Lean Bear
Lean Bear was a prominent Cheyenne leader and a peace chief, known for his role in the 1863 delegation to Washington, D.C., where he and other Native American leaders, including Ten Bears and Lone Wolf, sought to negotiate peace with President Abraham Lincoln. He was the brother of Bull Bear and represented the Cheyenne during a critical period of conflict and negotiation with the U.S. government. In 1864, after a troop detachment attacked Cheyenne following a cattle theft, Lean Bear attempted to secure peace by riding out to the soldiers with other leaders. Tragically, during this peace mission, he was shot by troops despite his peaceful intentions. Lean Bear was killed while still wearing a peace medal given to him by Lincoln, symbolizing both his commitment to peace and the tragic outcomes of broken treaties. His death contributed to escalating tensions that led to the Cheyenne-Arapaho War, also known as the Colorado War, which spanned from 1864 to 1865. Lean Bear's story highlights the complex interactions between Native American nations and the U.S. government during a tumultuous period in American history.
Lean Bear
- Born: c. 1813
- Birthplace: Unknown
- Died: May 16, 1864
- Place of death: Near Big Creek, Kansas
Category: Peace chief
Tribal affiliation: Southern Cheyenne
Significance: Lean Bear was one of the principal Plains Indian leaders who strove for peace
Cheyenne leader Lean Bear, the brother of Bull Bear, was part of the 1863 delegation to Washington, D.C., that met with President Abraham Lincoln to negotiate a peace. The delegation included Ten Bears (Comanche) and Lone Wolf (Kiowa).
The following year, a detachment of troops attacked a group of Cheyenne who had stolen three cattle, thus launching a war with the Cheyenne. In May, 1864, Lieutenant George Eayre entered the Nebraska Territory with the intent of attacking Cheyenne on sight. Lean Bear’s camp at Ash Creek was friendly, but when Lean Bear (the peace chief) and several other leaders, including Star and Wolf Chief, rode forth to offer peace to the soldiers, the troops moved into battle formation and opened fire. Lean Bear was shot on his horse and then shot again as he lay on the ground.
On his chest was the peace medal given to him in Washington; in his hand were the papers signed by Lincoln saying that he was a friend to the whites and a keeper of peace. This attack, and the Sand Creek Massacre soon afterward, led to the Cheyenne-Arapaho War (or the Colorado War) of 1864-1865 and to later fighting on the southern Plains.