Kicking Bird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kicking Bird
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Chief Kicking Bird
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| Born | c. 1835 Possibly Oklahoma
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| Died | May 3, 1875 (aged 39–40) Fort Sill, Oklahoma
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| Nationality | Kiowa |
| Other names | The Kicking Bird Eagle Who Strikes with his Talons Striking Eagle |
| Known for | A Chief of the Kiowa Nation, warrior, peacemaker |
| Relatives | Stumbling Bear (father) Son of the Sun (brother) Big Arrow (brother) Coquit (brother) |
Kicking Bird, whose Kiowa name was Tene-angop'te, was an important leader of the Kiowa tribe in the 1870s. He was also known as "The Kicking Bird" or "Striking Eagle." Born around 1835, he earned his name from his strong fighting style. Even though his grandfather was a Crow Indian, Kicking Bird became a respected Kiowa chief. He died suddenly at Fort Sill on May 3, 1875. The exact cause of his death is still a mystery.
Kicking Bird was a brave warrior who led many battles in the 1860s and 1870s. However, he is best known for working to bring peace and for supporting education for his people. He made friends with some white people, like the Quaker teacher Thomas Battey and Indian Agent James M. Haworth. These friendships sometimes caused problems with other Kiowas who did not trust white settlers. This made him a leader with different opinions about him. Kicking Bird became the main peace chief for the Kiowas. He signed important agreements like the Little Arkansas Treaty in 1865 and the Medicine Lodge Treaty in 1867. He played a big part in helping his people move to reservations.
Contents
Becoming a Warrior and Peacemaker (1835–1865)
Kicking Bird was born around 1835. At that time, the Kiowa people lived in areas that are now parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. We do not know much about his early childhood. He grew up learning the Kiowa ways of being a warrior and hunter. He became a skilled warrior. His success made him an "onde," which meant he was a top Kiowa warrior. To be an "onde," a man needed to be brave, wealthy, generous, and act like a leader. Kicking Bird had all these qualities.
He fought against other tribes like the Utes, Pawnees, and Navajos. He also took part in raids along the Santa Fe Trail. In November 1864, Kicking Bird fought in the Battle of Adobe Walls. He joined other Kiowas, Comanches, Apaches, and Arapahoes against U.S. soldiers. These soldiers were led by Colonel Kit Carson.
As Kicking Bird got older, he realized that constant fighting was not helping his people. He began to believe that making peace with white people was a better way. He became known as a leader in his late 20s. In 1859, a man named James Brice said Kicking Bird would one day be important. Kicking Bird did not sign some early peace treaties because he was not yet a chief. Around 1865, when he was about 30, he became a Kiowa sub-chief, a leader under the main chief.
After some big fights between Plains tribes and white settlers, leaders from both sides started talking about peace in 1865. This is when Kicking Bird began to show his skills as a peaceful leader. He became more widely known when he signed the Little Arkansas Treaty in 1865. He also helped return white captives. This showed that the Kiowa wanted peace while the treaty was being discussed.
The Little Arkansas Treaty was supposed to move the Plains tribes to reservations. These were areas of land set aside for them. However, the reservations were not set up properly. They were later made smaller by another treaty. Also, the government promised to give the tribes supplies and payments, called annuities. But these often did not arrive. These problems caused many difficulties for Kicking Bird and other Kiowa chiefs.
Working for Peace and Leadership (1865–1875)
Leading the Kiowa People
After Chief Dohasan died in 1866, three Kiowa leaders wanted to become the main chief. These were Satanta, Guipago (Lone Wolf), and Kicking Bird. Guipago and Satanta were more popular war leaders. But Kicking Bird, along with a medicine man named No Mocassins (Napawat), was the main voice for peace. He took over Dohasan's role as the Kiowa peace leader. He was calm and good at talking, which helped him work with white officials. They respected him as a speaker. In 1866, an army officer said Kicking Bird was the "most reliable of all the Indians."
One of Kicking Bird's first jobs as a sub-chief was to work for peace. But he was very worried about the annuities. When the Kiowa moved to reservations, they were promised these payments to buy food and supplies. But the annuities often did not come. This caused great hardship for the Kiowa. Kicking Bird knew that much of the anger in his tribe came from this problem. This put him in a tough spot. Some warriors wanted to fight, while others wanted peace. His friendly relations with white people made some Kiowas trust him less. Because of this, Satanta became a more powerful leader.
Problems between Indians and white settlers continued after the Little Arkansas Treaty. Kicking Bird worked hard to keep peace. The treaty promises were mostly not kept. Fighting across the Plains led to a new treaty: the Treaty of Medicine Lodge. Kicking Bird, along with older chiefs like Black Kettle and Ten Bears, knew that fighting the U.S. military was hopeless. During the talks at Medicine Lodge, Kicking Bird had an important seat. He tried to solve the annuity problem. Kicking Bird was one of the first to sign the Treaty of Medicine Lodge. Satanta also signed, but Guipago refused. The Treaty of Medicine Lodge moved the Kiowa to a reservation. It promised annuities of food, clothes, tools, and weapons. But again, these promises were often broken. This made the tribe unhappy with reservations. It made Kicking Bird's peace efforts very difficult.
Facing Challenges to Peace
After the Battle of Washita, U.S. Army General George Armstrong Custer arrested Guipago and Satanta. In 1869, Kicking Bird helped get them released. He promised they would behave. While they were gone, Kicking Bird was a leading Kiowa chief.
Because the promised supplies did not arrive, and they lost their lands, the Kiowa and other tribes sometimes raided settlers. This made Kicking Bird's peace efforts harder. In January 1870, some Kiowas led by Satanta stopped a group of cattle drivers in Texas. They took money and supplies. Kicking Bird arrived and calmed the situation. The cattle owner said that if Kicking Bird had not been there, he and his men would have been killed.
Kicking Bird was criticized by some Kiowas for being too friendly with white people. He suggested they should farm instead of hunt. The war chiefs Satanta and Guipago gained more followers. Kicking Bird lost some support. At a Kiowa sun dance (an important ceremony) in 1870, many warriors wanted to leave the reservations. Kicking Bird argued against this. He said they should live peacefully on the reservations. But some young Kiowas made fun of him. They said he "talked like a woman."
The Battle of Little Wichita River
To answer those who called him a coward, Kicking Bird gathered about 100 warriors in July 1870. He invited some of his biggest critics, like Guipago and Tsen-tainte (White Horse), to join him. He told them, "I am trying to put you in a good road which will be a protection for the lives of the women and children." He was sad he had to prove himself in battle again.
His war party went into Texas. They took horses, mules, and other goods. Some warriors attacked a mail stagecoach. This brought soldiers from nearby Fort Richardson. On July 12, Captain Curwen B. McClellan and his cavalry attacked Kicking Bird's camp. This was near present-day Seymour, Texas. In a long, hot battle, Kicking Bird showed his skill as a military leader. He defeated McClellan's forces by attacking from the front and sending warriors to attack from the sides and rear. It was said he personally fought and injured a soldier.
The Battle of Little Wichita River proved Kicking Bird was still a brave warrior and a strong chief. This was his last battle. He later said he regretted that disagreements within the tribe had forced him to fight. He spent the rest of his life working for peace.
The disagreements between Kiowa leaders who wanted peace and those who wanted to fight grew worse. More U.S. soldiers and Quaker missionaries arrived by late 1870. Kicking Bird was the main leader arguing for peace with the United States. But he was opposed by chiefs like Satanta, Guipago, and Tsen-tainte. Kicking Bird represented the Kiowa peace group in many meetings. He promised the Kiowa would live peacefully. But he stressed that without the promised government supplies, his people had to leave the reservations to find food.
The Warren Wagontrain Raid
In 1871, about 100 Kiowa and Comanche warriors attacked a wagon train in Texas. They did this because they were desperate for the missing supplies. Satanta, Satank, and Maman-ti led this attack. As a result, General William Tecumseh Sherman ordered the arrest of Satanta, Big Tree (another chief), and Satank. Guipago wanted to fight for their freedom. But Kicking Bird became the main Kiowa spokesman. General Sherman told Kicking Bird, "The President has heard of you... We are all depending on you." Kicking Bird tried his best to save the chiefs but had to agree to their arrest. Guipago continued to oppose the government. Kicking Bird worked to keep his tribe calm. After these events, Kicking Bird was seen as the leading Kiowa peace chief. Both the U.S. government and many Kiowas saw him this way.
Working for Peace (1871–1873)
For the next two years, Kicking Bird worked to get Satanta and Big Tree released from prison. He represented the Kiowa in many meetings with Guipago. He promised peace. He showed his good intentions by returning white prisoners and stopping his people from going on raids. However, tensions were still high after the arrests, making his job difficult.
Kicking Bird did many things to try to satisfy the Texas governor, Edmund J. Davis. The governor did not want to release Satanta and Big Tree. Many Kiowas followed Kicking Bird's example. They understood that peace was the only way to get their chiefs back. The Kiowas returned captives and stolen animals without asking for anything in return. For his peace efforts, Kicking Bird received a silver medal. Sometimes, he even had to threaten his own warriors and warriors from other tribes to stop them from raiding.
During a sun dance in June 1873, Kicking Bird stopped a major Indian uprising. Many chiefs were angry about Satanta and Big Tree still being in prison. They wanted to attack. Kicking Bird spoke against fighting and asked for patience. The chiefs agreed to wait. This was perhaps the closest the Plains tribes ever came to a large, united attack.
Finally, on October 7, 1873, Satanta and Big Tree were released. This happened partly because Guipago told Indian agent James Haworth that the Kiowa warriors were losing patience. Kicking Bird's skillful talks also helped. His success in getting the chiefs released earned him the loyalty of about two-thirds of his tribe.
Becoming Head Chief
Even though Kicking Bird was a skilled peace leader, he could not stop his tribe's unhappiness with life on the reservations. In late 1873, some Kiowas started raiding again. During this time, Guipago's favorite son was killed in a raid. Guipago, who had tried to follow the path of peace, was now very upset. Satanta had lost his position as war chief while in prison. So, the U.S. authorities supported Kicking Bird as the head chief of the Kiowas.
Kicking Bird managed to keep most of his followers on the reservation. However, Guipago's anger and his turn towards war made Kicking Bird's efforts for peace very hard. On June 27, 1874, a large group of warriors attacked a place called Adobe Walls. Guipago and Satanta were among the Kiowas who fought. After the battle, Kicking Bird and Satanta wanted to make peace. But Guipago and other chiefs refused and wanted to keep fighting. Kicking Bird worked hard to keep his people united and avoid more conflict.
Because of the increased raiding, the U.S. War Department decided to separate the Kiowas into two groups. One group was friendly, and the other was not. Kicking Bird led about three-fourths of the Kiowa back to their reservation at Fort Sill. Fort Sill became a safe place for his people. Meanwhile, other Kiowas continued to fight. Kicking Bird tried to convince the raiding Kiowas to stop. He also tried to protect them from punishment. He managed to bring six chiefs and 77 other Kiowas back to the reservation. There, they gave up their weapons. The remaining hostile chiefs led their followers west, trying to reach a safe place called Palo Duro Canyon. The U.S. Army chased them.
When Satanta gave up his role as war chief in late 1874, he was arrested immediately after. Guipago surrendered early the next year. Kicking Bird was the only Kiowa chief left with many followers. The U.S. Army then officially named him the principal chief of the Kiowas in 1875. During late 1874 and early 1875, Kicking Bird helped the Army find the Kiowas who were still resisting.
As chief, Kicking Bird was responsible for the Kiowas captured during the fighting in 1874-1875. The government decided to send some of the Kiowa warriors to a prison in Florida called Fort Marion. Kicking Bird was asked to choose which of his tribesmen would go. This was a very painful decision for him. He did not want to do it, but he felt it was necessary for peace. He reluctantly chose Guipago, Maman-ti (Walking-above), Tsen-tainte (White Horse), and 23 other Kiowas. Satanta was sent back to a prison in Huntsville. Warriors from other tribes like the Comanches, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes were also sent to Fort Marion. This made about 70 prisoners in total. Many Kiowas saw his actions as a betrayal. But others understood that he did it to try and secure peace for his people.
Education for the Kiowa
Kicking Bird strongly believed in education for his people. He had a close friendship with a Quaker teacher named Thomas C. Battey. They first met in February 1872. Kicking Bird asked Battey (whom the Kiowa called Thomissey) to teach his daughter Topen. He also asked him to live among the Kiowa. Battey was at first afraid of the Kiowa. But Kicking Bird and other leaders promised him he would be safe.
Kicking Bird invited Battey to his camp. Battey began teaching in Kicking Bird's brother's lodge. The first Kiowa classes started on January 23, 1873. It was hard at first because of the language difference. Some Kiowas opposed the school. But Kicking Bird and other chiefs protected Battey. Kicking Bird's support was very important in bringing education to his tribe. However, not all Kiowas wanted their children to learn white ways. This was part of the government's plan to change their culture.
Because Kicking Bird and other influential Kiowas supported education, the first school for Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache children was started at Fort Sill. The school opened on February 27, 1875. Agent Haworth chose two chiefs from each tribe to be on a school board. Soon, 44 Kiowa and Comanche children were attending the school.
Mysterious Death and Family
On May 3, 1875, Kicking Bird suddenly died at Fort Sill. He was about 40 years old. He was given a Christian burial at Fort Sill, but his grave is unmarked. He is buried near other famous Kiowa and Comanche leaders. These include Satank, Satanta, and Quanah Parker. There are many stories about how Kicking Bird died, but no one knows for sure.
The most common story is that Kicking Bird was poisoned by someone from his tribe. This person was angry with him. Because he died soon after the prisoners were sent to Fort Marion, many people thought an angry Kiowa put poison in his coffee. Some even thought a white person who would benefit from his death did it. One story suggests one of his wives might have poisoned him. This was because he had sent her brother to Fort Marion.
Another story says that a medicine man named Maman-ti put a curse on Kicking Bird. Maman-ti was one of the prisoners sent to Florida. Many Kiowas at the time believed this legend. However, if Maman-ti's curse had worked as told, he would have died three days after Kicking Bird. Instead, Maman-ti died about three months later. This was possibly due to the bad conditions in the prison.
A different idea is that Kicking Bird might have had a heart problem. Agent Haworth said that the night before he died, Kicking Bird told someone that "his heart felt just like someone had hold of it pulling it out." The next morning, he went to a creek, as was common for treating illnesses. He felt better. But shortly after coming out of the water and drinking coffee, he died. This sounds like a heart attack, but we cannot be certain.
Kicking Bird had a daughter named Topen and five other children with his first wife. She died in 1872. He remarried in 1874 and had a son named Little John. Little John was only ten months old when Kicking Bird died.
His known brothers were Pai-Talyi' (Son-of-the-Sun, or Sun Boy), Ze'bile (Big Arrow), and Coquit. His father was Andrew Stumbling Bear.
See also
