Battle of the Washita River

The Battle of the Washita River occurred on November 27, 1868, during the American Indian Wars. U.S. Army General George Custer led a surprise raid against the Cheyenne camp along the Washita River in present-day Oklahoma. Custer aimed to suppress Native American resistance to U.S. expansion. The attack resulted in the destruction of the camp and significant loss of life among the Cheyenne, including non-combatants. Although it was a military victory for Custer and his forces, it intensified tensions between Native Americans and the U.S. government, contributing to the broader conflict over land and sovereignty.