The Dull Knife Fight, a harrowing and pivotal engagement also known as the Battle of Bates Creek, stands as a brutal chapter in the Great Sioux War of 1876-77. Occurring on November 25, 1876, in the frozen expanse of Wyoming, this devastating military action profoundly impacted the Northern Cheyenne people, forever altering the course of their resistance.
Following the stunning defeat of Lieutenant Colonel George Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn the preceding summer, the United States Army intensified its retaliatory campaigns against the Native American tribes. General George Crook, a seasoned commander, received substantial reinforcements and began a determined push along the Bozeman Trail towards the Powder River. His objective was clear: to locate and subdue the remaining hostile Native American forces, particularly those under the leadership of renowned war chiefs like Crazy Horse.
General Crook’s Powerful Expedition
General Crook’s expedition was a formidable force, meticulously assembled for a decisive winter campaign. It comprised 11 companies from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Cavalries, commanded by Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie. Supplementing the cavalry were 15 companies of the 4th, 9th, 14th, and 23rd Infantry, along with four companies of the 4th Artillery, all under Lieutenant Colonel Richard Dodge. Crucially, the expedition also included approximately 400 Native American allies, drawing warriors from the Bannock, Shoshone, Pawnee, and even some Lakota bands, who served as invaluable scouts and fighters. When accounting for civilian packers and volunteers, the entire contingent numbered almost 2,200 men, supported by 168 wagons carrying vital supplies.
This massive command marched methodically to the location of old Fort Reno on the Powder River. It was here that Colonel Mackenzie, with his formidable cavalry contingent, separated from the main column. His mission was to conduct aggressive scouting operations in the rugged terrain. Soon, his skilled scouts brought critical intelligence: a large Cheyenne encampment had been discovered. Situated strategically along a canyon on the Red Fork of the Powder River, west of what is now Kaycee, Wyoming, this village housed about 200 lodges and approximately 400 warriors. The camp was led by the respected Chiefs Dull Knife and Little Wolf. Unbeknownst to them, the Cheyenne warriors had recently celebrated a victory over the Shoshone, a moment of triumph soon to be overshadowed by an impending tragedy.
The Surprise Attack: The Dull Knife Fight
Colonel Mackenzie, understanding the advantage of surprise, waited until the pre-dawn hours of November 25, 1876. As dawn broke, he launched a sudden and devastating assault with 1,100 horsemen on the unsuspecting Cheyenne village. The attack was swift and brutal, catching the residents completely unprepared. Driven from their lodges in the chilling morning air, the Cheyenne were forced to flee into the frozen countryside with little to no clothing, blankets, or buffalo robes – their essential protection against the harsh winter elements. The focus of the attack was not merely to engage warriors but to dismantle their very existence as a cohesive unit.
After securing the village, Mackenzie’s orders were unequivocal: complete destruction. The entire encampment and all its contents were systematically burned to ashes. Hundreds of lodges, along with all the food, supplies, and personal belongings that sustained the Cheyenne through the winter, were consumed by flames. In addition to the destruction, the soldiers captured approximately 500 ponies, further crippling the Cheyenne’s mobility and ability to hunt or escape.
A Winter of Desperation: The Aftermath of the Battle
The immediate toll of the Dull Knife Fight was stark. The Cheyenne suffered approximately 40 killed during the skirmish, with perhaps another 40 wounded. Mackenzie’s forces reported fewer casualties, with six men killed and 26 wounded. However, the true devastation for the Cheyenne extended far beyond the battlefield’s immediate casualties. Left without food, shelter, or adequate clothing in the heart of winter, their situation became dire. The night immediately following the battle, temperatures plummeted to an unimaginable 30 degrees below zero. This extreme cold proved fatal for many, including the heartbreaking loss of 11 babies who tragically froze to death. The brutal conditions continued for days, claiming more lives as the survivors struggled to find refuge and sustenance.
For all practical purposes, the Dull Knife Fight effectively crushed the organized resistance of the Northern Cheyenne. Chief Dull Knife’s followers, facing starvation and certain death from exposure, had no choice but to surrender. Many surrendered shortly after the battle, desperate for survival. While a small number of holdouts managed to escape and eventually joined the camp of Crazy Horse, their combined resistance was short-lived. In the spring of 1877, these last survivors, along with Crazy Horse and his people, finally surrendered at Fort Robinson in Nebraska, marking a profound end to an era of Native American independence in the region.
The Battlefield Today: A Somber Memorial
Today, the site of the Dull Knife Fight remains a poignant historical landscape. Nestled among rugged hills on a privately owned ranch in Johnson County, Wyoming, the battlefield serves as a quiet reminder of the tragic events that transpired there. A solitary stone monument, marking the historical significance of the location, stands on the side of a hill. The site is accessible via an unimproved road, approximately 23 miles west of Kaycee, Wyoming, offering a powerful, albeit somber, connection to a pivotal moment in American history.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Loss and Resilience
The Dull Knife Fight represents a critical turning point in the Great Sioux War and the broader narrative of Native American resistance. It was a battle not just for land, but for survival, where the forces of the U.S. Army decisively broke the will of a proud and resilient people. The utter destruction of the Cheyenne village, coupled with the brutal winter conditions, inflicted a catastrophic human cost that resonates through history. While the immediate conflict ended, the legacy of the Dull Knife Fight endures as a powerful testament to the devastating consequences of war and the enduring spirit of the Cheyenne people in the face of insurmountable odds.
