First Dragoon Expedition facts for kids
The First Dragoon Expedition of 1834 was an important journey by the United States Army into the southwestern Great Plains of the United States. It was also called the Dodge-Leavenworth Expedition. This trip was the first time the American government officially met with the Southern Plains Indians tribes.
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Exploring the Great Plains: The 1834 Expedition
Starting the Journey from Fort Gibson
The United States Dragoon Regiment began their journey on June 20, 1834. They set out from Fort Gibson in what was then called Indian Territory. General Henry Leavenworth was in charge of the expedition.
About 500 soldiers were part of this group. They also had 30 guides from different Native American tribes. These guides were from the Cherokee, Delaware, Osage, and Seneca tribes.
Facing Challenges in the Cross Timbers
On July 10, the expedition entered a tough area called the Cross Timbers. This region had difficult land, and the summer heat was intense. Many soldiers became sick, and sadly, some even died during the hard march. About 150 of the 500 men passed away on this journey.
General Leavenworth himself became sick and was injured during a buffalo hunt. The expedition had to stop at a place they called Camp Leavenworth. From there, General Leavenworth sent the troops ahead under the command of Colonel Henry Dodge.
On July 16, 1834, 75 sick men stayed behind at Camp Comanche. This group included the famous American artist George Catlin, who was traveling with the expedition. Colonel Dodge and the rest of his men continued their journey. General Leavenworth died a few days later, on July 21, 1834.
Meeting Native American Tribes
On July 21, 1834, Colonel Dodge and his remaining men reached a village of Wichita Indians. This village was located at Devils Canyon.
A special moment happened when one of the Wichita men recognized a woman traveling with the expedition. She was his daughter! This happy reunion made it easier for Colonel Dodge to talk with the tribe the next day. During their discussions, Dodge invited the Wichita tribe to send representatives to Washington, D.C. He also helped free a white boy who the Wichita had captured earlier that spring.
Colonel Dodge also met with some Kiowas who had arrived with some Comanche people. Another woman with the expedition was a Kiowa who had been kidnapped by the Osages in 1833. Dodge returned her to her tribe, which helped build friendship with them.
Dodge encouraged the Wichita, Kiowa, and Comanche tribes to avoid attacking white settlers and other Eastern Indian people. A few days later, the main group of the expedition started their journey back to Fort Gibson. They arrived there on August 15, 1834.
Key People on the Expedition
Many important people were part of the First Dragoon Expedition. Here are a few:
- Stephen W. Kearny: He was the second-in-command of the dragoons. Kearny later led the conquest of California during the Mexican–American War.
- Nathan Boone: He was a captain in the expedition. Nathan was the youngest son of the famous pioneer Daniel Boone. He had also served with Colonel Dodge in the War of 1812.
- Jefferson Davis: He was a first lieutenant during the expedition. Davis later became the Secretary of War and then the President of the Confederate States of America.
- George Catlin: An artist who traveled with the expedition, sketching and painting the Native American people and the landscapes he saw. His artwork provides valuable records of this time.
- Jesse Chisholm: He was a guide and interpreter for the expedition. The famous Chisholm Trail, a cattle trail from Texas to Kansas, was named after him.
George Catlin's Artwork
Artist George Catlin made many sketches and paintings during the expedition. These artworks show what he saw and experienced. They help us understand the people and places from that time.
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Wun-pan-to-mee (the white weasel) and Tunk-aht-oh-ye (the thunderer), Kiowa brother and sister rescued by the expedition.
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Colonel Henry Dodge first meets a Comanche emissary, July 14, 1834. Notice the leather helmets of the soldiers and Dodge's buckskin outfit.
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Residents of the Comanche village, around July 16, 1834. Catlin noted the fear of the dogs and children in his drawing.
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Comanches capturing wild horses with lassos, around July 16, 1834.
Images for kids
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General Henry Leavenworth, the commander of the United States Regiment of Dragoons.
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George Catlin's sketch of Colonel Henry Dodge, commander of the United States Mounted Rangers, 1833.
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Lieutenant Colonel Stephen W. Kearny was second in command of the Dragoons.
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Nathan Boone, the youngest son of Daniel Boone, was on the expedition.
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First Lieutenant Jefferson Davis was in command of Dragoon company F.
