Ruskin in Nuckolls County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Skirmish at Spring Creek

Photographed by James King, June 19, 2015

1. The Skirmish at Spring Creek Marker

Inscription. From April through October 1870 Company C of the second U.S. Cavalry garrisoned a temporary military post, Camp Bingham, located northeast of here on the Little Blue River, to protect nearby settlements from Indians.

On May 15 Sergeant Patrick J. Leonard and Privates Heath Canfield, Michael Himmelsbach, Thomas Hubbard, and George W. Thompson were sent to search for lost horses on Spring Creek. Near this spot on May 17 the five soldiers were attacked by about fifty Indians. After a two-hour skirmish in which Hubbard was wounded and the cavalrymen's horses killed, the Indians withdrew.

When a report of the skirmish reached Secretary of War William W. Belknap, he ordered Medals of Honor presented to Leonard, Canfield, Himmelsbach, Hubbard, and Thompson. More Medals of Honor were won in this brief engagement than in any other incident in Nebraska's military history.

Erected by Nebraska State Historical Society. (Marker Number 330.)

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients, and the Nebraska State Historical Society series lists.

Location. 40° 8.822′ N, 97° 54.767′ W. Memorial is in Ruskin

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, Nebraska, in Nuckolls County. It is on U.S. 136. The marker is about 2 miles west of Ruskin, NE. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Ruskin NE 68974, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Nebraska’s Smoky Hills,

in Eastern Nebraska and in the Republican River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Original Townsite of Oak (approx. 5.8 miles away); Indian Raid at Oak Grove Ranch (approx. 6.1 miles away); Oregon Trail (approx. 6.1 miles away); Indian Captives (approx. 6.2 miles away); a different marker also named Oregon Trail (approx. 6.7 miles away); Indian Ambush (approx. 7.1 miles away); a different marker also named Oregon Trail (approx. 7.4 miles away); a different marker also named Oregon Trail (approx. 9.3 miles away).

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 20, 2004

2. The Skirmish at Spring Creek Marker

Note: The fifth Medal of Honor Recipient, George W. Thompson's grave site is unknown. The other four Recipients are shown below.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 2, 2004

3. The Skirmish at Spring Creek Marker

Patrick J. Leonard is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, New Almelo, KS

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 28, 2000

4. The Skirmish at Spring Creek Marker

Heath Canfield is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, St. Augustine FL.

Photographed by Don Morfe, September 27, 2006

5. The Skirmish at Spring Creek Marker

Michael Himmelsback is buried in Ft. Missoula Post Cemetery, Missoula MT.

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 14, 2005

6. The Skirmish at Spring Creek Marker

Thomas H. Hubbard is buried in Lawnview Cemetery, Rockledge PA

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,574 times since then and 105 times this year. Last updated on July 18, 2015, by James King of San Miguel, California. Photos: 1. submitted on July 18, 2015, by James King of San Miguel, California. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 22, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.