The Battle of Wolf Mountain (also known the Battle of the Wolf Mountains, Miles's Battle on the Tongue River, and the Battle of the Butte) occurred January 8, 1877, in the Montana Territory between the United States Army and a force of Lakota Native Americans and Northern Cheyennes during the Black Hills War. The Northern Cheyennes called it the Battle of Belly Butte. The Black Hills War was a United States civil war between the Lakota Native American tribe and the United States government from 1876 until 1877. ... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Montana Territory was an organized territory of the United States that existed between 1864 and 1889. ... Eddie Plenty Holes, a Sioux Indian photographed about 1899. ... The Cheyenne are a Native American nation of the Great Plains. ... The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Shoshone around their tipi, probably taken around 1890 Shoshone Indians at Ft. ... The Crow, also called the Absaroka or Apsáalooke, are a tribe of Native Americans who historically lived in the Yellowstone river valley and now live on a reservation south of Billings, Montana. ... Crazy Horse (Lakota: Tasunka witko, pronounced tashúnka uitko), (c. ... Two Moons was a chief of the Cheyenne Native American tribe. ... Nelson Appleton Miles (August 8, 1839 – May 15, 1925) was an American soldier who served in the American Civil War, Indian Wars, and the Spanish-American War. ... The Battle of the Rosebud (also known the Battle of the Rosebud Creek) occurred June 17, 1876, in the Montana Territory between the United States Army and a force of Lakota Amerind Native Americans during the Black Hills War. ... Combatants Lakota Northern Cheyenne Arapaho United States Commanders Sitting Bull Crazy Horse Lt. ... Battle of Warbonnet Creek Conflict Black Hills War, Indian Wars Date July 17, 1876 Place Nebraska Result U.S. victory The Battle of Warbonnet Creek was at most a skirmish characterised by the duel between Buffalo Bill Cody and Yellow Hand and the battle is often referred to as the... Combatants Lakota United States Commanders Crazy Horse Strength Casualties {{{notes}}} The Battle of Slim Buttes was fought on January 8, 1877, between United States cavalry and Lakota Sioux forces. ... Combatants Cheyenne United States Pawnee Commanders Dull Knife Little Wolf Ranald S. Mackenzie Strength 400 1,000 Casualties 40 killed ? wounded 6 killed 26 wounded The Dull Knife Fight was given its name from Chief Dull Knife, who led the Cheyenne warriors during the battle. ... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Montana Territory was an organized territory of the United States that existed between 1864 and 1889. ... The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Eddie Plenty Holes, a Sioux Indian photographed about 1899. ... An Atsina named Assiniboin Boy Photo by Edward S. Curtis. ... Cheyenne lodges with buffalo meat drying, 1870 The Cheyenne are a Native American nation of the Great Plains, closely allied with the Arapaho and loosely allied with the Lakota (Sioux). ... The Black Hills War was a United States civil war between the Lakota Native American tribe and the United States government from 1876 until 1877. ...

Background

Following the defeat of George Armstrong Custer in the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, by autumn, only a few bands of the warring Sioux and Cheyenne tribes had begun filtering back into their reservations and agencies to acquire food and annuity goods in preparation for winter. The United States Congress had angered many Indians by demanding that they cede the Black Hills to the government in exchange for these promised goods. The army had replaced civilian contractors in charge of the agencies, further convincing many warbands to stay away from them. Nelson Miles led a mixed force of infantry, artillery and cavalry after Sitting Bull's band, and had effectively defeated them by December. Ranald S. Mackenzie had similarly defeated Dull Knife's Cheyennes, who trekked through snow and icy conditions to join up with the camp of Crazy Horse in the Tongue River Valley. Concerned with the approaching winter and the destitute condition of Dull Knife's band, Crazy Horse decided to negotiate peace with the army. However, when a group of Crow scouts murdered Crazy Horse's delegation, the warchief demanded revenge. He led a series of small raids in an effort to draw out Miles from his post. George Armstrong Custer George Armstrong Custer (December 5, 1839–June 25, 1876) was a United States Army cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also called Custers Last Stand, was an engagement between a Lakota-Cheyenne combined force and the 7th Cavalry of the United States Army that took place on June 25, 1876 near the Little Bighorn River in the eastern Montana Territory. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Congress in Joint Session. ... This article is about the place in South Dakota. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers or marines who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units. ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... Kircholm, a 1925 painting by Wojciech Kossak. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed February 2006. ... Ranald Slidell Mackenzie (July 27, 1840 – January 19, 1889) was called the most promising young officer in the entire Union army. ... Chief Dull Knife was a great chief to the Cheyenne people during the 19th century. ... Crazy Horse (Lakota: Tasunka witko, pronounced tashúnka uitko), (c. ...

The battle

Miles marched out to the foothills of the Wolf Mountains, then set up a defensive perimeter on a ridgeline. At 7:00 a.m. on January 8, Crazy Horse and Two Moons began a series of attacks on the Federal soldiers. Frustrated by army firepower, they regrouped several times and tried again. Attempts to flank Miles's line also proved to be futile when Miles shifted his reserves to fill critical positions. Finally, Miles ordered an advance, which secured a vital ridge as artillery shells rained among the Indian positions. Crazy Horse withdrew as weather conditions deteriorated. Two Moons was a chief of the Cheyenne Native American tribe. ...

Results

Although a draw in many aspects, in effect the battle was a strategic victory for the army, as it demonstrated that the Indians were not safe from the army even in winter and harsh conditions. Many individuals began slipping away and returning to their reservations. By May, Crazy Horse had led his surviving band into Camp Robinson to surrender.

References

• Doctoral dissertation on the Battle of the Wolf Mountains