Old West History

Dingdong the spammer has been busy, but i think i've deleted the majority of his posts

Battle of Blue Water Creek/aka/Ash Hollow

We just celebrated the 157th (yup I know that doesn't sound like a sexy number) anniversary of this little known fight between elements of the US Army and the Brule Sioux in NW Nebraska from 2-3 Sept 1855. Essentially defined as the culminating action of what's referred to as the 'First Sioux War'. It really involved alleged violations of the Fort Laramie treaty (1851) and the theft of a cow by a Brule warrior from a Mormon immigrant train passing near their camp on the Oregon trail; Aug 1854 and subsequent Sioux raiding in 1855. Long and short of it is...immigrant gets mad, turns in the theft to the military authorities at Fort Laramie; who then send out a less then qualified Indian negotiation team led by Lt. JL Grattan and 29 stalwarts to seek redress. Things did not go well to say the least and at the end of the day a clan Chief is dead and so is Grattan and 29 other soldiers (The Grattan Massacre 19 Aug 1854). Now it has escalated into a massacre of US forces and the entire nation is up in arms over an incident reference a cow. A cow that varying sources alleged the Sioux were willing to make restitution for. But the lad leading the Army expedition, in an effort, no doubt, to show his moxie nix's that and demands the surrender of the Sioux Warrior. Which was summarily rejected by the Chief. Well things can only get worse and they did. Because now bowing to the public howling President F. Pierce orders a punitive expedition, under Colonel WS Harney into the field to chastise the hostiles for their temerity. On site Negotiations fail And the rest... they say is history. Hopefully, I've whetted your appetite and I hope for you to follow up on the actual battle which then occurs. And for you CW buffs there's some familiar names involved. Bottom line... heavily outnumbered and outgunned the Natives (approx 250 men versus 600 infantry and cavalry) are defeated. With significant casualties including (yup you guessed it) women and children. This then is the beginning of a long road ahead against the Sioux. So if your interested see the following link for what ends up being a return favor of massacre...all over a cow. And I encourage you to read about it by perusing: Beck, Paul Norman (2004). The First Sioux War: The Grattan Fight and Blue Water Creek, 1854-1856], University Press of America http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/markers/texts/battle_of_blue_water.htm http://books.google.com/books?id=Nqcng_YtoXQC&pg=PA34&lpg=PA34&dq=John+Lawrence+Grattan&source=bl&ots=RZihbej3f1&sig=u2NN948DhyVB6ya5x1Xnu8D_OIc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#v=onepage&q=John%20Lawrence%20Grattan&f=false

Edited by Centrix Vigilis - 15-Sep-2012 at 17:56

Yes no problem Unkie...recently I have been accused of lesser quality posts by individuals unnamed.....It appears that when I post other then according to the mainstream interpretation of many subjects, most recently, political analysis I am a heretic. Which infers I have no knowledge or experience or right to an analysis...commentary.... opinion or personal choice of sources. 

Edited by Centrix Vigilis - 05-Jul-2012 at 22:02

The Battle of Massacre CanyonQuite possibly the last great fight of any significant numbers of two Native North American Tribes. It's not well known to layman and or professional and it's rarely referenced. Non the less, I've been in the region many times and while perusing some old notes and references I had on it; offer it up for your edification. This can be tough and desolate country in summer and or winter. I was backpacking thru on the way to Julesburg....had nothing better to do and happened to see the monument. Got me interested... in the story.The two primary contestants were elements of the Lakota And Pawnee nations. Inveterate foes and tremendously good haters and rivals, from as far North as Inyan Kara and Bear Butte to the edges of the Arkansas... (and yes your Unkie Centrix has been there too) tho there they were messing with Cheyennes, Kiowas, Arapahoes and Comanches along those waters. Not good in many cases. The best examination, review and retelling of the tale, is that of their agent John W. Williamson.

Edited by Centrix Vigilis - 05-Jul-2012 at 21:19

Dirty Dave came to a fitting end:

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Originally posted by Centrix Vigilis Dirty Dave Rudabaugh - Feared by Billy the Kid http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-daverudabaugh.html

How did Dirty Dave get his nickname? Was it because he lacked personal hygiene, or because he had a "dirty" mind?

Joseph Alfred SladeA very tough man. Said to have ridden with Hickock, Sept 1860, on a recapture of horses taken from the Pony Express's Plant station; by Natives. They were recaptured, somewhere north of Sweetwater station on Clear Creek in Wyoming Terr. His bio is illuminating.

The Thoen Stone

For those interested in the machinations behind the concepts and practices of the Spanish land grant system. Here is an example that in essence personifies the norm and is also an example of the further development of grants long after the fact.. It's a lengthy read. But it's well written and concise and representative of the fine work from the scholars of the NM Office of the State Historian.

Related current news. The nexus should be obvious.