The only remedy, therefore, was to subjugate the savages immediately engaged in the forays by forcing the several tribes to settle down on the reservations set apart by the treaty of Medicine Lodge.

The principal mischief-makers were the Cheyennes.

Next in deviltry were the Kiowas, and then the Arapahoes and Comanches.

Some few of these last two tribes continued friendly, or at least took no active part in the raiding, but nearly all the young men of both were the constant allies of the Cheyennes and Kiowas.

All four tribes together could put on the war-path a formidable force of about 6,000 warriors.