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Post by WY Man on Apr 4, 2009 15:23:49 GMT -6
These are photos I took at the Dull Knife Battlefield, Wyoming, during the September, 2008 Order of the Indian Wars fieldtrip. It was a fabulous opportunity to be able to see this incredible battlefield, which is in private ownership. The landowner, Cheri Graves, is an acknowledged expert on this obscure but pivotal Indian battle, that occurred on November 25th, 1876 during blizzard conditions. We were shown over about 3 miles of the battlefield in the rugged Red Fork of Powder River Canyon, and we had lunch in the timber bottom, on the site of the Indian village. Special appreciation is due the Graves family for their stewardship in maintaining this important battlefield, and their kindness in making it accessible to outside researchers.  On the red formation at the right, Ranald Mackenzie gave orders to his adjutant during the battle.   On the tops of a long line of red bluffs, including the one pictured here, the Shoshone scouts fired into the Cheyenne village on the river.  Cheri Graves, on the right, discusses details of the battle to interested listeners during the lunch break. |
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Post by ignimbrite on Apr 4, 2009 23:16:32 GMT -6
Great Pictures!!!
One correction, though, I believe it's Cheri Graves, not Sherry.
In the last picture the gentleman holding the green cup that she's talking with is Sterling Finn, who did quite a bit of archeology at Fort Phil Kearney and gave a wonderful tour of the Fetterman site on the optional Sunday event. The other man is Dan Martinez who was a seasonal ranger at LBH and now is the historian at the USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu.
Thanks for posting the pictures.
Ruth
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Post by WY Man on Apr 5, 2009 0:04:45 GMT -6
Thank you Ruth for the correct spelling of Cheri Grave's name. I have made the correction. For those who may know Sterling, he suffered a moderate stroke late last year. His wife told me it was not severe, but Sterling was unable to speak when I called on the phone.  This ravine is the site of where Lt. John McKinney, 4th U.S. Cavalry, was killed on November 25th, 1876, when Cheyenne warriors who had secreted themselves in the ravine fired upon Lt. McKinney. McKinney was riding in the forefront of the cavalry, who were pursuing the retreating Cheyenne villagers up the canyon. The 4th Cavalry were led by Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie. |
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Reddirt
Full Member
Life is But a Dream...
Posts: 208
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Post by Reddirt on Apr 8, 2009 16:06:56 GMT -6
Fantastic photo's, thanks for sharing!  |
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Post by Diane Merkel on Apr 12, 2009 21:15:04 GMT -6
Yes, thanks WY Man! I have always wanted to go on an OIW trip!
Diane
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lizs
Full Member
Discovering the West
Posts: 161
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Post by lizs on Apr 17, 2009 19:45:15 GMT -6
Nice pics!
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Post by bubbabod on Apr 17, 2009 22:52:24 GMT -6
Scott, great pictures, as usual. Yours make mine look like dirt. I visited the site in 1997, led by Cheri and Terry C. Johnston. What a great treat. It's beautiful country, and as pristine a place as you'll see. I'm hoping I can interest my buddies in taking the tour year after next. This year's too filled up with other LBH-related things going on. I'll be in The Mint on the afternoon of June 26th if you want to join us for a beer. My treat.
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Post by WY Man on Apr 18, 2009 14:45:08 GMT -6
Hey Frank. Thanks for your compliments on my photos. I'm putting up some more right now. I'll gladly join you at the Mint on the 26th. I'm looking forward to meeting you, and chewing over any and all pertinant battle history. Maybe we can go visit the Custer Battlefield together? See you in June! This photo shows how we got around the ranch. Transportation provided by the Graves family, including the comfort stations.  |
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Post by WY Man on Apr 18, 2009 15:17:57 GMT -6
Hospital Hill. This is where the 4th Cavalry set up a makeshift medical center during the battle. It was in this vicinity that Private William Earl Smith spoke of his actions during the Dull Knife Battle: "I went over to a company that had there horses in a river and left mine there and climed up on a hill where I could se all that was going on. I now thought I would take a few shots at some Indins I saw about 1 thousand yards off. I fired the shots I had in my belt and then, as I was laying there on my belley, I feel asleep. I don't [k]now how long I lay there but when I woke wright on my right side lay a fellow on his back ded with his mouth open. You bet I started to git away from hear." "Sagebrush Soldier, Private William Earl Smith's View of the Sioux War of 1876," by Sherry L. Smith, pp. 77-79.  |
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Post by WY Man on Apr 18, 2009 15:20:26 GMT -6
Horses on the Battlefield  |
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Post by WY Man on Apr 18, 2009 15:22:08 GMT -6
Dull Knife Battlefield - Geologic Upthrusts  |
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Post by WY Man on Apr 18, 2009 15:25:02 GMT -6
A magnificent view of the Dull Knife Battlefield.  |
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Post by crawdaddo on Apr 19, 2009 0:01:15 GMT -6
Well they certainly are great photos of a beautiful land and thankyou very much for taking the trouble to load them here...cheers
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Post by gary on Apr 19, 2009 8:34:50 GMT -6
Great photos.
Gary
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Post by Dietmar on Apr 19, 2009 13:52:14 GMT -6
Fantastic pictures!
No wonder the Cheyennes picked this place as a camp site...
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