Battle of Prairie Dog Creek, Kansas
The Battle of Prairie Dog Creek, Kansas, a significant clash between U.S. military forces and Plains tribes, unfolded in the summer of 1867 within the boundaries of Phillips County. This confrontation, rooted in the escalating tensions between westward-expanding settlers and Native American populations defending their ancestral lands, serves as a potent reminder of the tumultuous era that defined the American West.
The backdrop to the Battle of Prairie Dog Creek was the post-Civil War surge of settlers into the Great Plains. Drawn by the promise of fertile land and new opportunities, these pioneers ventured into territories traditionally inhabited by various Plains tribes. This influx inevitably led to increased competition for resources and heightened friction between the newcomers and the indigenous people who had long called the region home.
By the mid-1860s, the Plains tribes, including the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Kiowa, recognized the existential threat posed by the relentless westward expansion. Their traditional way of life, deeply intertwined with the land and its resources, was being rapidly eroded by the encroaching settlements, the construction of railroads, and the relentless hunting of buffalo, their primary source of sustenance. In response, these tribes began to actively resist the intrusion, launching raids and attacks against settlers, railroad workers, and travelers, particularly along vital waterways such as the Smoky Hill, Saline, and Solomon Rivers.
Among the most formidable of these resisting forces were the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, renowned for their fierce warrior ethos, under the leadership of the skilled tactician Chief Roman Nose. They were joined by Kiowa warriors, led by the influential Chief Satanta, and experienced Sioux warriors. These combined forces launched attacks with a determination fueled by the desire to protect their lands and way of life. The escalating conflict prompted desperate pleas from the frightened citizens of Kansas for military intervention.
The War Department responded to these calls for assistance by authorizing the activation of volunteer militia units to provide active duty support during the emergency. On July 15, 1867, four companies of the 18th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, under the command of Captain Horace L. Moore, were formally mustered into Federal service. Their primary objective was to safeguard settlers from further attacks. The volunteers embarked on their mission on July 18, initiating a month-long campaign characterized by rigorous patrols and scouting activities. Upon their return to Fort Hays, the 18th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry joined forces with the 10th U.S. Cavalry, a regiment comprised of African American soldiers, famously known as "Buffalo Soldiers." This combined force, numbering over 250 men, was placed under the joint command of Captain George A. Armes of the 10th Cavalry and Captain Moore of the 18th Kansas.
Captain Armes led his contingent down Prairie Dog Creek, traversing the landscape of what is now Phillips County, while Captain Moore and his men scouted upstream. While the two units were separated, Captain Armes’s group encountered a formidable force of approximately 300 Kiowa and Cheyenne warriors on August 21, 1867. These warriors were led by the prominent chiefs Satanta and Roman Nose, both known for their strategic acumen and battlefield prowess. This marked the beginning of the Battle of Prairie Dog Creek.
The warriors launched a fierce assault on Armes’s troops. Despite being significantly outnumbered, the U.S. soldiers bravely resisted the onslaught. Hearing the sounds of the intense battle, the men of the 18th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry swiftly moved to reinforce Armes’s position, demonstrating their commitment to supporting their fellow soldiers.
Facing overwhelming odds of five to one, the U.S. troops dismounted from their horses and sought refuge in a nearby ravine. This natural depression in the landscape provided them with a degree of cover and a defensive advantage. Throughout the afternoon, the soldiers endured a relentless series of assaults, facing wave after wave of determined warriors. However, the U.S. troops held their ground, leveraging the superior firepower of their Spencer repeating rifles to repel the repeated attacks. These rifles, capable of firing multiple rounds without reloading, proved to be a crucial factor in their defense.
Once the 18th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry had joined the fray, Captain Armes rallied his troops and initiated a coordinated maneuver. Moving towards Prairie Dog Creek, the cavalry charged directly at the assembled warriors. The unexpected charge, coupled with the continued effectiveness of the Spencer repeating rifles, disrupted the Native American attack. The warriors, unable to sustain the momentum of their assault, broke formation and scattered across the surrounding landscape.
The Battle of Prairie Dog Creek resulted in casualties on both sides. The cavalry suffered three fatalities and 36 wounded, while the Native American forces sustained significantly heavier losses, estimated at 50 dead and 150 wounded.
The Battle of Prairie Dog Creek marked a turning point in the U.S. military’s offensive operations on the Kansas frontier for that year. In the aftermath of the battle, and in recognition of the ongoing conflict, treaties were negotiated and signed with various tribes of the Southern Plains. These treaties, while intended to establish peace and delineate territorial boundaries, were often fraught with complexities and ultimately proved to be of limited long-term effectiveness in resolving the underlying issues of land rights and cultural preservation.
The legacy of the 18th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry endures to this day, as its lineage is carried on by the Kansas Army and Air National Guard. This modern-day military organization proudly traces its roots back to the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Prairie Dog Creek and other engagements during the turbulent era of westward expansion.
The site of the Battle of Prairie Dog Creek is located in the northwestern part of Phillips County, Kansas, situated between the towns of Long Island and Almena, south of Highway 383. While the battlefield itself is not extensively marked or preserved, it serves as a historical reminder of the conflict that shaped the region and the nation.
The Battle of Prairie Dog Creek, Kansas, stands as a testament to the clash of cultures and the struggles that defined the American West. It highlights the resilience and determination of both the U.S. military forces and the Plains tribes who fought to protect their respective ways of life. Understanding the context and consequences of this battle provides valuable insight into the complex history of the American frontier and the enduring legacy of its conflicts.