Cheyenne Military Campaign of 1878
The year 1878 witnessed a significant chapter in the tumultuous history of the American West, marked by conflict, desperation, and the unwavering spirit of the Northern Cheyenne people. This period, known as the Cheyenne Military Campaign of 1878, unfolded against a backdrop of broken treaties, forced relocation, and cultural disruption, ultimately leading to a desperate attempt by a band of Northern Cheyenne to return to their ancestral lands. The campaign’s narrative is woven with threads of military pursuit, skirmishes, capture, and escape, highlighting the deep-seated tensions between the U.S. government and the Native American tribes it sought to control.
Following the widespread surrenders of Northern Cheyenne warriors in 1877 across the Departments of Dakota and the Platte, a significant number of these individuals, along with their families, were placed under guard and forcibly relocated to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency at Fort Reno, Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), on August 8, 1877. This relocation was intended to consolidate the Northern Cheyenne with their Southern Cheyenne counterparts, effectively assimilating them into a new way of life far removed from their traditional hunting grounds and cultural practices. As smaller groups continued to surrender in the aftermath, the population of Northern Cheyenne at Fort Reno swelled to over 940 individuals by July 1, 1878.
General Pope, commanding the Department of the Missouri, initially sought to disarm and dismount these newly arrived Northern Cheyenne, intending to place them on the same footing as the Southern Cheyenne already residing in the area. This policy aimed to strip them of their mobility and any potential for resistance, effectively solidifying federal control over the region. However, authorities soon recognized that such actions would constitute a direct violation of the surrender conditions agreed upon in 1877. Consequently, the Northern Cheyenne were permitted to retain their arms and ponies, a decision that would later have significant implications.
Within the confines of the Fort Reno agency, the Northern Cheyenne experienced a complex social dynamic. Many found kinship and camaraderie with the Southern Cheyenne, integrating into their bands and intermingling within the established community. However, a sizable faction, approximately one-third of the Northern Cheyenne population, remained distinct and resistant to assimilation. Under the leadership of prominent figures such as Dull Knife, Wild Hog, and Little Wolf, this group, numbering around 375 individuals, maintained their separate identity and refused to fully integrate with the Southern Cheyenne.
This group harbored a deep-seated dissatisfaction with life at the Fort Reno agency. The arid landscape, the unfamiliar agricultural practices, and the forced confinement all contributed to a growing sense of discontent. They yearned for the familiar landscapes of their northern homeland, the buffalo herds that once sustained them, and the freedom to live according to their traditional ways. Fueled by this longing, they resolved to break away from the agency, embark on a perilous journey north, and rejoin their relatives and friends in the territories they had been forced to abandon.
Their intentions to escape did not go unnoticed. The U.S. military, aware of the simmering discontent and the potential for a mass exodus, maintained a watchful presence over the Cheyenne encampment. Troops closely monitored their movements, attempting to anticipate and thwart any attempts at flight. Despite these precautions, the Northern Cheyenne, employing a clever ruse, managed to outwit their captors. On September 9, 1877, they abandoned their lodges, leaving them standing as a deceptive facade, and slipped away under the cover of darkness. A band of approximately 89 warriors, accompanied by slightly less than 250 women and children, vanished from the agency, setting in motion the events that would define the Cheyenne Military Campaign of 1878.
The escape triggered an immediate and widespread military response. Troops were dispatched from various posts throughout the region, tasked with intercepting the fleeing Cheyenne and returning them to the Fort Reno agency. The chase was on, and the vast expanse of the American West became the stage for a desperate game of cat and mouse. The Cheyenne, driven by their desire for freedom and survival, skillfully evaded their pursuers, utilizing their knowledge of the terrain and their mastery of horsemanship to stay one step ahead.
As they journeyed northward, the Cheyenne found themselves increasingly reliant on raiding settlements for essential supplies, particularly livestock. These acts of desperation, born out of necessity, inevitably led to further conflict with the settlers and the military, escalating the intensity of the Cheyenne Military Campaign of 1878. On September 21, a minor skirmish erupted between the Cheyenne and a contingent of Army troops aided by local citizens. While the encounter was relatively brief, it served as a stark reminder of the escalating violence and the growing determination of both sides.
Six days later, Colonel Lewis, leading a command of U.S. soldiers, finally caught up with the Cheyenne at "Punished Woman’s Fork" of the Smoky Hill River in present-day Kansas. The Cheyenne, anticipating the arrival of the troops, had established a strong defensive position, entrenching themselves in the rugged terrain. Colonel Lewis, without hesitation, ordered an immediate attack. The ensuing battle was fierce and bloody. Colonel Lewis, leading the assault, was mortally wounded in the thick of the fighting. Three enlisted men sustained injuries, while one Cheyenne warrior was killed. Despite the casualties, the U.S. troops managed to capture 62 head of livestock.
Despite the losses suffered at Punished Woman’s Fork, the Cheyenne once again managed to escape, continuing their arduous journey north. Two Cheyenne prisoners, captured by cowboys, revealed valuable intelligence to the authorities. They disclosed that the fugitives intended to reach Fort Keogh in Montana Territory, where they hoped to surrender and be allowed to remain. However, if their surrender was refused, they planned to join Sitting Bull, the Lakota leader who had sought refuge in Canada following the Battle of Little Bighorn. The prisoners also revealed that the Cheyenne had suffered approximately 15 fatalities in the various skirmishes that had occurred since their escape from Fort Reno. The Cheyenne Military Campaign of 1878 was taking a heavy toll.
On October 23rd, two troops of the 3rd Cavalry successfully captured 149 of the Cheyenne, along with 140 head of livestock. Among those taken prisoner were prominent leaders such as Dull Knife, Old Crow, and Wild Hog. The soldiers confiscated their ponies and any weapons they could find. The captured Cheyenne, however, made it clear that they would rather die than be returned to the Indian Territory. Little Wolf, along with some of his followers, managed to evade capture, continuing their desperate flight northward. In January 1879, following a skirmish with troops near Fort Robinson, Nebraska, additional members of the tribe escaped to join Little Wolf’s band.
A group of Cheyenne, who had positioned themselves on cliffs for defense, were intercepted, but managed to escape again. However, two days later, they were located near the telegraph line from Fort Robinson to Hat Creek, entrenched in a gully. Refusing to surrender, they were immediately attacked, resulting in the death or capture of the entire party. Tragically, Dull Knife, one of their leaders, was among those killed in the fighting.
On March 25th, Little Wolf and his band were finally overtaken near Box Elder Creek by a formidable force comprised of two Cavalry troops, a detachment of Infantry, a field gun, and a contingent of Indian scouts. Faced with overwhelming odds, the Cheyenne, after some persuasion, agreed to surrender without further bloodshed. They relinquished all their remaining arms and approximately 250 ponies, and marched with the troops to Fort Keogh. The band consisted of 33 men, 43 women, and 38 children.
The Cheyenne Military Campaign of 1878, while marked by tragedy and loss, stands as a testament to the enduring spirit and resilience of the Northern Cheyenne people. Their desperate flight for freedom, their unwavering determination to return to their ancestral lands, and their ultimate surrender in the face of insurmountable odds, remain a poignant chapter in the history of the American West. This campaign is a reminder of the complex and often brutal interactions between the U.S. government and Native American tribes during the 19th century.