Battle of the Tongue River

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Battle of the Tongue River
Part of the Indian Wars
Date August 29, 1865
Location Sheridan County, Wyoming
Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States Arapaho Indians
Commanders
Patrick E. Connor Chief Black Bear
Strength
District of Utah
400		 500 Arapaho Indians
Casualties and losses
5 killed
7 wounded		 63 killed & wounded
18 captured
v • d • e
Powder River Expedition
Tongue River

The Battle of the Tongue River sometimes referred to as the Connor Battle was the major engagement of the Powder River Expedition which destroyed the Arapaho capability to raid the Bozeman Trail and overland mail routes for a time.

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[edit] Background

Major General Grenville M. Dodge had assumed command of the Department of the Missouri in 1865. Dodge ordered a punitive campaign to suppress the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians who had been conducting raids against overland mail routes. Tactical command of the expedition had been given to Brigadier General Patrick Edward Connor, commander of the District of Utah.

[edit] The battle

General Connor had experienced little fighting until late August, 1865 where he discovered 500 Arapaho Indians under Chiefs Black Bear and Old Devil along the Tongue River in northcentral Wyoming. Connor had only 400 men at his immediate disposal but moved against the Indians nonetheless. On August 29, 1865 Connor caught up to Black Bear and Old Devil on a piece of land where the Tongue River makes a bottleneck. At 7:30 in the morning Connor charged the Arapaho who were caught on three sides by the river. The warriors made a stand to allow the women and children to escape before the village was overrun. While the soldiers were destroying the village a counter attack by the Indians took them off guard but Connor had brought up two howitzers and held off the attack. Skirmishing lasted until dark and the battle had been a victory for Connor. He had killed and wounded 63 Indians and captured 18 women and children, but eventually released them. Also the soldiers had killed over 1,000 Indian horses and ponies.

[edit] Results

The battle effectively ended the Powder River Expedition. Even though the expedition in general achieved inconclusive results, the battle was a tactical victory for the army. The Arapaho's ability to threaten the overland routes was reduced and travel was made safe for a little while.

No physical evidence of the battle remains, but the battlesite is preserved in the Connor Battlefield State Historic Site, in Ranchester, Wyoming and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[edit] References

[edit] See also