Battle of Washita River: Custer attacks Black Kettle's Cheyenne village
- When
- 1868
- Where
- Washita River; Reporting from Camp Supply and subsequent press debate
- Episodes
- 2
On November 27, 1868, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th Cavalry in an early-morning attack on Chief Black Kettle's Southern Cheyenne village along the Washita River in western Oklahoma. The engagement occurred on reservation land established by treaty, resulting in the death of Black Kettle and significant casualties among warriors and non-combatants, sparking immediate press criticism.
Episodes
- Attack on Washita Village
Custer led the 7th Cavalry in a dawn attack on Black Kettle's village along the Washita River in western Oklahoma.
- Casualty Reports and Criticism
Custer reported 103 warrior deaths, while critics highlighted the killing of non-combatants and press debate followed.
Background and detail
Background. Following raids by Southern Cheyenne and allied tribes in summer 1868, General Sheridan planned a winter campaign. Custer, reinstated in October 1868, established Camp Supply as a base. Black Kettle's band, which had signed treaties including Medicine Lodge, joined other groups at the Washita River, known as the Lodgepole River, in early November 1868.
The Attack. At dawn on November 27, 1868, Custer led the 7th Cavalry to attack Black Kettle's village. The Cheyenne had expected to live on reservation land per the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. Black Kettle was shot and killed while attempting to escape with his wife. The attack involved surprise tactics against a camp on reservation land.
Aftermath. Custer reported finding 103 warrior bodies after careful examination, a figure echoed by Sheridan. Critics highlighted the killing of non-combatants, including mothers, children, and elders. By early December, the attack provoked debate in the press. Fifty-three women and children were taken captive by the 7th Cavalry.
People involved
- George Armstrong Custer · Lieutenant Colonel, 7th Cavalry
- Black Kettle · Chief of Wotapio band, Southern Cheyenne
Sources
- Battle of the Washita River Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22
- Black Kettle Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-24
- George Armstrong Custer Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-05
- Cheyenne Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-02
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.