Battle of Bone Pile Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Bone Pile Creek |
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| Part of the Powder River Expedition, Sioux Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
Cheyenne Oglala Lakota Sioux |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| James A. Sawyers George Williford |
Red Cloud Dull Knife |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 143 Soldiers, 53 Civilians | ~500 Warriors | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 3 killed | 2 killed, 3 wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Bone Pile Creek was a fight that happened from August 13 to 15, 1865. It was part of a bigger mission called the Powder River Expedition. In this battle, soldiers and civilians from the United States fought against Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. The fight took place near Bone Pile Creek, in what was then Dakota Territory. Today, this area is in Campbell County, Wyoming.
Contents
What Happened During the Battle
The Journey Begins
On August 13, 1865, a group led by Lieutenant Colonel James A. Sawyers was traveling west. This group included soldiers, civilians, and a long line of wagons. The soldiers were from the 1st Dakota Cavalry Battalion and the 5th United States Volunteer Infantry. Captain George Williford led some of these soldiers.
First Attacks
That evening, near a place called Gourd Butte, Cheyenne and Sioux warriors attacked the traveling group. Sadly, a 19-year-old civilian named Nathaniel Hedges was killed. Later that night, the wagons were arranged in a circle, like a fort, near Bone Pile Creek. This is called "corralled." Hedges was buried safely inside this circle of wagons.
The next morning, August 14, the warriors returned and attacked again. They tried to break through the wagon circle, but they couldn't.
The Negotiation
On August 15, the warriors attacked the wagons for a third time. They still couldn't get past the defenses. At this point, some important Native American leaders decided to talk. These leaders included Chief Red Cloud of the Sioux and Chief Morning Star (also known as Dull Knife) of the Cheyenne. George Bent, a Cheyenne man who had lived with both Native Americans and white settlers, also took part in the talks.
They spoke with Colonel Sawyers. They offered to let the wagon train pass safely if they received one wagon full of supplies. Soldiers later said that George Bent was even wearing a U.S. army officer's uniform during these talks.
A Deal and More Fighting
Colonel Sawyers agreed to the deal. He promised a wagon filled with sugar, bacon, coffee, flour, and tobacco. Captain Williford, one of the army leaders, didn't like this idea.
When the wagons started moving again, the Native Americans attacked once more. During this attack, two soldiers, Private Anthony Nelson and Private John Rouse, were killed. The soldiers fought back and killed two warriors. After this, the Native Americans quickly left the area.
The Sawyers Expedition buried Private Nelson next to Nathaniel Hedges. They couldn't find Private Rouse's body. After these sad events, the expedition continued its journey.
The Battlefield Today
The exact spot where the Battle of Bone Pile Creek happened is not known today. It is somewhere in Campbell County, Wyoming, close to the modern town of Wright, Wyoming.
Who Was Involved
The United States Army group was led by Lieutenant Colonel James A. Sawyers. They had about 196 people, including soldiers from the 1st Dakota Cavalry Battalion and the 5th United States Volunteer Infantry, plus 53 civilians. They also had 56 wagons and 90 oxen.
The Native American warriors numbered around 500. They were mainly Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne people. Key leaders included Red Cloud for the Lakota Sioux, and Dull Knife, Roman Nose, George Bent, Charles Bent, and Bull Bear for the Cheyenne.
