Cheyenne and Sioux Indian relations along the Oregon Trail

"Summary: The relationship between the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians and the emigrants before the Treaty of Laramie in 1851 may be characterized as fairly amicable in spite of mutual irritations. The Indians were at first surprised and then alarmed at the volume of migration through their territory. This alarm was due to the continual destruction of the game, grass and timber; and the widespread epidemics of measles, smallpox and cholera. Many small fights occurred; yet there was no general movement against the whites, and most of the hostile acts that did occur resulted from the desire of the young men to "score a coup." On the other hand, few emigrant trains escaped the nuisance of Indian visits with their consequent begging and stealing, and there was usually danger for any small party which wandered too far from the trail. These incidental hostilities resulted in the demand that the Government afford protection for the emigrant. The efforts of the Government in this direction, however, were almost ludicrous. By 1850 only three military posts had been established by the Government along the trail that was almost two thousand miles long and these posts were never adequately garrisoned. Dragoons sent out to scour the plains may have impressed the savages at times with the power of the United States, but such lessons were soon forgotten and, therefore, had to be frequently repeated. More protection was supplied by the emigrants themselves and by the very size of the migration. The good will of the Indians was partially secured by promises of subsequent material rewards, which the Government saw t1t to fulfill 1n the Treaty or Laramie. After the Treaty of Laramie the Indians remained true to their obligations to remain at peace and not molest the "llh1tes. This state of things continued until the month of August, 1854, when it was interrupted by the Grattan massacre, an event which was at least partly due to the folly of the military author1t1es. The series of Sioux depredations that followed were brought to a close by another massacre, that of Little Thunder's band by the expedition of General Harney. No sooner had peace been established with the Sioux than serious trouble w1th the Cheyenne began. The series of depredations by them 1n the neighborhood of Fort Kearney can be traced back to the episode of the Pour Horses near the crossing of the North Platte. In order to protect small part.1es on the plains from being attacked by the angry Cheyennes, Agent Twiss arranged for a council with the Cheyenne at which time peace was agreed upon. In spite of this Colonel Sumner was ordered to lead an expedition against the India.11s, which was, on the whole, not very successful, but did possibly have a quieting effect upon them as both the Sioux and Cheyenne remained peaceful during the remainder of the period under consideration. In the last analysis, the history of the Indian relations with the whites during this period is the old story found wherever the white man went. Whether the Indians fought or- whether they made a treaty, they eventually forfeited their rights and lost their territory."--Pages 82-84.