William Bent

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William Bent (1809–1869) was a trapper and rancher who mediated between the Cheyenne and the expanding American nation.

[edit] Biography

Bent was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of a state Supreme Court justice.^[1] He followed his older brother Charles Bent (briefly governor of New Mexico) into the fur trade business. While in the company of a trapping party, William Bent saved two Cheyenne from Comanches. This began his life long association with the Cheyenne.

Along with Ceran St. Vrain, William built an elaborate adobe fort on the eastern Colorado plains near present day La Junta, Colorado, known as Bent's Fort. This fort was the only privately owned fortified placement in the west. On the Santa Fe Trail and because of Bent's association with the Cheyenne, this fort became a major merchandise center on the southern plains. Bent's influence with the Cheyenne helped prevent war with the whites.

In 1835, Bent married a Owl Woman of the Cheyenne; after Owl Woman died, he married her sister Yellow Woman. In all, Bent had five children. He was friendly with the Cheyenne chief Black Kettle, who called him Little White Man.

[edit] Sand Creek Massacre and afterwards

The Pike's Peak gold rush of 1858 lead to increasing conflicts. American troops gradually encrouched on Cheyenne lands, and fighting broke out in 1864. Black Kettle asked Bent to persuade the whites to negotiate peace and, briefly, it appeared possible. However, Governor John Evans and Colonel John Chivington (who was planning a run for Congress) had based their political futures on exterminating Indians, and had amassed troops from Washington D.C. by citing the Indian threat. Despite an apparent peace agreement, on November 28, Chivington and his army captured Bent's son Robert, forced him to guide them to the Cheyenne campsite, and there killed and mutilated between 200 and 400 Indians, in the Sand Creek Massacre.^[2]

Bent's son Robert testified in court against Chivington; Bent's sons Charles and George joined the Cheyenne's Dog Soldiers and fought to drive the Americans from the their homeland. William Bent moved to Westport, Kansas; later he ranched in Colorado. He is buried in the Las Animas Cemetery south of Las Animas, Colorado.

[edit] References

1. ^ New Perspectives on the West: William Bent. PBS (2001). Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
2. ^ Dee Brown (1971). Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Holt, Rinehart & Wilson. ISBN 0-03-085322-2.