The Marias Massacre of Montana
"The greatest slaughter of Indians ever made by U.S. Troops."
— Lieutenant Gus Doane, commander of F Company
The Marias Massacre of Montana, a tragic and largely obscured event in American history, unfolded on January 23, 1870. This one-sided clash in the vast landscapes of Montana resulted in the deaths of approximately 200 Piegan Indians, predominantly women, children, and elders. The stark reality of the slaughter was captured by Lieutenant Gus Doane, a commanding officer present, who chillingly described it as "the greatest slaughter of Indians ever made by U.S. troops." This statement underscores the brutal nature of the encounter and its lasting impact on the involved communities. Despite its magnitude, the Marias Massacre of Montana remains a relatively obscure incident in the broader narrative of the American West.
To understand the context of the Marias Massacre of Montana, it is crucial to examine the preceding years and the complex relationships between the indigenous tribes and the encroaching white settlers. The Blackfeet Confederacy, a powerful alliance of the Blackfeet, Blood, and Piegan tribes, had experienced increasing tensions with the settlers for several years. These tensions stemmed from competition over resources, territorial disputes, and cultural misunderstandings. In 1869, these simmering hostilities boiled over when a young Piegan warrior named Owl Child stole several horses from Malcolm Clarke, a prominent white trader. Clarke, incensed by the theft, tracked down Owl Child and publicly humiliated him by beating him in front of his camp. This act of retribution sparked a cycle of violence, as Owl Child, seeking revenge for the humiliation, gathered a band of rogue Piegans and killed Clarke.
The death of Malcolm Clarke ignited public outrage and demands for retribution. General Philip Sheridan, a prominent figure in the U.S. Army known for his aggressive campaigns against Native American tribes, responded by dispatching a detachment of cavalry under the command of Major Eugene Baker. Their mission was to locate and punish those responsible for Clarke’s death. The cavalry’s pursuit led them to the Marias River, where they received a scouting report indicating that a band of Piegans, led by Mountain Chief, was camped along the riverbanks. This intelligence set the stage for the events of January 23, 1870, and the tragic Marias Massacre of Montana.
As dawn broke on that fateful day, approximately 200 U.S. cavalrymen dismounted and positioned themselves in an ambush along the snow-covered bluffs overlooking the Marias River. They awaited the order to attack, unaware of the tragic mistake that was about to unfold. As the sun began to illuminate the camp below, the leader emerged from his lodge and walked towards the bluffs, waving a safe-conduct paper in a gesture of peace. However, this was not Mountain Chief, the intended target, who had been forewarned and had already moved his band to safety. Instead, it was Heavy Runner, another Piegan leader known for his amicable relations with the white men.
A critical moment of misidentification and disregarded warnings sealed the fate of Heavy Runner’s village. As the cavalry prepared to fire, an Army scout named Joe Kipp recognized Heavy Runner and shouted that they were attacking the wrong camp. His warning was met with threats of silence, highlighting the prevailing atmosphere of hostility and disregard for Native American lives. Ignoring the plea for caution, another scout, Joe Cobell, fired the first shot, killing Heavy Runner and triggering the Marias Massacre of Montana.
The ensuing carnage was swift and devastating. The Piegan camp, caught completely off guard, was left defenseless. Most of the warriors were away hunting, leaving the village vulnerable to the sudden and overwhelming assault. Bullets rained down upon the lodges, tearing through the thin hides and collapsing some into the smoldering fire pits. The unsuspecting inhabitants, many of whom were still asleep, were caught in a maelstrom of violence. Women, children, and the elderly were the primary victims of the indiscriminate attack.
When the brutal assault finally subsided, the toll was staggering. An estimated 173 Piegans lay dead, the majority of whom were women, children, and elderly individuals. In addition to the dead, approximately 140 survivors were captured by the soldiers. These captives were later released without horses, adequate food, or clothing, leaving them to face the harsh Montana winter on their own. As the refugees made their arduous journey towards Fort Benton, some 90 miles away, many succumbed to the elements, freezing to death in the unforgiving cold. The Marias Massacre of Montana had not only claimed the lives of those killed in the initial attack but also contributed to further suffering and death among the survivors.
Meanwhile, Major Eugene Baker, oblivious to the unfolding tragedy and the devastating error in targeting, led his troops downstream in search of Mountain Chief’s band, the intended target specified in his orders. By the time they reached their destination, Mountain Chief and his followers had already escaped across the border into Canadian territory, beyond the reach of the U.S. cavalry. The mission to punish those responsible for Clarke’s death had failed, and the Marias Massacre of Montana had resulted in the senseless slaughter of innocent people.
The casualties on the U.S. side were minimal. Only one cavalryman died during the massacre, and his death was not the result of enemy action. He reportedly fell off his horse and broke his leg, succumbing to his injury. The stark disparity in casualties further underscores the one-sided nature of the event and the overwhelming power imbalance between the U.S. military and the vulnerable Piegan community.
The aftermath of the Marias Massacre of Montana was marked by outrage and attempts to cover up the truth. News of the massacre sparked a brief period of public outcry, particularly in Congress and the eastern press. However, General William Sherman, a powerful figure in the U.S. Army, quickly moved to deflect criticism and suppress any official inquiry. He silenced the protests of General Alfred Sully, the Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent of Montana Indians, and Lieutenant William Pease, the Piegan Indian Agent who had reported the damning body count. Sherman issued a press release denying military culpability and falsely claiming that most of the dead Piegans were warriors in Mountain Chief’s camp.
Many placed blame on Major Baker, who was known to struggle with alcoholism, for the massacre and the failure to capture Mountain Chief’s band. However, General Sheridan publicly expressed his confidence in Baker’s leadership, further shielding him from accountability. Due to the combined efforts of Sheridan and Sherman to downplay the incident and suppress dissenting voices, an official investigation into the Marias Massacre of Montana never occurred.
Despite its significance and the devastating impact it had on the Piegan people, the Marias Massacre of Montana has been largely overlooked in historical accounts. It stands in stark contrast to other well-known massacres, such as the Bear River, Sand Creek, and Washita Massacres. To this day, no sign or monument marks the site of the mass grave where the victims of the massacre were buried, leaving the memory of this tragic event to fade into obscurity. The lack of recognition and remembrance further compounds the injustice suffered by the Piegan people and serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging and learning from the darker chapters of American history.