Col. Henry Dodge led a squadron of 125 First United States Dragoons out of Fort Leavenworth on May 29, 1835. Their mission was to seek out and hold peace councils with the plains tribes along the Platte River Valley and those tribes living on the front range of the Rocky Mountains.

Riding northeast, the expedition reached the Otto village, holding council with principal Chief Jutan and his leading men on June 11. Dodge’s adjutant, Lt. Gaines P. Kingsbury, kept the official journal. Kingsbury faithfully recorded the proceedings.

Colonel Dodge spoke sincerely of the great father in Washington and his desire to have peace for all his red children, that they live in the same country like brothers and exchange their weapons for “implements of husbandry.”

Dodge continued, “A great people will always pay a proper regard for the weak; you see but a small part of the dragoons which your great father can send every year to see that the Indians do not intrude upon the frontier settlers, and that they do not intrude upon the Indians, nor introduce whiskey into your country which will lead to the ruin and destruction of your people.”

Jutan and his chiefs assured Colonel Dodge that the Otto intended to raise a big crop of corn, and in the next year, Jutan promised that his people would begin raising cattle and horses. Presents of blankets, knives, tobacco and other items were distributed and Colonel Dodge was honored with a “war dance.”

The dragoons remained encamped near the Otto village with the expected arrival of the Omahas. The morning of June 17, about 50 of the Omaha principal chiefs and warriors swam their horses over the Platte. The river was a mileand- a-half wide at that point, but naturally shallow. Their “baggage” was floated over in skin boats.

Upon their arrival, provisions were issued and promptly eaten before Dodge addressed them as he had the Ottos. Principal Chief Big Elk recognized in the great father a sense of compassion for the Omaha people.

“It is because the powerful have compassion upon the weak that I have suffered to live to the age you see me (approximately 60 years old).”

Yet, Big Elk was a realist.

“You know that a man cannot always do as he would wish.”

The chief recognized an evil in the presents spread before him.

“I know that they are given by good men, and I feel grateful for them, but it has a contrary effect upon some of my neighbors, and they do not feel grateful when they receive these things for nothing, but think they are entitled to them.”

Dodge recognized the wisdom of Big Elk’s words, noting that the chief was “remarkable for his sound practical sense.” His words left their intended impression.

The dragoons moved westward through the broad valley of the Platte.

Lt. Kingsbury wrote, “From one of the high points near the river, the eye could wander over ... the broad surface of the river, studded with islands covered with groves of timber; the green level valley, terminated by every variety of shape, beyond which there was a successive range of hills, until the view was terminated by the distant horizon.”

The Pawnee were described as being in a turbulent state. The larger tribe was made up of four sub-tribes. The village first visited was that of the Grand Pawnees. The Loup Pawnees had stolen horses from the Wichita people in the south. That, in turn, had produced “some difficulty” with the Grand Pawnees.

The Pawnee Tappagies lived about 20 miles northeast of the Grand Pawnees. The Republican Pawnee were a smaller family, taking their name from the Republican River. All of the Pawnees were in a constant state of war with their neighbors, the Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho and virtually everyone on the plains.

Dodge had his hands full when he held council with a tipi full of contesting Pawnee chiefs. Within the lodge of Angry Man, chief of the Grand Pawnees, Col. Dodge spoke of peace and all the things spoken to the Ottos and Omahas.

Angry Man thanked Dodge for his efforts to unify the Pawnee people, but the atmosphere grew dark when he turned to the other chiefs within his lodge.

“Here are my friends ... I would like to know what they have against me.” Angry Man wondered why the Pawnee Loups go to war to steal horses and threaten his peace parties.

Axe, chief of the Pawnee Loups and son-in-law to Angry Man, replied, “It is true ... You know that this stealing is done without my consent ... my young men have disregarded my counsel. They have thrown me up to be scattered by the winds of heaven.”

Axe reassured Dodge that he was for peace with a heart that was always leaning toward the white father. He offered a piece of advice to Angry Man.

“Do not listen so much to bad men and pay more attention to the advice of the good.”

The chiefs from the Tappagies and the Republicans did their best to stand between the disagreements, and even expressed a desire to make peace with their Cheyenne and Arapaho enemies. Dodge recognized the proper timing to bring the council to a successful close, but there were more councils to be held on the way to the Rocky Mountains. Col. Dodge and his dragoons would have many more challenges in their quest for peace on The Way West.

“The Cowboy” Jim Gray can be reached at 220 21st Rd., Geneseo, KS 67444, (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.