Battle of Cedar Creek

In late October of 1876 (most likely 1874), close to 500 American soldiers marched up to where present day Glendive, Montana is located to spend the winter or, establish the American presence in that part of Anishinabe country. Those American movements were known of by Anishinabe soldiers who attempted to prevent the wagon train supplies from reaching Colonel Nelson Miles soldiers, who had established a temporary camp near the Tongue river, on two occasions. One occurred on October 11 and the other on October 15. Not too long after the two failed attacks on the American wagon train supplies, the Anishinabek sent two of their emissaries to negotiate with the invading Americans.

Ogima Little Shell was terrified that his white enemy had now ventured well into his Montana Kingdom, and likely felt that to negotiate with the white invaders was more instrumental than sending his brave soldiers out to fight the white invaders. After Colonel Miles met with the two emissaries, he agreed to meet with the Anishinabek to negotiate. Ogima Little Shell may have had other sinister plans instead of negotiating for peace, because he requested from his white enemy, for the opportunity to trade for badly needed ammunition. It was really food ogima Little Shell requested for. The white invaders had by then killed nearly all of the buffalo and other wild game on the plains.

Colonel Miles made it clear that the evil United States would only accept surrender, after hearing that ogima Little Shell wanted to trade for ammunition (food). Since nothing was settled they agreed to meet again on the following day. In the negotiations on the following day (October 21), the Anishinabek became more aggressive and told the Americans to leave their kingdom and take their supply trains with them. Not long after the negotiations ended a battle commenced, which the Americans eventually dominated (they were well supplied with the latest European weapons of war), which led the Indians to retreat from their well armed enemy who followed them for some 42 miles. The battle was not major but more of a retreat. Indian casualties were 5 killed and an unknown number wounded. American casualties were only two wounded.

After this battle the first of the Anishinabek surrendered to the evil whites. Their number was reported to be around 2,000 men, women and children. Many were probably Dakotas. What became of them is but a mystery. They probably settled down close to white military forts in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Some may have become Indian police paid by the United States. Most Anishinabek remained hostile and commenced to planning an exodus towards the west and north. They knew from prophecy that the whites would exterminate them and wanted to avoid that. It was around this time that the white invaders commenced to planning a winter campaign against the Anishinabek in central Montana, especially in what is now the Great Falls, Montana region. This battle was a part of Custers 1874 Black Hills Expedition.