Mizpah Creek incidents facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mizpah Creek incidents
Part of the Northern Cheyenne Exodus
Date April 5 – June 8, 1879 (1879-04-05 – 1879-06-08) Location Montana Territory Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Northern Cheyenne
Commanders and leaders
Thaddeus B. Glover Thomas J. Gregg Leo Baader  †	Buffalo Calf Road Woman Hole in the Breast Black Coyote Whetstone
Strength
± 20 soldiers	3 warriors
Casualties and losses
1 killed 1 wounded 2 horses captured	1 killed 3 deaths 8 captured

The Mizpah Creek incidents were a series of events. They happened between April 5 and June 8, 1879. These events involved United States soldiers and civilians. They also involved eight Northern Cheyenne people. One U.S. soldier died during these incidents. All eight Cheyenne were captured. Three of them later died while held in Miles City, Montana Territory. The events took place near Mizpah Creek. This creek is a branch of the Powder River. It is located in Montana Territory.

What Happened Before

During the Northern Cheyenne Exodus in January 1879, a group of Northern Cheyenne were traveling north. They were heading to the Powder River Country. This group included Black Coyote, his wife Buffalo Calf Road Woman, and their two young children. Buffalo Calf Road Woman was famous for saving her brother. She did this during the Battle of the Rosebud. That battle was even called "The battle where the girl saved her brother" by the Cheyenne.

Black Coyote took some horses. These horses had U.S. army brands on them. A Cheyenne chief named Black Crane told him to return the horses. He wanted to keep the group safe. Black Coyote did not agree. When Black Crane raised his whip, Black Coyote shot and killed him. Because of this, Black Coyote and his family were sent away from the tribe. There were eight people in his family group.

The Events

On April 5, 1879, a Saturday, two U.S. soldiers were working. Sergeant Kennedy of the U.S. Signal Corps and Private Leo Baader of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry were fixing a telegraph line. This was near Mizpah Creek in Montana. Black Coyote's group found and attacked them.

The warriors killed Private Baader. Sergeant Kennedy was badly hurt. The Cheyenne also took the two men's horses. The wounded Sergeant crawled into a bush. He used his revolver to keep the warriors away. Black Coyote took Baader's rifle and watch. Later, three civilians found Sergeant Kennedy. They were traveling from Deadwood, South Dakota. One of them, Mr. O'Neil, helped him. They took him about 45 miles (72 km) northwest to Fort Keogh. Sergeant Kennedy had lost a lot of blood.

On April 8, 1879, Colonel Nelson A. Miles learned about the attack. He was the commander of Fort Keogh. He sent Sergeant Thaddeus B. Glover and ten soldiers. They were from the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. Their job was to find and arrest those responsible. Another group of soldiers also joined the search. They were from Fort Ellis. Captain Thomas J. Gregg led them.

On April 10, 1879, Glover's men found the Cheyenne's trail. Two Cheyenne warriors showed a white flag. They gave up to Glover's soldiers. Then, the last warrior fired at the cavalrymen. The soldiers made the three warriors surrender. No soldiers were hurt. They also captured the five women and children. Black Coyote had clothing and the watch taken from Private Baader. The eight captured Cheyenne were taken back to Fort Keogh.

The case was handled by a civilian court. The three warriors were held in the Custer County jail. This was in Miles City. While they were held, Buffalo Calf Road Woman died. She was Black Coyote's wife. She died from Diphtheria in Miles City. When Black Coyote heard this, he became very upset. He stopped eating or sleeping.

From May 27 to June 4, 1879, their case was heard. This was the first court held in Montana Territory east of Bozeman. A reporter from The New York Times, Thompson R. McElrath, was there. He wrote a long letter about the trial on June 8, 1879. The court decided on June 4 that the three warriors would be executed. This was set for July 7, 1879. However, the next morning, June 5, two of them died in the jail. Later, the third Cheyenne also died in the jail.

Sergeant T. B. Glover later remembered the events of April 10, 1879. He said his group was in the Little Bighorn Mountains. He saw two Native Americans on a rock. They were signaling with a white flag. He went forward and accepted their surrender. Then, he heard a lot of firing behind him. The two Native Americans had been joined by others. They attacked while his men were resting. Glover said they captured everyone. He took them back to the post under strong guard. He said they were found guilty of murder. But they died in the Miles City jail before their punishment.

Medal of Honor

One Congressional Medal of Honor was given for actions during these events. It was awarded to:

• Sergeant Thaddeus B. Glover, Company B, 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment.

Important People and Groups

United States Army

• At Mizpah Creek, April 5, 1879:
  • Sergeant Kennedy, U. S. Signal Corps, was badly wounded.
  • Private Leo Baader, Company E, 2nd U. S. Cavalry Regiment, was killed.
• From Fort Ellis, April 1879:
  • Soldiers from Company D, 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment, led by Captain Thomas J. Gregg.
• From Fort Keogh, April 7-10, 1879:
  • 11 Soldiers from Companies B and E, 2nd U. S. Cavalry Regiment, led by Sergeant Thaddeus Brown Glover.
  • 3 Indian Scouts.

Northern Cheyenne People These were people sent away from Little Wolf's group.

• 3 Warriors: Black Coyote (died), Whetstone (died), and Hole in the Breast (died).
• 3 Women: Buffalo Calf Road Woman (died from Diphtheria in Miles City).
• 2 Children.