Killdeer Mountain
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Killdeer Mountain (also known as the Battle of Tahkahokuty Mountain) was a battle in U.S. Army Brig. Gen.
Alfred Sully
’s Expedition against the Sioux
in Dakota Territory
on June 26, 1864). The location of the battleground is in modern Dunn County, North Dakota
.
During the winter of 1863–1864, Sully’s superior, Major General
John Pope
, formulated a plan for ending the war with the Sioux
. He would order a force of about 2,500 men, commanded by Sully, into the field to find the Native Americans
and engage them in battle. In addition, he would send infantry behind Sully’s force to establish strong-posts in the “Indian
country.” Thus, Minnesota
troops were ordered to meet Sully’s force at the mouth of Burdache Creek on the Upper Missouri
for active campaigning. The two columns rendezvoused on June 30 and set out against the Sioux. They established Fort Rice
on July 7 at the mouth of Cannonball River
and moved on.
The Sioux, who had been operating north of Fort Rice, moved across the Missouri River and took a strong position on the Little Missouri River
, about 200 miles from the fort. On July 26, Sully marched out to engage them in battle. On the 28th, he arrived near the Native American camp which he reported included 5,000-6,000 warriors “strongly posted in wooded country, very much cut up with high, rugged hills, and deep, impassable ravines.” Sully met with some of the tribal chiefs first, but nothing came of it so he attacked. Heavy fighting ensued, but eventually the artillery and long-range firearms took effect and the Sioux began losing ground. The retirement turned into flight. The Native Americans left all their possessions, and a running fight of almost nine miles scattered the warriors who were not wounded or killed. Killdeer Mountain broke the back of the Sioux resistance. Sully did meet the remnants of the Sioux
warriors that had escaped Killdeer Mountain in August and defeated them, but they had none of the spirit formerly exhibited.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Alfred Sully
Alfred Sully
Alfred Sully , was a military officer during the American Civil War and during the Indian Wars on the frontier. He was also a noted painter.-Biography:...
’s Expedition against the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
in Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
on June 26, 1864). The location of the battleground is in modern Dunn County, North Dakota
Dunn County, North Dakota
-Major highways:*North Dakota Highway 8*North Dakota Highway 22*North Dakota Highway 200-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,600 people, 1,378 households, and 986 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,965 housing units...
.
During the winter of 1863–1864, Sully’s superior, Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
John Pope
John Pope (military officer)
John Pope was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. He had a brief but successful career in the Western Theater, but he is best known for his defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run in the East.Pope was a graduate of the United States Military Academy in...
, formulated a plan for ending the war with the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
. He would order a force of about 2,500 men, commanded by Sully, into the field to find the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and engage them in battle. In addition, he would send infantry behind Sully’s force to establish strong-posts in the “Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
country.” Thus, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
troops were ordered to meet Sully’s force at the mouth of Burdache Creek on the Upper Missouri
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
for active campaigning. The two columns rendezvoused on June 30 and set out against the Sioux. They established Fort Rice
Fort Rice
Fort Rice was a frontier military fort in the 19th century in what was then Dakota Territory and what is now North Dakota....
on July 7 at the mouth of Cannonball River
Cannonball River
The Cannonball River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 135 mi long, in southwestern North Dakota in the United States....
and moved on.
The Sioux, who had been operating north of Fort Rice, moved across the Missouri River and took a strong position on the Little Missouri River
Little Missouri River (North Dakota)
The Little Missouri River is a tributary of the Missouri River, 560 mi long, in the northern Great Plains of the United States. Rising in northeastern Wyoming, in western Crook County about west of Devil's Tower, it flows northeastward, across a corner of southeastern Montana, and into South Dakota...
, about 200 miles from the fort. On July 26, Sully marched out to engage them in battle. On the 28th, he arrived near the Native American camp which he reported included 5,000-6,000 warriors “strongly posted in wooded country, very much cut up with high, rugged hills, and deep, impassable ravines.” Sully met with some of the tribal chiefs first, but nothing came of it so he attacked. Heavy fighting ensued, but eventually the artillery and long-range firearms took effect and the Sioux began losing ground. The retirement turned into flight. The Native Americans left all their possessions, and a running fight of almost nine miles scattered the warriors who were not wounded or killed. Killdeer Mountain broke the back of the Sioux resistance. Sully did meet the remnants of the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
warriors that had escaped Killdeer Mountain in August and defeated them, but they had none of the spirit formerly exhibited.