Battle of the Brule facts for kids

The Battle of the Brule was an important fight in October 1842. It happened between the Ojibwe people (also called the La Pointe Band) and the Lakota people. The battle took place along the Brule River in what is now northern Wisconsin. The Ojibwe won a big victory.

Why They Fought: A Long History

For many years, from the 1600s to the 1800s, two main groups fought over land. These were the Santee Sioux and the Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe). They both wanted control of northern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota.

By the end of the 1700s, the Lakota were mostly pushed out of Wisconsin. They moved to areas west of the Mississippi River. A treaty in 1825, called the First Treaty of Prairie du Chien, only gave the Lakota a small part of Wisconsin. But even after this, both the Lakota and Ojibwe continued to send war parties into each other's lands. This fighting went on for many years.

The Battle of the Brule

Much of what we know about the Battle of the Brule comes from Benjamin Armstrong. He was an American who lived with the Ojibwe on Madeline Island. Armstrong was the adopted son of Chief Buffalo of the La Pointe Band. He saw the battle happen.

Where the Battle Happened

The Ojibwe living near Lake Superior's south shore were called the La Pointe Band. But they had many camps along the shoreline. One of these camps was at the Bois Brule River.

How the Battle Started

The Lakota, led by Old Crow, wanted to surprise small groups of Ojibwe. They hoped to avoid the main Ojibwe forces at La Pointe. They also wanted to avoid the Ojibwe farther south on the St. Croix River, led by Hole in the Day.

But Chief Buffalo of La Pointe got a warning. He didn't have enough time to gather all his warriors. When the groups met at the Brule River, the Lakota had more fighters.

Chief Buffalo's Clever Plan

Chief Buffalo put most of his warriors behind a high river bank. The Lakota still thought they were fighting a small group of Ojibwe. Buffalo sent a few warriors to pretend to run away. These warriors ran across the Brule River. This made the Lakota leave their bank and follow them into the river. They were heading right towards Buffalo's main force on the other side.

As the Lakota got close and started climbing the bank, Buffalo gave the signal. His warriors on the left and right sides rushed into the river. They surrounded the Lakota.

The Ojibwe Victory

The battle quickly turned into a big defeat for the Lakota. Those climbing the bank were stopped as they reached the top. Those who tried to go back down into the river met Ojibwe warriors below.

Only a few Lakota survived. They ran towards the Mississippi River. But the Ojibwe chased them and killed many more. In the end, the Lakota lost 101 men. The Ojibwe lost 13 men. Benjamin Armstrong watched all of this from a safe spot.

What Happened After the Battle

The Battle of the Brule had more deaths than typical fights between the Lakota and Ojibwe. But it was an example of the ongoing conflict between these two nations. This fighting happened throughout the 1700s and early 1800s.

Government Involvement

The continued fighting between the Lakota and Ojibwe was a big concern for the U.S. government. This was especially true in the Wisconsin Territory. The Treaty of Prairie du Chien (1825) was made to try and create peace between the two groups. In later treaties, the government kept asking the groups to stop fighting. They wanted white settlers to see Wisconsin as a peaceful place.

Chief Buffalo's Growing Fame

Chief Buffalo was already a respected leader. The Battle of the Brule made him even more famous among all Ojibwe groups. He became a very important leader in treaty talks, especially during the Treaties of La Pointe. He was also the main person who spoke out against moving the Lake Superior Chippewa in 1850. This event led to the sad Sandy Lake Tragedy.

Images for kids

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  This image of the Battle of the Brule appeared in the 1891 memoirs of Chief Buffalo's adopted son and personal interpreter Benjamin Armstrong.