Near Chivington in Kiowa County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Big Head Fight
Hearing gun fire from the vicinity of the village, soldiers of the 3rd Regiment, approximately two miles west of this location, disobeyed orders and turned their horses toward the bluffs. Somewhere in the prairie west of the village, the soldiers encountered a group of warriors including Big Head, followed by George Bent, the son of frontier businessman William Bent and his Cheyenne wife Owl Woman. The soldiers attacked Big Head and his followers, killing most of them.
“Big Head and all his party crossed the hill and ran into a large party of troops and were all killed.”
Cheyenne Little Bear
George Bent
Thwarted by soldiers attacking Big Head, George Bent made his way north along the creek. As he moved, George witnessed firsthand the carnage being wrought: “It was a terrible sight: men, women, and children lying thickly scattered on the sand, some dead, and the rest too badly wounded to move.” (From Life of George Bent by George Hyde)
Further north, George reached a sand pit. Formed by years of flood activity, these natural depressions in the creek bed provided shelter for those fleeing the soldiers. Just as he reached the pit's edge, George was shot in the hip.
Caption: George Bent and his first wife Magpie Woman, c. 1867.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is November 29, 1864.
Location. 38° 33.382′ N, 102° 31.206′ W. Marker is near Chivington, Colorado, in Kiowa County. Memorial can be reached from County Highway W east of Chief White Antelope Way. Located on the Bluff Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Eads CO 81036, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Conflict Within and Without (here, next to this marker); Chaos, Disorder, and Disgust (approx. 0.3 miles away); Incredible Feats of Bravery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Attack and Pursuit (approx. 0.3 miles away); Troops Approach the Village (approx. 0.3 miles away); An End to the Slaughter (approx. 0.4 miles away); Incriminations and Culpability (approx. half a mile away); Past, Present, and Future Come Together (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chivington.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 145 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.