Chronology of American Indian History

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July 3

Rebellion leader Little Crow is murdered.
Near Acton, Minnesota, a white farmer comes upon
Little Crow, the Dakota leader of the Minnesota Up-
rising (see entry for AUGUST 18 TO SEPTEMBER 23,
1862), picking berries with his son. The farmer
shoots the Indian dead and disposes of his body at a
local slaughterhouse. Reflecting the hatred whites of
the area feel for Little Crow, the Minnesota legisla-
ture votes to award $500 to his murderer.

“Another shot was heard, and

another and another. The firing

gradually picked up, and soon

it sounded like frying, with bul-

lets hitting all over the cave. This

went on nearly all afternoon.

Then the firing ceased, but, by

that time, nearly all of the Na-

vajos were killed. Men, women,

children, young men and girls

were all killed on the cliffs. Some

just slid off the cliffs.... At the

bottom were piles of dead Diné

[Navajo]; only a few survived.

Blood could be seen from the

top of the cliffs all the way down

to the bottom.”

—Navajo Eli Gorman, on the

invasion of Canyon de Chelly

by Kit Carson’s troops

July 22

The U.S. Army launches a military campaign
against the Navajo (Dineh).
After subjugating the Mescalero Apache (see entry for
SPRING 1863), Brigadier General James H. Carleton
prepares to war against the Navajo (Dineh) tribe. In

June, he declares that any Navajo who has not sur-

rendered by July 20 “will be considered as hostile,

and treated accordingly.” He makes little attempt to

let the Navajo people know of his order, however.

Two days after his deadline, the army begins its mili-

tary campaign against the tribe. By September, field

troops under the command of Kit Carson are waging

a full-scale operation. In addition to capturing “hos-

tiles,” they set about destroying the Navajo’s fields,

houses, and livestock herds. (See also FEBRUARY TO

MARCH 1864.)

1864

February to March

The Navajo (Dineh) endure the Long Walk.

During the early weeks of 1864, thousands of cold

and hungry Navajo (Dineh) surrender to the U.S.

Army after soldiers laid waste their homes and lands

(see entry for JULY 22, 1863). The defeated Indians

are ordered by Brigadier General James H. Carleton

to relocate to Bosque Redondo, an area in what is

now east-central New Mexico that the army estab-

lished as the new home of the Navajo and Mescalero

Apache (see entry for SPRING 1863). Although a few

wagons are available to carry their belongings, the

Navajo are forced to make the grueling 300-mile

journey on foot. Anyone who complains or falls be-

hind is shot and left for dead. More than 10 percent

of the Navajo sent to Bosque Redondo die en route.

Their troubles continue after they reach the

fort. The water supplies are inadequate, little wood

is available, and the land is so infertile that it is

virtually unfarmable. Homesick and demoralized,

hundreds of Navajo run away to escape the hor-

rendous living conditions. Hundreds of others fall

victim to starvation and disease.

July 28

The U.S. Army battles Dakota rebels at

Killdeer Mountain.

Brigadier General Alfred Sully leads a force of 2,000

to Killdeer Mountain (also known as Tahkahokuty