Hay Springs in Sheridan County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Camp Sheridan and Spotted Tail Agency

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2014

1. Camp Sheridan and Spotted Tail Agency Marker

Inscription. About ten miles north are the sites of Spotted Tail Agency and Camp Sheridan. Named for Brule Sioux Chief Spotted Tail, the agency was built in 1874 to supply treaty payments, including food, clothing, weapons, and utensils, under the terms of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. The army established Camp Sheridan nearby to protect the agency. A similar arrangement prevailed for the Ogalala Sioux at Red Cloud Agency and Camp Robinson forty miles west.

Spotted Tail Agency was generally quiet and peaceful throughout the Indian War of 1876-77. Crazy Horse surrendered there on September 4, 1877, after fleeing Red Cloud Agency. He was stabbed to death the next evening while being imprisoned at Camp Robinson, but his parents returned his body to Camp Sheridan for burial.

On October 29, 1877, Spotted Tail's Brules were moved to present South Dakota. In 1878 they occupied the Rosebud Agency, where they live today. Camp Sheridan, with a peak garrison of seven companies of soldiers, was abandoned on May 1, 1881.

Erected by Nebraska State Historical Society. (Marker Number 354.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location.

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42° 40.905′ N, 102° 41.577′ W. Marker is in Hay Springs, Nebraska, in Sheridan County. Marker is on South Post Street just south of Bridges to Buttes Byway (U.S. 20), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located near then Sunset RV Park entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 119 S Post St, Hay Springs NE 69347, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Also see . . .
1. Spotted Tail (Wikipedia). Spotted Tail was born about 1823 in the White River country west of the Missouri River in present-day South Dakota. The young man took his warrior name, Spotted Tail, after receiving a gift of a raccoon tail from a white trapper. Spotted Tail agreed to the treaty, which in 1868 established the Great Sioux Reservation in West River, west of the Missouri River. (Submitted on November 3, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Spotted Tail Agency / Rosebud Agency. The first agency to be constructed within the Great Sioux Reservation established by the treaty of 1868 was named the Whetstone Agency after its initial location on Whetstone Creek north of Fort Randall in Dakota Territory. In 1874, it was renamed the Spotted Tail Agency, and moved to northwest Nebraska. (Submitted on November 3, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Camp Sheridan, Nebraska. The Spotted Tail Agency was composed of storehouses, an issue building, a carpentry

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2014

2. Camp Sheridan and Spotted Tail Agency Marker

(Sunset RV Park in background)

shop, a sawmill, stables, and other structures. To guard the agency, Camp Sheridan was established as a tent camp in the fall of 1874 about one mile from the Spotted Tail Agency. Permanent facilities were constructed in the spring of 1875 consisting of over 30 frame and brick structures. (Submitted on November 3, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Sunset RV Park Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2014

3. Sunset RV Park Entrance

(marker visible in left background)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 489 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 3, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.