MEDICINE LODGE PEACE TREATIES

IN OCTOBER, 1867, KIOWA, COMANCHE, ARAPAHOE, APACHE AND CHEYENNE INDIANS SIGNED PEACE TREATIES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 15,000 INDIANS CAMPED NEAR BY DURING THE COUNCIL, AMONG THEM THE FAMOUS CHIEFS SATANTA, LITTLE RAVEN, PAINTED LIPS (NO, NOT A SQUAW) AND BLACK KETTLE. 500 SOLDIERS ACTED AS ESCORT FOR THE U. S. COMMISSIONERS. INTEREST IN THIS COLORFUL SPECTACLE WAS SO WIDESPREAD THAT EASTERN PAPERS SENT CORRESPONDENTS, AMONG THEM HENRY M. STANLEY, WHO LATER WAS TO FIND LIVINGSTONE IN AFRICA. WHILE THE TREATIES DID NOT BRING IMMEDIATE PEACE THEY MADE POSSIBLE THE RAILROADS AND EVENTUAL SETTLEMENT. THE SITE OF THE COUNCIL WAS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF MEDICINE RIVER AND ELM CREEK, A LITTLE SOUTHWEST OF MEDICINE LODGE. EVERY FIVE YEARS A TREATY PAGEANT IS REËNACTED IN THIS AMPHITHEATER. IN MEDICINE LODGE THERE IS A COMMEMORATIVE MONUMENT ON THE HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDS.