Powder River Battles (1865)

Powder River Battles
Part of the Powder River Expedition, Sioux Wars
Date September 1–11, 1865 Location Powder River, Montana Territory, present-day Custer and Powder River counties, Montana Result strategic Native American victory
Belligerents
United States	Lakota Sioux Cheyenne Arapaho
Commanders and leaders
Nelson D. Cole Samuel Walker	Sitting Bull Roman Nose
Strength
2,000 soldiers and civilians	2,000-4,000 warriors
Casualties and losses
11-15 killed, 11 wounded	6+ killed, 10+ wounded

The Powder River Battles were a series of battles and skirmishes fought between September 1–11, 1865 by United States soldiers and civilians against Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. The fighting occurred along the Powder River in Montana Territory, in present-day Custer and Powder River counties, Montana.

Major General Grenville M. Dodge assumed command of the Department of the Missouri in 1865. Dodge ordered a punitive campaign to suppress the Cheyenne, Sioux, and Arapaho Indians who had been raiding overland mail routes, wagon trains, and military posts along the Oregon and Overland trails. He gave tactical command of the eastern division of the Powder River Expedition, as it was called, to Colonel Nelson D. Cole, and command of the middle division to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Walker. A third western column was commanded by Brigadier General Patrick E. Connor.

Colonel Cole left Omaha, Nebraska on July 1, 1865 with over 1,400 Missourians and 140 wagon-loads of supplies. His column followed the Loup River upstream and then marched overland to Bear Butte in the Black Hills, arriving there on August 13, 1865. Cole's command, during the 560 miles (900 km) of traveling, suffered from thirst, diminishing supplies, and near mutinies. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Walker and his 600 Kansas cavalrymen left Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory on August 6, 1865, and met up with Cole's expedition on August 19, 1865 near the Black Hills. He had likewise suffered from shortages of water, and had lost several soldiers of his 16th Kansas Cavalry from bad water. The two columns marched separately, but remained in contact as they moved west to the Powder River in Montana Territory, reaching it on August 29. By this time, some of the men were barefoot and many of the horses and mules were growing weak.

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