Chronology of American Indian History

P

News of the Modoc attack is widely reported,
making frightened whites thirsty for revenge. The
army sends a huge number of troops to track
down Kintpuash and followers. In May, they de-
feat a Modoc band, which then agrees to join the
manhunt. With the band’s help, soldiers find and
capture Kintpuash on June 1. (See also entry for
OCTOBER 3, 1873.)

“I have got but a few men and I

don’t see how I can give them

up. Will they give up their peo-

ple who murdered my people

while they were asleep? I never

asked for the people who mur-

dered my people.... I can see

how I could give up my horse to

be hanged; but I can’t see how

I could give up my men to be

hanged. I could give up my horse

to be hanged, and wouldn’t cry

about it, but if I gave up my men I

would have to cry about it.”

—Modoc rebel leader Kintpuash

(Captain Jack) on his refusal

to surrender

May 18

U.S. cavalry slaughters Kickapoo at
Nacimiento.
Without the permission of the Mexican gov-
ernment, the Fourth U.S. Cavalry crosses the
international boundary to attack the Kickapoo’s
settlement at Nacimiento. Most of the Indian ca-
sualties are women and children. Eight years earlier
(see entry for 1865), these Kickapoo were among
several hundred who left Kansas for Mexico to es-
cape confinement on a reservation. Exhausted by
years of warfare with nearby Texans, 317 Kickapoos

agree to relocate to Indian Territory, while more

than 200 opt to remain in Mexico.

June 1

Assiniboine Indians are killed in the Cypress

Hills Massacre.

Near the Cypress Hills in what is now southwest-

ern Canada, 10 American and Canadian traders

attack a camp of Assiniboine Indians whom they

believe stole some of their horses. Between 20 and

30 Indians are slaughtered. The incident brings at-

tention to the need for stricter law enforcement on

the Canadian frontier.

October 3

Kintpuash (Captain Jack) and three other

Modoc assassins are executed.

Vilified in the press, four Modoc leaders (including

Kintpuash [Captain Jack]) are hanged after being

Modoc rebellion leader Kintpuash, known to whites as

Captain Jack, photographed after his capture (National

Archives, Neg. no. 165-MH-404)