- Because of their forced relocation by the U.S. government, the Cheyenne consist of two tribes, the Southern Cheyenne and the Northern Cheyenne.
- Like other Indian tribes, the Cheyenne were given reservations by the U.S. government when their land was invaded during the California Gold Rush that began in the 1840s.
- The US government forced the Cheyennes to move to Oklahoma during the 1800's, but some escaped and fled north into Montana. Today there are two Cheyenne tribes, one in Oklahoma and the other in Montana.
BATTLES:
- The Northern Cheyenne joined with the Sioux in the Sitting Bull war in 1876 and were active participants in the Custer massacre.
- SAND CREEK-
- A Cheyenne chief and famous warrior whose village on Sand Creek, Colorado, was attacked by a force of Colorado militia under Col. Chivington in 1864 and a large number of innocent men, women, and children were massacred and their bodies mutilated.
- In the Indian Wars, the Cheyenne were the victims of the Sand Creek Massacre in which the Colorado Militia killed 600 Cheyenne.
- They were present at and were participants in the Custer massacre on the Little Bighorn in June, 1876, and according to Chief Gall’s statement, at the beginning of the battle the Cheyenne fought Custer’s command while the Sioux attacked Reno’s force, and after the latter had been driven back, the entire body of warriors turned on Custer’s command.
- 1770-1790 – Conflict with the Chippewa. The Chippewa destroyed the Cheyenne village on the Sheyenne River.
- In the Battle of Wichita River where 103 Cheyenne were killed on an indian reservation
- On November 29, 1864, seven hundred members of the Colorado Territory militia embarked on an attack of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian villages.