This distinguished position was
perpetuated over the years, in time the tribal band and the Dog Men became practically one
so that even the name of the band was changed to that of the society. Its members were
persistent raiders, running almost at will over the Plains between the Missouri and
Arkansas rivers and using the upper Platte in Nebraska as their headquarters.
The four bravest Dog Men were chosen
to defend the society and the tribe from the raids of the enemy in a particular way for
year-long terms. Each of them wore a sash of tanned skin eight to ten feet long and five
or six inches wide, with a lengthwise slit cut at the head end. These were called
"dog-strings" or "dog-ropes."
They were worn over the right
shoulder and under the left and trailed behind on the ground. The sashes of the two
bravest men of the society were elaborately decorated with horizontal bands of yellow and
red porcupine quills and eagle feathers. The other two wore a less conspicuous pair. A red
painted wooden picket-pin was attached to the bottom end by a braided buckskin thong.
Whenever a battle was going badly for the Cheyenne's, those who had been selected to wear
the dog-ropes for that year drove the stakes into the ground and, remaining attached
there, fought desperately to cover the retreat of the others.
It was expected they would die rather
than pull up the pin themselves and retreat. However, if a comrade sharply ordered them
away as if he were speaking to a dog, they were free to retreat with the others. The two
foremost Dog Men were also allowed to fringe their leggins with human hair-locks, but the
lesser two sash-wearers were not permitted to do so, for they had not proven themselves to
be as brave as the former two.
The usual style of headdress
consisted of a cap with a narrow beaded band along the front edge. The crown was entirely
covered with the gorgeous tail feathers of the golden eagle, and the sides were covered
with the feathers of the hawk and the crow. The unusual thing was that the feathers were
fastened in such a way so as to make them stand erect all over the headdress. Suspended by
a string from the neck of each warrior was a whistle made from the wing bone of an eagle.
Both the whistle and
the string were wrapped with porcupine quills. Dog Men always carried a bow and arrows.
When they danced they let their hair hang loose and blew their whistles constantly, moving
forward rapidly in a stooping position, bending each leg forward alternately. Leggings
with painted stripes were worn, but the upper parts of the body and face were exposed and
painted red. This society had between five and six hundred songs, exclusive of their four
sacred songs and four war songs.
This society was above all known for
the large number of captives it held.
The Dog Men society regarded itself as distinguished and special, and the whole tribe, as
well as neighboring tribes, were made aware of its importance.
Thomas E. Mails and excerpts from James Mooney
Warrior's Strength
Renewed inter-tribal hostilities between the Cheyenne and Arapaho, Utes,
and Kiowa caused concern. In July 1864, large war parties struck the overland roads at
widely separated points. Several stations and wagon trains were attacked. The raids
continued on through August. The military started moving on the raiders. Meanwhile, Black
Kettle and other Cheyenne and Arapaho chiefs were trying to calm things down. Black
Kettle's band was wintering on Sand Creek, near Fort Lyon. Col. Chivington did not inform
his superiors, but moved his column out of Fort Lyon in late November. There were between
700-750 men backed up by four 12 lb. howitzers. By daylight, the troops were in position
and swept though the camp.
At the onset, Black Kettle raised both the American and a white flag above his tent, as a
sign the Indians were friendly, but they were ignored. This attack took place even though
peace negotiations were going on elsewhere. Flushed with success, after his attack at Sand
Creek, Chivington anticipated further actions against the Cheyenne and Arapaho. As it was,
Chivington had already already killed 9 Cheyenne Chiefs, among which were White Antelope,
War Bonnett, and old Yellow Wolf, in addition to Left Hand, an Arapaho. The survivors fled
to join their kinsmen on the Smokey Hill River.
In November, 1868, Custer and the 7th Calvary attacked Black Kettle's camp. The Cheyenne
fought desperately to save their families on the Washita. No quarter was ever given or
asked. Warriors and soldiers fought hand to hand. Some of the women and children began
fleeing toward much larger Indian villages that Custer had not seen.
Other warriors appeared and Custer did not leave unscathed. Black Kettle was killed. After
the Battle of the Washita, Indian sympathizers began to criticize Sheridan and Custer's
actions. In 1874, the battle at Adobe Walls was not the beginning of the last Indian Wars
on the South Plains, only it's best publicized. Warriors from 5 tribes of the southern
Plains decided to attack the buffalo hunters and trading settlement at Adobe Walls. Most
of the braves were Comanche and Cheyenne and the party was about 250-300 men, believing
that young I-Satai, a Kiowa, had strong Medicine.
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