Baca's Wagon Train

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22 June 1867; Cimarron, Kansas: A train of 80 wagons heading for Santa Fe, led by Capt. Francisco Baca, were camped at the Cimarron crossing of the Arkansas River on 22 June. Among those traveling with Baca were the first Catholic bishop of Santa Fe, Jean Baptiste Lamy, ten other priests, and six nuns. The Cheyenne Lame Bear and 75 warriors, including George Bent, another half-Indian son of William Bent, coming from their camp on the Washita River, encountered Baca's party. After successfully stealing 50 mules, the Indians were repelled by the fast shooting of Baca's men.

Though eastern papers reported that all the priests were killed and the nuns abducted, the only casualties were ten people, including one nun, who died of the cholera that was sweeping Kansas in the summer of 1867.
Encyclopedia of Indian Wars by Gregory F. Michno
The story above is from this book. Click to purchase.

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