Medicine Lodge Creek, 1867: The Conference of the Peace Commission with the Southwestern Tribes.
Medicine Lodge Creek, 1867:
The Conference of the
Peace Commission
with the Southwestern Tribes.

    The Council the Peace Commission held in October and early November, 1867, with the Southwestern tribes at Medicine Lodge Creek in Kansas was well covered in the national press at the time. Among the more famous of the reporters to cover the event was Henry Morton Stanley, (writing under the nom-de-plume of Frontier, but probably more famous for his meeting with Dr. Livingston in Africa years later.) In addition there was a reporter there, covering the event for the Chicago Tribune, whose eye for color and detail, and talent for capturing the flavor of the moment, not to mention his ability to see both sides of the story, raise his reporting to a high level indeed.

    Unfortunately none of his filed letters and reports carry a byline, so I can't give you his name. This is sad indeed, because this man could write and deserves to be better known than he is.

    Below you will find all of his reports, written for the Chicago Tribune, several of which mention Ned Wynkoop, (my original subject of interest), as well as other participants in the event, Native American and otherwise.

    In the future I hope to add Henry Morton Stanley's reports as well, although you can find many of them, (re-edited at a later date by Stanley for publication in his book, My Early Travels and Adventures in America and Asia, Vol. 1, New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1905), at this webpage, Battle of the Washita: Prelude and Aftermath.

    In the meantime, enjoy my anonymous reporter's experiences at the Council on Medicine Lodge Creek, in the Fall of 1867. They are well worth your time.

    All my best,

    Chris


Some Scenes and Participants:

Comanche Indians.

Comanche Indians on the way to the Great Council on Medicine Lodge Creek, Monday, Oct. 16--Sketched By J. Howland.

Indian Lodge At Medicine Creek, Kansas.

Indian Lodge At Medicine Creek, Kansas--Sketched By J. Howland Harper's Weekly October 16-26, 1867.

Jack Howland's sketch of a council with Kiowas and Comanches.

Jack Howland's sketch of a council with Kiowas and Comanches - Preceding Medicine Lodge Treaty - Harper's November 16, 1867.

Roman Nose.Bull Bear, Cheyenne Chief.

Roman Nose.                                         Bull Bear, Cheyenne Chief.

Satanta.

Satanta.

Black Kettle.

Black Kettle, (Front row, 2nd from the left, with Bull bear on the right.)


Chicago Tribune reporter:
The Indian Commission; Its Journey to, and Arrival at, Fort Harker.
     From the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, 19 October, 1867.

The Indians; Journey of the Indian Commission To Meet the Southwestern Tribes.
     From the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Tuesday, 22 October, 1867.

The Indians; The Visit to the Southwestern Tribes.
     From the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Thursday, 24 October, 1867.

The Indians, Conference of the Indian Commission with the Southwestern Tribes, First Day of the Council.
     From the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, 26 October, 1867.

The Council.
     From the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, 26 October, 1867.

The Indians, The Conference of the Peace Commission with the Southwestern Tribes, Second Day of the Council.
     From the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Tuesday, 29 October, 1867.

The Indians, The Conference of the Peace Commission with the Southwestern Tribes, The Arrival of the Cheyennes.
     From the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Monday, 4 November, 1867.

Henry Morton Stanley's reports:
  

Miscellaneous reporting:
Scenes and Incidents of the Great Indian Council, at Medicine Lodge Creek, Kansas.
     From Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, New York, N. Y., Saturday, 23 November, 1867.

Created February 21, 2006; Revised February 21, 2006
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