The Role Of Quanah In Empire Of The Summer Moon

Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne is a powerful, true story of the Comanche Indian Nation spanning over forty years of history. Encompassing the vast plains of the American Southwest, including the present states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado, the Comanche Indian Nation found their beloved homelands in jeopardy as American Pioneers moved west. Within the forty-year battle rose the last chief of the Comanche Nation, Quanah Parker. Throughout his life time, Quanah faced many challenges, but still managed to affirm himself as one of the most influential and powerful leaders of the Comanche Indian Nation.

The beginnings of Quanah’s life as a Comanche were not typical in any sense, but showed promising signs as a future war

chief and leader. Orphaned at the age of fourteen after his father was killed in battle and after his white mother was recaptured at the Battle of Pease River, Quanah easily took a strong hatred toward white men. Whether or not his father’s death and mother’s recapture had an impact on the young Quanah, he was characterized by many as aggressive, fearless and direct. His unique journey continued as he quickly settled into the expected Comanche warrior role by becoming a full warrior at the age of fifteen. Quanah was an excellent horseman, shooter, and all together a fierce warrior, proving himself as a brutal and fierce warrior. He would quickly ascend the ranks of the warrior classes and easily became a tribal war chief at a surprisingly young age.
Quanah’s biggest feat of his early life, and most telling of his potential as a future Comanche leader, occurred during an expedition with Bear’s Ear, the leading war chief of the Quohada band of Comanches. During the expedition, Quanah, Bear’s Ear, and the rest of the warriors encountered a force of white soldiers who had been expecting them. During the bloody battle, Bear’s Ear was hit by the white rebels and killed in action. In past battles and raids, the death of a chief typically signaled a retreat of the Indian forces. Quanah, who was the second in command, quickly devised a game plan. Instinctively and without hesitation, Quanah would accept control of the warriors and commanded them to spread out. Confronting the opponent head-on, Quanah would eventually draw his bow and weaken the opponent, only to find himself under fire at close range. Although, this battle was far from exceptional, the swift decisions made by Quanah allowed for the safety of the remaining tribesmen. This event signaled only the beginning of Quanah’s potential as a leader and showed deep inside the inner workings of a brilliant man.
A few years later along Quanah’s path, we find a man named Isa-tai. Meaning ‘Wolf’s Vulva’, Isa-tai was a medicine man, magician, and mostly, a con man. Claims of Isa-tai’s ability to raise people from the dead and white man’s bullets having no effect on him quickly gathered a following for Isa-tai. With a little sleight of hand and use of persuasiveness, Isa-tai was able to gain a greater following by many in his tribe. To gain more support and momentum for the impeding war, both Isa-tai and Quanah, a well-known warrior at this point in time, set out on several recruitment trips to the other bands of the Comanche nation. With such a big following for the popular ‘medicine man’ and with the attendance from a powerful Comanche warrior, Isa-tai and Quanah gathered huge crowds and many supporters for their cause. With established numbers, Isa-tai and Quanah rounded up the warriors in hopes of defeating a local trading post. With Quanah leading the warriors down the hill at full force, Isa-tai laid behind to watch over the raid and to provide protection with his self-claimed healing powers. The protection, however, never arrived. The battle was a devastation to the Comanche as bullets whizzed by the Comanche warriors. Some bullets unfortunately located their intended targets with one of the bullets inserting itself into the head of a Comanche warrior. After the battle, many warriors expected Isa-tai to retrieve the body of their fallen comrade, only to find that Isa-tai would not. It was now clear to the tribe that the magical ‘abilities’ of Isa-tai were absent, and the strong faith and following in Isa-tai quickly crumbled.
With this information, we are raised with the question if Isa-tai had any influence on the overall success of Quanah.

Based on the evidence provided, we have two possible answers. The first being the obvious yes, Isa-tai did have an influence on Quanah’s status. With such an enormous backing of support, Isa-tai brought a lot of attention to the Comanche warrior. Attention that maybe Quanah would never had achieved if not for Isa-tai. On the other hand, and the answer we are lead to believe, is that Isa-tai had no influence on Quanah’s status. In fact, a strong negative influence can even be taken from the relations Isa-Tai and Quanah had together. Obviously from the start, Isa-tai had mixed intentions. He was never working for the good of the People, but rather for the good of himself, which was unlike Quanah’s intentions. After the downfall of Isa-tai, Quanah likely received some backlash from his connection and trust in Isa-tai. However, Quanah is a natural born leader and Isa-tai in the end had little effect on Quanah, whether positive or negative. As stated before, Quanah’s potential blossomed at an early age, becoming a war chief at a young age and showcasing his innate leadership during the expedition with Bear’s Ear. Without the events that shattered the reputation of Isa-tai, there is no doubt that Quanah would have still become the greatest warrior and leader of the Comanche

nation.
On the opposite side of this issue, we are lead to wonder if the Comanche would be any better off without Isa-tai. Although Isa-tai had many selfish intentions, he was able to turn around many attitudes of the Comanche as he spoke about his new vision for the tribes. As he explained, Isa-tai was told from the Great Spirit himself that the final war of the white man was upon them. This final war, the Great Spirit said, would be the end of all wars and help restore the Comanche Nation to its former glory. With his empowering speeches and large following, Isa-tai easily united tribes against the power of the white man. For these reasons, it is believed that the Comanche did ultimately benefit, in at least a small way, from Isa-tai. Despite his eventual downfall after the taxing raid on the trading post, Isa-tai had the power to unite the tribe better than anyone else could, including the great leader himself, Quanah, with his convincing sleight of hand and captivating speeches.
On another issue, we were asked if Quanah would have the same influences to assemble as many warriors into battle as Isa-tai did.

We cannot answer this question, however, without first considering Quanah leadership skills he had shown later in his life. As a tribal leader of a reservation containing the last members of the fallen Comanche Nation, Quanah was seen as a very generous and kindhearted individual. He frequently distributed out his own food, home, and money to a great number of his People. Because of this, Quanah had little money and food of his own, but that did not stop him. Quanah insisted on the well-being of his People, rather than himself. When his People needed land, he gave them land. When they needed a school leader, he stepped in. When his People needed a religious leader, he stepped in. No matter the case or the cause, Quanah would always fight for his People and was known to do just that until his death. Because of this, it is firmly believed that Quanah would have had the same, if not more, of an influence as Isa-tai had when uniting the troops. Although Quanah’s approach may have not been as convincing as Isa-tai’s con man approach, Quanah would have been able to use his natural leadership skills and power as a warrior to do just the same as

Isa-tai.
Another leadership quality demonstrated by Quanah was his long-windedness. In the Congressional battle of 1889, for example, Quanah repeatedly demanded specific information about the newly proposed adjustments to the reservation system. As the government officials continued to be uncooperative about their plans, Quanah would press even harder. Fighting for the facts and aiming to better the lifestyle of his People, as he always had, was one of Quanah’s great leadership skills. On top of that, Quanah achieved most of these qualities while having tremendous difficulties of his own. One problem being the disconnect with his recaptured mother, Quanah always longed to see her, especially after hearing of her unhappiness in the white man’s world. Quanah also faced several marital troubles as many of his eight wives would end up leaving him. Thirdly, he faced several political problems over the distribution of land and power while on the reservation. These struggles, although may seem small and unimportant, provide the most telling information of Quanah’s leadership and character. While Quanah dealt with these troubles of his own, and rather demanding issues at that, he was still able to care for his People as he always had. So telling was his yearning optimism, advanced views, and love the Comanche Indian People that Quanah had for his decaying nation. In the words of Francis E. Leupp, Quanah ‘has his followers under wonderful control, but, on the other hand, looks out for them like a father (pg. 314).’