Texas–Indian wars

The Texas–Indian wars are a series of conflicts between settlers in Texas and Southern Plains Indians.

These conflicts begin when the first European and mostly Spanish settlers move into Spanish Texas, and continue through Texas's time as part of Mexico, when more Europeans, especially Americans, arrive, to the subsequent declaration of independence with the Republic of Texas, and do not end until 30 years after Texas joins the United States.Although several Indian nations exist in the area in opposition to the Europeans, Mexicans, and Americans, the preeminent nation is the Comanche.

Their territory of Comancheria is the most powerful and persistent country in hostility with the Europeans, Mexicans, and finally Texans.

The conflicts begin in 1820, just before Mexico gains independence from Spain, until 1875, when the last free band of Plains Indians, the Comanches led by Quahadi warrior Quanah Parker, surrender and move to the Fort Sill reservation in Oklahoma.The half-century struggle between the Plains tribes and the Texans becomes particularly intense after the Spanish, and then Mexicans, leave power in Texas, and the Republic of Texas, and then the United States, opposes the tribes.

Their war with the Plains Indians becomes one of deep animosity, slaughter, and, in the end, near-total conquest.

Although the outcome is lopsided, the violence of the wars is not, especially in regards to the Comanche.

The later lead such a violent existence, looting, burning, murdering, and kidnapping as far south as Mexico City, and especially destroying and capturing so many Texans, that Comanche becomes a by-word for terrorism.

Thus, when he recovers Cynthia Ann Parker at Pease River, Sul Ross observes that her recovery will be felt in every family in Texas, as every one of them has lost someone in the Indian Wars.

Indeed, during the American Civil War, when the army is unavailable to protect the frontier, the Comanche and Kiowa push white settlements back over 100 miles on the Texas frontier.