Rosebud Battlefield State Park facts for kids
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Rosebud Battlefield-Where the Girl Saved Her Brother
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Site sign, 2003
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Big Horn County, Montana |
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| Nearest city | Busby, Montana |
| Area | 4,220 acres (1,710 ha) |
| Built | 1876 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000735 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 21, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | August 19, 2008 |
Rosebud Battlefield State Park is a special place in Big Horn County, Montana. It protects a large part of the land where the Battle of the Rosebud happened on June 17, 1876. This battle is also known by other names. The Northern Cheyenne people call it The Battle Where the Girl Saved Her Brother. It is also known as Crook's Fight on the Rosebud.
This park is a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important historical site. You can visit during the day to hike, picnic, or watch wildlife. It's about 11 miles (18 km) south of Kirby, Montana, right off Montana Highway 314.
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Exploring the Rosebud Battlefield Park
Rosebud Battlefield State Park is in a quiet, rural part of Big Horn County, Montana. It is southeast of Billings and east of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. The park sits on rolling prairie land with many ridges. Just south of the battlefield is a flat-topped hill called a mesa. Below this mesa, Rosebud Creek flows eastward.
The park has a small information area and a restroom at its entrance. A gravel road lets you drive around the main battlefield. Other than that, the park is mostly natural and undeveloped.
The Battle of the Rosebud: A Turning Point
The Battle of the Rosebud took place on June 17, 1876. It was a key moment in the Great Sioux War of 1876. In this war, the United States Army wanted to move Native American tribes onto reservations.
Who Fought in the Battle?
United States Army soldiers, led by General George Crook, were attacked here. They faced a strong force of Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. These Native American forces were led by the famous warrior Crazy Horse.
Why Was the Battle Fought?
General Crook's army was trying to advance as part of a plan to attack Native villages. This battle stopped his progress. The fighting lasted for about six hours. It spread across nearly 3-mile (4.8 km) of land along Rosebud Creek.
What Was the Outcome?
The battle ended in a tie, or a "stalemate." Neither side fully won. However, General Crook could not meet up with other US Army forces as planned. He decided to leave the area. This left General George Armstrong Custer's army exposed. Just one week later, Custer and his men were defeated at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
The Girl Who Saved Her Brother
The Cheyenne name for the battlefield, "Where The Girl Saved Her Brother," comes from a brave act during the battle. A Cheyenne woman named Buffalo Calf Road Woman saw her brother, Chief Comes in Sight, wounded on the battlefield. She rode in to rescue him. Her courage is said to have inspired the Native American warriors and helped them fight on.
