Battle of Fort Kearny

Once again the Americans probably set the brave Anishinabe soldiers up to use their new weapons against them. On August 2, 1867 anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 Anishinabe soldiers caught wind to some 31 American soldiers leaving the protection of Fort Kearny, who commenced to form their wagons into a deliberate circle shape, in order to defend themselves, and use their new weapons on the much larger Indian military force. Historians claim that the battle lasted some five hours but they may have been deliberately misleading a message. It probably took the 31 American soldiers only a few short minutes to possibly an hour, to kill and wound close to 300 (accounts from the white soldiers who fought in this battle claim 100s of Indian soldiers were killed, while Indian accounts claim up to 50 to 60 Indian soldiers were killed) of the brave Anishinabe soldiers. American casualties were only 7 with five being killed. What the white soldiers did at this battle, was practiced throughout this war i have named the Mullan Road War, especially by civilians who formed wagon trains in the dozens, which were guarded by up to 50 to over 100 men armed with revolvers and repeating rifles.

After this battle ended and the survivors of the battle met with the survivors of the Haystack battle, they knew that they were in deep trouble. However, their commanders kept them under control and they continued to resist American efforts to force them to surrender. This battle was practically identical to the Haystack Battle which pitted 27 white soldiers against 800 Anishinabe soldiers. The 31 white soldiers were guarding the white civilians cutting hay. This battle was fought very near the Fetterman Massacre, a few miles south of Montana. And still more white invaders made the very dangerous journey from either the Missouri River, Yellowstone River, or from southern Wyoming to southwest Montana. This battle is also known as the Wagon Box Fight which was fought in extreme northeastern Wyoming.