Black Kettle was what is known as a peace chief. Even after being attacked at Sand Creek by Colorado troops under the command of Colonel Chivington, he continued on the peace road, knowing that rebellion would ultimately be futile. When he and his people were attacked at Washita, they were in winter camp in a secluded location that they felt would be safe. Custer had been sent to locate the camp of hostiles that it was believed had committed depradations in Kansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma. They followed tracks to Black Kettle's camp, and some of the younger males in his camp may have been raiding, but history has determined that for the most part, Black Kettle and his group were not involved in the raids. As the book relates, after destroying the camp, hundreds of ponies were killed. Washita is a National Park Service National Monument and is definitely worth a visit. My husband and I visited it last summer and walked the trail to wear the Cheyenne were camped, where the pony herd was destroyed, etc. We could truly feel the sadness there. I was and wasn't surprised that public opinion changed after Washita. I was surprised because the US and the white population had always taken the attitude that whatever it/they wanted, it was theirs for the taking. I think that the atrocities committed at Sand Creek and then Black Kettle and his people being attacked and killed at Washita somehow tugged on the Eastern consciences. But the tug didn't result in a permanent change in how to do with the Indian.