Fort Cobb

The granite's 'hostile Indians' of October 23, 1862 were a Union-aligned force of Indian irregulars. They struck the Confederate-held Wichita Agency near the fort and killed several white men there. The Tonkawa living at the agency, some 300 people sympathetic to the Confederacy, fled toward Fort Arbuckle and were overtaken the next day. Between 137 and 240 Tonkawa men, women and children were killed, Chief Ha-shu-ka-na among them. Survivors went on to Texas. In 1885 the tribe was settled near Fort Oakland in present Kay County, where 73 people received land in 1891.

What the plaque says

Fort Cobb Site near here, East Established Oct. 1, 1859 by 1st Cavalry, U.S.A. under Major Wm. H. Emory. Post evacuated by Federal troops, May 1861, and occu- pied by Confederate garrison 1862. Hq. for Gen. W. B. Hazen, special Indian Agent, 1868. Gen. Phil H. Sheridan based here Winter 1868-69. Fort Cobb abandoned by U.S. Army March 12, 1869. Fort Cobb Established Oct. 1, 1859 by U. S. troops under Major W. H. Emory as protection against raids of Plains Indians on Choctaws, Chickasaws, and on white emigrants moving west. Evacuated May 5, 1861 by Union troops and soon occupied by Confed- erate forces under Colonel W. C. Young. Although sacked by hostile Indians Oct. 23, 1862, held intermittently by Confederate commands until close of Civil War. Ruins rebuilt and regar- risoned by Federal units autumn 1868. After Battle of Washita, Generals Philip Sheridan and George Custer moved command here Dec. 17, 1868. Chief Lone Wolf and Satanta held hostages until Kiowas submitted. Mar. 12, 1869 Fort Cobb abandoned. Troops moved to recently selected site which became Fort Sill. Council between Five Nations and Plains tribes here July 25, 1872. Oklahoma Historical Society 1960

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Southern Plains Indian Museum — 12 mi
  A free federal museum in Anadarko, open since the late 1940s, showing the clothing, shields, cradleboards and art of the Kiowa, Comanche, Wichita, Caddo, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Delaware and Apache nations.

More markers nearby

• Riverside School — 11 mi
• Millie Durgan, White Captive — 17 mi
• Cutthroat Gap Massacre — 30 mi