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The Battle of Washita occurred on November 26, 1868 when George Armstrong Custer’s 7th U.S. Cavalry attacked Black Kettle’s Cheyenne village on the Washita River. The evidence used to depict the Battle of Washita is derived from Custer’s own account of the battle while the evidence used in describing the events prior to the battle revolves heavily around General Phillip Sheridan’s annual report of 1868.1 The causes
The historical accounts which depict the events leading to the Battle of Washita make mention of two noteworthy items. First, was that there was a break down in communication between the Indians and their agent. Phillip Sheridan describes this in his 1868 annual report writing, “Troops were sent twice or three times to Cobb, on requisition of the agent, who appeared to be constantly in trouble, either through his own fault or that of the Indians—most probably the latter, as they told me they did not like him….” The second item involves the raiding of Kansas and Colorado which resulted in the loss of American lives and property. Sheridan lists seventy-five citizens killed in his annual report and describes the loss of property as five thousand head of cattle and “… settlements … driven in and ranches abandoned, making the damage done to all interests very large.” To deal with the delinquent Indians Sheridan, with Custer in his command, devised a plan to destroy the Indian’s winter provisions subsequently forcing them onto the reservations.
Modern accounts also indicate that a breakdown in Indian to agent communication occurred. Richard White identifies the specific disagreement as “… the Americans refused to issue the Cheyennes arms promised earlier. Although Indian agents eventually relented … it was too late to prevent trouble.” The trouble White is alluding to was the killing and raiding committed by a Cheyenne war party in southern Kansas. The war party killed fifteen men and raped five women. At this point the similarities between the modern and historical accounts end. The modern account continues the story by describing how Black Kettle reaches Washita. After the raiding of Kansas began, a free fire zone was established and all non-hostile Indians were ordered to move south to the Washita River. Washita was a desirable wintering location for several reasons. Among these was that along the north bank of the river there were tall bluffs which served as a natural wind block while abundant grasslands covered the southern portion of the river offering good feed for Indian horses. Richard White describes Black Kettle’s arrival to the Washita River valley thus: "Black Kettle, the survivor of Sand Creek, journeyed to the Washita, seeking to include his band among the friendlies. But since many of his young men were raiding, the Americans rebuffed him. He made camp at the Washita anyway…"
Further complications surfaced upon Black Kettle’s arrival. The other Indians encamped along the Washita felt Black Kettle was unlucky after his misfortune at Sand Creek and made his group camp at the far edge of the valley, the most dangerous and susceptible location.
2 The battle
On November 26, 1868 Custer’s Osage scouts located the trail of an Indian war party. Custer followed this trail all day without break until nightfall. Upon nightfall there was a short period of rest until there was sufficient moonlight to continue. Eventually they reached Black Kettle’s village. Custer divided his force into four parts each moving into position so that at first daylight they may all simultaneously converge on the village. At daybreak the four columns attacked. The Indian warriors quickly left their lodges to take cover behind trees and in deep ravines. Custer was able to take control of the village quickly but it took longer to quell all remaining resistance.
If Custer was lucky for surviving the battle, Black Kettle must have been unlucky for he didn’t survive; in fact one of Custer’s Osage scouts left Washita with Black Kettle’s scalp. Following the capture of Black Kettle’s village Custer was soon to find himself in a precarious position.
As the fighting was beginning to subside Custer began to notice large groups of mounted Indians gathering on nearby hilltops. He quickly learned that Black Kettle’s village was only one of the many Indian villages encamped along the river. Fearing an attack he ordered some of his men to take defensive positions while the others were to gather the Indian belongings and horses. What the Americans did not want or could not carry, they destroyed. Custer feared the outlying Indians would find and attack his supply train so near nightfall he began marching toward the other Indian encampments. Seeing that Custer was approaching their villages the surrounding Indians sped home as to protect them from a fate similar to that of Black Kettle’s village. When Custer reached the next village he found it deserted. At this point Custer turns around and begins heading back towards his supply train which he eventually reaches. Thus the Battle of Washita ends.
