Washita Battlefield Photographs

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Washita Battlefield

National Historic Site

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Photograph of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer.

Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer

The boy general of the Civil War, Custer, had shorn his trademark locks and wore this buckskin outfit on the Washita Campaign. Custer led companies A, C, D, and K, the morning of November 27th, 1868.

Photograph of Major Joel Elliot.

Major Joel Elliot

Elliot was the second in command at Washita, leading companies G, H, and M to the attack. After the initial charge in to the camp, Elliot spotted a number of Cheyenne fleeing downstream. He led a small detachment of troops after them and was killed with 17 enlisted men about two miles east of Black Kettle's village.

Photograph of Peace Chief Black Kettle.

Peace Chief Black Kettle

Seeking a peaceful existence with the U.S. Government, Black Kettle had signed three treaties between 1861-1867. Attacked once before with heavy loss of life at Sand Creek, Black Kettle still sought peace and had just returned to the camp the evening of the 26th after making another peace attempt with the army.

Photograph of Cheyenne prisoners from Washita at Fort Hays, Kansas, 1869.
Cheyenne prisoners from Washita at Fort Hays, Kansas, 1869

Fifty-three women and children were held as captives until the late spring of 1869. They were used as a bargaining chip to gain the release of white women held by other bands of Cheyenne.

Photograph of hte Officers of the 7th U.S. Cavalry.
Officers of the 7th US Cavalry

This photo was taken just before the start of the Washita Campaign near Fort Dodge, Kansas. It would be five months before they would return and for two of them (Maj. Elliot and Capt. Hamilton) it would be their last photo.

Courtesy of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.

Photograph of Osage Scouts.

Osage Scouts

In addition to employing a few civilian scouts for the campaign, Custer also relied heavily on these Osage scouts. They discovered Black Kettle's campsite and were eager for the attack to begin. Not wanting to be shot by accident as hostile, they stood with the color guard until after the attack.

Photograph of a print showing an artists view of the attack on Black Kettle's Village.

Custer's attack on
Black Kettle Village

This print is from Custer's book My life on the Plains. While it is a somewhat glamorized version of the attack, it does show how the early morning raid surprised the Cheyenne.

Courtesy of the University of Oklahoma Press.

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Updated: May, 2001

	Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer The boy general of the Civil War, Custer, had shorn his trademark locks and wore this buckskin outfit on the Washita Campaign. Custer led companies A, C, D, and K, the morning of November 27th, 1868.
	Major Joel Elliot Elliot was the second in command at Washita, leading companies G, H, and M to the attack. After the initial charge in to the camp, Elliot spotted a number of Cheyenne fleeing downstream. He led a small detachment of troops after them and was killed with 17 enlisted men about two miles east of Black Kettle's village.
	Peace Chief Black Kettle Seeking a peaceful existence with the U.S. Government, Black Kettle had signed three treaties between 1861-1867. Attacked once before with heavy loss of life at Sand Creek, Black Kettle still sought peace and had just returned to the camp the evening of the 26th after making another peace attempt with the army.
	Cheyenne prisoners from Washita at Fort Hays, Kansas, 1869 Fifty-three women and children were held as captives until the late spring of 1869. They were used as a bargaining chip to gain the release of white women held by other bands of Cheyenne.
	Officers of the 7th US Cavalry This photo was taken just before the start of the Washita Campaign near Fort Dodge, Kansas. It would be five months before they would return and for two of them (Maj. Elliot and Capt. Hamilton) it would be their last photo. Courtesy of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.