Rise of Quanah
Empire Summer Moon Notes Chapters 12-14
1860 - America’s Civil War leaves the frontier undefended as the best soldiers and officers are drawn east. The killing of settler Martha Sherman touches off a hunt for revenge as Texans take matters into their own hands.
[1] Civilian Charles Goodnight and a handful of volunteers track the Comanche raiders 120 miles into Comanche territory. The find a large camp and turn back.
[2] Goodnight returns with Sul Ross, a Ranger captain, forty Texas Rangers and 21 Army cavalry. The Comanche have decamped, only about fifteen Comanche remain in camp - mostly woman and elderly packing up mules with winter meat.
[3] Ross positions his cavalry at the far end of camp.
[4] Ross opens fire.
[5] The Comanche flee and run into the cavalry who cut down the Comanche and their dogs.
[6] Chief Peta Nocona, his wife Cynthia Ann, and their children Quanah, Prairie Flower and Peanuts, along with another woman flee on horseback. Cynthia Ann and Prairie flower are on one horse with Chief Peta Nocona and the other woman on a second horse.
[7] Sul Ross and Lieutenant Kelliheir chase Peta Nocona, the unnamed woman he shares a horse with, and Cynthia Ann And Prairie flower. Lt. Kelliheir accosts Cynthia Ann. Ross holds his fire when Cynthia reveals that she is white and female.
[8] Sul Ross shoots the woman off Peta Nocona’s horse. A fight ensues and Ross kills Nocona after a brief fight.
My horse, running at full speed, was nearly on top of the man when he was struck by an arrow which caused him to begin pitching or bucking. It was with great difficulty I remained in my saddle, and in the meantime narrowly missed by several arrows coming in quick succession from the chief’s bow. He would have killed me by for a random shot from my pistol, which broke his right arm at the elbow, disabling him. I shot the chief twice through the body, whereupon he walked to a small tree, the only one in sight, and leaning against began to sing his death song. I directed the Mexican boy to end his misery with a charge of buckshot. - ESM. pg. 177
[9] 12-year-old Quanah lose Charles Goodnight over a 100-mile chase into the Llano Estacado of Texas.
Quanah Parker faces hard times as an orphan. Shortly after his brother Peanuts died and Quanah was alone and friendless. Begging for food and clothes and given little due to his mixed heritage. With his total loss of status and wealth, motivated by revenge and a desire for status, Quanah becomes a warrior at fifteen.
“The Comanche were archers. From fifty yards a warrior could hit a doorknob four out of five times. - ESM. pg. 198”
[1] Quanah and thirty warriors ride from Kansas to San Antonio, TX to steal cattle. They kill two white men.
[2] Quanah and the band outrun White Men on horses for three days to return with horses and scalps.
[1] Quanah Parker and 60 warriors raid south from Oklahoma into the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico. They spot a company of U.S. cavalry. The Comanche decide to steal their mules.
[2] The cavalry chase after the Comanche to recover their stolen mules. The showdown happens at a rocky pass. Quanah and two others make off with the mules while the rest of the braves hold off the cavalry. The fighting ends with no casualties.
[1] Bear’s Ear leads a war party into Texas. They raid Gainesville, TX, stealing a large number of horses.
[2] Troops dispatched from Fort Richardson, TX catch up the Comanche at the Red River.
[3] Bear’s Ear is killed
[4]
As Quanah retreated with the others, a bluecoat pursued him and fired. Instead of spurring his horse on to get away, Quanah rounded on his adversary and confronted the soldier head-on. He then charged … the two warriors thundered toward each other, weapons out. The soldier fired his revolver. The bullet grazed Quanah’s thigh. Quanah’s arrow found its mark in the man’s shoulder. He dropped his weapon, turned his horse and fled. Quanah was exposed to the gunfire of other soldiers. Quanah dropped behind his horse and raced after his war party. ESM. pg. 204
[1] Quanah and 63 warriors raid a cowboy camp near San Angelo, TX, stealing their horses.
[2] The raiders kill a man driving mules in the hill country of San Antonio, TX.
[3] 30 White men pursue Quanah and the others. Quanah hides in bushes - then ambushes two white men - killing them both with his lance. This act bolsters the spirits of the Comanche, who drive off the rest of the men.
By this time Quanah had become a war chief among the Comanche and had many horses. This afforded Quanah the status to take a wife.
References
Gwynne, S C. Empire of the Summer Moon : [Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History]. London, Constable, 2011.