Catalogue of the Great
American West
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Image size 17" X 24"
When Colors Bleed II
Washita, 1868
In the autumn or 1868, Black Kettle, a southern Cheyenne
peace chief, established for his people a village along the Washita River, which was near
the Antelope hills of Oklahoma. Within two months of settling there, Little Robe, along
with two Arapaho leaders, journied 100 miles down the valley of Washita to Fort Cobb,
which was the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency headquarters.There,Indian Agents gave provisions
to those who had surrendered,considering them"old,young,and feeble",while US
toops rallied against their elusive warriors.
Upon arrival, they met with General William B. Hagen, asking him permission to move their
people and lodges to the fort for protection . Hagen refused but promised Black Kettle if
he returned to his village and controlled his aggressive young warriors, his people would
not be attacked. However, Black Kettle was unaware of the war plans of General Sheridan,
which were to send General Custer and his pony soldiers to destroy the villages of the
"savage" Indians in that area, most of whom kept their treaty obligations.
Braving treacherous winter conditions, Black Kettle returned to his village and called a
council of the tribe's leaders warning them not to be caught off guard like they had been
four years earlier at Sand Creek. A decision was made that when the snowfall subsided,
Black Kettle would take a delegation to head off the soldiers, attempting to convince them
that his Cheyenne were peaceful.
The next morning, November 27,1868, just before dawn, Black Kettle stepped outside his
lodge when suddenly he heard a women crying "Soldiers! Soldier!". Black Kettle
immediately grabbed his rifle and fired it into the sky, urgently shouting commands.
Realizing that his only hope was to meet General Custer and his soldiers in their charge,
Black Kettle, along with his wife, mounted his horse and headed towards them. As they came
to a halt, Black Kettle lifted his hand in a sign of peace. His gesture to deter this
senseless massacre only served to claim two more casualties as they both were mercilessly
shot to death.
The Cheyennes will always rememberWashita
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About David C. Behrens, the artist
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