Along with Ceran St. Vrain, William built an elaborate adobe fort on the eastern Colorado plains, near present day La Junta, known as Bent's Fort. It was the only privately owned, fortified placement in the west. Due to its placement on the Santa Fe Trail, and because of Bent's association with the Cheyenne, this fort became a major merchandise center on the southern plains.
Bent's influence with the Cheyenne also helped prevent war with the Americans. He was friendly with the Cheyenne chief Black Kettle, who called him Little White Man.
In 1835, Bent married Owl Woman of the Cheyenne and they raised four children together. After Owl Woman died, he married her sister Yellow Woman. In all, Bent had five children.
A stone marker commemorates the Sand Creek Massacre.
The Pike's Peak gold rush of 1858 lead to increasing conflicts. American troops gradually encroached on Cheyenne lands until fighting broke out in 1864. Black Kettle asked Bent to persuade the Americans to negotiate peace and, briefly, it appeared possible. However, Governor John Evans and Colonel John Chivington (who was planning a run for U.S. Congress) had based their political futures on exterminating Native Americans, and had amassed troops from Washington, D.C. by citing an Indian threat. Despite an apparent peace agreement, on November 28, Chivington and his army captured Bent's son Robert, forced him to guide them to the Cheyenne campsite, and there killed and mutilated between 200 and 400 Native Americans in the Sand Creek Massacre.[2]
Robert Bent testified in court against Chivington. His brothers, Charles and George Bent, joined the Cheyenne's Dog Soldiers and fought to drive the European-Americans from the their homeland.
Arnold, Samual P. "William W. Bent", featured in "Trappers of the Far West", Leroy R. Hafen, editor. 1972, Arthur H. Clark Company, reprint University of Nebraska Press, October 1983. ISBN 0-8032-7218-9
