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Carbine and Lance: The Story of Old Fort Sill
Fort Sill, located in the heart of the old Kiowa-Comanche Indian country in southwestern Oklahoma, is known to a modern generation as the Field Artillery School of the United States Army. To students of American frontier history, it is known as the focal point of one of the most interesting, dramatic, and sustained series of conflicts in the records of western warfare.
From 1833 to 1875, in a theater of action extending from Kansas to Mexico, the strife was almost uninterrupted. The U.S. Army, Kansas militia, Texas Rangers, and white pioneers and traders were arrayed against the fierce and heroic bands of the Kiowas, Comanches, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, and Kiowa-Apaches.
The savage skirmishes with the southwestern Indians before the Civil War provided many army officers with a kind of training that proved indispensable to them in that later, prolonged conflict. When hostilities ceased, Sherman, Sheridan, Dodge, Custer, Grierson, and other commanders again resumed the harsh field of guerrilla warfare against their Indian foes—tough, hard fighters.
With the inauguration of the so-called Quaker Peace Policy during President Grant’s first administration, the hands of the army were tied. The Fort Sill reservation became a place of refuge for the marauding bands that went forth unmolested to raid in Texas, Oklahoma, and Mexico. The toll in human life reached such proportions that the government finally turned the southwestern Indians over to the army for discipline, and a permanent settlement of the bands was achieved by 1875.
From extensive research, conversations with both Indian and white eyewitnesses, and his familiarity with Indian life and army affairs, Captain Nye has written an unforgettable account of these stirring times. The delineation of character and the reconstruction of colorful scenes, so often absent in historical writing, are to be found here in abundance. His Indians are made to live his scenes of post life could have been written only by an army man.
From 1833 to 1875, in a theater of action extending from Kansas to Mexico, the strife was almost uninterrupted. The U.S. Army, Kansas militia, Texas Rangers, and white pioneers and traders were arrayed against the fierce and heroic bands of the Kiowas, Comanches, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, and Kiowa-Apaches.
The savage skirmishes with the southwestern Indians before the Civil War provided many army officers with a kind of training that proved indispensable to them in that later, prolonged conflict. When hostilities ceased, Sherman, Sheridan, Dodge, Custer, Grierson, and other commanders again resumed the harsh field of guerrilla warfare against their Indian foes—tough, hard fighters.
With the inauguration of the so-called Quaker Peace Policy during President Grant’s first administration, the hands of the army were tied. The Fort Sill reservation became a place of refuge for the marauding bands that went forth unmolested to raid in Texas, Oklahoma, and Mexico. The toll in human life reached such proportions that the government finally turned the southwestern Indians over to the army for discipline, and a permanent settlement of the bands was achieved by 1875.
From extensive research, conversations with both Indian and white eyewitnesses, and his familiarity with Indian life and army affairs, Captain Nye has written an unforgettable account of these stirring times. The delineation of character and the reconstruction of colorful scenes, so often absent in historical writing, are to be found here in abundance. His Indians are made to live his scenes of post life could have been written only by an army man.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1920
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 2, 2011
Excellent book about the history of Fort Sill and the area of Oklahoma that was once the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Reservation. Although the book was originally published in 1937, and most recently updated in the late 1960's, it is still the best resource available on Fort Sill during it's early days, and the Indian wars in Western Oklahoma/West Texas/New Mexico. The author was an army officer who was given the task of developing a history of Fort Sill and became fascinated with the subject. He had the great advantage of becoming a friend of many of Comanche and Kiowa tribal members in the area, many of whom were either present for the early days of Fort Sill, or were only one generation distant. This gives the book a perspective from both the Army and the Indian perspective, greatly enhancing what can be learned.
Well worth reading!
Well worth reading!
September 8, 2012
A must-read for those living in Oklahoma! Learn how Ft. Sill was formed. Meet Custer, Sheridan, Geronimo, Satanta, Col. Grierson, Quanah Parker, and other well known Army and Indian figures from the late 19th century in Indian Territory.
March 8, 2015
It was an interesting read, influenced by the fact that I live here. I loved the fact that many of the places and buildings discussed in this book are places I know and can walk on. A must read for people posted here. I did find the attitudes towards the Native Americans and African American soldiers, insulting at times. I had to keep in mind that these were the attitudes prevalent during the time the book chronicles, or when the book was written. Overall, a fantastic way to learn about this wonderful place we are lucky to call home for a bit.
October 24, 2014
Fort Sill had as one of its original missions the monitoring and protection of nearby Indian reservations. Various military units served there including the legendary Buffalo soldiers. The discrimination of and by all races in the region are explored.
August 18, 2012
This history is part of me in many ways. It portrays old Ft. Sill very well.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews