Cheyenne War
Encyclopedia
The Cheyenne War, also known as the Cheyenne Campaign, normally refers to a conflict between the United States' armed forces and a small group of Cheyenne
families, which took place between 1878–1879.
By the late 1870s, the Cheyenne tribes had been forced to resettle in reservations in and around the state of Oklahoma
(see also Trail of Tears
and Indian removal
). Conditions here were very poor and many Cheyenne people died of starvation and disease. In 1878, a small group numbering around 300 and led by chiefs Dull Knife
and Little Wolf
escaped the reservation.
The two groups made it to their former homeland around the Platte River
in Nebraska
after defending themselves successfully in four engagements with the US army. Here, the two groups split up. Little Wolf's followers spent the winter in South Dakota
or Montana
. This group was eventually allowed to remain in Montana, along with the remaining Cheyenne from the reservation.
Dull Knife's band headed northwest but was surprised and caught by a cavalry division. They were taken to Fort Robinson
and were demanded to return to the reservation. Upon refusal the group was denied food and water. In desperation the group broke out of the prison and fled away from the troops. Unarmed, outnumbered and starving the group was cornered after 12 days. Apparently the remaining 20-30 tribespeople did not surrender and were shot.
The fate of Dull Knife himself is unclear. Some say he was among the thirty who were killed last, others that he (with or without his family) made it to another reservation where he was hidden, perhaps to resettle once more in the Cheyenne reservation in Montana.
Cheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taeo'o and the Tsétsêhéstâhese .The Cheyenne are thought to have branched off other tribes of Algonquian stock inhabiting lands...
families, which took place between 1878–1879.
By the late 1870s, the Cheyenne tribes had been forced to resettle in reservations in and around the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
(see also Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
and Indian removal
Indian Removal
Indian removal was a nineteenth century policy of the government of the United States to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river...
). Conditions here were very poor and many Cheyenne people died of starvation and disease. In 1878, a small group numbering around 300 and led by chiefs Dull Knife
Morning Star (chief)
Morning Star , was a great chief to the Northern Cheyenne people during the 19th century. He was noted for his active resistance to Western expansion and the Federal government...
and Little Wolf
Little Wolf
Little Wolf was a Northern Cheyenne Chief...
escaped the reservation.
The two groups made it to their former homeland around the Platte River
Platte River
The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...
in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
after defending themselves successfully in four engagements with the US army. Here, the two groups split up. Little Wolf's followers spent the winter in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
or Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. This group was eventually allowed to remain in Montana, along with the remaining Cheyenne from the reservation.
Dull Knife's band headed northwest but was surprised and caught by a cavalry division. They were taken to Fort Robinson
Fort Robinson
Fort Robinson is a former U.S. Army fort and a present-day state park. Located in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska, it is west of Crawford on U.S. Route 20.- History :...
and were demanded to return to the reservation. Upon refusal the group was denied food and water. In desperation the group broke out of the prison and fled away from the troops. Unarmed, outnumbered and starving the group was cornered after 12 days. Apparently the remaining 20-30 tribespeople did not surrender and were shot.
The fate of Dull Knife himself is unclear. Some say he was among the thirty who were killed last, others that he (with or without his family) made it to another reservation where he was hidden, perhaps to resettle once more in the Cheyenne reservation in Montana.