Indians of the Great Plains

Post of Lampasas: Forgotten Reconstruction Era U.S. Army Post (1867-1870)

“…The Comanche were by far the most populous Indian tribe in Texas with around 20,000 members reported in 1849 to 1851, according to population estimates by Indian agent Robert Simpson Neighbors and ethnologist Frederick Webb Hodge (Kavanagh 1996). Their territory during the late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries included a vast expanse of land including northeastern New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, western Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle, and the Central Texas Hill Country (Gelo 2013). In the nineteenth century, the Comanches were comprised of six bands/divisions: Kotsotecka (Buffalo Eaters), Yamprika (Root Eaters), Kwahadi (Antelope), Nokoni (Wanderers), Penateka (Honey Eaters, Wasps), and Tenewa (Downstream People) (Gelo 2013).…”

“…Their territory during the late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries included a vast expanse of land including northeastern New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, western Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle, and the Central Texas Hill Country (Gelo 2013). In the nineteenth century, the Comanches were comprised of six bands/divisions: Kotsotecka (Buffalo Eaters), Yamprika (Root Eaters), Kwahadi (Antelope), Nokoni (Wanderers), Penateka (Honey Eaters, Wasps), and Tenewa (Downstream People) (Gelo 2013). The area around Lampasas and adjacent areas were within the range of the Penateka band/division (Richardson 1933).…”

“…The area around Lampasas and adjacent areas were within the range of the Penateka band/division (Richardson 1933). Muguara was the Peneteka division leader until his death in 1840, after which Buffalo Hump, Ketumse, Sanaco, and Yellow Wolf filled the breach (Gelo 2013). Raids against Anglo-Americans increased after 1840 when the Comanches formed an alliance with the Kiowa and Cheyenne to stop the Anglo-American western expansion.…”

“…In Texas, the homeland of the Comanches was not secured by the U.S. Government until after the Civil War when several treaties were made and reservation set up within Texas and later in western Oklahoma. However, resistance by Comanches to reservation settlement continued until their unsuccessful attack on the Adobe Walls trading post, after which they were forced back onto the reservation in a concerted campaign by the U.S. Army between 1874-1875(Gelo 2013.…”