Battle of Blue Water Creek, 9/2-3/1885
Lt. William S. Harney Attacks Brule Village--Harney Massacre
Messengers alerted the Brule Sioux that many soldiers were traveling towards their camp situated near Blue Water Creek, Nebraska. Little Thunder, the chief of this band was informed that, if he wanted peace, he must relocate his village closer to Fort Laramie.
Decision Time
A massive buffalo hunt had just been completed by the warriors of Little Thunder's village. The women were busy cutting and drying the meat, curing the hides, as well as a number of associated tasks.
The messages troubled Little Thunder. After the Grattan Massacre, he had worked dilligently, persuading the young warriors that continued bloodshed would only boomerange back at them. Yes, he wanted peace. After council with other members of his village, it was decided that they would remain a few more days, until the work was completed, then, they would move completely out of the area where there were no soldiers or emigrants to contend with.
Harney's Strategy
During the night one of Harney's scouts, familiar with the Brule Sioux encampments, located Little Thunder's village. He led the horse soldiers above this location to cut off any means of escape:
The horse soldiers crossed the high prarie above the creek and hid in a gully to wait for the daylight attack while the walking soldiers moved up from the Platte towards the sleeping village.
The Negotiation Ruse and Attack
Flying white flags, unarmed, Little Thunder and three of the chiefs rode out to meet with Lt. Harney. Harney's soldiers (unkown to the chiefs) surrounded their village during the negotiations.
Harney demanded Little Thunder transfer to him the warriors responsible for the Grattan Massacre. Little Thunder tried to explain that there had been many Sioux involved in that gunfire, some of them visiting from other camps, other Sioux tribes. They were all mixed up, and those of the Minneconjous Sioux who were involved no longer resided in the area. Harney refused to listen.
LIttle Thunder, fearing the worst, returned to his village to instruct his people to prepare for a fight. To his surprise the village was already surrounded. When the soldiers saw him they fired. People scattered, some into surrounding caves, but the wagon-guns with howitzers shot into them.
While the batte was still raging, Curly, later known as Crazy Horse, rode upon the scene. Searching for survivors amongst the dead, he found a Cheyenne woman crouching near one of the bullet riddled caves, clutching a newborn baby. Her slightly older son and husband were dead. Curly found a travois to transport the woman and her baby to his village.
Brule Sioux Surrender
Little Thunder survived. To save the remaining survivors, three of his chiefs decided they would surrender themselves in lieu of the warriors Harney demanded. Members from their families had been taken captive--better to live or die with them then live free with broken hearts.
Once the chiefs arrived at Fort Laramie they were imprisoned. They and all the captives taken during the battle were led away. Where? The Sioux didn't know. Curly watched as they were led away on The Holy Road (Oregon Trail) and not seen again.
Source
Mari Sandoz, Crazy Horse Strange Man of the Oglalas, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London, 1992, pgs. 63-85.
