Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History

Quanah’s birthdate and place of birth are unknown, but he was most likely born in 1848 in the Wichita Mountains of modern-day Oklahoma. He was the eldest son of his white American mother, Cynthia Ann, and a Comanche chief, Peta Nocona. As the son of a prominent Comanche war chief, he led a comfortable life, and he learned from an early age to ride a horse and use a bow and arrow at a masterful level. His life abruptly changed, however, at the Battle of Pease River, when his father was killed and his mother was re-captured and taken back to the US. Quanah and his brother Peanuts escaped the raid and had to find their way through the wild alone, while evading enemy patrols, to return to the main camp of their people. Life was not easy for him and his brother. They were treated poorly because of their mixed race. However, when Quanah was 15, he went on a vision quest, which was a rite of passage for young Comanche males, and became a full-fledged Comanche warrior thereafter. Like any Comanche warrior, Quanah participated in hunting and raiding. He proved himself to be a brave and skilled warrior in battle. Quanah displayed these characteristics, plus his diplomatic and social skills, when he eloped with a young woman with whom he had fallen in love. He wanted to marry her, but the marriage was not sanctioned by the girl’s father. Instead of accepting the refusal, the couple ran away. Quanah was able to convince several warriors to go with him. They began raiding on their own, and Quanah was able to amass a sizable herd of horses. When the girl’s father finally caught up with Quanah to bring his daughter back and punish Quanah, Quanah was able to strike a deal. The father received an acceptable dowry, and Quanah and his wife were allowed to rejoin the tribe. As the years went by and the war against the white man grew in ferocity, Quanah became a renowned warrior and war chief. In the final years of the war, Quanah became one of the greatest war chiefs and followed the prophecies of Isa-tai, hoping to turn the tide of the conflict. However, when Isa-tai’s magic failed and defeat was inevitable, Quanah realized that any further resistance would be futile and lead to the unnecessary deaths of his people. He convinced those with him to surrender and begin life on a reservation.

Quanah quickly rose as a shrewd political personality among the Comanche and was respected not only by his people but also by his former enemies. He befriended a former Texas Ranger, General Mackenzie, and earned the respect of Teddy Roosevelt. As great of a warrior as Quanah was, he was just as talented and relentless in his diplomatic struggles for the welfare of his people. He eventually became the first and last Principal Chief of the Comanches. In 1910, he had his mother’s remains disinterred and then reburied near him in Fort Sill. He died shortly thereafter in 1911, and he was buried next to her.

Mackenzie was born in New York State in 1840. He was born into an affluent family with social and political connections. He attended Williams College but later transferred to the United States Military Academy at West Point. During the Civil War, he was breveted to the rank of Major General. He saw much action and took part in many of the major battles of the war: the Battle of Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, and Appomattox Court House. He was wounded several times in battle. In the Second Battle of Petersburg, he lost two of his fingers. Due to this wound, he earned the nickname Bad Hand, given to him by the Comanches. He was a tough commander who drove his men hard, but he drove himself even harder. He made many mistakes during initial confrontations with the Comanches, but quickly learned from them and became the Comanches’ greatest foe. After the Comanches surrendered and moved onto the reservations, Mackenzie became friends with his former enemy, Quanah Parker. He continued to serve after the “Indian Wars” in the military, but his physical and mental health began deteriorating. He was eventually admitted to an asylum and died in 1889.

Juan Bautista de Anza was born in New Spain in 1736. He was a successful Spanish explorer and military leader, and he later became the governor of New Mexico. In 1779, he led a punitive expedition against the Comanches, who were led by Cuerno Verde. The campaign against the Comanches proved de Anza’s skill as a military commander. He studied past encounters with the Comanches, and with the aid of information gathered from prisoners and adept maneuvering, de Anza was able to surprise the Comanches and soundly defeat them. Moreover, de Anza displayed his diplomatic and gubernatorial abilities by making a treaty with the Comanches. By doing so, de Anza secured the New Mexican border against further raids, won a powerful ally against the Apaches, and created a buffer zone between the French and Spanish colonies. He died in 1788.

John Coffee Hays, better known as Jack, was born in Tennessee in 1817. He made a name for himself when he migrated to the Republic of Texas and joined the newly formed Texas Rangers. Like de Anza before him, he quickly grasped how best to combat the mounted Comanche warriors. He was one of very few who broke with traditional tactics. It was this adaptability that led to his success against them. Jack was the man in command who tracked down, fought, and defeated one of the largest Comanche raiding parties ever formed, led by Buffalo Hump. It was this raiding party that was responsible for the destruction of the Texas town of Linnville. After battling the Comanches, Hays fought with the Rangers in the Mexican-American War. After the war, he married and eventually made his way to California, becoming the sheriff of San Francisco County. He did not serve in the Civil War, and he died in California in 1883.