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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

August 23, 1864 Fisk's Expedition

Another group of white invaders numbering 200, were making a trek from North Dakota to Montana, in 88 wagon trains led by teamsters. Their movements were carefully observed by Ojibway scouts who alerted their commanders to a presence of white invaders numbering over 200. Fisk's Expedition or battle (aka Battle of Red Buttes), was a part of Mullan Road War. A list of Mullan Road War battles is above. James Fisk was commissioned a captain in 1862 to travel Mullan Road, between Fort Abercrombie and Fort Walla Walla. His duties were leading teamsters into Montana. Contrary to what historians have written about his duties, they were dangerous and important. American leaders wanted to build forts in northern Montana and use Mullan Road. It was Fisk's task to test it. Fisk was warned to avoid land set aside for Dakota People by treaty. They meant South Dakota. His 1862 expedition went without battle. He had 117 heavily armed teamsters with him. He left Minnesota on June 16, 1862 and reached near Fort Benton on September 5, 1862. This 1862 expedition may have helped trigger 1862's Minnesota War. His 1863 expedition also went without battle. He reached Fort Benton on September 7, 1863. He may have been sent to Montana to negotiate with Ojibway leaders in 1863.

He reported it was possible to travel Mullan Road in Montana yet Ojibway Soldiers would likely attack teamsters who usually numbered from 100 to 200 and were heavily armed. In 1864, another expedition was commenced yet without Fisk. He later reached them at Fort Rice on August 23, 1864. He had 200 teamsters with him yet asked for soldiers and was provided with 47. Instead of following Mullan Road, which actually commenced in Minnesota, then went west to Missouri River at Fort Union, North Dakota, then followed Missouri River to Fort Benton, then west to Fort Walla Walla, he chose another route further south to where Slope County, North Dakota is. They used North Dakota's badlands to try and reach Montana. They knew using a route in southern Montana was safer to reach southwest Montana. Not in this incident. Large numbers of Ojibway Soldiers were stationed in western North Dakota including southwest North Dakota. They were preparing to attack Fort Rice. Those white invaders were carrying large amounts of supplies to bring to goldfields located in southwestern Montana. Conjuror Sitting Bull was at this battle yet did not lead brave Ojibway Soldiers who fought in that battle. He was wounded in this battle however. He took a bullet in his hip.

On August 23, 1864 Captain Fisk, who was now at Fort Rice, North Dakota requested that soldiers be brought along. They numbered 47 in all. Ojibway military commanders were weary of wagon trains led by heavily armed teamsters, which numbered near a 100 or higher yet on occasions sent their brave soldiers to battle them. On September 2, 1864, 3 of those 88 wagons making a trek into Montana, stopped after one broke down at Deep Creek which is west of Amidon, North Dakota. Once Ojibway scouts learned about it, they alerted their commanders who then sent about 100 of their soldiers to attack those 3 wagons guarded by 9 white soldiers and a few white civilians. In a battle that followed, Ojibway Soldiers defeated American soldiers and few white civilians who stayed behind to repair their damaged wagon and about 50 other American Soldiers and civilians who showed up quickly after they heard a battle had commenced. Ojibway casualties were at least 6 killed and many wounded including conjuror Sitting Bull. White casualties were 12 killed and an unknown number wounded. After Fisks Battle ended, whites in their wagon trains, quickly resumed their trek. Come next day, however, Ojibway Soldiers caught up to them again east of Marmarth, North Dakota (they were trying to reach Little Missouri River) in Bowman County, North Dakota and resumed battle. They forced those whites to corral their wagons for protection. For nearly two weeks this battle raged on until American reinforcements numbering 300 from Fort Rice, arrived and ordered whites in their wagon trains to return back to Fort Rice. Ojibway Soldiers confiscated many rifles and around 4,000 rounds of ammunition.