Banner in Sheridan County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Powder River Indian Wars – 1865 to 1868

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

1. Powder River Indian Wars – 1865 to 1868 Marker

Inscription.
In 1863, a party led by John Bozeman blazed a trail from the North Platte River, northwest across the Powder River Basin and along the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains to the gold fields of Montana. Established in violation of the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie, this incursion into Indian Country precipitated the Powder River Indian Wars between 1865 and 1868, as the U.S. Government and several Indian nations battled for control of the region. By 1866, the government had established three forts along the Bozeman Trail in an effort to protect miners, emigrants and freighters traveling to the gold fields. Fort Phil Kearny, laid out in July of 1866 in the now peaceful Piney Creek valley, played a pivotal role in these campaigns. Almost immediately, with forces amassed along the Tongue River near present day Sheridan, Lakota leader Red Cloud began his assault. As the U.S. Army struggled to complete the fort before winter, feed a poorly provisioned provisioned garrison and protect over 1000 travelers on the Bozeman Trail, Red Cloud’s men attacked nearly every civilian wagon train, military supply train and work detail.

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This culminated in the Fetterman Fight of December 21, 1866 in which the U.S. Army suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. The three Bozeman Trail forts were abandoned by the United States under the terms of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, as control of the Powder River Country was once again ceded to native nations. Today, Fort Phil Kearny, the Fetterman Battle site, and the Wagon Box fight are National Historic Landmarks, signifying their critical role in Indian and United States history.

Erected by State of Wyoming.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Wars, US Indian.

Location. 44° 35.84′ N, 106° 50.456′ W. Memorial is in Banner, Wyoming, in Sheridan County. It is on Interstate 90, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at a pulloff on the northbound side of I-90. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Banner WY 82832, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

2. Powder River Indian Wars – 1865 to 1868 Marker

in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: As a Plains Indian … (approx. 1.1 miles away); At the Break of Dawn … (approx. 1.2 miles away); Corporal Adolph Metzger . . . (approx. 1.2 miles away); You Pursue . . . (approx. 1.2 miles away); Big Nose … (approx. 1.3 miles away); As the Attack Continues… (approx. 1.3 miles away); In the End . . . (approx. 1.3 miles away); As a Cavalryman … (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Banner.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 24, 2015

3. Powder River Indian Wars – 1865 to 1868 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 808 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 25, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.