to Kansas via the Santa Fe Trail three years before, along with several dozen other Illinois immigrants.

Sarah's husband had been awarded 160 acres of federal land for his service in the Civil War. When they arrived to take possession, however, they found it occupied by several hundred Comanche and Kiowa Indians who had no interest in moving off. Not to be deterred, the Kimbles built a small cabin on the land and were prepared to share it with the Indians.

The Comanche and the Kiowas were in no mood to share what had been theirs for more than a thousand years, however. It didn't matter to them that the government in Washington had deeded the land to Mr. Kimble for his service in the war. This was their land, and these whites were encroaching on it. Not only that, they were killing the buffalo...

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