Battle of Ash Hollow

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Battle of Ash Hollow
Part of the Indian Wars
Battle of Ash Hollow, 1855
Date September 3, 1855 Location Ash Hollow, Nebraska Result U.S. victory
Combatants
Brulé Sioux	United States Army
Commanders
Little Thunder	William S. Harney
Strength
250	600
Casualties
85 dead unknown wounded	unknown

The Battle of Ash Hollow (also known as the Battle of Bluewater Creek) was an engagement between U.S. soldiers under Brig. Gen. William S. Harney and the Brulé Sioux on September 3, 1855. This battle followed the "Grattan massacre", which occurred in August 1854.

On September 3, the 600 soldiers under Harney's command caught up with 250 Sioux men, women and children on Bluewater Creek, near Ash Hollow in present-day Garden County, Nebraska. Little Thunder had taken over as chief after Conquering Bear's death. Harney had declared days earlier, "By God, I'm for battle — no peace." It was with that he ordered his men to open fire on the community of Sioux. 85 Brulés were killed, including women and children.

Afterwards the Army made a wide sweep of the surrounding Sioux country but encountered no further resistance. For his handling of the battle at Ash Hollow, Harney was known afterwards among the Sioux as "The Butcher." Crazy Horse was a child at the massacre and survived; he had a spiritual vision foretelling of his future as a warrior.

For military officials and the increasing numbers of emigrants traveling the Oregon Trail, the battle bought them 10 more years of relative peace.