been the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole, whose
populations have dropped as much as 25 percent
because of war-related deaths.
The world of the survivors is dominated by
scarcity and chaos. Many buildings and fields have
been burned or otherwise destroyed during the war.
Indian Territory residents are further terrorized in
the final days of the war by Indian and non-Indian
deserters, who roam through the countryside in
gangs, looting and killing. (See also entry for SEP-
TEMBER 1866.)
July 26
The Cheyenne and Lakota attack troops at
the Platte Bridge.
In response to rumors of an impending Indian at-
tack, a detachment of soldiers is sent from Platte
Bridge Station, near present-day Casper, Wyoming,
to protect a wagon train approaching from the
West. As the soldiers cross the bridge, they are sur-
rounded by a force of as many as 3,000 Cheyenne
and Lakota warriors. Repelling the Indians with
their howitzer, most of the soldiers are able to es-
cape to the station’s stockade.
October
The Edmunds Commission signs a peace
treaty with Lakota Sioux leaders.
Organized by Dakota territorial governor Newton
Edmunds, a delegation solicits the signatures on a
peace treaty of several Lakota Sioux chiefs already
friendly with whites. The event is the governor’s
attempt to reshape public opinion about Dakota.
Many settlers avoid the territory because of its repu-
tation for violence between Indians and whites.October 18The Kiowa and Comanche sign the Little
Arkansas Treaty.
Wanting to open lands for the construction of rail-
roads through Kansas, U.S. treaty commissioners
meet in council with Kiowa and Comanche lead-
ers by the Little Arkansas River, near what is now
Wichita, Kansas. The resulting treaty requires the
tribes to stay in a designated area south of the Kan-
sas border, stop attacking frontier settlements, and
release white prisoners held by the Indians.NovemberThe Mescalero Apache escape from Bosque
Redondo.
Confined at Bosque Redondo for more than two
years (see entry for SPRING 1863), the Mescalero
Apache are driven to desperation by hunger and
disease. In addition, they are forced to share their
area with the Navajo (Dineh), their traditional en-
emies. Unable to stand these living conditions any
longer, the Mescalero flee Bosque Redondo and re-
turn to their homeland, holing up in the mountains
there to evade recapture by U.S. troops.