Most of the major Indian-military battles in Wyoming occurred during the 1860s in the Powder River Basin as Northern Plains tribes rebuffed efforts to establish forts in their territory. In August of 1865 troops led by General Patrick Connor attacked a camp of Arapahos at a site that is now a town park in Ranchester.
During Red Cloud’s War tribesmen fought soldiers many times in the region between Sheridan and Buffalo. They engaged troops at the Wagon Box Fight near Story in August of 1866, where the soldiers were victorious, and the Fetterman Fight of December 21, 1866, where Indians killed all of the troopers including Lt. William J. Fetterman. Head south on I-25 from the Connor Battlefield at Ranchester to Sheridan and then follow U.S. Highway 87 south through Story to the site of the Wagon Box and Fetterman battles. You can also visit Fort Kearny, which served as frontier army post, before reconnecting to I-25 and driving to Buffalo.
Several bed and breakfasts in the area can serve as a base for your battlefield explorations including Historic Old Stone House B&B near Ranchester, Ranch Willow B&B near Sheridan, the Piney Creek Inn B&B near Story, or the Bozeman Trail B&B, Spear Ranch B&B or Spahn’s Big Horn Mountain B&B near Bighorn.
From Buffalo head south on Wyoming Highway 196, the route of another type of Wyoming battle: a conflict between cattlemen and homesteaders that became a range war in 1892 when the cattlemen invaded Johnson County. After the invaders attacked cowboys at a ranch house near Kaycee and then continued north, word spread to Buffalo and residents organized a defense. The townspeople rode south intercepting the invaders at the TA Ranch, where they surrounded them setting up a siege that lasted several days before federal troops rode in to rescue the invaders.
Two historic facilities provide lodging as you learn about the Johnson County Invasion: The Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, where townspeople planned their defense, and the TA Ranch itself, which has guest rooms in the original ranch house plus additional cabins and rooms.
WTT
From Buffalo continue south to Casper, named for the lieutenant who was killed in a July 1865 battle with Northern Plains Indians that took place west of Fort Casper. The fort has been recreated and you can hang your hat nearby at the Ivy House Inn B&B or continue southeast on I-25 to Glenrock and stay at the Historic Hotel Higgins. From Glenrock take a side trip to Fort Fetterman, named for the lieutenant who died in the battle farther north in 1866.
From Casper travel west on U.S. 20-26 to the Wind River Indian Reservation. Although the Shoshone Indians led by Chief Washakie were for the most part good neighbors to the white settlers, they were bitter enemies of the Crows and Northern Arapahos and engaged in several inter-tribal battles. One of the most well-known fights occurred northwest of Fort Washakie at Crowheart Butte where Chief Washakie defeated a Crow and ate his heart (thus the name of the butte). Blue Spruce Inn B&B in Lander is a good resting place when exploring this area.
From Lander travel north on U.S. 287/26 through Dubois and into Jackson Hole where the final Indian conflict in Wyoming occurred in 1895. That year Bannock Indians exercised the hunting rights granted by their 1868 treaty and were pursued by game officials. Although there were tense days during the event, no actual battle occurred. Jackson Hole has a number of B&Bs where you can stay as you explore the area that was common hunting ground for the Bannocks and other tribes.
A side trip to Yellowstone National Park puts you on the route of the Nez Perce Indians, who in 1877 fled a reservation in Idaho racing 1,500 miles ahead of federal troops in their attempt to remain free. The Nez Perces avoided battles with the army pursuing them while in Yellowstone, but they did capture some tourists near Nez Perce Creek, north of Old Faithful, releasing them unharmed near Mud Volcano, south of Canyon.
Candy Moulton is the author of Chief Joseph: Guardian of the People, which includes an account of the 1877 flight of the Nez Perce Indians.
Although it has little history as an actual state (after all, it's only been one since 1890), the territory that is today Wyoming goes way back. Way, way back. read more
Wyoming is a digger’s dream. Whether it’s dinosaur bones you seek, or fossils of a different life form, Wyoming offers all kinds of attractions, from museums to quarry tours to actual digs. read more
