Being from Kansas, I'm familiar with the stories of "Indians". All my ancestors came to America from Sweden. They settled in Kansas. My great grandmother was home with her children when an Indian peeked in the kitchen window. She offered him chickens and hogs. Ironically, her husband was gone to buffalo hunt in Oklahoma. She hated being left alone. So much history around that area with the Santa Fe Trail, Indians, soldiers, etc. It has all been preserved.
My ancestors from Kansas were red-heads so when they headed to Arizona they had to hide one sister well in the wagon as she wouldn’t cut her hair. I guess blond and redheads were real trophies.
I live in Leavenworth. They bank on that First City business so hard here. There's a point by the river, near the fort, where you can see where Lewis & Clark stopped. Also, I kinda cringed at "Saleena". I automatically sighed, "It's Sa-LINE-a". But I guess it's a common mistake if you don't live here.
Again a well done story with absolutely beautiful music. I have Black Foot heritage and I am proud of it. I m proud to be an American and I 'm sad that both cultures couldn't be side by side in peace.Safe travels, Ron.
@@AnnaMedina-mi9qt As my great great grandmother said,we are all humans,traveling on a beautiful planet given to us to take care of, both plants and animals are not ours,but to be treasured and all humans are equal in the Creator's eyes. I've always endeavored to follow her words.
So much early pioneer history is frought with romanticism. Your narration of straight with no chaser shows that life was anything but romantic. What an interesting story from a great storyteller. Thank you. People faced many sacrifices and hardships to make our beloved America. We should remember this always. Rest in peace for the Moffatt family.
Reminds me of Lonesome Dove when Woodrow brought Gus back. Being raised in the Sooner State I do love the wild pioneer stories. Tough on both sides. R.I.P. Moffat brothers. Thanks for telling this story, Ron. Wonderful job😊
So glad this story was shared. My Mom and her family were from Kansas, not far from where this horrible event happened. My grandfather had stories from decades ago.
Everyone cries and goes on about how terrible the Indians were treated. No one talks about how they bought it apon themselves. For example, There would have never been a trail of tears if not for the Fort Mims Massacre where Indians butchered 500 innocent people, mostly women and children.
It took a great deal of courage to venture out west in the mid-1800s. Thank you for sharing this spectacular monument and the tragic story that goes along with it, Ron. Another fantastic history lesson from beyond the grave.
Hey Ron, it was blustery here in Iowa yesterday. Our son, 26, fatal car accident December 2019. Buried next to his grandfather, his favorite place to be. Prairie City Iowa 🕊️
A very interesting account. The wording of the letter is so discriptive of the time. The mother lived until she was 93. Lots of changes through her life. RIP Moffitt family.
I'm amazed at how beautiful that monument is and what great shape it's in. Although sad as it is, I do like when the stone tells a story of it's own by stating a cause of death. It's so interesting. Thanks Ron. You always bring these stories to life like no one else can.
I did not mean to miss it. I was carrying a paper plate of food outside and a strong, sudden gust of wind caused it to spill all down my left leg and foot. I missed out because I was cleaning up. Lost that meal on the lawn. Hope some critter eats well tonight. I caught up though and just watched it. Beautiful monument to the family. I don't think anyone could miss seeing it. I bet everyone who comes to the cemetery checks it out but nobody would know the details and stories unless they do a lot of research. Ron, you did a ton of research! Great work as always! The music, the sounds of the wind, your story telling is always excellent. I always love your story telling. You are to adventure and exciting journeys what David Attenborough is to animal shows.
I rewatched just now for a 2nd time to hear the story, the music, to see the illustrations. Sad for the parents who lost their sons. While I know how the First Nation was protecting their land, it does seem ruthless that the two different sides couldn't come together and live on the same huge continent together. Lots of wide open spaces. It wasn't as though the place wasn't big enough for the two of them. Look how many different people we have packed into this same continent today and it is a melting pot of different people from all over the world. There really is room enough for everyone.
I agree, there was lots of space, the problem was the whites wanted it all, and what they said they would share - they lied and cheated, tricking the Chiefs every step of the way - breaking the treaties. One after another after another after another. Pathetic sad history.
I spent a weekend on an Indian Reservation in Rice Lake, Minnesota. I had a great time there. I didn't want to leave the reservation. I felt like I belonged there! I cried leaving Rice Lake, Minnesota.😢
So sad, two guys just trying to make a better life for themselves and it was cut short. I give them alot of credit for going on their own back in those days. I hope they are at peace now and forever. Thank you Ron for sharing this story. Take care.
Beautifully presented storie with compassion and fact for both sides , the Native American Indians trying to protect their land and way of life as all of us would do today , the settlers were probably just trying to carve out a living like the rest of us even to this day , but as it is today there is always a heavy price to pay for taking a nation's land . Long Live The Native American ❤
The audacity. Reminds me of a Tupac lyric, "blind to a broken man's dream" the inability of the invaders to understand why the original occupants might object to being displaced.Great video, leaving better educated.
Ron, what a story you’ve brought to us, there’s 1000’s of families that struggled through those times. Just no records of the details. Imagine trying to live in those times and everyday, something could occur to change your lives. Any stranger say to day encounter could be violent and deadly. Great story if the Moffatt brothers
Fantastic presentation and narration, Ron. Absolutely beautiful. Excellent music, too. I absorbed everything you said , and I was able to even see pictures in my mind because of your narrative. Loved the Kansas connection, too, as I am from there. My gosh…. I wish my dad could have watched this. Thank you, Ron. Love from Ft Worth ❤
Captain Henry Booth was a relative of mine. I was not aware of the information so, glad you looked into the details, great story. I also had relatives that lived in Salina, Kansas during 1864 and I always wondered why they moved; now I know. Again, great work and thank you for finding the story.
What a dramatic story. I loved how you read the historical account and Thomas Moffatts' letter, so poignant that it was written only days before he died. It took a special kind of spirit for the pioneers, knowing the risks. The monument to these two young men is impressive, has held up well. So moving, they were brought back home ❤ great job Ron thanks!
Thank you for this video! The story provides a very good insight into the time. I really appreciate your nuanced look at what was happening in general back then. And I agree with you 100%. As a German, I feel the history of the immigrants and settlers as my history as well. Europe and America are closely connected historically. I don't know if my ancestors immigrated to America. I would like to know. But two world wars, changing country borders and many destroyed archives make genealogy complicated, lengthy and expensive. Thank you for this historical insight. I wish all those who died back then, no matter what nationality or skin color, that they rest in peace.
You sounded kind of like John Wayne reading that letter and bit of History. I used to think how horrible these attacks by Native As Americans were until I began to understand what really happened. It is sad they had to die but the Natives were dieing too. It was just sad on both sides of the coins.
Really nice! The music, the pictures, the reading of the story. I do admire all of the pioneers who came out west It took so much courage. I still can't get over how people could come from different countries across the ocean to start a new life! There were a few surnames in that cemetery that are family names for me, I'm going to have to do a little research. Thanks for a great show Ron and all who helped.
Great story. Crazy times, but it's true how the term massacre was used. It was sad the people coming into new lands were not prepared and the Native Americans were also not prepared to share all their resources with people who weren't interested in getting to know them. Thanks for another fantastic video!
So sad. Two determined young men who were trying to secure a new life for their loved one's 🥺 I couldn't help feeling even more sad when i thought about the letter and realising their sister wouldn't receive it until after their deaths, especially after he gently chastised her for not writing to them yet. The guilt she must have felt over those words 😔 This story has been narrated with respect and beautifully filmed 👏 👏👏
That was from around the time when a lot of buffalo were poached instead taken for full use which angered the natives. The natives relied on the buffalo for life such as skins and meat complete use. The poachers would kill a whole herd for the pelt and leave the rest to rot. So this made them feel threatened.
Hey great story! I have not heard this one before. My grandpa was a Cherokee and he always referred to himself as an Indian 🤷♀ The last picture shown looks like a Remington painting? Fredric Remington did an incredible amount of work to accurately paint pictures of what Native Americans really looked like in his time. He is buried in New York, should you ever have the chance to pass through that part of the country. If you ever find yourself visiting Arlington National Cemetery, Native American Ira Hayes is buried there. Great video, as always.
A real Indian is from India. When Christopher Columbus passed away, he still thought the New World was actuatlly India. The culture of India is so much richer and older including their food than the indigenous in the americas. Also indian women are very attractive because of their eyes (some green color) and their body curves from top to bottom.
Great job Ron. Music added to the video. Sad to say, pioneers were subject to the 600 nations of Native Americans. Cruel struggle that we see through these stories. Pioneer diaries are fascinating. They often tell of tales where a settler killed a Native American and the shock when it was returned against their families. And we can imagine the same when the reverse happened. One thing that stands out from the diaries, death was not shocking to these people at this time in history. Wagon trains passed along children who lost both parents. People remarried right away for survival. A man who lost a spouse and had children took a bride often within days. Hard hard times!
This story reminds me of my Norwegian relatives who died during the Dakota Uprising in Jackson County, Minnesota. There's a monument that was erected in honor of those who died.
We have a similar one in Alton, Illinois. The stone monument Is now in the parking lot of an auction house. The original stones are on in a small strip of woods about a couple hundred feet away on private property. It is stated that 6 women and children were killed .
Thank you, Ron, for another very interesting story. Your reading those letters aloud made it more real. I enjoyed the walk through the cemetery, also, to see some of the gravestones.
Beautifully presented, Ron! If I remember correctly 1840 saw the Potato Famine in Ireland which caused thousands to uproot to either England (West Coast to places like Liverpool were there is a large Irish population to this day) Or to try their luck abroad, as in America. Anything; Anywhere was better than starving to death, so scathing was the famine, nor an end to it seen.😊
Had those men been Indians from a different tribe, they would have done the same thing to them. They were massacring each other for thousands of years before any settler set foot on this land. Some native tribes were completely wiped out by other tribes. It didn't begin with the European settlers.
I'm 30 miles from Salina. I'm also Irish/English and Native American, so tough to think about. My 6x great uncle was Daniel Boone and his brother Ned, my 6x Grt grandfather, was killed by Native Americans. My son says "Mom, what if your Gpa killed your Gpa" 🤔 which caught me off guard🤯. Life of the early frontier..... It's sad and hard to imagine but true, a lot happened way back when that was just a way of life for those who lived off the land. 😢 I'm proud of both, in spite of such conflict.
Hello Ron it's Isabell here in Tucson Arizona, just heard your story and it was sad but I'm glad I heard it from you. Your videos are always so informative and I love how you read the letters. Never had heard this one before. Thank you and stay safe out there.
Hello Isabell. I was just in Tucson a few days ago shooting two stories there at Evergreen cemetery. As you may know, I did two other episodes there at Evergreen a couple of years ago. Vicky Hoskinson murder and the woman who survived the Apache attack
People back in those days had a very hard life. Just imagine all the things they saw and lived through back then… So interesting….. I love hearing stories about those pioneer days. Stay safe out there Ron.🙂💟
Great story Ron and sad those brothers died young and I can understand that it was hard times back then to...RIP. MOFFATT BROTHERS 🙏😇.....ty Ron another great story !! 💖
Thank you Ron for this very sad story of history. I feel so bad for these two young men who just wanted to be ranchers. Also I’m not excusing the Indians for any thing, but they had lived here all their lives and then white men come along and try to take away their freedom and their home that was basically all they knew. So it’s hard and sad for everyone. 😢💔
Yep. Culture clashes are never good, I dont blame the natives, the euros came looking for a new life, refugees, persecuted, just looking for a decent life, wiped out the natives.....overwhelming culture, and numbers, destryoed the natives way of life, its happening right now.
Great story Ron! I live wayy up in Bucksport Maine. & we have an old cemetery that dates back to the "red paint people". I don't know a lot about them. Besides they say they haunt the man made lake on the other side of town that they used to bury their dead. Love learning the history. Thanks for sharing
Here is a great topic from South Carolina Long Cane Massacre Site is a historic site located near Troy, McCormick County, South Carolina. The district encompasses 40 contributing buildings in Mount Carmel. The site includes a gravestone marking the place where 23 Long Cane settlers were killed in a bloody massacre by the Cherokee on February 1, 1760.
The Indians I've spoken to don't mind being called Indians, and some have even acknowledged that they might not have been the first to settle North America - that there may have been others before them. And you are right, Ron - this was the way it was. One group would fight another group, usually to gain land. Still ongoing in this world!!
That is true for the minority, but most Native Americans do not like to be called Indians. Just the facts - sorry. Just look at the baseball team Cleveland Indians and what happened. Fact fact fact can’t deny it
If you go back far enough the world looked differently sure, but they were there as natives before the white man, 10,000 years or more is long enough. I can understand that as a native from here, it was their home, their culture and Europeans were taking over, how brave they were to take on native Americans too knowing they could be ruthlessly killed. So much conquering or colonising went on, l know which side I'd be on, but they'd kill me too and rightly so for l am "white man".
Thank You for telling their story. I have a comment I would like to make. I am not trying to offend anyone. I personally do not believe it is our place to judge who was right or wrong during these types of incidents where many lives were lost on both sides. I believe history should be taught and view as and when the true facts are known. The best explanation I have ever read can be found on the internet. I don’t try to take credit for the wording used but 100 per cent agree with whomever wrote it. 'The past' is completed and can never be changed, but 'history' is the ongoing discussion of trying to explain the past and is open to change and revision. 'History' relies upon what we know about 'the past', and this is dependent on the evidence available. You cannot write a history that is not based upon evidence. It is not right in my opinion to place blame anywhere but it is our duty to learn from the mistakes made on both sides and make sure they are not repeated. Again "Thank you" for the story. Myself and others are still trying to get more information about the incident.
Being from Texas I know all too well the stories of the indian raids and strange thing is, I have ancestors on both sides of that issue. I have native ancestors as well as those who moved here from TN, KY, GA and beyond to join in the Indian Wars. I had several ancestors who died as Texas pioneers trying to make a life for themselves. I just can't imagine living like that. Bless their hearts. Rest in peace Moffatt brothers, you are certainly not forgotten.
Wonderful production on this video/ audio, Ron!!!! Wise solution to the windy conditions and a special treat for us... 100% enjoying your narration of this historic tragic true story.
Excellent video. A sad story but it happened a lot back in those years. The white man came through and just took the Native Americans land so I can also understand their side of these stories. We would fight too, if the situation was reversed.
@@zekesgirl100 Nothing that happened before us rationalizes nor excuses what happened. It was theirs, and our ancestors took it out of greed and a sense of self importance.
Indian tribes were stealing and trying to annihilate other indian tribes long before the white man arrived. Over a period of a hundred + years or so.....the lakota sioux pushed the crow indians from their home of the northern plains and then claimed it as their own. The Crow resented the Sioux for this and were eager to see them defeated....which is why they gladly acted as scouts for Custer and the Seventh Cavalry.
RIP 🙏 to the Moffat Brothers and their Mother! What a hard life for the white settlers and The Native Americans. As you said Ron, they were here for thousands of years. What were they to do? So sad 😞 💔 The research and the music 🎶 Just incredible Ron! Travel safely. 💕
What a violent and tragic story. The letters make it personal. However, your thoughtful and empathetic words dealing with the difference between a « Battle » and a « Massacre » are very apt. Your presentations are superb and balanced.
Thank you so much for this story it says a lot it was just wonderful. I love odor frontier stories just beautiful very sad that everything you say is very true. I’m sure because you search and you have your other sweet fans like Lisa, and all the others that you have with you to do this. Just amazing can’t wait till next Sunday for the next one, this was truly truly amazing. Thank you so much Ron and God bless your family.
Ron, thank you from my heart for acknowledging and verifying the history of my ancestors and the futile struggle to hold onto their lands. However, the way of the world is to conquer and to claim. No matter where on the planet these struggles take place there is always a loser, there is always grief and it's always sad. May these boys rest in peace.
I love that you cover these and many other great stories. Thank you for what you do. I am a white person- yet knowing the truth as I do, I feel for the fallen pioneers as I feel for fallen Nazis. Looking at the graves, I only remember the natives, whether they attacked first or not.
David Moffitt was my Great Grandfathers cousin, John & Thomas have their names on a monument by the courthouse in Lincoln County Kansas. I have heard this story my whole life, I am 72.
In your defense, Ron, as a Native American myself, Indian wasn't meant as a dorragotory name but came from the ignorance of the time. Nobody is born knowing everything and never will so they were no different.
Although I have sympathy for the settlers killed by the Native Americans, I have even more sympathy for the Native Americans who were simply fighting to defend their homeland. Anyone would do the same thing. Let someone invade our homes and see if we don't take steps to defend our lives and homes too.
Hello Ron , While enjoying another of your great videos and listening for EVPs, at 17:08 I clearly hear a mans voice saying " I can". I slowed the video down to 0.25x speed to get the timestamp.
Yes, I clearly remember my Grandmother, a lady who brought up 2 brothers and 6 sisters when her mother died when she was 12, saying each evening, “see you tomorrow God willing”. And she meant it.
Just saw it from start to finish. Sad when buffalo are killed for sport. Pioneers knew they were trespassers so took the chances. RIP to them nonetheless.
You should look at the Black Donnellys from Lucan Ontario just north of London Ontario. A great story to tell. It’s a big thing here and there’s been a play about them.
