, ▁located ▁on ▁the ▁northern ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁Canadian ▁River ▁ 1 7 ▁miles ▁( 2 7   km ) ▁n ortheast ▁of ▁present - day ▁St in nett ▁in ▁H utch inson ▁County . ▁The ▁battle ▁came ▁about ▁when ▁Gen . ▁James ▁H . ▁Car leton , ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁military ▁district ▁of ▁New ▁Mexico , ▁decided ▁to ▁pun ish ▁sever ely ▁the ▁pla ins ▁tribes ▁of ▁the ▁Ki owa ▁and ▁Com anche , ▁whom ▁he ▁de emed ▁responsible ▁for ▁attacks ▁on ▁w agon ▁trains ▁on ▁the ▁Santa ▁Fe ▁Tra il . ▁The ▁Indians ▁saw ▁the ▁w agon ▁trains ▁as ▁tres pass ers ▁who ▁killed ▁buff alo ▁and ▁other ▁game ▁the ▁Indians ▁needed ▁to ▁surv ive . ▁As ▁the ▁American ▁Civil ▁War ▁dra ined ▁available ▁troops , ▁attacks ▁on ▁the ▁Great ▁Pla ins ▁w ors ened , ▁leading ▁in ▁the ▁later ▁part ▁of ▁ 1 8 6 3 ▁to ▁c ries ▁from ▁sett lers ▁for ▁protection . ▁ ▁Gen . ▁Car leton ▁wanted ▁to ▁put ▁an ▁end ▁to ▁the ▁ra ids , ▁or ▁at ▁least ▁to ▁send ▁a ▁sharp ▁signal ▁to ▁the ▁Indians ▁that ▁the ▁Civil ▁War ▁had ▁not ▁left ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁unable ▁to ▁protect ▁its ▁people . ▁He ▁selected ▁Col . ▁Christopher ▁( Kit ) ▁Car son ▁to ▁lead ▁the ▁expedition ary ▁force ▁as ▁the ▁most ▁season ed ▁veter an ▁Indian ▁f ighter ▁at ▁his ▁dispos al . ▁Col . ▁Car son ▁took ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Regiment ▁New ▁Mexico ▁Vol unte er ▁Caval ry , ▁with ▁orders