For many years, Colonel George Custer had been stationed at Fort Dodge, Kansas, fighting Kiowa Indians who frequently raided the state. Having being too late to stop them, Custer grew ever more frustrated. In 1881, when tensions between the CSA and USA boiled over the purchase of Sonora and Chihuahua from the Mexicans, Custer finally got his chance for revenge. While waiting for orders, two Gatling guns arrived at Fort Dodge in preparation for the war. Shortly afterwards, a telegram arrived announcing that war had been declared.