Across The Fence - Battle of Summit Springs; Part II: Warpath to White Bear Creek

The bloody path to war on White Bear Creek began long before the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers under Chief Tall Bull's leadership began their vengeful and brutal raids among the settlements along the Saline River in north central Kansas Territory. The battle on White Bear Creek on July 11, 1869 ended in unison with a violent prairie thunderstorm and also brought an end to the murderous raids of Tall Bull and his Dog Soldiers. Defeated at Summit Springs, their leader left dead on the battlefield, the warrior society that had never retreated in battle would never again rise to its former strength.

The Cheyenne Dog Soldiers held a long and well earned reputation of being among the fiercest of warriors on the central plains. Though often present at the many treaty councils organized by the U.S. Military, the leaders of the Dog Soldier Society never agreed to or signed any proposed peace terms. Always distrustful of the white man's motives, and rightfully so, the Dog Soldiers retaliated in the only way a warrior knew, revenge.

Stories of Tall Bull's impetuous bravery were first told around Cheyenne campfires when he was a younger man, and already a proven Dog Soldier. In 1853 as part of a small scouting party, Tall Bull and five companions were sent to discover the location of the camp of their most hated enemy, the Pawnee. After discovering the Pawnee camp, Tall Bull suggested that they should wrap themselves in blankets, walk calmly through the camp and casually bump into several of their enemy and count many coup. No doubt his companions laughed at his recklessness but later told of his bravery.

By 1864 Tall Bull had become a well-known leader of the Dog Soldiers and camped with his people along the Red Shield (Republican) River in southern Nebraska Territory. The village in which Tall Bull was one of the leaders was made up of more than 100 lodges. There were about 500 people, old men and women, wives, children and perhaps as many as 100 warriors who followed Tall Bull and the other leaders of this band of Cheyenne.

In early April of that same year Colorado Militia began attacking Cheyenne villages in response to reports of cattle stealing. In May, Lt. George Eayre crossed into Kansas and attacked a hunting camp, near the Smoky Hill River, killing Lean Bear and Star as the two leaders approached the advancing troops under a flag of truce. On the 29th of November, Colonel John Chivington commanding a force of 700 volunteer militia attacked the peaceful Cheyenne village of no more than 200 people under Chief Black Kettle, who were camped on Sand Creek. Although there were 24 militiamen killed in that unprovoked, surprise attack, nearly 160 Cheyenne were killed, mostly women and children. So brutal was the massacre that two companies of volunteer soldiers refused to fight.

Colonel Chivington's battle cry, "Damn any man who sympathizes with Indians! ... I have come to kill Indians, and believe it is right and honorable to use any means under God's heaven to kill Indians ... Kill and scalp all, big and little; nits make lice."

Although Tall Bull's anger seethed against the whites, he saw the futility of fighting against such a strong and growing force. And so, for a time, Tall Bull led his people to the north to the Powder River country and away from the increasing numbers of white settlers. But in the spring of 1866 he returned to the Red Shield River and Smoky Hill country.

What he found was a land of incomprehensible change. The great herds of buffalo had drifted off of the once prime grasslands as they were pushed ahead of the advancing settlers and the strange steel rails of the Union Pacific that cut across the prairie. His people had suffered greatly at the hands of the whites; their lands had been dotted with the permanence of cabins, barns and fences and scarred with wounds of plows and wagon wheels. Tall Bull and his Cheyenne Dog Soldiers did the only thing they knew to do, fight. Throughout the winter of '66 and into the spring of '67 they struck with lightening speed and deadly consequence as they raided along the central stage route. So effective was their retaliation that Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock and 1,400 troops were ordered to Ft. Larned, Kansas to attempt a truce.

Tall Bull attended the negotiations and as a principal chief spoke of behalf of his people. It is recorded that Tall Bull was quite an imposing feature at the treaty council. While many of the chiefs who attended wore varying amounts of captured military clothing, Tall Bull dressed in his most impressive traditional attire, shunning any and all of the ways of the white man.

Lt. Col. George A. Custer was at the council and later recalled that Tall Bull's speech contained nothing of importance. Perhaps Col. Custer just wasn't listening. On several occasions, Tall Bull had restrained his Dog Soldiers from attacking troops as they approached their village and at one treaty council had kept Roman Nose from killing General Hancock.

In 1868, November 27, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer, in command of 500 troops of the 7th U.S. Cavalry charged the camp of Black Kettle on the Washita River. In the ensuing battle, though more accurately deemed a massacre, Custer's troops killed nearly 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho who had gathered there for winter camp. Of the 150 killed nearly half were women and children. Custer lost 21 men.

May 1869, Major Eugene Carr along with several companies of the U.S. 5th Cavalry mounted a surprise attack against Tall Bull on Beaver Creek in northwest Kansas. No less than 25 of Tall Bull's warriors were killed in that attack. Rather than risk the lives of women and children in the camp, Tall Bull and his Dog Soldiers shielded the women and children of the village, leaving everything behind, as they held off the advancing troops. Major Carr's troops burned the entire camp. Three days later Carr attacked again killing at least 20 Cheyenne.

After this fight, Major Carr returned to Fort McPherson to replenish his depleted provisions. With Major Carr gone, Tall Bull and his remaining Cheyenne Dog Soldiers retaliated.

Beginning on the 21st of May, Tall Bull and his Cheyenne Dog Soldiers began a series of devastating raids across north central Kansas. On the 25th, six buffalo hunters were attacked and killed. May 28th, Tall Bull and his soldiers hit a railroad crew on Fossil Creek killing two and wounding four others.

On Sunday, May 30, a raiding party of nearly 60 Cheyenne warriors swept through a Danish settlement near Spillman Creek about 10 miles above the Saline River. Erskild and Stine Lauritzen were shot and scalped. George Weichel and Fred Meigerhoff were killed in a running battle that lasted until the settlers ran out of ammunition. George and Fred were killed. George's wife Maria was taken captive and would survive the battle at Summit Springs. She watched as a Dog Soldier cut off George's finger to take his wedding ring. Otto Pearson, who lived with the Lauritzens was scalped, mutilated and left to die.

Continuing to raid the settlements, the homestead of Tom and Susanna Alderdice was attacked. Tom was in Salina for supplies leaving Susanna and their four children at home. Susanna's stepsons, John, age 6 and Frank, age 2 were killed. Willie was shot with five arrows and left for dead but miraculously survived. Susanna and her eight-month old baby girl were taken captive. The baby was killed three days later and Susanna was killed at the Battle of Summit Springs. It is surprising that Maj. Carr did not attempt to negotiate for Susanna and Maria's release, as it was well known that captives would be killed when troops attacked without warning.

After the flurry of raids, Tall Bull and his Dog Soldiers traveled west. Their two captives would be pushed and dragged the 200 miles to the northeastern region of Colorado Territory, all the while being assaulted and tortured. They would suffer most for the revenge against men like Chivington, Harney and others, as would the women and children of Native Americans who suffered because of the deeds of their husbands and fathers. Perhaps there is no other reason for war than the simple, burning desire of an eye for an eye.

The bloody path of war to the Battle of Summit Springs and beyond was a war of greed and intolerance, a war to conquer and a war to defend, a war of revenge and a war of retaliation. But there were no winners; there was no triumph, only defeat and the awful pain of loss.

(Next week the third and final installment of this historic event, Battle of Summit Springs; The Aftermath.)

M. Timothy Nolting is an award winning Nebraska columnist and freelance writer. To contact Tim, email; [email protected]