Battle of Dry Creek, Wyoming
The vast expanse of the American West, during the mid-19th century, was a crucible of conflict, a meeting point of diverging cultures and competing claims to land and resources. Amidst this tumultuous period, numerous skirmishes and battles etched their mark upon the landscape, often overshadowed by larger, more widely documented engagements. One such encounter, the Battle of Dry Creek, Wyoming, stands as a testament to the tensions and struggles that defined the era. Fought on June 3, 1865, this clash between the U.S. Cavalry and Native American warriors, though relatively small in scale, provides a valuable glimpse into the realities of frontier warfare and the lives of those who participated in it.
The year 1865 was a pivotal one for the United States. While the Civil War was drawing to a close in the East, the Western territories remained a theater of ongoing conflict. The expansion of white settlement, the construction of railroads, and the exploitation of natural resources encroached upon traditional Native American lands and ways of life. This encroachment led to increasing resistance from various tribes, resulting in a series of battles and skirmishes across the West. The Battle of Dry Creek, Wyoming, was one such event, a direct consequence of this escalating tension.
Lieutenant Colonel Preston B. Plumb, a name that resonates within the annals of military history, held command of the 11th Kansas Cavalry. His headquarters were strategically situated at Camp Dodge, a temporary tent encampment strategically positioned approximately six miles southeast of Platte Bridge Station. This station, a vital communication and supply hub, served as a focal point for military operations in the region. The area surrounding Platte Bridge Station was a landscape of rolling plains, punctuated by creeks and rivers, a terrain that would play a crucial role in the events of June 3rd.
The catalyst for the Battle of Dry Creek, Wyoming occurred around 3:00 p.m. on that fateful day. A small band of ten Native American warriors, their tribal affiliation not explicitly documented in historical records, launched a daring raid on Platte Bridge Station. Positioned across the North Platte River, they unleashed a volley of gunfire, disrupting the station’s operations and signaling their defiance. This act of aggression, though limited in scope, served as a spark that ignited a chain of events leading to the confrontation at Dry Creek.
News of the raid swiftly reached Lieutenant Colonel Plumb at Camp Dodge. Promptly responding to the call to action, he assembled a contingent of eleven troops from his own 11th Kansas Cavalry. Recognizing the need for additional manpower, he also gathered ten men from the Ohio Cavalry, supplemented by a few more volunteers from the Kansas Cavalry already stationed at Platte Bridge. This hastily formed unit, numbering around thirty men, prepared to pursue the Native American raiders, embarking on a journey that would lead them into the heart of the conflict.
The pursuit commenced westward, across the rugged terrain of Wyoming. The soldiers, mounted on horseback, pressed forward with determination, their focus fixed on apprehending the raiders and restoring order. After approximately five miles of relentless pursuit, the soldiers began to close the distance. They were now within firing range of the fleeing warriors. Opening fire, they managed to strike two of the Native Americans, inflicting casualties and further fueling the intensity of the chase.
In a bold and unexpected maneuver, the Native American warriors abruptly turned and charged towards Plumb and his pursuing troops. This sudden counter-attack, though brief, caught the soldiers off guard and demonstrated the warriors’ courage and willingness to engage in close-quarters combat. However, the charge was short-lived. The warriors, perhaps outnumbered or strategically reassessing their position, broke off the attack and resumed their retreat, drawing the soldiers deeper into the unforgiving landscape.
As Plumb and his men pressed their pursuit, they soon arrived at Dry Creek, a seemingly unremarkable waterway that would become the namesake of the battle. It was here that they encountered a significantly larger force of Native American warriors, numbering approximately sixty. This larger contingent launched a determined charge against the approaching soldiers, creating a far more formidable challenge. The situation for Plumb and his men was now critical. Outnumbered and facing a fierce assault, their position appeared precarious.
Fortuitously for the soldiers, reinforcements arrived in the nick of time. A contingent of twenty additional men from the Kansas Cavalry, responding to the sounds of battle or perhaps following a pre-arranged plan, appeared on the scene. This timely arrival bolstered the soldiers’ ranks and significantly altered the balance of power. Faced with this unexpected surge in enemy strength, the Native American warriors executed an about-face, mirroring their earlier maneuver, and began to withdraw.
The soldiers, now reinforced and emboldened, resumed their pursuit of the Native American warriors. For another two miles, the chase continued across the undulating terrain. However, the soldiers were unaware that they were being led into a carefully orchestrated trap. The warriors skillfully lured them into an ambush, where a hidden force of approximately thirty additional warriors lay in wait. This ambush marked a turning point in the Battle of Dry Creek, Wyoming, leading to casualties on both sides.
The ambush was swift and brutal. The concealed warriors unleashed a sudden barrage of gunfire, catching the soldiers in a deadly crossfire. Two of the soldiers, caught off guard and exposed, fell victim to the ambush and were killed in action. Their names, etched in the annals of military history, serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made on the American frontier. Despite these losses, the soldiers rallied and engaged the warriors in a fierce firefight.
In his official report, Lieutenant Colonel Plumb documented the outcome of the battle. He reported that one Native American warrior was confirmed killed, and an estimated five others were wounded. While the exact number of Native American casualties remains uncertain due to the nature of the conflict and the limitations of record-keeping at the time, Plumb’s report provides a valuable, albeit potentially biased, account of the battle’s results. The Battle of Dry Creek, Wyoming was over.
Today, the site of the Battle of Dry Creek, Wyoming is marked by a stone monument. The monument stands on the side of a hill, a silent sentinel overlooking the landscape where the battle unfolded. The site is accessible via an unimproved road, located approximately 23 miles west of the town of Kaycee. The monument serves as a tangible reminder of the events that transpired on that day in June 1865, inviting visitors to reflect on the complexities of the American West and the sacrifices made by those who shaped its history.