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Chisolm Trail and Red River War

Northwest sheet of this rare Military Map of the Indian Territory in the Department of the Missouri, printed by R.P. Studley Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, covering an important area of the plains, which was in the midst of a period which included cattle trails such as the Chisholm Trail and the ongoing skirmishes relocating Native Americans, including the Red River War.

The map extends from Dodge City Kansas in the North to the Arapahoe Reservation in Indian Territory and the Canadian River, as it flows through the Kioway and Commanche lands in the northernost part of Texas and the lands of the Cherokee, Cheyenne and Wichitaws in Indian Territory.

The map tracks the Canadian River, Cimarron River, and Arkansas River, with Fort Dodge at the top center.

The complete map can be seen here.

In the 1870s, the region depicted on this rare military map of Indian Territory was a focal point for numerous military campaigns, government efforts to control Native American tribes, and the westward expansion of settlers. Several key military figures were involved in the conflicts of the 1870s, including Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, who played a decisive role in the Red River War (1874–1875). Mackenzie, commanding the 4th U.S. Cavalry, led a series of raids against the Comanche and Kiowa, particularly targeting the Staked Plains region and the Palo Duro Canyon in Texas. The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon in September 1874 was a turning point, with Mackenzie’s forces destroying the villages and supplies of the Comanche and Kiowa, effectively crippling their ability to resist.

The Comanche leader Quanah Parker, a key figure in the resistance, led his people in several battles against U.S. forces. Parker was the son of the Comanche chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, a white woman captured by the Comanche as a child. He rose to prominence during the Red River War, leading his people in a valiant but ultimately futile defense of their lands. Following the defeat, Quanah Parker became an advocate for his people, eventually guiding them through the difficult transition to reservation life.

Similarly, Satanta, a prominent Kiowa leader known as "the Orator of the Plains," was a central figure in the Southern Plains conflicts. Satanta had signed the Medicine Lodge Treaty in 1867 but became increasingly disillusioned with U.S. promises as his people were pushed off their lands. In 1871, Satanta, along with other leaders, was arrested for his role in the Warren Wagon Train Raid, leading to his imprisonment. Although temporarily released, he was rearrested during the Red River War and died in captivity in 1878. 

Dodge City and Fort Dodge, Kansas, prominently featured on the northern edge of the map, became a crucial hub during this period. Founded in 1872, the town quickly grew due to its position on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, which connected it to eastern markets. Dodge City became famous for its role in the cattle trade, with the Chisholm Trail and other cattle routes converging here. 

Fort Dodge, established in 1865, was a critical military outpost located near Dodge City. It served as a base for protecting settlers traveling along the Santa Fe Trail and as a staging ground for military campaigns against the tribes of the Southern Plains. The fort was part of the Department of the Missouri, a U.S. military command responsible for overseeing the vast area encompassing Kansas, Missouri, and Indian Territory.   

 Rarity

The complete map is very rare on the market. 

We have not seen the complete map offered for sale.