Lone Wolf
Lone Wolf was a prominent Kiowa leader who rose to prominence during a turbulent period in Native American history. He grew up immersed in his tribe's ceremonial life, preparing for the role of a warrior. Following the death of the respected leader Dohasan, Lone Wolf was recognized for his war leadership and selected as principal chief in 1866, although he could not replicate the dominance of his predecessor. His political involvement included attending the Medicine Lodge council in 1867 and visiting the U.S. capital in 1872.
Tragedy struck when he lost his son, leading him to engage in conflicts against hide hunters and the U.S. Cavalry, which ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Red River War in 1874. After enduring military pursuits and the devastating Palo Duro Canyon disaster, he surrendered in 1875. Due to his prominence, he was perceived as a symbol of resistance against white encroachment and was exiled to Fort Marion in Florida. Lone Wolf died in 1879 shortly after his release, and his passing signified a critical turning point in Kiowa history, marking the end of their military resistance and the shift toward reservation assimilation.
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Lone Wolf
- Born: c. 1820
- Birthplace: Unknown
- Died: 1879
- Place of death: Near Fort Sill, Indian Territory (now in Oklahoma)
Tribal affiliation: Kiowa
Significance: Lone Wolf was principal chief of the Kiowa from 1866 to 1879 and participated in many major battles against whites
Lone Wolf grew to manhood within the ceremonial life and ritual of his tribe, preparing for the warrior’s role. After the death of the great leader Dohasan, an 1866 Kiowa council acknowledged Lone Wolf’s war leadership and selected him to serve as principal chief, although he never achieved the hegemony of his predecessor. He attended the Medicine Lodge council (1867) and toured the nation’s capital as a guest of the federal government in 1872. Following the death of his son a year later, he led attacks on hide hunters, teamsters, and the U.S. Cavalry, and participated in the Wichita Agency melee in August, 1874, which set off the Red River War on the southern Plains. He fled pursuing army troops, survived the Palo Duro Canyon disaster, and finally reluctantly surrendered in early 1875. Because of his prominence, Lone Wolf was singled out as the yardstick for antiwhite sentiment, and he was among the resisting Indians exiled to Fort Marion, Florida. He died in 1879, shortly after his release from confinement and his return home. Ethnologist James Mooney noted that Lone Wolf’s passing marked “the end of the war history of the Kiowa” and the final tribal surrender to reservation assimilation.
Bibliography
Boyd, Maurice, ed. Kiowa Voices. 2 vols. Fort Worth, Tex.: Texas Christian University, 1981, 1983.
Jones, J. Lee. Red Raiders Retaliate: The Story of Lone Wolf, The Elder. Seagraves, Tex.: Pioneer, 1980.