Amache, a full-blooded member of the Southern Cheyenne tribe, was born in the summer of 1846 during a forced march of her tribe across the plains of Southeastern Colorado. Her father Ochinee (Nah-ku-uk-ihu-us) was a Cheyenne Peace Chief who often camped near Bent's Fort (Big Timbers) with other Cheyenne. In 1846, the Cheyenne of the Arkansas River Valley were subject to significant change as they saw whites arrive in significant numbers. General Stephen W. Kearny led United States soldiers through Colorado during the Mexican–American War. In late July, when the Cheyenne were encamped at Bent's Fort, 1,700 soldiers were encamped for miles along the Arkansas River. The Cheyenne had noticed an increase in the number of white people that traveled with wagons on the Santa Fe trail to trade with the New Mexicans. Also in 1846, Thomas Fitzpatrick was assigned as the first Indian resident agent at Bent's Fort.
