Powder River Battles (1865) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Powder River Battles |
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| Part of the Powder River Expedition, Sioux Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
Lakota Sioux Cheyenne Arapaho |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Nelson D. Cole Samuel Walker |
Sitting Bull Roman Nose |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 2,000 soldiers and civilians | 2,000-4,000 warriors | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 16 killed, 14 wounded | 7+ killed, 11+ wounded | ||||||
The Powder River Battles were a series of fights. They happened between September 1 and 15, 1865. United States soldiers and civilians fought against Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. These battles took place along the Powder River. This area is now in Montana and northeastern Wyoming.
Contents
Why the Battles Happened
In 1865, Major General Grenville M. Dodge was in charge of a military area called the Department of the Missouri. He ordered a large military action. The goal was to stop Native American groups like the Cheyenne, Sioux, and Arapaho. These groups had been attacking mail routes, wagon trains, and army posts. These attacks happened along important trails like the Oregon Trail and Overland Trail.
This military action was called the Powder River Expedition. It had different groups of soldiers. Colonel Nelson D. Cole led the eastern group. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Walker led the middle group. A third group was led by Brigadier General Patrick Edward Connor.
Colonel Cole's group left Omaha, Nebraska on July 1, 1865. They had over 1,400 soldiers and many wagons of supplies. They traveled a long way, about 560 miles (900 km). The journey was very hard. Soldiers suffered from thirst and low supplies. Some even thought about rebelling.
Lieutenant Colonel Walker's group had 600 cavalrymen. They left Fort Laramie on August 6, 1865. They also faced water shortages. Some soldiers from his 16th Kansas Cavalry got sick from bad water.
Cole's and Walker's groups met on August 19, 1865, near the Black Hills. They continued marching west towards the Powder River. They reached it on August 29. By this time, many soldiers had no shoes. Their horses and mules were very weak.
Early Skirmishes: September 1–7
September 1: Horse Herd Attack
On September 1, 1865, Colonel Cole's group was camped by the Powder River. Walker's group was a few miles south. Early that morning, over 300 Hunkpapa, Sans Arc, and Miniconjou Lakota Sioux warriors attacked Cole's horse herd. The warriors were led by Sitting Bull.
A small group of soldiers from the 2nd Missouri Light Artillery responded first. Warriors ambushed them. Three soldiers were killed, one was badly wounded, and two others were hurt. Later that night, two more soldiers were killed while hunting. Four Sioux warriors were killed, and at least four were wounded.
September 2–7: More Attacks and Difficult Travel
On September 2, there were at least three small fights. In one, a warrior was killed. In another, two soldiers were killed while hunting. Cole and Walker desperately needed supplies. They decided to follow the Powder River north. They hoped to find General Connor's group and their supply wagons.
The two groups marched north for a while. Then they decided to turn back south. They heard that the river had dried up further downstream. Native Americans attacked again on September 4, 5, and 7. They kept bothering Cole's and Walker's men as they moved south along the Powder River.
Major Battle: September 8
On September 8, 1865, Cole's and Walker's groups were marching south. They didn't know that a large Native American village was nearby. This village had over 3,000 Cheyenne, Sioux, and Arapaho people. There were about 1,000 lodges (homes).
The warriors learned the soldiers were coming. They didn't want their village attacked, so they attacked the army first. About 25 soldiers from the 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry were marching ahead. Warriors attacked this small group. One soldier was killed and another was wounded.
Lieutenant Ballance, who led the small group, sent a message back to Walker. Walker then sent a message to Colonel Cole. Cole was about two miles behind, helping his wagons cross the Powder River. Cole quickly ordered his wagons to form a circle for defense. He also sent soldiers to clear out warriors hiding in the woods along the river.
A soldier named First Lieutenant Charles H. Springer described the scene. He said the whole area was "covered full of Indians." The soldiers advanced with their cannons. They fired at warriors gathered in some woods.
George Bent, a Cheyenne who was there, said the soldiers formed a square around their wagons. He also mentioned that Roman Nose, a brave Cheyenne warrior, rode his white pony many times in front of the soldiers. His pony was shot and killed, throwing him to the ground. Lieutenant Springer also wrote about this incident in his diary.
As more soldiers joined the fight, the Sioux and Cheyenne slowly left the battle. The last part of the battle happened on hills overlooking the Powder River. Major Lyman G. Bennett led soldiers up a steep hill. They drove away the remaining warriors. One soldier was wounded in the foot during this charge.
The Cheyenne called this day "Roman Nose's Fight." One soldier was killed and two were wounded. At least one Native American was killed and another wounded. The soldiers lost at least 36 horses. At least three Native American horses were killed or wounded.
Final Days: September 9–15
September 9–10: Continued Harassment
On September 9, Cole and Walker only moved about two and a half miles. On the morning of September 10, over 2,000 soldiers and civilians were camped together. As the soldiers started to leave their camp, Native American warriors appeared.
Lieutenant Charles Springer wrote that the warriors "came charging down from the hills." But the soldiers fired back, sending them away. There were more shots fired throughout the morning. Colonel Oliver Wells, who commanded the 12th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, reported that Native Americans "nearly enveloped the camp" and followed them. He noted that not much was achieved, but there was a lot of firing. One soldier was slightly wounded. Three Native Americans were shot, but their friends carried them away.
Major Lyman Bennett, an engineering officer, wrote in his diary that the river was swollen and hard to cross. He also saw "hundreds" of Native American heads on the hills. They eventually found another crossing. A few Native Americans stayed near their advance for a few miles, then left.
September 11–15: Reaching Safety
The expedition continued south along the Powder River. On September 12, Cole's and Walker's groups marched past Terrett Butte. By September 13, they crossed into Dakota Territory, which is now part of Wyoming.
On September 14, there was another small fight. One soldier was killed. This was the last fight for Cole's and Walker's groups. On September 15, four scouts from General Connor's group found Cole's and Walker's commands. They told them about a new fort called Fort Connor. It was located on the Powder River.
The leader of the scouts, Corporal Charles L. Thomas, had been wounded earlier that day. He also rescued a soldier who had been left behind by Cole's group. Thomas later received the Medal of Honor for his brave actions.
After the Battles
Cole, Walker, and their soldiers arrived at Fort Connor on September 20, 1865. General Connor decided the soldiers were too tired and worn out for more fighting. He sent them back to Fort Laramie and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Most of them were then released from the army.
Casualties
During these battles, 12 soldiers were killed or badly wounded between September 1 and 10. Three more died from sickness. In total, 15 soldiers died during this ten-day period. At least 14 soldiers were wounded between September 1 and 15. Two of these were accidentally wounded by their own side.
At least seven Native American warriors were killed. At least 11 were wounded during the same period. Colonel Cole claimed his soldiers killed 200 Native Americans. However, Lieutenant Colonel Walker said, "I cannot say as we killed one." It is believed that the actual number of Native American casualties was much lower than Cole claimed.
- Native American Deaths:
- Black Whetstone (Cheyenne), killed on September 8.
- At least six other unidentified warriors from the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes were killed between September 1 and 15.
- United States Army Deaths:
- 11 soldiers were killed in action.
- 3 soldiers were mortally wounded and died later.
- 3 soldiers died from diseases like scurvy and dysentery.
- Wounded Soldiers:
- At least 14 soldiers were wounded in action.
