In the early 1860s, cultural differences brought about most of the friction between the native plains tribes and the invading western adventurers, frontiersmen, and settlers. The capitalist mindset of the newcomers couldn’t stomach the habits of the native people, who often entered the camp or lonely cabin begging food and gifts.

There was definitely a difference in culture. The same frontiersman would offer food and shelter to a traveling stranger, yet consider the lowly Indian nothing more than a beggar. Stealing horses was another matter. A man could hang for stealing a horse, while stealing a horse was an ingrained component of tribal life on the plains.

The sporadic outburst of violence between these divergent cultures eventually ignited into war when soldiers responded to an earlier theft of livestock in Colorado with an attack on a Cheyenne village on the western fringe of central Kansas.

Lean Bear, a wellrespected Cheyenne peace chief was killed, bringing outrage and an unusual alliance of Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, and Sioux warriors. Trading posts and mail stations were attacked along the Santa Fe Trail and Fort Riley Military Road in Kansas and the Platte River Road (California-Oregon Trail) in Nebraska.

The Army responded, placing the Seventh Iowa and the Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalries in headquarters on the edge of the frontier at Salina. A split log stockade was erected for the military presence. The Fort Riley Road to Santa Fe was soon reopened. Soldiers were stationed at the Smoky Hill Crossing (near present-day Kanopolis, Kan.) and at the mouth of Walnut Creek on the Arkansas River (east of presentday Great Bend).

Encroaching settlement on favored tribal buffalo hunting lands was another source of friction. Settlers were building cabins along the Saline River west of the frontier town of Salina.

John and Thomas Moffitt, along with John Houston and James Tyler, shared a cabin near the Saline River about 40 miles northwest of Salina. They had returned to Salina in May during Indian raids along the main trails, but in late June were growing anxious to get on with building new lives on the banks of the Saline.

The Moffitt party was definitely bucking the odds when they set out for their cabin on July 1, 1864. Tensions remained high on the plains. The Governor of Colorado declared martial law on July 5. Two days later, Gen. Samuel Curtis moved to protect travelers on the overland trails. All available troops were pressed into service as escorts. At a special ceremony on July 13, 1864, the Smoky Hill Crossing was designated Fort Ellsworth. The post at Walnut Creek was designated Fort Zarah.

By the end of July, warriors of the allied prairie tribes were “everywhere and nowhere.” Troops were so scattered that their presence had little effect over warriors that roamed at will. Three hundred warriors attacked Fort Larned, but were repelled by cannon fire. In five days, the warriors killed 35 men, stole 600 horses and mules, and burned trading ranches all over the plains.

The Moffitts seemed oblivious to the chain of events, planning a celebratory buffalo hunt with the whole family. John Houston went into Salina on Aug. 6 to gather his wife, two children, and father-in-law, Mr. Tyler, for a day of fun at the ranch.

After settling everyone in at the cabin, the men drove onto the plains with a two-horse team and wagon. While they drove over the plains in search of buffalo, their guests busied themselves preparing for the envisioned feast. In one terrible moment the hunter’s day of reunion and celebration turned to horror as Indians mounted on their war ponies charged out of nowhere. A sharp creek bank blocked the hunter’s return to the cabin. A rock bluff was spotted along a small creek and upon reaching it they formed a breastwork along the rocks. One hundred Indians circled their defenses, showering the beleaguered men with arrows and rifle fire.

The men were well-armed for the hunt, carrying both pistols and rifles. The battle raged as each man eventually fell to overwhelming numbers. A small band of Indians approached the cabin, but Mr. Tyler killed a warrior with a single shot. The Indians carried their companion off and didn’t return.

Through the night, Tyler dug a hole under the cabin wall and the family escaped to the Saline River. Walking through the night they eventually arrived at the Tripp Ranch, a well-known gathering spot along the river. Mounted messengers rode to Salina with news of the attack. The messengers were told the Cheyenne had attacked Fort Ellsworth, 20 miles south of the Moffitt cabin. Three hundred Indians ran off all the horses and wounded three soldiers.

A sergeant from the 70th Iowa Cavalry led 12 brave citizens to the Moffitt cabin finding the remains of the unfortunate buffalo hunters. The men had put up a desperate fight. John Moffit had 16 arrows and several bullet wounds in his body. Fourteen arrows had pierced the body of his brother Tom. The victims were buried where they had fallen and as far as we know are still there today, testament to an age when divergent cultures tragically clashed on The Way West.

“The Cowboy,” Jim Gray is author of the book Desperate Seed: Ellsworth Kansas on the Violent Frontier, Ellsworth, KS. Contact Kansas Cowboy, 220 21st RD Geneseo, KS. Phone (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.