Post by bghillio on Nov 30, 2012 10:34:08 GMT -5
I have come across the following other inter-tribal conflicts. If anyone here has additional insights and recommendations for resources to examine these battlefield events in more depth, please inform:
Crowheart Butte Battle[/b]
"An important battle was fought between the Shoshone and Bannock Indians on one side, and Crow Indians on the other, in view of this large flattop butte. Year after year, as game became scarce in other sections of the Indian Country, especially along routes traveled by the white settlers, more tribes depended on the Wind River Valley for their winter supply of meat, and it was increasingly difficult for the Shoshones to hold onto their prized hunting grounds.
With the growing strength of the Shoshone Tribe, other tribes would generally combine forces before starting for the Wind River Country. However, the leaders of the strong Crow Tribe still considered themselves equal to the task of defeating the Shoshones on their own. A Shoshone scout, accompanied by his wife to signify that he was approaching on a peaceful mission, was sent to their camp with a message from Chief Washakie demanding that the Crows do their hunting in the territory extending from their campsite east, toward the Owl Creek Range, while Shoshone people hunted the Wind River Range country. The Crows replied by killing the Shoshone scout and sending a message back with his wife, stating that they were prepared and eager to treat the balance of his tribe in the same manner, and they would hunt wherever they pleased.
"Word was sent to the friendly Bannocks who were camped on the banks of the Popo Agie river, a few miles south, and Chief Tigee with a party of Bannock fighting men soon joined the Shoshone in an attack on the Crow camp...
Trout Creek Battle 1872
The Sioux and Cheyenne finally persuaded the Arapaho tribe to join with them in an endeavor to wipe out the Shoshones, their common enemy. Each tribe alone numbered more fighting men than the Shoshones. Year after year the Shoshones had been pursued, only to successfully outwit their foe, and safely make the protection of the Wind River Mountains. The wily leadership of Washakie and the daring bravery of the men was a constant flaunt to these enemy tribes. In the early spring of 1872, the Shoshone were taken by surprise by the combined forces of these three tribes, and advance scouts brought back word that they had been cut off from their usual retreat into the mountains.
Trapped in the valley, and realizing that this was to be a battle upon which would depend the survival of the tribe, the people crossed the Trout Creek to higher ground and set up their lodges in a giant circle in preparation for the attack...
www.easternshoshonetribe.com/Eastern_Shoshone_Background_History.html
The Battle of Pryor Creek
This was an 1861 battle just north of Pryor, Montana between the Sioux and Crow Native American tribes.
The battle began near Sheridan, Wyoming. The Crow heard a rumor that the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho were going to attack a Crow village on the Tongue River. The Crow fled northwest, but the attackers caught up with them at Arrow Creek. Arrow Creek was difficult to cross – a very defensible position. It was one of the largest battles the Crow ever fought, as they had to fight for their nation's existence...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pryor_Creek
Comment: I get the impression that many tribes had issues with the Crows, as partly evidenced by the battle described above, which may have inspired them to assist the US cavalry in an effort to perhaps settle their scores with other tribes. It is said that without the help of Native American scouts, the US Cavalry and Army would have had a much rougher time in the far west. This dynamic makes the study of intertribal rivalries important for study, IMO.
Battle with of Gros Ventre War Party at 'Massacre Hill' in Worlf Teeth Mountains
books.google.com/books?id=Dk-QJ7uWy5sC&lpg=PA58&ots=gyXvJenlMs&dq=Wolf%20Teeth%20mountains%20and%20gros%20ventres&pg=PA58#v=onepage&q=Wolf%20Teeth%20mountains%20and%20gros%20ventres&f=false
Occurred in later part of 1860's early 1870's, as described in text...foreshadowing Benteen's and battle???
Battle of Shakopee, 1858
An excursion party from Fort Snelling went up the Minnesota by steamboat to Shakopee's village in June 1842, and in 1850 three boats carried excursions upstream and "demonstrated the navigability of the Minnesota River". By 1854, the number of steamboat arrivals and departures at St. Paul from the Minnesota River, reached the hundred mark. Almost four times that number were recorded in 1858.The greater part of southern Minnesota was opened to settlement by treaties with the Sioux Indian signed at Mendota and at Traverse des Sioux (near St. Peter), in 1851 and proclaimed by President Millard Fillmore in 1853. The Indians were moved to a reservation on the upper river. Many of them continued to return to their old hunting grounds during the summer months. About 150 members of Shakopee's band were camped near the village that bears his name in May 1858 when they were attacked by hostile Chippewa. A bloody battle followed, and the Chippewa finally retreated, leaving for their homes to the north. This was the last of a long series of conflicts between the two great Indian tribes of Minnesota.
Read more: oyate1.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=info&action=display&thread=734#ixzz2DijLiNhw