Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack, Wyoming
The vast, untamed landscapes of the American West in the mid-19th century beckoned pioneers with promises of fertile land, gold, and a fresh start. However, the journey westward was fraught with peril, not least from encounters with Native American tribes who viewed the influx of settlers as a threat to their ancestral lands and way of life. One such tragic event, etched into the history of Wyoming, is the Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who dared to traverse the frontier.
In May of 1864, a small group of hopeful emigrants set out from eastern Kansas, their sights set on the burgeoning territory of Montana. At the heart of this wagon train were Josiah and Fanny Kelly, accompanied by their niece and adopted daughter, five-year-old Mary Hurley. Their party also included two Black employees, one known as Franklin, and a hired driver named Andrew Sullivan, along with a single man named Gardner Wakefield. As they journeyed westward, they were joined by another family, William and Sarah Larimer, and their eight-year-old son, Frank, bolstering their numbers and sharing the burden of the long and arduous trek.
Their initial destination was Fort Laramie, a vital outpost in Wyoming Territory, serving as a resupply point and a place of respite for weary travelers. Arriving in early July, the wagon train, including the Kellys and Larimers, sought a brief respite within the fort’s protective walls. After a short period of rest and replenishment, the families were eager to continue their journey towards Montana. Fort personnel assured them that the road ahead was safe and that the local Native American tribes were generally peaceful. Emboldened by these assurances, they left Fort Laramie, joined by a few more wagons, including those of Reverend Sharp and Noah Taylor. Little did they know, their journey was about to take a devastating turn.
On the afternoon of July 12, 1864, disaster struck. The five wagons had just crossed Little Box Elder Creek, a mere four miles west of LaPrele Station, when they were ambushed. A large band of over 200 Oglala Sioux warriors emerged, initially professing friendship. The Native Americans approached the wagon train, requesting food and supplies, which the emigrants, in a gesture of goodwill, readily provided. The warriors also expressed admiration for Josiah Kelly’s prized horse, which he reluctantly gifted to them. However, this apparent display of peace was a ruse.
Following the meal, the Sioux warriors unleashed a sudden and brutal attack, armed with guns and arrows. Josiah Kelly, William Larimer, and Andrew Sullivan were wounded in the initial onslaught, but managed to escape the immediate carnage. Tragically, the remaining four men – Noah Taylor, Reverend Sharp, Gardner Wakefield, and Kelly’s employee, Franklin – were killed in the attack. The women and children – Fanny Kelly, Sarah Larimer, Mary Hurley, and young Frank Larimer – were taken captive. The warriors then looted the wagons, seizing their possessions and driving off the horses, leaving the wagon train in ruins. The Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack had a profound impact on the survivors.
That night, amidst the chaos and fear of captivity, Fanny Kelly made a courageous decision. Hoping to increase her chances of rescue, she encouraged her adopted daughter, Mary Hurley, to attempt an escape. Sadly, Mary’s attempt to flee ended in tragedy. Josiah Kelly would later find her lifeless body, cruelly marked with arrows and scalped. The Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack was now marked with the ultimate loss.
The following night, Sarah Larimer, driven by a mother’s instinct to protect her son, seized an opportunity to escape with young Frank. Their desperate flight led them to safety, leaving Fanny Kelly alone in captivity. For months, she was forced to remain with the Sioux, enduring the hardships and uncertainties of life as a captive.
Finally, in December of that same year, Fanny Kelly’s ordeal came to an end. She was surrendered at Fort Sully, South Dakota, and soon reunited with her husband, Josiah. Together, they returned to Kansas, forever marked by the tragedy they had endured. The Larimers, having found refuge in Wyoming, decided to settle there, seeking to rebuild their lives in the shadow of the mountains. The site of the Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack remained.
The memory of Mary Hurley was honored with a burial on the very spot where she was found. Her grave became a poignant reminder of the innocence lost and the brutality of the conflict between settlers and Native Americans. The four men who perished in the attack were initially buried in a common grave some distance away. However, in 1954, when the grave was threatened by the construction of a reservoir, their remains were moved to a new gravesite adjacent to Mary’s, uniting them in their final resting place. The Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack became a symbol of the era.
Today, the site of Mary Hurley’s grave and the Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack itself are located approximately 14 miles west of Douglas, Wyoming. They serve as a solemn memorial to the lives lost and the hardships endured during the westward expansion of the United States. The Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack serves as a somber reminder of the human cost of westward expansion.
The Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack underscores the complexities of the relationship between settlers and Native Americans during this tumultuous period. While some sought peaceful coexistence, the clash of cultures and competing claims to land often led to violence and tragedy. The Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack is a stark reminder of the violence.
The Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack and the story of Fanny Kelly, Mary Hurley, and the other victims, serve as a valuable reminder of the sacrifices and struggles that shaped the American West. It is a story of courage, resilience, and the enduring human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. The Kelly-Larimer Wagon Train Attack remains a significant event in Wyoming history.