The period between 1868 and 1869 marked a turbulent era of escalating Indian attacks on the Wyoming plains, characterized by intense conflict between Native American tribes and encroaching American settlers and military forces. These persistent hostilities highlighted the complex and often violent struggle for control over vital territories in the American West. Despite the government’s efforts to broker peace through the Fort Laramie Treaty, the reality on the ground was far from tranquil, as Native American warriors fiercely resisted the continuous encroachment on their ancestral lands and traditional way of life.
As early as 1868, Native American tribes, primarily the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho, demonstrated a staunch determination to maintain their sovereignty and resist the westward expansion that threatened their existence. The U.S. government, recognizing the widespread unrest, proposed a major peace conference at Fort Laramie for April of that year. While initial overtures suggested a willingness from hostile bands to attend, subsequent events revealed a deep distrust and a lack of true intent from some factions to cease hostilities immediately. The War Department’s records for March 1868 painted a stark picture of the volatile conditions leading up to the peace commissioners’ arrival, underscoring the ongoing challenges and significant Indian attacks on the Wyoming plains.
Mounting Tensions Before the Fort Laramie Treaty
March 1868 was a month of escalating conflict across the Wyoming Territory. On March 12, a mail party traveling from Fort Reno suffered an attack on the Dry Fork of the Cheyenne River. The very next day, a wagon train en route between Fort Fetterman and the Laramie Peak sawmill was captured by warriors, indicating a concerted effort to disrupt supply lines and movement. The aggression continued on March 18, when 29 mules belonging to a sawmill train were seized, and one man was tragically killed. The same day, a camp near Box Elder, led by a man named Brace, was assaulted, resulting in the loss of 60 head of cattle. The attacks culminated on March 24 with the burning of several ranches and the killing of men between the strategic outposts of Forts Laramie and Fetterman.
Further demonstrating the pervasive threat, four men herding stock on Lone Tree Creek, approximately 25 miles from Cheyenne, came under attack. Among the survivors were W.E. Talbott, George Spurr, a man identified only as Morse, and a Mexican known as Joe. Morse sustained a broken arm during the encounter. Despite swift communication to Fort Russell and the deployment of a detachment of soldiers, the Native American raiding party skillfully evaded capture, disappearing into the vast frontier.
The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868: A Flawed Peace
Despite the palpable reluctance of many Native American groups to conclude a lasting peace, the U.S. peace commission arrived at Fort Laramie on April 7, 1868, extending invitations to all tribes. The commissioners endured a three-month waiting period at the fort, during which various bands did arrive to sign the treaty. In exchange for their signatures, they received essential provisions, clothing, blankets, and, controversially, firearms and ammunition. This aspect of the treaty often fueled further conflict, as some arms were inevitably used against settlers and soldiers.
However, several influential chiefs, most notably Red Cloud and Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses, conspicuously abstained from signing. Red Cloud, a prominent Oglala Lakota leader, resolutely refused to commit until U.S. troops were fully withdrawn from the Bozeman Trail, a route that trespassed directly through prime Lakota hunting grounds. His unwavering stance proved effective, and he finally signed the treaty on November 6, 1868, only after the military abandoned the forts along the trail. The news of Chief Red Cloud’s eventual agreement to peace prompted a significant exodus of approximately 600 warriors from his camp in the Powder River country, many of whom remained hostile and committed to defending their lands.
Renewed Hostilities in 1869
The summer of 1869 witnessed a resurgence of aggressive actions by the warriors who had withdrawn from Red Cloud’s influence, leading to further Indian attacks on the Wyoming plains. On August 22, Edmond M. Pratt was killed just a mile and a half east of Cheyenne, and 34 head of livestock were stolen. Pratt’s companion, B. J. Evert, narrowly escaped to Cheyenne, but a military detachment dispatched from Fort D.A. Russell failed to locate the attackers.
A month earlier, on July 28, a paymaster wagon, heavily escorted by 60 soldiers, was ambushed between Forts Reno and Fetterman. Two soldiers were killed in the initial onslaught, triggering a fierce engagement. After a sharp battle, the Native American warriors were eventually repulsed, having suffered several casualties. The paymaster and his escort were then able to proceed without further incident.
The hostilities continued with relentless frequency. On August 28, 1869, warriors attacked Laycock’s camp of woodchoppers. The woodchoppers bravely defended themselves, returning fire and killing one of the attackers before the rest fled, leaving all woodchoppers unharmed. On the very same day, reports reached Fort Sanders of three white men being killed on the Big Thompson River, highlighting the widespread nature of the conflict.
Significant Incidents and Skirmishes
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September 15, 1869: Cooper Lake Attack
A group encamped at Cooper Lake was ambushed. One man was killed, and two men and a woman were captured by the hostile forces. The Native Americans then moved towards Laramie Peak. Commanders at Forts Laramie and Fetterman were alerted, and detachments were sent in pursuit from both locations. However, the elusive warriors skillfully evaded their pursuers, slipping into the Sweetwater Country and escaping capture.
Frontier Under Siege: Unraveling the Persistent Indian Attacks on the Wyoming Plains (1868-1869) – Illustration 2 -
September 15, 1869: Whiskey Gap Encounter
Coincidentally on the same day as the Cooper Lake attack, Lieutenant J.H. Spencer, leading Company B of the Fourth Infantry, faced a formidable force of 300 Native American warriors near Whiskey Gap, Wyoming. One soldier was captured during the intense engagement and was presumed to have been killed, underscoring the severe risks faced by military personnel.
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September 17, 1869: Point of Rocks Stagecoach Attack
Just two days later, a stagecoach was attacked at Point of Rocks, Wyoming, resulting in the death of the driver. These attacks on vital transportation routes demonstrated the determination of the Native Americans to disrupt communication and supply lines, asserting their presence and resistance.
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December 1, 1869: Horseshoe Creek Mail Stage Ambush
Near present-day Glendo, Wyoming, at Horseshoe Creek, approximately 150 Lakota Sioux warriors launched an ambush on a mail stage traveling from Fort Fetterman to Fort Laramie. The stage was escorted by ten soldiers under Sergeant Conrad Bahr. Despite the overwhelming numbers of the attackers, the soldiers valiantly fought back, inflicting several casualties on the warriors. Although three soldiers were wounded, the crucial mail delivery successfully reached its destination, a testament to their resilience.
The Impact of the Union Pacific Railroad and Buffalo Slaughter
The year 1869 marked a pivotal moment in American history with the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad, effectively uniting the nation from coast to coast. This technological marvel, however, brought a deluge of consequences for the Native American tribes. Thousands of settlers, prospectors, and opportunistic individuals flooded Wyoming and the broader American West, fundamentally altering the landscape and its delicate ecological balance.
Among the influx were hundreds of buffalo hunters, many driven by the sheer thrill of the kill rather than necessity. The scale of destruction was catastrophic; one party of 16 men reportedly slaughtered 28,000 buffalo in a single summer. This unregulated and wanton destruction of the American bison, a creature central to Native American sustenance, culture, and survival, rapidly forced many tribes into increasing dependence on government rations. These rations were often insufficient, delayed, or failed to arrive entirely, exacerbating hardship and resentment. The railroad also facilitated greater access for prospectors and others seeking to exploit the region’s rich natural resources, further squeezing the already diminishing resources available to Native Americans and intensifying the cycle of conflict.
These unacceptable conditions fueled continued resistance and prompted the U.S. military to establish additional outposts. Camp Auger, later renamed Camp Brown, was founded in June 1869 near present-day Lander, Wyoming, serving as an extension of the broader network of military installations like Fort Bridger. The following year, Fort Stambaugh was established near South Pass City, further solidifying military presence and control over critical routes and territories. These forts were strategic responses to the ongoing Indian attacks on the Wyoming plains and the persistent struggle for land and resources.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Unresolved Conflict
The period of 1868-1869 stands as a testament to the fierce resistance offered by Native American tribes against the relentless tide of American expansion into the Wyoming plains. The numerous Indian attacks on the Wyoming plains were not random acts of violence but were deeply rooted responses to broken treaties, territorial encroachments, and the catastrophic destruction of their primary food source, the buffalo. While the Fort Laramie Treaty aimed to bring peace, its incomplete acceptance and the continued pressures of settlement and resource exploitation meant that true tranquility remained elusive. The conflicts of this era profoundly shaped the future of the American West, leaving a legacy of unresolved tensions and a stark reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of land and survival. The establishment of military forts and the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad marked irreversible changes, forever altering the lives and landscapes of the Wyoming frontier and its indigenous peoples.
