Dull Knife Fight facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dull Knife Fight
Part of the Great Sioux War of 1876
Date November 25, 1876 Location Wyoming Territory 43°45′15″N 106°57′01″W / 43.75417°N 106.95028°W / 43.75417; -106.95028 (Bates Creek) Result United States victory
Belligerents
Cheyenne	United States
Commanders and leaders
Dull Knife Little Wolf Roman Nose Gray Head Old Bear	Ranald S. Mackenzie
Strength
~400	~1,000
Casualties and losses
40 killed Unknown wounded	7 killed 26 wounded

The Dull Knife Fight, also called the Battle on the Red Fork, was an important battle. It happened on November 25, 1876, in what is now Johnson County, Wyoming. This fight was part of the Great Sioux War of 1876. It was fought between soldiers from the United States Army and warriors of the Northern Cheyenne people. This battle greatly weakened the Northern Cheyenne's ability to keep fighting for their freedom on the Great Plains.

What Led to the Fight?

Before this battle, there had been several other fights. The US Army, led by Brigadier General George Crook, had fought the Northern Cheyenne many times. These battles included the Battle of Powder River and the Battle of the Rosebud.

In October 1876, General Crook learned about a Cheyenne village. He sent Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie to find it. Colonel Mackenzie left Camp Robinson, Nebraska with about 1,000 soldiers. He also had 400 Native American scouts helping him. These scouts came from different tribes, including the Pawnee, Shoshone, Arapaho, and Sioux.

The whole group, including soldiers and scouts, left Fort Fetterman on November 14, 1876. They were looking for the Cheyenne village. They even waited out a snowstorm before continuing their search.

The Battle Begins

On November 23, a Cheyenne person told the soldiers about a very large Cheyenne village. It was located in a Bighorn Mountains canyon. Colonel Mackenzie was ordered to take his scouts and most of the cavalry to find this village. He led about 1,000 men, with one-third of them being Native American scouts.

Finally, on November 25, 1876, Mackenzie found the camp of Chief Dull Knife and Chief Little Wolf. Their village was on the Red Fork of the Powder River. The Cheyenne warriors were celebrating a recent victory they had won against a Shoshone village.

Mackenzie waited until dawn to attack. He surprised the Cheyenne warriors in their village. Many were forced to run away quickly, leaving their clothes and blankets behind. They fled into the freezing cold. Chief Dull Knife and his warriors fought back bravely. The Pawnee warriors who were with the US soldiers fought very well against the Cheyenne.

During the battle, Second Lieutenant John A. McKinney and five other soldiers were killed. In the end, Chief Dull Knife's Cheyenne warriors had to retreat. They left their village behind. The soldiers then completely destroyed the Cheyenne village, which had 200 lodges (homes). They also captured about 700 animals.

What Happened Next?

Dull Knife lost three of his sons in the fight. The Cheyenne survivors suffered greatly from the cold. Many had no warm clothes or blankets. Eleven babies froze to death in their mothers' arms. The US soldiers also found items in the village that had been taken from the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Many of Dull Knife's followers were left in the freezing November weather. They had no proper clothing, and many got frostbite. In the days that followed, some women and children died from the cold. Hungry and freezing, many survivors eventually surrendered. They went to Camp Robinson, Nebraska by April 1877.

Those who surrendered were sent to a reservation far away. This was the Southern Cheyenne reservation in Indian Territory. After a year there, many got sick and hungry. Because of this, many, including Dull Knife and his followers, escaped. This event is known as the Northern Cheyenne Exodus.

Other Cheyenne survivors never surrendered. A large group of Dull Knife's people traveled north along the Bighorn Mountains. They eventually reached the upper Tongue River areas. Some joined Chief Crazy Horse's Oglala Sioux camp. On January 8, 1877, they fought alongside Crazy Horse at the Battle of Wolf Mountain.

The Dull Knife Fight basically ended the Northern Cheyenne's resistance to the United States. General Crook sent a message saying this battle was a "terrible blow" to the Native American fighters. He said the Cheyenne were their bravest warriors and had led many raids. There were a few more small fights. But by 1884, the Northern Cheyenne people were living on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Who Fought in the Battle?

Native American Forces

The Native American forces were led by Chiefs Dull Knife and Little Coyote (Little Wolf). There were about 400 warriors.

United States Army Forces

The US Army expedition was led by Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie.

Where is the Battlefield?

The Dull Knife Battlefield is located east of the Bighorn Mountains. It's in Johnson County, Wyoming, near the town of Kaycee, Wyoming. The battlefield is on private land today. You can only visit it by special arrangement. It is now a Cattle ranch.

Images for kids

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  A view of the Dull Knife Battlefield.