After Fort Kearny - A Momentary Peace

Fresh army troops on the Bozeman Trail didn't intimidate the Sioux.  In June 1867, Red Cloud felt strong enough to try an attack on Fort Kearny.  With over 1000 warriors, they rode toward the fort.  Along the way they encountered a 36 man army work detail under Captain James Powell.  The army men were armed, fearing such an attack, and 32 of the men made it to shelter behind wagon boxes.  For four and one half hours, they fought on until reinforcements arrived.  The "Wagon Box Fight" as it was called, took place on August 2nd, after which Red Cloud decided to postpone the attack on Fort Kearny.

As it turned out, the attack never happened as growing opinions in Washington wanted to abandon Bozeman Trail.  The coming of the railroad made it unnecessary.  Red Cloud was willing to talk peace only if the government agreed to leave the outposts in Sioux country.  The government yielded and in spring of 1868 the forts were ordered abandoned.  Red Cloud burned Fort Kearny to the ground.

In November, Red Cloud rode to Fort Laramie to sign a peace treaty which gave the Sioux the Black Hills and the right to hunt in the Powder Ridge region.  Both regions would be forbidden to white exploitation.  This seemed satisfactory to both sides...at least for the moment.

By the end of 1868, the Union Pacific Railroad had intruded into Wyoming and new towns were springing up along the tracks.  Six years later, Custer and his 7th Cavalry rode into the Black Hills reportedly to seek a site for a military post, but in reality to check out rumors of gold in the area.  That led to a rush into Indian Territory and once more the treaty signed was worthless. 

In a last effort to protect their lands, the Sioux and a few northern Cheyenne began to gather warriors - for the last stand.  Not only for Custer but for the Indians as well.

Next time...The Last Stand
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On December 18, 1778, the English explorer Captain James Cook becomes the first European to discover the Hawaiian Islands when he sails past the island of Oahu. Two days later, he landed at Waimea on the island of Kauai and named the island group the Sandwich Islands, in honor of John Montague, who was the earl of Sandwich and one his patrons.

A Red Cloud over Dakota Territory

At Fort Laramie in 1866, the government met with western Sioux chiefs such as Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses, Spotted Tail and one of the most feared of all Sioux leaders - Ogala chief Red Cloud.  Red Cloud's bands had been attacking parties of settlers traveling through the great buffalo preserve on their way to Montana gold fields.  The Laramie council had been called to settle the matter of the Bozeman Trail.

Col. Henry B. Carrington at once announced that the War Department had ordered troops to construct forts along the Trail to protect the settlers.  Red Cloud, enraged, shouted, "The Great Father sends us presents and wants us to sell him the road, but white chief goes with soldiers to steal the road before Indians say Yes or No!"  (true point!)  Red Cloud, accompanied by other Sioux and northern Cheyenne, left the meeting in disgust before it even got started.

For months the soldiers along the Bozeman Trail could not leave their forts.  It was too dangerous.  In bands as many as 200, Red Cloud's braves ambushed the forts.  By the end of 1866 when Fort Kearny was finished, it became apparent that the Army's presence along the Bozeman Trail was not protecting anyone.

On December 21, 1866, William J. Fellerman, an impetuous young captain at Fort Kearny, boasted that he could ride through the entire Sioux Nation with just 80 men.  He was given that chance when he was sent out with just 80 men to relieve a detail under attack.  He allowed himself and his men to be lured into an ambush by a young Sioux named Crazy Horse.  The entire company, including their cocky leader, were killed. 

The loss reduced Fort Kearny to such a degree that they feared the entire command might be destroyed at any moment.  In the midst of a raging blizzard, a civilian, John Phillips, rode to Laramie alone in four days, and men were on their way to replenish Fort Kearny.  The extra men failed to intimidate the Sioux, however...

Next Time...The Battle at Fort Kearny
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On December 15, 1919, hot molasses floods the streets of Boston, killing 21 people and injuring scores of others. The molasses burst from a huge tank at the United States Industrial Alcohol Company building in the heart of the city. It took weeks to clean the molasses from the streets of Boston. This disaster also produced an epic court battle, as more than 100 lawsuits were filed against the United States Industrial Alcohol Company.  (it was a slow news day in Pioneer History!)