Later life .281865.E2.80.9375.29 Kicking Bird

1 later life (1865–75)

1.1 political involvement
1.2 obstacles peace , prestige
1.3 battle of little wichita river
1.4 warren wagontrain raid
1.5 efforts towards conciliation, 1871–73
1.6 head chief

later life (1865–75)
political involvement

an intense rivalry head chief ensued between satanta (white bear), guipago (lone wolf), , kicking bird in wake of dohasan s death in 1866. war leaders guipago (pointed dohasan himself own heir) , satanta clear favorite on younger kicking bird (tene-angopte), apparent kicking bird, medicine-man no mocassins (napawat), foremost advocate peace, taking dohasan s role peace leader of kiowas. calm , conciliatory demeanor facilitated open relationship whites, admired him skills orator , diplomat. @ fort dodge in 1866, commanding officer henry douglas stated “kicking bird reliable of indians.”

kicking bird s first actions sub-chief peace, concerned annuity situation. when kiowa moved reservations, promised annuity payments buying food , supplies. however, annuities not paid promised , being handled unjust agent prevented promised flow of goods. kiowa faced immense hardship result. kicking bird recognized of bad feelings in tribe stemmed annuity situation. because of this, kicking bird placed in delicate position between warriors wanted go on warpath , wanted peace whites. close relationship whites , peace-talks belittled leadership position in eyes of many kiowa. result, after head chief guipago, satanta emerged in prominent leadership role among people , reputation war-maker made him dominant kiowa figure reckoned in eyes of whites , other indians.

indian-white friction resurfaced following little arkansas treaty , kicking bird influential in maintaining peace, proving himself receptive of both indian , white demands. terms of treaty largely unfulfilled , hostilities throughout plains necessitated new peacemaking treaty: treaty of medicine lodge. alongside older , wiser chiefs black kettle , ten bears, kicking bird realized futility of militant opposition. during discussions @ medicine lodge, prominently seated in council circle , worked resolution of annuity situation, satanta stood out leading kiowa chief after head chief guipago. kicking bird 1 of first signatories of treaty of medicine lodge; satanta signed treaty, guipago refused it. treaty of medicine lodge moved kiowa on reservation , promised annuities of food, clothes, equipment, weapons, , ammunition. promised annuities fulfilled however, engendered tribal animosity toward reservations , assimilation policies. dissatisfaction central obstacle kicking bird s peace efforts.

obstacles peace , prestige

as result of battle of washita, general lt. col. george armstrong custer arrested guipago , satanta , took them fort sill. in 1869, kicking bird helped obtain release of guipago , satanta army captivity after promising behavior on part. during interim period, kicking bird figured prominently leading kiowa chief.

in response lack of annuities , tribal land, kiowa , contemporaries resorted looting , plundering throughout plains, undermined kicking bird s efforts towards peace. on january 15, 1870, body of kiowas under satanta intercepted texas herd driven jacob hershfield , robbed drovers of money , supplies before killing 150-200 head of cattle. kicking bird arrived on scene , dissolved situation. hershfield accounted had not been kicking bird, , men have died.

kicking bird received intense criticism close relationships white people , renunciation of hunting , advocation of farming. ranks of warring chiefs satanta , guipago swelled in comparison , kicking bird lost tribal support. when kiowas hosted sun dance celebrate summer moon of 1870, many warriors talked of staying out on plains instead of living in reservations inadequate annuities. kicking bird spoke against , urged tribes cultivate friendly relations whites , continue live on reservations. though chief, kicking bird received scorn during sun dance young kiowas , lack of respect evident. said “he had been great warrior before white men penned him on reservation. talked woman.”

battle of little wichita river

responding claims coward , had become effeminate, kicking bird assembled war party , invited of chief critics , worst tormentors participate - guipago, tsen-tainte (white horse), , satank. kiowa old man horse accounted “chiefs hostile him said him, ‘kicking bird, if don t quit opposing us, going kill you. said, ‘alright go ahead. ‘kicking bird, said, ‘you nothing low-down unrecognized man, no longer chief. kicking bird said, ‘it may true, trying put in road protection lives of women , children. ” kicking bird expressed regret @ having prove himself in battle, acquiesced nonetheless.

in july 1870, war party, 100 strong, crossed red river texas , confronted kansas-bound herd in montague county, texas, taking horses, mules, blankets, , other property. few of braves broke away war party , captured mail stage @ rock station, provoking response nearby fort richardson. on july 12 captain curwen b. mcclellan , several of officers sixth cavalry attacked kicking bird s encampment near present-day seymour, texas. in long battle under hot sun, kicking bird displayed military genius , right chieftaincy after thoroughly defeating mcclellan s forces engaging soldiers in frontal skirmish , sending 2 pincer columns flank enemy , strike rear. in battle, said have lanced 1 soldier.

the battle of little wichita river reaffirmed kicking bird s military tact , skill , reinforced status kiowa chief. victory marked end of military career , expressed regret tribal divisions forced hand in battle. spend rest of life cultivating peace whites.

the schism between peace-minded , war-minded kiowa leaders exacerbated increased presence of u.s. military , quakers end of 1870. kicking bird foremost advocate accommodation united states, opposed satanta, guipago, ado-ete (big tree), maman-ti, , tsen-tainte. represented kiowa peace-faction in numerous intertribal meetings , promised kiowa live respectfully in land, again stressed without necessary annuities government, people forced stray reservations survive.

warren wagontrain raid

in 1871, ten-wagon mule train moving through texas attacked 100 kiowa , comanche warriors under direction of satanta, satank, , maman-ti. motive behind attack annuity situation. result, general of army william t. sherman ordered arrest of satanta, big tree, , satank, , made in spite of willing fight liberty unequivocally proved guipago. historic trial ensued. kicking bird became prominent kiowa spokesmen. general sherman spoke kicking bird: “kicking bird, president has heard of you. knows name , has written you. depending on you.” kicking bird did save satanta, big tree, , satank, efforts futile , acquiesced arrest. following arrest of satanta, big tree, , satank, while guipago, stubbornly working in confrontation government agents, came show availability give out mr. washington s peace , fight real kiowa warrior, kicking bird worked calm tribesmen 3 chiefs transferred fort richardson. difficulties of 1871 placed kicking bird in top leadership position, , recognized leading kiowa peace chief u.s. government , large portion of kiowa well.

efforts towards conciliation, 1871–73

over next couple of years, kicking bird worked obtain release of satanta , big tree. participated in numerous assemblies representative of kiowa alongside guipago, , promised restore peace among kiowa. demonstrated intentions returning white prisoners wichita agency , discouraging people taking war path. however, tensions still soaring after arrest of satanta, big tree, , satank, kicking bird able achieve little success.

kicking bird engaged in numerous activities placate texas governor edmund j. davis, opposed releasing satanta , big tree. many kiowas followed example , acknowledge peace viable option release. kiowas returned captives , livestock without ransom, , offered rescue captives other tribes. conciliatory work among tribes, kicking bird received silver medal. in instances, kicking bird threatened not own warriors war parties other tribes in order stop raiding.

during june 1873 sun dance, kicking bird prevented major indian outbreak. discouraged satanta , big tree s imprisonment, many chiefs clamored multitribal assault on outside forces. kicking bird spoke against military action , urged patience. excitement abated, , chiefs agreed wait. meeting maybe closest plains tribes ever come multi-tribal assault.

finally, on october 7, 1873, satanta , big tree released, result of guipago s plain explanation indian agent haworth own , kiowa warriors expiring patience after kiowa living promises or remaining peaceful in summer of 1873. according apologists, kicking bird s skillful negotiation in release of satanta , big tree earned him loyalty of two-thirds of tribesmen.

head chief

kicking bird s adeptness peace leader not prevent tribe s immense dissatisfaction reservation conditions, and, in late 1873, kiowa once again took warpath. in midst of fighting, guipago s favorite son killed in raid. guipago, had walked peace path, indisposed , satanta removed position war chief, lost while imprisoned, kicking bird supported u.s. authorities head chief of kiowas. indian officials , military him head chief.

kicking bird successful in keeping followers on reservation, guipago s scorn towards road of peace , attitude towards of war severely undermined kicking bird s efforts @ pacification. on june 27, 1874, consolidated force of warriors launched attack on adobe walls in become known second battle of adobe walls. guipago , satanta among kiowas participating in skirmish. following battle, kicking bird , satanta in favor of making peace guipago , several other chiefs refused , advocated war against whites. kicking bird worked earnestly keep people unified , avoid conflict, both of goals proved elusive.

in response0 increase of indian raids throughout plains, united states war department overrode quaker indian peace policy , issued orders separate kiowas 2 groups of friendly , unfriendly kiowa. true word, kicking bird led three-fourths of kiowa reservation @ fort sill, had become city of refuge people. meanwhile, indian hostilities continued , kicking bird actively sought pacify raiding kiowas , protect them punishment. succeeded in bringing 6 chiefs , 77 tribespeople, surrendered arms, reservation. meanwhile, hostile chiefs led remainder of kiowa westward objectives set on safe haven @ palo duro canyon while u.s. army followed @ heels.

when satanta stepped down war chief in late 1874, arrested thereafter, , guipago surrendered next year, kicking bird remaining kiowa chief sizable following. consequently, u.s. army gladly named him kiowa principal chief in 1875. throughout late 1874 , 1875, kicking bird assisted army efforts track hostile kiowas.

fort marion hostile kiowa sent incarceration.

as chief , principal intermediary between federal authorities , tribe, kicking bird put in charge of kiowa captured in 1874-1875 uprising. when decided of hostile kiowa sent florida incarceration @ fort marion, kicking bird required choose of tribesmen go. disturbed kicking bird, considered no easy chore in best interest peace. reluctantly chose guipago, maman-ti (walking-above), tsen-tainte (white horse), , 23 other kiowas, while satanta sent huntsville, comanches, cheyennes, arapahoes, , mexican captives sent fort marion. in all, 70 prisoners. acquiescence demands of army interpreted treason many members of tribe, others grudgingly accepted kicking bird s action peace measure.