On June 12 my sister and I got up early in the sparkling heat and drove west. I wanted to see the Washita battlefield, Custer's first last stand. Custer and his cavalry ambushed Black Kettle and his band killing many and taking prisoners. It was a terrible crime, the killing of innocents. It was a very touching place.
We stopped first at Cheyenne, OK on the edge of the preserve. There was an interesting little museum there.
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It was hot. It was very hot and so we moved on out of the air conditioning to the National Park at Washita.
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We stopped first at Cheyenne, OK on the edge of the preserve. There was an interesting little museum there.
The depot is the yellow building and the museum is straight ahead.
The National Historic Site had a nice film and a little museum explaining the battle.
Peaceful Cheyenne Black Kettle was murdered by Custer and his men. 17 of the soldiers were killed and the dead Cheyenne were mainly women and children. Custer took women and children as hostages which enabled his group to escape. The Cheyenne men would meet him again in Montana. Custer didn't come out alive in the next encounter.
The trees by the creek in the winter were where the Cheyenne were encamped.
Several groups of soldiers came over the hills.
The red shale is very arid and is used for grazing cattle today.
The trees by the creeks are doing well this year due to the increase in rain.
But it is still very, very dry.
In the whole of western Oklahoma these windmills are visible.
This day, June 12, 2013, they were spinning.
I always want to sing Man of LaMancha when I see them.
We lunched at that Oklahoma institution--Braums. (The strawberry salad is really good.)
(I will continue the rest of the day tomorrow.)