The Cazeau Wagon Train attack stands as a grim reminder of the intense conflict along the Bozeman Trail during Red Cloud’s War. This brutal incident, which unfolded on July 17, 1866, in what is now northeast Wyoming, highlighted the fierce determination of the Sioux and Cheyenne to protect their ancestral lands from encroaching American expansion.
The Cazeau Wagon Train was not an isolated event but a significant engagement within the larger context of Red Cloud’s War, a strategic campaign by Native American tribes to halt the flow of travelers and settlers along the Bozeman Trail, a vital supply route connecting the Oregon Trail to the Montana goldfields. The war, primarily led by the Oglala Lakota chief Red Cloud, sought to assert tribal sovereignty against the U.S. government’s perceived invasion of their territory, particularly through the establishment of forts like Fort Phil Kearny.
The Bozeman Trail and Rising Tensions
The Bozeman Trail, established in 1864, cut directly through prime hunting grounds and sacred lands of the Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. Despite treaties and previous agreements, the trail’s continued use by gold seekers and settlers fueled escalating tensions. The U.S. Army responded by constructing a series of forts, including Fort Phil Kearny, Fort C.F. Smith, and Fort Reno, ostensibly to protect travelers. However, these forts were seen as military incursions, further provoking the Native American tribes who viewed them as permanent threats to their way of life.
By 1866, the conflict had intensified. Negotiations at Fort Laramie had broken down, primarily because of the U.S. government’s unwavering intent to maintain the Bozeman Trail and build additional forts. This breakdown led to the full-scale outbreak of Red Cloud’s War, characterized by frequent skirmishes, ambushes, and attacks on wagon trains and military detachments. The Cazeau Wagon Train attack became one of the more publicized and tragic episodes of this period, underscoring the dangers inherent in traversing the contested territory.
The Journey and Unsettling Encampment
In July 1866, traders Peter Cazeau and Henry Arrison, seasoned frontiersmen operating out of Fort Collins, Colorado, embarked on a journey along the Bozeman Trail. Their party consisted of two wagons, three employees, Cazeau’s Oglala Sioux wife, Mary, and their four young children. This detail is particularly poignant, as Mary Cazeau’s heritage offered a complex layer to the unfolding drama, representing a bridge between two cultures in a time of severe conflict.
On July 16, the small wagon train made camp on Peno Creek, approximately six miles north of the strategically important Fort Phil Kearny. This location was known to be fraught with danger, lying deep within the heart of disputed territory. While encamped, a group of Northern Cheyenne approached them. These Cheyenne had just concluded a council with officers at Fort Phil Kearny and were, at that moment, peaceful. They joined the Cazeau party at their camp, sharing a temporary reprieve from the surrounding hostilities.
The Sioux Intervention and the Attack
The brief calm, however, was shattered by the arrival of a band of Sioux warriors. The Sioux, deeply committed to the war effort and resentful of any perceived fraternization with outsiders, demanded that the Cheyenne join them in a planned attack against the soldiers stationed at Fort Phil Kearny. The Northern Cheyenne, having just engaged in peaceful dialogue with the fort’s command, refused this demand, highlighting the internal divisions and differing strategies among the various tribal groups even amidst a common enemy.
Infuriated by their refusal, the Sioux responded with hostility, branding the Cheyenne as cowards, physically chastising them, and driving them from the camp. Following this tense confrontation, the Sioux also departed, leaving the Cazeau party in an uneasy state of uncertainty. Peter Cazeau and Henry Arrison were undoubtedly aware of the perilous situation they were in, deep within enemy territory, and now exposed after the departure of the Cheyenne.
The next morning, as the wagons were being prepared to continue their journey, the Sioux warriors returned. Without warning or mercy, they launched a ferocious assault on the unsuspecting party. The attack was swift and brutal. Peter Cazeau, Henry Arrison, and all three mail employees were killed in the ambush. The scene was one of chaos and terror, as the traders and their men fought for their lives against overwhelming odds.
Mary Cazeau’s Courage and a Dire Warning
Amidst the carnage, Mary Cazeau, with incredible bravery and presence of mind, managed to escape the attack. She and her four children fled into the dense brush and timber along the creek, evading the Sioux warriors. Their survival was nothing short of miraculous, a testament to Mary’s quick thinking and intimate knowledge of the land and her people’s tactics.
Later, Fort Phil Kearny soldiers on patrol discovered Mary Cazeau and her children. They were brought to the safety of the fort, shaken but alive. Upon her arrival, Mary delivered a chilling and crucial warning to the fort’s command: the Sioux were not finished. She informed them of widespread plans for further attacks, specifically targeting the fort itself and other vulnerable points along the Bozeman Trail. Her intelligence was invaluable, providing a rare glimpse into the immediate intentions of the Native American forces and validating the constant state of alert at Fort Phil Kearny.
Aftermath and Legacy
The Cazeau Wagon Train attack reinforced the U.S. military’s understanding of the unwavering resolve of the Sioux and their allies. It served as a stark precursor to larger and more devastating engagements to come, most notably the Fetterman Fight just five months later, where Captain William J. Fetterman and his entire command of 81 men were annihilated by a combined force of Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. Both incidents underscored the effectiveness of Native American ambush tactics and the extreme vulnerability of U.S. forces and civilians attempting to operate within the contested territory.
The site of the attack, near present-day Banner, Wyoming, remains a silent testament to the fierce struggles of the past. The event is a poignant reminder of the human cost of westward expansion and the tragic clashes between cultures. Mary Cazeau’s survival and her subsequent warning were vital, providing the fort with intelligence that likely saved lives in the tense weeks and months that followed. This incident, though smaller in scale than some other battles, was a clear signal of the intense determination of Red Cloud and his warriors to defend their homeland.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment of Conflict
The Cazeau Wagon Train attack encapsulates the raw danger and unyielding conflict that defined the Bozeman Trail during Red Cloud’s War. It was more than just an ambush; it was a powerful statement from the Native American tribes against the relentless encroachment on their lands. The tragic loss of life, the courageous escape of Mary Cazeau and her children, and the critical intelligence she provided all weave together to form a compelling narrative within the broader tapestry of the American West. This event serves as a historical marker, illustrating the extreme stakes and profound human drama involved in the struggle for control of the western frontier, solidifying its place as a pivotal, albeit somber, chapter in the history of Wyoming and the Indian Wars.
