The Sioux Wars
Red Cloud's War (Bozeman War)
Map of the Bozeman Trail and Powder River Country
This conflict pitted the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Northern Arapaho against the United States forces within the Wyoming and Montana territories. The conflict lasted from 1866 to 1868 and ended in complete victory for the Lakota. During the 1860's, gold miners and settlers used the Bozeman trail to cross over into Montana's gold fields and also to reach the Oregon Trail.
This area, known as the Powder River Country, was under the control of the Lakota, and the opposing sides were often brought into conflict. Red Cloud, an Oglala leader, lead raids on three forts in the area as well as attacking settlers. The Fetterman Fight, the largest battle during the two-year conflict, was the worst defeat of U.S. soldiers in the West until the Battle of Little Bighorn. Red Cloud's war ended with the Treaty of Fort Laramie, which, interestingly enough, was initially opposed by three-hundred Sioux and Red Cloud himself. The treaty supposedly guarenteed the Lakota's ownership of the land and hunting rights, but it was largely ignored on the American end. Overall, the war bought the Lakota a little less than a decade of total control before the next war began.
This area, known as the Powder River Country, was under the control of the Lakota, and the opposing sides were often brought into conflict. Red Cloud, an Oglala leader, lead raids on three forts in the area as well as attacking settlers. The Fetterman Fight, the largest battle during the two-year conflict, was the worst defeat of U.S. soldiers in the West until the Battle of Little Bighorn. Red Cloud's war ended with the Treaty of Fort Laramie, which, interestingly enough, was initially opposed by three-hundred Sioux and Red Cloud himself. The treaty supposedly guarenteed the Lakota's ownership of the land and hunting rights, but it was largely ignored on the American end. Overall, the war bought the Lakota a little less than a decade of total control before the next war began.
The Black Hills War (Great Sioux War of 1876)
For years there had been conflict between the Lakota and the United States government. With the discovery of gold in the Black Hills, the U.S. found it increasingly difficult to keep settlers out of the area. In fact, just prior to 1876, it was decided that the government would stop evicting settlers in the Black Hills with the hope that they would eventually force the Lakota to surrender their lands. The leaders of the U.S. forces were mainly Generals Crook and Terry.
The first major encounter was the Battle of the Rosebud. While the U.S. general in charge of the operation considered it to be an American victory, historians agree that, at most, the battle was a tactical draw. Crook's progress had been clearly checked by the Lakota.
The most famous battle was the Battle of the Little Bighorn, sometimes called Custer's Last Stand. The Lieutenant Colonel had been sent out to scout the land when he and his company reached a large village of Lakota. Just prior to the battle, Custer divided his already-small force. Those in his immediate command of 270 were killed, including himself.
One other major conflict was the Battle of Slim Buttes. Crook had recieved reinforcements, but was running low on supplies. Unable to find any settlements where they could get food, his path through the plains has often been called the "Starvation March." However, at Slim Buttes they encountered a small Indian village, which they defeated and pillaged for supplies.
in the end, the Lakota were ultimately forced to sign over the Black Hills to U.S. control, and the majority of their people - along with their allies, the Northern Cheyenne - were moved to reservations. Most of these were located in so-called Indian Territory in Oklahoma, although a few were allowed to remain in the North. Unlike Red Cloud's war, Sioux leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse had trouble rallying their own people, many of which had given in to pressure and moved to Indian Agencies that provided them with food rations.
The first major encounter was the Battle of the Rosebud. While the U.S. general in charge of the operation considered it to be an American victory, historians agree that, at most, the battle was a tactical draw. Crook's progress had been clearly checked by the Lakota.
The most famous battle was the Battle of the Little Bighorn, sometimes called Custer's Last Stand. The Lieutenant Colonel had been sent out to scout the land when he and his company reached a large village of Lakota. Just prior to the battle, Custer divided his already-small force. Those in his immediate command of 270 were killed, including himself.
One other major conflict was the Battle of Slim Buttes. Crook had recieved reinforcements, but was running low on supplies. Unable to find any settlements where they could get food, his path through the plains has often been called the "Starvation March." However, at Slim Buttes they encountered a small Indian village, which they defeated and pillaged for supplies.
in the end, the Lakota were ultimately forced to sign over the Black Hills to U.S. control, and the majority of their people - along with their allies, the Northern Cheyenne - were moved to reservations. Most of these were located in so-called Indian Territory in Oklahoma, although a few were allowed to remain in the North. Unlike Red Cloud's war, Sioux leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse had trouble rallying their own people, many of which had given in to pressure and moved to Indian Agencies that provided them with food rations.
Wounded Knee Massacre
This was the last major armed conflict between the Lakota Sioux and the United States. On December 29, 1890, five-hundred soldiers from the U.S. 7th Cavalry surrounded a Lakota encampment with orders to escort the group to Omaha, Nebraska (the Lakota tribes present were the Miniconjou and Hunkpapa). When ordered to surrender their weapons, one deaf Lakota man refused, and in the struggle a gunshot was fired. The Americans, accompanied by four Hotchkiss artillery guns, opened fire on the crowd. A total of 25 troopers and 150 Lakota were killed, including women and children, the troopers likely due to friendly fire. Some accounts dispute the death toll, saying it was more than double that many. Many of the Lakota also died of hypothermia after fleeing the chaos.
The incident was part of a larger movement, usually called the Ghost Dance War. The dance was invented by the Paiute medicine man Wovoka, and predicted a terrible apocalypse which would destroy the white man. Participants in the dance would be spared, their lands returned, and the buffalo brought back. The U.S. government saw the dance as a threat and attempted to suppress it, resulting in year-long confrontation. Many Native Americans are still upset that twenty men were awarded Medals of Honor for their actions regarding Wounded Knee, and that their medals have not been rescinded.
The incident was part of a larger movement, usually called the Ghost Dance War. The dance was invented by the Paiute medicine man Wovoka, and predicted a terrible apocalypse which would destroy the white man. Participants in the dance would be spared, their lands returned, and the buffalo brought back. The U.S. government saw the dance as a threat and attempted to suppress it, resulting in year-long confrontation. Many Native Americans are still upset that twenty men were awarded Medals of Honor for their actions regarding Wounded Knee, and that their medals have not been rescinded.