Wagon Box Fight Remembered

STORY, Wyoming – On August 2, 2023, a memorial celebration was held near Story, Wyoming commemorating the 167th anniversary of the Wagon Box Fight, a series of three battles in the Red Cloud War, opposing the Bozeman Trail.

The Wagon Box Fight occurred when soldiers were sent out to gather wood for fuel and continued building of a fort. The Military, in its genius had situated a fort on the prairie, soon using up the nearest sources of wood. Thus, deployments were necessary to get more wood, hauled in Wagon Boxes.

Then the US government, in flagrant violation of promises made to the Tribes set out to build forts and trails across the great plains of what is now Wyoming and Montana. They did so to help white people cross Indian Country, a short cut to the gold fields of California.

It is difficult to present a story about the Wagon Box Fight. That was one in a series of three encounters between the US Military and the Indians, primarily Sioux: Cheyenne and a few Arapaho, intent upon defending their territory and homelands.

Within a short span of time, there were three fights: the Fetterman Battle, the Haystack Fight and then the Wagon Box. All of those led to the temporary closure of the Bozeman Trail, all lumped into the Red Cloud War, though he was not personally present at those fights.

The US government makes a big deal about facing Crazy Horse, the most feared and dreadful Indian leader of all time. However, according to oral history, it was not THE Crazy Horse that was there, but another Sioux with a similar name.

There are two different versions of those events: the official US Military written accounts and the tribal oral history accounts. Those stories, while agreeing on the outcome, present two very different details.

This account points out the differences, though this writer is tempted to agree with the tribal version. That has been primarily maintained and even written by Donavan Sprague, enrolled tribal member from Cheyenne River and a direct descendant of Hump, who was the on-the-ground leader of those fights. 

So? What are the differences between those accounts?

First:  The location. In 1936 the US Military established a Memorial in honor of the soldiers who fell there, listing the entire group who fought. There is no mention of Indians on that Memorial stone edifice.

Another interpretive sign acknowledges that the site might not have been where the actual battle occurred. That fact is corroborated by oral history accounts which say that the Indians were on a nearby ridge, firing down into the soldiers, held hostage by their own Wagon Boxes. Also, women and children were on the high ridge, trilling and singing to encourage the warriors.

The present-day Wagon Box Monument is over a half mile from the nearest ridges, a long shot even for the best sharpshooter.

There you go – even the US Military is not sure about the actual battle site, but sure enough to build a monument. They listed all the names of the soldiers who faced overwhelming forces of between 1000-1,500 warriors. The Hump Account says there were about 800, all known by name. Of course, if there were more wild Indians, the Army looked better.

Third: It was the first time that the military introduced the Spencer repeating rifle, capable of firing at least five rounds before pausing to reload. The Indians who were still relying upon bows, arrows, one-shot muskets and sheer bravado noticed this new development and prudently withdrew from shooting range. Unfortunately, some brave ones charged right into the face of the enemy, only to meet untimely death. Sprague lists their names.

Fourth: How many warriors perished on each side?  The US Military record states that three soldiers were killed outright, several others wounded and then died as a result.  The tribal version agrees.

How many Indians fell? According to Sprague, it was 45, possibly 46, the names also known and remembered. The Army on the other hand gave a ridiculous estimate, ranging from 6-60, a broad swath of numbers.

As a result of the battles, considered a draw by both sides, the US Military withdrew. Shortly thereafter, the Cheyenne burned all three forts to the ground.

But a few years later, the want to be gold diggers once again prevailed upon the government. That led to the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. Red Cloud and minions of Sioux were there in person, agreeing to cede a roadway in return for reservations, guaranteed for as long as the water flows and grass grows.

Somehow, the grass stopped growing.

Making treaties is a last resort tactic. Governments only ‘treat’ with equals. If you cannot beat with sheer military force, perhaps diplomacy and eventual duplicity through treaty will give pause. At that time, the US and tribal nations were on equal footing. The Tribes, accustomed to the importance of the word, were outfoxed.

The Northern Cheyenne who had been key to that success did not participate in that treaty making. Never would they cede or surrender, still known for that trait today, especially when battling coal development on and near their land.

Thus, it is almost impossible to write a fully accurate story about the Wagon Box Fight. There are too many versions. If you should decide, as I have’ to go for the tribal version, more power to you. It is a sin for us to lie.

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

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