Battle of Crazy Woman Creek, Wyoming
The vast, undulating landscape of Wyoming holds within it echoes of a tumultuous past, a period marked by conflict and cultural clashes as the westward expansion of the United States collided with the established territories of Native American tribes. Among the many skirmishes and battles that punctuated this era, the Battle of Crazy Woman Creek, Wyoming, which occurred on July 20, 1866, stands as a testament to the fierce resistance encountered by those traversing the Bozeman Trail during Red Cloud’s War. This engagement, though relatively small in scale compared to other battles of the era, is significant for illustrating the dangers faced by travelers and the determination of the Sioux and Cheyenne warriors to protect their ancestral lands.
The context of the battle lies squarely within the escalating tensions surrounding the Bozeman Trail. This route, carved through the heart of prime hunting grounds promised to the Lakota Sioux and other tribes in the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie, offered a shortcut to the Montana goldfields. The influx of settlers and miners along the trail was perceived as a direct threat to the Native American way of life, sparking a series of conflicts aimed at disrupting travel and asserting tribal sovereignty. Red Cloud’s War, named after the prominent Lakota chief who led much of the resistance, was a direct response to the perceived violation of treaty agreements and the encroachment upon Native lands.
On that fateful July day, a small wagon train, representing the lifeblood of westward expansion, found itself in the path of this resistance. The train, en route to Fort Phil Kearny, a key military outpost established to protect travelers along the Bozeman Trail, was escorted by Lieutenant George M. Templeton and a detachment of just 29 soldiers. Their journey had taken them past Fort Reno, another strategically important fort along the trail, and along the Dry Creek until it converged with the Crazy Woman Creek, a tributary of the Powder River. Little did they know that this seemingly ordinary passage would soon erupt into a desperate struggle for survival.
As the wagon train neared the crossing of the Crazy Woman Fork, Lieutenants Templeton and Napoleon H. Daniels ventured ahead to scout the area. This routine precaution quickly turned into a deadly encounter. A war party, numbering over 50 warriors from the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes, ambushed the two officers. The initial assault was swift and brutal. Lieutenant Daniels was killed in the attack, paying the ultimate price for his duty. Templeton, though wounded by an arrow to the back and another to the face, managed to escape and return to the wagon train, bearing grim news of the impending danger.
Faced with the stark reality of an imminent attack, Lieutenant Templeton, despite his injuries, acted decisively. He ordered the wagon train to be corralled, a standard defensive tactic employed by travelers in hostile territory. The wagons were arranged in a circle or oval, creating a makeshift fort that offered some protection against attack. This defensive perimeter was crucial, as it allowed the soldiers and civilians to concentrate their firepower and repel the anticipated assault.
The situation inside the wagon corral was fraught with peril. Of the 37 people present, a significant portion – nine individuals – were women and children. The limited number of armed defenders, only ten of the 19 enlisted soldiers possessed firearms, further exacerbated the vulnerability of the group. The odds were clearly stacked against them, and the looming battle promised to be a desperate fight for survival.
The battle commenced in the early afternoon and raged relentlessly until sundown. The warriors, employing hit-and-run tactics, harassed the wagon train from all sides, utilizing their knowledge of the terrain to their advantage. They unleashed a barrage of arrows and gunfire, attempting to breach the defensive perimeter and overwhelm the defenders. The soldiers and civilians, armed with their limited supply of ammunition, returned fire, desperately trying to hold off the relentless assault. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the cries of the wounded, as the battle reached a fever pitch.
As the day wore on, the defenders began to feel the strain of the prolonged engagement. Their ammunition was dwindling, and their hopes for survival were beginning to fade. Realizing the direness of their situation, two men volunteered to undertake a perilous mission: to ride back to Fort Reno and summon reinforcements. Among these brave volunteers was the Chaplain Reverend David White, demonstrating extraordinary courage in the face of danger. Their mission was fraught with risk, as they would have to navigate through hostile territory, potentially encountering more warriors along the way.
Before the two volunteers could embark on their desperate ride for help, a stroke of fortune arrived in the form of another wagon train. This larger train, consisting of 34 wagons and 47 men under the command of Captain Thomas B. Burrowes, was approaching from the northwest, heading towards Fort Reno. The arrival of this additional force dramatically altered the balance of power.
Captain Burrowes, upon assessing the situation, quickly assumed command of both wagon trains. The arrival of reinforcements and the increased firepower they provided proved to be a decisive factor. The warriors, realizing that their advantage had been diminished, broke off the attack and withdrew from the area. The timely arrival of Captain Burrowes and his men had undoubtedly saved the lives of those trapped in the wagon corral.
However, the Battle of Crazy Woman Creek, Wyoming, was not without further loss. During the engagement, one of Burrowes’ men, Private Terrence Callery, who had been hunting ahead of the wagon train, was killed by the warriors. His death served as a stark reminder of the ever-present danger that lurked along the Bozeman Trail.
The following day, the soldiers discovered the gruesome fate of Lieutenant Daniels. His body was found stripped, scalped, and pierced with 22 arrows, a testament to the brutality of the conflict and the deep-seated animosity between the Native American tribes and the encroaching settlers. The Battle of Crazy Woman Creek, Wyoming, underscores the violent nature of the frontier and the tragic consequences of cultural clashes.
Following the battle, both wagon trains returned to Fort Reno, leaving behind the scene of the bloody encounter. The Battle of Crazy Woman Creek, Wyoming, though relatively small in scale, had a significant impact on those involved and served as a microcosm of the larger conflict unfolding along the Bozeman Trail.
Today, the site of the Battle of Crazy Woman Creek, Wyoming, is marked by a stone monument and several interpretive signs, offering visitors a glimpse into the events that transpired there over a century and a half ago. Located near Buffalo, Wyoming, the battlefield serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who traversed the Bozeman Trail and the fierce resistance encountered by the Native American tribes who sought to protect their way of life. The Battle of Crazy Woman Creek, Wyoming, remains a poignant chapter in the history of the American West, a testament to the enduring legacy of conflict and the ongoing need for understanding and reconciliation.