Stop Nine

Sugarloaf from trail stop nine.

NPS / Christian Schroll

Quick Facts

Location:

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

The red rock knoll to the north is known as Sugarloaf.

Before the attack, two army officers spotted Black Kettle’s village from there and strategically moved their forces further east for the attack.

Afterwards, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, and Comanche warriors from the nearby villages also watched from this knoll. They taunted the soldiers, hoping to draw some of them away, but could not attack for fear of harming the 53 women and children that had been taken captive.

Two different views. Two different perspectives on one terrible day.

After traditional army campaign tactics continued to fail to protect white emigrants, the attack at Washita was the first implementation of a new, more extreme strategy by Lt. Col. Custer and his soldiers. To the army, they were protecting the lives of emigrants.

Surrounded by many who had lost faith in negotiations, Black Kettle was still attempting to find peace and safety for his people. To the tribes of the Southern Plains, they were protecting their own lives and way of life.

What view do you see?