Raid on Godfrey Ranch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on Godfrey Ranch
Part of the Colorado War
Date January 15, 1865 Location Colorado Territory Result United States victory Indians retreat
Belligerents
United States	Lakota Cheyenne
Commanders and leaders
Holon Godfrey	Unknown
Strength
3 men	130 warriors
Casualties and losses
None	3-17 killed

The Raid on Godfrey Ranch was a brave stand against attackers. It happened on January 15-16, 1865. A large group of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors attacked a lonely ranch in Colorado. This ranch belonged to a man named Holon Godfrey.

This attack was one of many raids in January 1865. The Cheyenne and their allies carried out these raids. They were reacting to the Sand Creek massacre that happened on November 29, 1864. This event was part of the Colorado War. After winning the Battle of Julesburg, the warriors raided along the South Platte River valley. They attacked several ranches, including the American Ranch. There, a family and their workers died. Then, the Cheyenne moved towards Godfrey's ranch nearby.

Holon Godfrey found out about the coming attack. He quickly made his ranch stronger with his family and workers. That night, Godfrey believed about 130 warriors surrounded and attacked his ranch. The people inside fought them off all night long. By morning, one of Godfrey's men slipped out. He called for help from the U.S. cavalry. This made the warriors leave. The ranch was burned and lost some horses, but it still stood. Godfrey's defense was a success. He later called his ranch Fort Wicked.

Why the Raid Happened

This attack was part of a bigger fight in Colorado. White settlers and Native American tribes living nearby were in conflict. Both sides started getting weapons. They did not trust each other because of bad things done by both groups. Many Native Americans, especially those with the Dog Soldiers society, began raiding military posts and settlements.

In the Sand Creek massacre, a group of white volunteers from Colorado attacked a Cheyenne village. This village had said it was peaceful and showed U.S. and white flags. The soldiers may have killed over 200 Native Americans, mostly women and children. This event made the Native Americans very angry. They increased their raids, focusing on ranches and farms in Colorado. These raids were not just about revenge. They also helped the Native Americans get important things like horses.

Holon Godfrey heard that the warriors were coming. He learned about the raid on American Ranch the night before. Almost an entire family of white settlers had died there. Godfrey quickly decided to strengthen his ranch. He wanted to avoid the same fate. He built 6-foot tall adobe walls around his ranch. He also added openings for shooting and places to put out fires. With his wife, cowboys, and others seeking safety, they got ready to defend their home.

The Attack on the Ranch

On the night of January 15, Godfrey thought about 130 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors surrounded his ranch. They were on horseback and circled the ranch. The warriors tried to break through the strong defenses. But Godfrey's fort pushed back their many attempts. The women inside loaded the guns. They even melted lead to make bullets. The men fired from good shooting spots.

The warriors managed to get into the horse pen. They stole the horses inside. But Godfrey told his men to let them go. Their main goal was to protect the people inside the ranch house. When their attacks on the main house failed, the warriors tried to set fire to the dry grass around the ranch. They wanted to burn the building down. But the defenders quickly put out the fires. They had buckets of water ready. At one point, Godfrey and his men were putting out a fire. A warrior suddenly attacked Godfrey from the front. The warrior was shot and killed. When the first attacks failed, the warriors started shooting flaming arrows at the ranch's roof and the dry grass. But the ranchers quickly put these fires out too.

One of the ranch workers, named Perkins, offered to get help. He managed to sneak out during the night. He sent a telegraph message to Denver asking for help. He reached the military, but only four soldiers came with him to the ranch. By morning, the warriors gave up and left before Perkins' help arrived.

The Fort Wicked historical marker

What Happened After

Godfrey and his men were thought to have killed between 3 and 17 warriors during the defense. However, a Cheyenne warrior named George Bent did not mention Godfrey's Ranch in his story. He said only three warriors died in all the battles along the Southern Platte River in 1865.

Godfrey named his ranch Fort Wicked because of the fierce fight. His story was shared in newspapers like the New York Tribune and Harper's Weekly. Today, a historical marker stands near Merino to remember the event.