145th Anniversary of Punished Woman’s Fork Battle

SCOTT CITY, KANSAS – One hundred and forty-five  years ago, on September 27, 1878, a group of Northern Cheyenne were fleeing from the U.S. Military, intent upon returning from Oklahoma to Montana. It was a heroic journey under the leadership of Chiefs Little Wolf and Dull Knife, one which has been documented in many books and even a movie, Cheyenne Autumn.

Along the way, they had several encounters with the U.S. Calvary, one of which was at Punished Woman’s Fork, near present day Scott City, Kansas. That battle site is now a National Historic Place, formally recognized by the U.S. Archives, the National Historic Society, and the Kansas State Historical Society.

At that engagement, about 320 Cheyenne (92 warriors, 120 women and 141 children) successfully held off the U.S. Calvary and escaped to continue their journey to the North, having escaped from El Reno, Oklahoma earlier in the month. None were killed at the site, however, several tribal members later died of wounds sustained there. The battle is acknowledged as an example of excellent military strategy by the Cheyenne, under the leadership of War Chief, Little Wolf. Lieutenant Lewis of the U.S. Calvary was shot in that exchange and later died of his wounds, a primary reason that the U.S. Military withdrew from that conflict.

It was also the last battle between the U.S. Calvary and an Indian Nation in the State of Kansas. 

During the incident, the Cheyenne were vastly outnumbered, out horsed and largely unarmed in comparison to the military. Under Little Wolfs leadership, rifle pits were constructed guarding a deep ravine where the vulnerable women and children were hidden. At one end of the winding gully sits a large cave where the women and children sought refuge. In what has come to be known as Sanctury Cave.

Later that night when the soldiers were preoccupied with the injury of Lewis, the Cheyenne escaped, running across the Prairie, running for their lives. The Calvary did not catch them.

On September 23rd, about fifty Northern Cheyenne journeyed to Scott City to memorialize the Punished Woman’s Fork Battle. They were hosted by the Scott City community, principally Jerry Thomas, a nationally recognized western artist who has befriended the Northern Cheyenne over the years. 

Due to the leadership of Thomas and his Northern Cheyenne friend, Conrad Fisher, a well-known elder, traditionalist and ambassador for the Northern Cheyenne, there is now a formal relationship between Scott City and the Tribe: “Sister Cities”, one of two such relationships between a non-Indian community and an Indian Tribe in the country.

“We are family now,” Thomas emotionally stated. “This will continue forever.” The Sister City agreement was formalized in a resolution signed by the Mayor of Scott City and Northern Cheyenne Tribal President Serena Wetherwelt on September 23rd. Prior both the Scott City Council and the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council unanimously approved such an agreement.

“The Cheyenne will always be connected with Scott City because of what happened here,” said Conrad Fisher, tribal elder.

The Punished Woman’s Fork Battle site has been largely maintained in its original state as those who worked on gaining recognition of the site did not wish to commercialize it. Yet, it attracts an average of six to eight thousand visitors a year, according to Jerry Synder, a local farmer who was instrumental in securing Historic status for the site.

During the day of September 23, the Northern Cheyenne and representatives from Scott City visited the Battle Site, the Cheyenne offering prayer. That was followed by a tour of the Duff’s Buffalo Ranch where two rare white buffalo bulls are located.

“More of our people need to come here and see the site,” remarked Mina Seminole, cultural/historical researcher at Chief Dull Knife College, who is also a direct descendant of Black Horse, one of the young warriors who scouted on the trip back from Oklahoma. “It is one thing to read about such battles, but when you see it, walk the trails and go into Sanctuary Cave, it is more powerful.”

More than on Cheyenne visitor to the site remarked on feeling a spiritual presence. “I had tears in my eyes,” said Lenora Wolfname, tribal elder. “They (ancestors) were so tough and determined to get back to Montana. I just don’t know how they did it. How did they feed themselves and the children? How did they survive the cold? How could they walk so far? It is unimaginable.”  

Finally, the Cheyenne delegation was treated to a tour of the Jerry Thomas art gallery and museum Thomas was recently recognized as the Artist of the Year at the Little Big Horn Battlefield and by the Daughters of the American Revolution. He specializes in western art, including many renderings of the Cheyenne. 

Thomas unveiled an exhibit of great surprise and importance to the Northern Cheyenne audience. The war bonnets and pipes of Chief Little Wolf and his lieutenant, Wild Hog are on display at the Jerry Thomas Gallery and Museum, loaned by the Smithsonian. Although the Northern Cheyenne have attempted to retrieve these items, the Smithsonian will only allow them to be displayed at a bonafida museum. The Jerry Thomas Museum qualifies.

Next, he hopes to retrieve the Chief Dull Knife Pipe so that it can be seen and honored by contemporary Cheyenne, albeit the location will be in Scott City, Kansas.

After being hosted and fed by a local church group and a picnic at the park provided by Scott City, the Cheyenne were treated to fine hospitality by the good people of Scott City, Northern Cheyenne dancers provided a ‘mini-pow wow” for interested members of the Scott City community, a well-attended and well-received event.

The Cheyenne delegation included several ceremonial people such as Larry Medicine Bull, a member of the 44 Northern Cheyenne chiefs, Burt Medicine Bull, language instructor at Chief Dull Knife College, Tribal President Serena Wetherwelt; Tribal Vice-President Ernest Littlemouth: Conrad Fisher, former Tribal Vice-President and acknowledged traditional advisor; two reigning Pow Wow Princesses, several tribal elders (including this writer); dancers from young to old, drummers, singers, and community members.

The Northern Cheyenne are already planning for the 150th anniversary.  “I don’t know for sure if I will be here for that,” Mina Seminole joked, “but won’t that be something?”

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

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