Buffalo in Harding County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Battle of the Crow Buttes
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 24, 2023
1. Battle of the Crow Buttes Marker
The Crow Buttes in south central Harding County, was the scene of a "bizarre" battle between the Crow and Sioux Indians in the summer of 1822.
Next to buffalo hunting, warfare was the chief activity of the Plains Indians. Tribes fought with one another over hunting areas and where the huge buffalo herds roamed. Success in warfare earned fame for a brave. Among the Sioux and Cheyenne, scalping or killing an enemy permitted a warrior to count "coup". But touching a live enemy with a coup stick earned the highest honor. After battle, the warriors told of their heroic deeds and celebrated their victory.
Harding County was once home to huge buffalo herds. In the "Battle of the Crow Buttes" Sioux braves ravaged a Crow camp in Harding County, while the Crow warriors were gone, destroying the camp and raping the Indian women that were left at the camp.
Warfare ensued. The Crow warriors left their women, children and old folks at a camp at Sand Creek, located north of the Buttes. With Sioux warriors chasing them, they rode south looking for a better vantage point, which they thought would be the top of the Crow Buttes. Here they could see the countryside for many miles.
Instead, the Sioux encircled the Crow Buttes, trapped the Crows and then waited patiently. The Crows had no food or water with them, and being sultry weather, no rain fell. They had no way off of the Crow Buttes.
The Indians that tried to escape were killed by the Sioux. The remainder of the trapped Crows died slowly from thirst and starvation.
After the Crows had all died, a "bizarre" medical event took place. The Sioux contracted a deadly fever from the dead bodies of the Crow and most of the Sioux braves also died. Subsequently a nearby canyon to the northwest was named "Canyon of Skulls" as it was filled with the skeletons of the Sioux warriors.
Erected by Buffalo
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.
Location. 45° 34.855′ N, 103° 32.783′ W. Marker is in Buffalo, South Dakota, in Harding County. It can be reached from Theodore Roosevelt Expressway (CanAm Highway) (U.S. 85) just south of Connel Street (State Highway 20), on the left when traveling north. The marker is in Centennial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 91 US Highway 85, Buffalo SD 57720, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Battle of the Slim Buttes (here, next to this marker); Sky Ranch for Boys (here, next to this marker);
2. Marker detail: Crow Buttes
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Battle of the Crow Buttes
Also see . . . Crow Buttes (The Warrior Trail).
Excerpt: The struggles began centuries ago with the native people and their intra-tribal and territorial battles. Early in the 1800s, the Crow were chased out of western South Dakota by the Sioux who left Minnesota and eastern South Dakota because of the encroachment of the white man from the east.(Submitted on June 23, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)One such notable battle happened in what is now called “Crow Buttes” located in Harding County, South Dakota. In the summer of 1822, the Sioux ravaged a Crow Camp near Crow Buttes and warfare soon ensued. Wanting revenge against the Sioux after the attack, a Crow war party
hastily left their women and children and old folks at Sand Creek north of the Buttes, looking for a better vantage point on top of the Crow Buttes. Because of their hasty departure, the Crow had no water with them and there was no chance of rain in sight in the arid high plains of South Dakota. The Sioux encircled the Crow war party atop the Crow Buttes and waited patiently until the trapped warriors died from thirst.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 24, 20233. Battle of the Crow Buttes MarkerThe marker is on the heritage walkway in Centennial Park.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2023
4. Crow Buttes Marker
This related marker, with roughly the same inscription, overlooks the Crow Buttes about 24 miles south of here on US Highway 85 in Redig.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 22 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 23, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
