite a bit longer than my usual offerings. As such, please bear with me. 🙂 For more on this episode, book a tour with us. As always, thanks for watching!
Nathan Ward Hungate, his wife Ellen and two daughters, Laura and Florence fell prey to Arapaho raiders on June 11, 1864 - 160 years ago this week. It was yet another incident in the unfolding 'War of 1864' on the plains.
When news of the murders reached Denver City the citizenry was first shocked, then acrimonious, then fearful. Since the Hungates lived a mere thirty miles from town, war seemed like it was at the doorstep; an unnerving prospect.
Civic and military leaders used the 'Hungate Massacre' as fuel to advance its own war against the Arapahoes and their allies, the Cheyenne. In the ensuing months events proceeded inexorably toward more violence.
Traces of the Past and OCTA are at it again.
One of the many forgotten fights - - Cedar Cañon at 160.
Stops and starts. That characterized the fighting in the Indian Wars during the westward expansion period, 1850 – 1890. Conflict ebbed and flowed in different regions during different years. And each “start” caused its own brand of extended violence. This year commemorates the 160th anniversary of the beginning of one of these explosive episodes. Its unofficial label is borrowed from a U.S. Army officer named Eugene F. Ware who published a book entitled, “The Indian War of 1864.”
The reach of the War of 1864 was long indeed, both in geographical terms and in duration. And, it is generally agreed upon by scholars as having as its origin a brief, relatively minor skirmish along the South Platte River near Fremont’s Orchard in April of that year. Another brief, sharp engagement known as Eayre’s Fight occurred almost immediately afterwards. As a result war had been effectively initiated between the U.S. Army and the Cheyenne.
A third clash occurred in a small canyon in the Cedar Bluffs north of the South Platte on May 3rd - a series of three events within a month of each other! Like the Fremont's Orchard and the Eayre's Fight, the Battle of Cedar Cañon, witnessed relatively light casualties. Although minor, these "starts" began a major war that would not see a "stop" until the following year.
Two hundred years ago to-day Secretary of State, John C. Calhoun established the administrative body known as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, March 11, 1824. It would soon thereafter be directed by an appointed commissioner.
In 1849, the BIA was transferred from the War Department to the oversight of the newly created Department of the Interior. During the second half of the nineteenth century which governmental authorities should best maintain tribal relations was a specific point of contention.
Throughout its life the BIA has presided over many incredibly controversial issues and events such as the Indian Allotment Act [otherwise known as the Dawes Act, after Senator Henry L. Dawes (MA)] of 1887, which parceled out Indian reservation land to individual claims and, more contentiously, opened up "surplus" reservation land to non-Indians.
The twentieth century brought about its own challenges to the bureau. Read more about the history of the BIA at the #nationalarchives
Ode to a prospector.
- Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, December, 1880. Vol. XXVI
We focus on the history of Fort Collins and the surrounding region during the mid-19th century.
