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This Month in Native American History
May |
May 1, 1637:
After numerous incidents, and incursions on both sides, English settlers in
Connecticut declare war on the Pequot Indians. Most of the fighting take places
in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
May 2, 1670:
King Charles of England gives all trade rights to "all the Landes Countreyes
and Territoryes upon the Coastes and Confynes of the Seas" lying within the
Hudson Strait to the Hudson’s Bay Company. This monopoly remains in effect
until 1859.
May 3, 490:
Maya Lord Kan - Xul I (King K'an Joy Chitam I) is born, according to some
sources. Eventually, he rules over Palenque, Mexico.
May 4, 1805:
The Pascagoula, and the Biloxi, Indians sell their lands along the Gulf Coast to
"Miller and Fulton." Miller and Fulton are among the first settlers in the
Rapides Parish area. The documents, signed by six Indians, are confirmed. The
Pascagoulas move to the Red River area.
May 5, 1800:
William Augusta Bowles is an adventurer in the southeastern part of the United
States. With Creek and Cherokee supporters, he proclaims a new nation, Muscogee,
out of lands claimed by Spain along the Gulf coast, with himself as
"Director-General". Bowles declares war on Spain, and begins a campaign against
their outposts in his "nation." Some sources list this as happening on April 5,
1800.
May 6, 1626:
The Purchase of Manhattan takes
place. The Shinnecock or Canarsee Indians, according to which source you
believe, sell it to Peter Minuit.
May 7, 1877:
Colonel Nelson Miles, and his force of four Cavalry Troops, and six Infantry
Companies, finds Lame Deer, and his followers on the Muddy Creek, near the
Rosebud. Nelson surprises the village with a charge. Lame Dear, and Iron Star,
parley with Miles about a peaceful settlement, but after they return, fight
erupts, again. The battle continues, and proceeds toward the Rosebud River. Lame
Deer, Iron Star, and twelve other Indians are killed. Four soldiers are killed.
Lt. Alfred M. Fuller, and six soldiers are wounded. Almost 450 mounts are
seized. The camp supplies, and many lodges are also captured. Corporal Harry
Garland and Private William Leonard, Company L, and Private Samuel Phillips,
Company H, Second Cavalry, will win the Congressional Medal of Honor for
"gallantry in action" as a part of today's battle. Company L First Sergeant
Henry Wilkens, and Farrier William H. Jones, will also be awarded the Medal of
Honor for their gallantry in today's battle, and for actions against the Nez
Perce on August
20, 1877.
May 8, 1725:
In one of the last battles of Lovewell's or Father Rasleâ's War, Pigwacket Indians defeat a British army under Captain John Lovewell at Fryeburg,
Maine.
May 9, 1885:
Today through the 12th, events in the Second Riel Rebellion take place in
Canada. Major General Frederick Middleton and a force of 800 soldiers attack the
Metis and Cree holding the village of Batoche. The fighting continues through
the 12th until the soldiers finally overrun Batoche.
May 10, 1869:
One of the most devastating events in the lives of the plains Indians is the
crossing of their lands by the railroads. The railroads bring settlers, hunters,
and separate the buffalo herds. The "iron horses" of the Central Pacific and the
Union Pacific meet at Promontory Point, Utah, completing the first cross
continental railroad in the United States.
May 11, 1968:
The Constitution of the Indians of the Tulalip Tribes in Washington is
modified.
May 12, 1860:
A battle in the Paiute War takes place in Nevada at Big Bend in the valley of
the Truckee River. Major William Ormsby’s Nevada militia are attacked by
Paiutes under war Chief Numaga.
May 13, 1614:
The Viceroy of Mexico finds Spanish Explorer Juan de Oñate guilty of
atrocities against the Indians of New Mexico. As a part of his punishment, he is
banned from entering New Mexico again.
May 14, 1832:
Near the Kyte River, Major Isaiah Stillman, and 275 soldiers are patrolling the
area, on the lookout for Black Hawk. Weary of fighting, Black Hawk sends a few
representatives to Stillman's camp to negotiate the surrender of his four dozen
warriors. When the soldiers fire on Black Hawk's representatives, a few manage
to escape. With the soldiers in pursuit, Black Hawk sets up an ambush. Becoming
confused by the sudden attack, Stillman's troop panick and flee the area. Eleven
soldiers, and three Indians are killed in the fighting. However, the soldiers
report a massacre of troops. The "battle" is called "Stillman's Run."
May 15, 1846:
A treaty is signed by Texas Governor Pierce Butler, and Colonel M.G. Lewis
(Meriwether Lewis' brother), and sixty-three Indians of the Aionai, Anadarko,
Caddo, Comanche, Kichai (Keehy), Lepan (Apache), Longwha, Tahuacarro (Tahwacarro),
Tonkawa, Waco, Wichita and tribes. It is ratified on February 15, 1847, and
signed by President Polk on March 8, 1847.
May 16, 1760:
Creek warrior Chief Hobbythacco (Handsome Fellow) has often supported the
English, but, at the outbreak of the Cherokee war, he decides to support the
Cherokees. He leads an attack on a group of English traders in Georgia. Thirteen
of the traders are killed during the fighting. Creek Chief "The Mortar" also
participates in the fighting.
May 17, 1629:
According to a deed, Sagamore Indians, including Passaconaway, sell a piece
of land in what becomes Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
May 18, 1661:
Captain John Odber is order by the Maryland General Assembly to take fifty
men and go to the "Susquesahannough Forte." According to a treaty signed on May
16th, Maryland is required to help protect the Susquehannocks from raids by the
Seneca. Odber’s force is to fulfill that part of the treaty.
May 19, 1796:
Congress passes "An Act Making Appropriations for Defraying the Expenses Which
May Arise in Carrying into Effect a Treaty Made Between the United States and
Certain Indian Tribes, Northwest of the River Ohio."
May 20, 698:
As part of a series of attacks on neighboring cities in Guatemala, Maya
warriors from Naranjo attack Kinichil Kab'
May 21, 1877:
In retaliation for the Custer defeat, the Sioux and Ponca are ordered to go
to a new reservation in Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). The Poncas have
nothing to do with the war, and they continue their complaints about the
bureaucratic error which places them on a reservation with the Sioux in the
first place. The government does not bend, and the Ponca begin their march to
Indian Territory.
May 22, 1851:
As one of the last conflicts in the "Mariposa Indian Wars" in California, a
large group of Yosemite Indians are captured at Lake Tenaija.
May 23, 1873:
The Northwest Mounted Police is founded. One of the main reasons for its
creation is the problems being fomented by Americans selling alcohol to Canadian
Indians. This organization eventually becomes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
May 24, 1539:
Mexican Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza has
decided to send an expedition to search for wealthy cities north of Mexico. On
March 7, 1539, Friar Marcos de Niza started the expedition from Culiacan.
Accordiong to Niza’s journal, he finally sees Cibola, although he never sets
foot in the pueblo. His report will lead to future expeditions looking for the
"Seven Cities of Gold."
May 25, 1673:
At the site of modern Niles, Michigan, the British erected Fort St. Joseph. Its
garrison of sixteen men, led by Ensign Francis Schlosser, is attacked by a large
Potawatomi war party. Only Schlosser and three other men survive the attack. The
British are later traded for Potawatomi prisoners in Detroit.
May 26, 1540:
The "Lady of Cofitachequi" has been taken with the de Soto expedition, against
her will. With a large quantity of the pearls that de Soto's men took from her
village, she escapes.
May 27, 1763:
Fort Miami is located at the site of modern Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is
garrisoned by twelve British soldiers, led by Ensign Robert Holmes. Pontiac's
rebellion has started, and the Ensign is convinced to leave the Fort by his
Miami Indian girlfriend. Miami warriors kill the Ensign, and a Sergeant who
leaves to Fort to look for the Ensign. The Miamis demand the surrender of the
remaining soldiers. To drive home their point, they throw the head of Ensign
Holmes into the fort. The soldiers surrender, and all but one are eventually
killed.
May 28, 1830:
Andrew Jackson, called "Sharp Knife" by the Indians, has long fought the
Indians of the southeast. He believes that the Indians and white settlers will
not be able to peacefully live together. His solution to this is to renege on
all of the previous treaties, which granted the Indians their lands forever, and
to move all Indians west of the Mississippi River. Jackson makes this proposal
to Congress during his First Congressional speech on December 8, 1829. Congress
makes the proposal into a law on this date.
May 29, 1980:
Department of the Interior Field Solicitor Elmer Nitzschke, states the Mille
Lacs Reservation Business Committee has the right to control the Sandy Lakes
Indian Reservation in Minnesota. The Sandy Lakes Band of Ojibwe, which lives on
the reservation, feels they should have control of the reservation.
May 30, 1851: A treaty is signed
by Kko-ya-te and Wo-a-si, in California.
May 31, 1796:
The Treaty of the Seven Tribes of
Canada is signed by three Chiefs at New York City. The tribes give up all claims
to lands in New York, except six square miles in Saint Regis. They are paid 1233
pounds, six shillings, and eight pence now, and 213 pounds, six shillings, eight
pence annually, if five more Chiefs show up and sign the treaty.
Dates reprinted with permission by Phil Konstantin: http://americanindian.net/index.html
Panther artwork by Steve Babecki: www.panther.state.fl.us/ poster/
