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For anyone interested at all in Indian Territory, frontier, or Native American history, Fort
Sill is THE place to go. This bastion from the Old West flourishes as the last remaining,
active military post that was built during the Indian wars.
Established in 1869 by Major General Phillip H. Sheridan, Fort Sill's primary function was
to halt border raids by the Plains Indians. The Comanches, Kiowas, and Apaches saw
their way of life quickly disappearing by the onslaught of Texas settlers, the newly
arrived Kansas and Nebraska tribes (who had been expelled as part of the
reconstruction treaties between Indian Territory's "Five Civilized Tribes"), and the
progress of the Chickasaws and Cherokees, who bordered the lands to the east. By
1870, the Plains Indians declared themselves in open warfare against the Americans.
From Fort Sill, some of the most famous American frontier scouts embarked to battle the
Native Americans, such as "Buffalo Bill" Cody and "Wild Bill" Hickock. The 19th Kansas
Volunteers and the 10th Cavalry, widely known as the African American Buffalo Soldiers,
conducted scouting expeditions of their own. The fort served as home to several
displaced Indians tribes, and housed prisoners of war from the Apaches and Kiowas
tribes as well.
In 1871, Kiowa warriors, under Chiefs Satanta and Big Tree, ambushed and killed the
Warren Wagon Train in Young County, Texas. Based in Fort Sill, the Kiowas boasted of
this coup when General William Tecumseh Sherman found out about it. Sherman (who
had gained fame and a reputation for remorseless warfare on his March on Georgia
during the Civil War), had the Kiowas responsible for the assault arrested and sent to
Fort Richardson (Jack County, Texas) to stand trial. The accused men, the first Indians
ever tried on criminal charges in an American civil court, were sentenced to death,
though Chief Satanta's eloquent speech about his people's suffering helped to spare
their lives.
Sherman understood that the only way to defeat the Indians was to wage a war of
attrition, thus beginning a series of skirmishes now known as the Red River Wars in
1871. Fort Sill became the headquarters for the American troops. In 1875, the Plains
Indians surrendered at Fort Sill, and made the fort and the land surrounding it their
home. The Comanches, Kiowas and Apaches offered to let Geronimo and his people, who
had been expelled from their own homelands in Arizona, stay at the fort, too.
Though considered a prisonersof war, the Native
Americans did not spend time in cells.
Instead, they took on life as farmers, though
they always longed for the buffalo hunt.
Quanah Parker, the last Comanche Chief, built
Star House west of the fort, which served as
the headquarters for the Comanche Nation.
Geronimo lived out his life successfully farming
pumpkins and squash, and made money on the
side selling autographs and momentos. All of
these famous men, plus many more signers
of the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaties
(1867), are buried at the Fort Sill cemetery.
Fort Sill is the last tangible link to frontier
history in the United States, and is worth a
lengthy visit. As it is an active military post,
you will be subjected to a search upon entering
the fort, but the grounds are free to tour.
So enjoy the incredible history that is Fort Sill!
Sill is THE place to go. This bastion from the Old West flourishes as the last remaining,
active military post that was built during the Indian wars.
Established in 1869 by Major General Phillip H. Sheridan, Fort Sill's primary function was
to halt border raids by the Plains Indians. The Comanches, Kiowas, and Apaches saw
their way of life quickly disappearing by the onslaught of Texas settlers, the newly
arrived Kansas and Nebraska tribes (who had been expelled as part of the
reconstruction treaties between Indian Territory's "Five Civilized Tribes"), and the
progress of the Chickasaws and Cherokees, who bordered the lands to the east. By
1870, the Plains Indians declared themselves in open warfare against the Americans.
From Fort Sill, some of the most famous American frontier scouts embarked to battle the
Native Americans, such as "Buffalo Bill" Cody and "Wild Bill" Hickock. The 19th Kansas
Volunteers and the 10th Cavalry, widely known as the African American Buffalo Soldiers,
conducted scouting expeditions of their own. The fort served as home to several
displaced Indians tribes, and housed prisoners of war from the Apaches and Kiowas
tribes as well.
In 1871, Kiowa warriors, under Chiefs Satanta and Big Tree, ambushed and killed the
Warren Wagon Train in Young County, Texas. Based in Fort Sill, the Kiowas boasted of
this coup when General William Tecumseh Sherman found out about it. Sherman (who
had gained fame and a reputation for remorseless warfare on his March on Georgia
during the Civil War), had the Kiowas responsible for the assault arrested and sent to
Fort Richardson (Jack County, Texas) to stand trial. The accused men, the first Indians
ever tried on criminal charges in an American civil court, were sentenced to death,
though Chief Satanta's eloquent speech about his people's suffering helped to spare
their lives.
Sherman understood that the only way to defeat the Indians was to wage a war of
attrition, thus beginning a series of skirmishes now known as the Red River Wars in
1871. Fort Sill became the headquarters for the American troops. In 1875, the Plains
Indians surrendered at Fort Sill, and made the fort and the land surrounding it their
home. The Comanches, Kiowas and Apaches offered to let Geronimo and his people, who
had been expelled from their own homelands in Arizona, stay at the fort, too.
Though considered a prisonersof war, the Native
Americans did not spend time in cells.
Instead, they took on life as farmers, though
they always longed for the buffalo hunt.
Quanah Parker, the last Comanche Chief, built
Star House west of the fort, which served as
the headquarters for the Comanche Nation.
Geronimo lived out his life successfully farming
pumpkins and squash, and made money on the
side selling autographs and momentos. All of
these famous men, plus many more signers
of the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaties
(1867), are buried at the Fort Sill cemetery.
Fort Sill is the last tangible link to frontier
history in the United States, and is worth a
lengthy visit. As it is an active military post,
you will be subjected to a search upon entering
the fort, but the grounds are free to tour.
So enjoy the incredible history that is Fort Sill!
| Geronimo's jail cell door. Myths about Geronimo's legendary powers abound, like the one that claims he purposefully bent the bars of his cell door while angry. By all accounts at Fort Sill, however, Geronimo was a pleasant man who lived a relatively quiet life at the fort. |
| How to Get There: Fort Sill is located in the city of Lawton. To get there, take Interstate 44 (which is also US Highways 62, 277, and 281) north from Lawton to the "Historic Fort Sill" entrance (you can't miss it). Ask for a map at the security check point, so you'll know where to find the original fort, the famous guard house, the Apache cemetery (with Geronimo's grave), and Fort Sill's cemetery, where Quanah and Cynthia Ann Parker are buried. The fort has also excellent signs to guide you as you drive around. |
| Fort Sill's Famous Dead People! |
| Cynthia Ann Parker, mother of Quanah, was kidnapped in a Comanche raid and then married Peta Nocona, with whom she had Quanah and Topsannah. She was "rescued" by white troops, led by Charles Goodnight, after the Battle of Lost Creek. However, Cynthia was not happy she had been "found." She had acclimated to the Comanche way of life and believed them to be her family. She remained in mourning for the rest of her short life. |
| Black Beaver, who helped to forge the pioneer trails in northern Oklahoma that would later become the Chisholm Trail |
| The last Comanche Chief, Quanah Parker |
| Geronimo's grave in the peaceful Apache cemetery, surrounded by his many wives. |
| Know Your History! The Apaches still call Fort Sill home. The Apache group, originally from the arid lands in what is now Arizona, are kin to the Chiricahuas (Geronimo's group). Their website, Fort Sill Apache Nation, can tell you more. |
| Kiowa Chief Sitting Bear's grave. Sitting Bear is better known as Satank, one of the raiders of the Warren Wagon Train. On his way to stand trial for the raid in Jacksboro, Satank gnawed his wrists to undo his cuffs, sang his death song, and commenced to wrestle with the American soldiers, who shot and killed him. |
| Kiowa Chief Satanta, who fought to preserve his people's way of life, was also one of the planners of the Warren Wagon Train Raid.He committed suicide while imprisoned in Huntsville. |
| Oldest barracks at Fort Sill date to 1870 |
| Fort Sill holds some very important historical relics in its collection. To the left is the flag for the 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers. |
| In many ways, Fort Sill serves as the end of history for the Plains Indians. These Library of Congress photos remind us of what was lost when the Americans took over the Great Plains. On the upper right, the caption says it all - Geronimo slaughtered one last buffalo before having to farm like the white man. In the upper left photo, Fort Sill becomes a real town by 1889, anchoring what would become Lawton, Oklahoma. |
| Fort Sill: The Western Frontier |
| Geronimo of the Apaches went on the reservation reluctantly. He started to farm pumpkins, which he felt was beneath him, as farming, for his culture, was women's work. |
| One of the more interesting "stories" at western forts is the graffitti that soldiers left behind. Sometimes, the graffiti just shows names and dates; other soldiers drew impressive and detailed art of what they encountered out on the "wild frontier." Most of the soldiers hailed from more settled areas like New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. They either joined the army during the Civil War and remained in service, or enlisted after 1865 to assist in the next great, but undeclared action - the wholesale expansion and exploitation of the American West. |