The November 25, 1876 Battle of Bates Creek

Where was the Battle of Bates Creek fought at? This battle was fought in the Big Horn Mountains region of the Iron Confederations Kingdom, just west of present day Kaycee, Wyoming. The "Bates Creek Battle" is also referred to as the "Dull Knife Fight". Of course, the Americans refer to this battle as part of the so called Black Hills War, which is a bunch of bull. In 1876, the Americans were already well established in the Black Hills, and it was from the Black Hills, that the Americans operated their war effort to defeat the powerful Iron Confederation of Montana. On November 25, 1876 the Americans and their Indian allies (the Anishinabek must remember that the Indian allies of the Americans were the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, Dakota, Pawnee and the Shoshone), attacked a village of around 2,500 to 3,000 Indians from the Iron Confederation. In the ensuing "1876 Bates Creek Battle", the Indians 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 the inhabitants of the large village, which aided their cause. About all the Anishinabek could do during a battle like the one that occurred at the "1876 Battle of Bates Creek", was fight for their lives after the initial assault came. They chose a good location for their village because it likely saved many of them from being killed. After the initial American assault, the 400 or so warriors gathered their women and children, then headed for the nearby ridges which offered them protection. From there the warriors used what guns they had and their bows and arrows and spears, to defend their women and children and themselves, from their enemies. It obviously didn’t turn out as well as the 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 32, with six killed. More importantly, the Americans captured some 600 horses but obviously not all of their horses. If they had captured all of their horses the Anishinabek would have surrendered to them.

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