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Battles of Mullan Road War Battle of Toppenish Creek Battle of Union Gap Cascades Massacre Battle of Pine Creek Battle of Four Lakes Battle of Spokane Plains Steamboat Chippewa Fiasco Battle of Lower Sioux Agency Battle of Redwood Ferry Battle of New Ulm Battle of Fort Ridgely Battle of Birch Coulee Siege of Fort Abercrombie Battle of Wood Lake Surrender at Camp Release Battle of Big Mound Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake Battle of Stoney Lake Battle of White Stone Hill Battle of Killdeer Mountain Fisk's Expedition Battle of Red Buttes Battle of Deer Creek Station Battle of Dry Creek Custard Wagon Train Fight Platte Bridge Battle Battle of Platte Bridge Station Battle of Bone Pile Creek Battle of Fort Rice Battle of Tongue River 1865 Powder River Expedition Sun River Stampede Battle of Crazy Woman Creek Battle of Peno Creek Fetterman Massacre Fort Buford Massacre Haystack Battle Battle of Fort Kearny Battle Near Fort Ellis Battle of Popo Aguie Marias River Massacre Battle of Miner's Delight Pryor's Fork Battle Second Battle of Tongue River Battle of Bighorn Battle of Powder River Battle of the Rosebud Custers Last Stand Battle of Snake Mountain Battle of Slim Buttes Battle of Cedar Creek Battle of Bates Creek Battle of Ash Creek Battle of Wolf Mountain Battle of Little Muddy Creek Battle of White Bird Canyon Battle of the Cottonwoods Battle of the Clearwater Battle of Weippe Prairie Battle of Big Hole Battle of Horse Prairie Battle of Birch Creek, Idaho Battle of Camas Creek Battle of Canyon Creek Battle of Cow Island Battle of Cow Creek Battle of Bear Paw Battle of South Mountain Battle of Silver River Battle of Birch Creek Battle of Clearwater River Battle of Clark's Fork Battle of Heart Mountain Massacre Near Yellowstone Lake Battle of Jackson Hole Battle of Careless Creek Battle of Milk River Battle of Big Creek Battle of Pumpkin Creek Battle of Poplar River

November 25, 1876 Battle of Bates Creek

This battle was fought near Big Horn Mountains in northern Wyoming and a part of an American 1876-1877 winter military campaign. Winter was a favorite time whites boasted of for attacking Indian villages. Bates Creek Battle is also referred to as "Dull Knife Fight." Battle of Bates Creek was a part of Mullan Road War. A list of Mullan Road War battles is above. On Saturday November 25, 1876 American Soldiers and their Indian allies, attacked a fortified village of around 2,000 Anishinabek. In an ensuing battle, Ojibway Soldiers tried desperately to defend themselves from their enemies who would have killed all of them, including their women and children, if they didn’t defend them. Over 1,100 well armed American Soldiers and their Indian allies, probably surprised inhabitants of that village near Big Horn Mountains. About all Ojibway Soldiers could do during a battle like that one that occurred at Battle of Bates Creek, was fight for their lives after that first initial assault came.

They chose a good location for their village because it likely saved many of them from being killed. After an initial American assault, 400 or so Anishinabe Soldiers gathered their women and children, then headed for nearby ridges near their village which offered them protection. From there, Anishinabe Soldiers used what guns they had, bows and arrows, spears, and even cannons if they had any, to defend their women and children and themselves, from their enemies. It obviously didn’t turn out as well as Americans had hoped but it was an American victory. Around 80 Anishinabek were killed or wounded but it could have been much higher. American casualties were around 35, with 9 killed. More importantly, Americans captured some 600 horses but obviously not all of their horses. If they had captured all of their horses, all of those Ojibways of that village, would have surrendered. After capturing their village which had 173 lodges, American Soldiers eventually destroyed it. Many Anishinabe survivors fled up north to other Ojibway villages, while others surrendered.