Battle Canyon, 1878 - Battlefields on Waymarking.com

The Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork is an archeological site that was the location of a pivotal confrontation between the U.S. Army and a
group of Northern Cheyenne on September 27, 1878.

The Northern Cheyenne, under the joint leadership of chiefs Dull Knife and Little Wolf, had left the Darlington Agency in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) earlier in September of that year
and were attempting to return to their homes in Montana. A detachment of U.S. Army soldiers commanded by Colonel William H. Lewis from Fort Dodge, who had orders to capture and return the Cheyenne to Oklahoma, was in close pursuit.

The Cheyenne stopped in the Ladder Creek valley, an area with which they were familiar from past hunting trips. They chose a narrow tributary, known today as Battle Canyon, where they prepared an ambush for the approaching soldiers by digging rifle pits above
prominent ledges and concealing their horses. Colonel Lewis ascertained the Indians’ intentions and avoided entering the canyon, choosing instead to deploy his troops in the uplands west of Ladder
Creek. The troops advanced northward across a series of ridges toward the positions occupied by the Cheyenne. After a protracted gun battle, during which both sides suffered casualties (including Colonel
Lewis), the Cheyenne slipped away and continued their flight to the north.
The core of the battle site was in Battle Canyon at a point where rock ledges and overhangs provided concealment for an ambush, along with some measure of protection. The confrontation at Punished
Woman’s Fork was part of a much larger event, often called the Northern Cheyenne Exodus (and sometimes as the Dull Knife Raid), and had implications far beyond the Ladder Creek valley.

Name of Battle: The Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork. Name of War: The Northern Cheyenne Exodus (sometimes as the Dull Knife Raid) Entrance Fee: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 09/27/1878 Parking: Not Listed Date of Battle (End): Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of you in front of a sign or marker posted at the site of the battle (or some other way to indicate you have personally visited the site.

In addition it is encouraged to take a few photos of the surrounding area and interesting features at the site.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   01/09/2011 azswade visited it