Black Kettle Wanted Peace

(click "Medicine Lodge" to return to home page)                              Black Kettle Black Kettle and other Cheyenne chiefs conclude successful peace talks with  Major Edward W. Wynkoop at Fort Weld, Colorado, in September 1864. Based on the promises made at this meeting, Black Kettle led his band back to the Sand Creek reservation, where they were massacred in late November. The speech given below was made October 12, 1865, at a council on the little Arkansas River, when the United States government was negotiating a treaty with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes. General J. B. Sanborn was the president of the peace commission and conducted the council. The Mrs. Wilmarth to whom Black Kettle refers was the interpreter for the Cheyennes.1 On November 29, 1 864, the Cheyenne village on Sand Creek near the reservation was attacked by the forces of Major John M. Chivington and the action became known as the Sand Creek Massacre. Although he was  reported killed, Black Kettle was one of the survivors and his speech  at the Little Arkansas indicated compliance with the white man’s wishes.  Nevertheless, things did not go smoothly for the Cheyennes, and they continued depredations over much of their territory. 1Mrs. Margaret Wilmarth was the former wife of the late Major Thomas Fitzpatrick, who died while serving as agent for the Arapahoes. Fitzpatrick  was a noted western explorer, guide, hunter, trapper and friend of the indians.  He was often referred to as "Broken Hand" Fitzpatrick following the explosion of a rifle barrel which caused to lose three fingers of his right hand.  While he participated in many skirmishes against many tribes of Indians,  the speeches by Indians at this council in 1865 attest to the high regard the Arapahoes had for Major Fitzpatrick, and they transferred their respect  to his widow. Black Kettle moved with many of his people to a location on the Washita  River in Indian Territory (Oklahoma). There, on the morning of November 27, 1868, in an attack led by General George A. Custer, the village was obliterated, and Black Kettle was among the large number of Indians killed. Here is Black Kettle’s reply to the Indian commissioners at the Little  Arkansas council: "We Want the Privilege of Crossing the Arkansas to Kill Buffalo" The Great Father above hears us, and the Great Father at Washington will  hear what we say. Is it true that you came here from Washington, and is  it true what you say here today? The Big Chief he give his words to me to  come and meet you here, and I take hold and retain what he says. we believe  all to be true, and think it is all true. Their young white men, when I meet them on the plains, I give them my horse and my moccasins, and I am glad  today to think that the Great Father has sent good men to take pity on us. Your young soldiers I don’t think they listen to you. You bring presents,  and when I come to get them I am afraid they will strike me before I get . When I come in to receive presents I take them up crying. Although wrongs have been done me, I live in hopes. I have not got two hearts. These young men, (Cheyennes) when I call them into the lodge and talk with them, they  listen to me and mind what I say. Now we are again together to make peace.  My shame (mortification) is as big as the earth, although I will do what my  friends advise me to do. I once thought that I was the only man that persevered to be the friend of the white man, but since they have come and cleaned out (robbed) our lodges, horses, and everything else, it is hard for me to believe white men any more. Here we are together, Arapahoes and Cheyennes, but few of us, we are one people. As soon as you arrived you started runners after us and the Arapahoes, with words that I took hold of immediately on hearing them.  From what I can see around me, I feel confident that our Great Father has taken pity on me, and I feel tbat it is the truth all that has been told me today. All my friends-the Indians that are holding back-they are afraid to come in; are afraid they will be betrayed as I have been. I am not afraid of white men, but come and take you by the hand, and am glad to have  an opportunity of so doing. These lands that you propose to give us I know nothing about. There is but a handful here now of the Cheyenne Nation,  and I would rather defer making any permanent treaty until the others come . We are living friendly now. There are a great many white men. Possibly you may be looking for some  one with a strong heart. Possibly you may be intending to do for me better than I know of. Inasmuch as my Great Father has sent you here to take us by the hand, why is it that we are prevented from crossing the Arkansas? If we give you our hands in peace, we give them also to those of the plains. We want the privilege of crossing the Arkansas to kill buffalo. I have but few men here , but what I say to them they listen, and they will abide by their promise  whatever it may be. All these young soldiers are taking us by the hand,  and I hope it will come back good times as formerly. It is very hard to have one-half of our nation absent at this time; we wish to get through  at once. My friends, I want you to understand that I have sent up north for  my people, and I want the road open for them to get here. I hope that which you have said will be just as you have told me, and I am glad to hear such  good counsel from you. When my friends get down from the north I think it will be the best time to talk about the lands. There are so few here it would not look right to make a treaty for the whole nation, and so many absent.  I hope you will use your influence with the troops to open a road for my  men to get here. You may mark out the lands you propose giving us, but I know nothing about them; it is a new country to me. I have been in great hopes that I may see my children that were taken prisoners last fall, and when I get here I do not see them. I feel disappointed. My young men here, and friends, when we meet in council and come to the conclusion, it is the truth, we do not vary from it. This lady’s husband (Mrs. Wilmarth, formerly Fitzpatrick) Major Fitzpatrick, when he was our agent and brought us presents he did not take them into  forts and houses, but would drive his wagons into our villages and empty them there. Every one would help themselves and feel glad. He has gone ahead  of us, and he told us that when he was gone we would have trouble, and it has proved true. We are sorry. But since the death of Major Fitzpatrick we have had many agents. I don’t know as we have been wronged, but it looks so. The amount of goods has diminished; it don’t look right. Has known Colonel Leavenworth for some time; he has treated me well; whether it will continue  or not I do not know. He has got a strong heart, and has done us a great deal  of good. Now that times are so uncertain in this country I would like to have my old friend Colonel Bent with me. This young man, Charles Wrath, does not get tired. He is always ready to go  and meet them and give them whatever news he has to send to them. There be wrongs done, but we want to show who does these wrongs before you censure  us. I feel that the Great Father has taken pity on us, and that ever since we have  met Colonel Leavenworth’s words have been true, and nothing done since that time but what is true. I heard that some chiefs were sent here to see us. We have brought our women  and children, and now we want to see if you are going to have pity on us