Battle of Ash Hollow

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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.