When U.S. Cavalry troops rode onto the Ute Indian Reservation in northwestern Colorado on September 29, 1879, they triggered a chain of events that cost the Utes their homeland: a deadly battle at Milk Creek, the killing of all men at the Indian agency headed by Nathan Meeker, and the taking of three women and two children who were held hostage for 23 days. The Utes didn’t seek a fight with the whites, most of whom they viewed as friends. However, powerful whites in Colorado wanted the Utes expelled. The Meeker affair was an opportunity to achieve that.

In Troubled Trails, Robert Silbernagel casts new light on the story of the Meeker Affair. Using details from historical interview transcripts and newspaper articles, he reveals the personalities of the major characters—both Indian and non-Indian. He tells the story from many perspectives, including that of Indian Agent Nathan Meeker; the U.S. military; Nicaagat, a leader of the White River Utes; and Josephine Meeker, Nathan Meeker’s daughter, who was held hostage by the Utes. Silbernagel took great pains to tell a complete story, even following on horseback the trail taken by the Utes. As a result, his book paints a multifaceted picture of what took place and, most importantly, his portrayal brings the Ute side of the story into focus.
 

Robert Silbernagel has been writing for Colorado news­papers since 1975. He is currently editorial page editor at The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction and has earned several awards from the Colorado Press Association.

List of Illustrations
Foreword by Floyd A. O’Neil
Preface
Acknowledgments
List of Individuals Involved in the Meeker Affair and Its Aftermath

1. Nicaagat Confronts Josephine

2. The Battle at Milk Creek and the Killings at the White River Indian Agency

3. Hostages in the Borderlands

4. Trail Section 1

5. Nicaagat

6. Hellbent for Help

7. Horse Power

8. Trail Section 2

9. Josephine Meeker

10. She-towitch to the Rescue

11. Nicaagat Versus Nathan

12. Trail Section 3

13. The Word Gets Out

14. Trail Section 4

15. Outrage!

16. The Rescue Trail

17. Chicago Rallies for She-towitch

18. Investigation, Frustration, and Farce

19. The Trail to Washington

20. The Colorado Plan

21. The Trail to Utah

22. The Final Trail for Nicaagat and Josephine

Epilogue

Introduction to the Appendices

Appendix I. How Many Fought at Milk Creek?: Supplement to Chapter 2

Appendix II. Faster Horses: Supplement to Chapter 6

Appendix III. Mormons on Their Minds: Supplement to Chapter 9

Appendix IV. One Family’s History: Supplement to Chapter 10

Appendix V. Powell Speaks Out: Supplement to Chapter 13

Appendix VI. The Final Skirmish: Supplement to Chapter 16

Appendix VII. Colorow: Supplement to Chapter 18

Appendix VIII. What Happened to the Utes’ Horses?: Supplement to Chapter 21

Notes
Bibliography
Index