Battle of Alkali Creek (1865)

The Battle of Alkali Creek, part of the Powder River Expedition (1865), was fought on September 1, 1865, by United States soldiers, and civilians, against Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. The Battle occurred near the Powder River, in present day Custer County, Montana.

The Battle

On the morning of September 1, 1865, the over 2,000 United States soldiers and civilians, of Colonel Nelson D Cole's, and Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Walker's column's of the Powder River Expedition were encamped on Alkali Creek, a tributary of the Powder River, in Montana Territory. In the early morning, about 300 Hunkpapa, Sans Arc, and Miniconjou Lakota Sioux attacked the camps' horse herd. First Lieutenant Charles H. Springer, who was in the camp, wrote in his diary that day that the soldiers guarding the horses "dropped their guns and ran." The first of the soldiers to respond were four men, Captain Edward S. Rowland, Sergeant L.L. Holt, and Privates Jesse Easter, and W. Walker, all of Battery K, in the 2nd Missouri Light Artillery Regiment. Shortly after leaving the camp, warriors ambushed this party, and in the following battle, three of these four soldiers became casualties, with only Captain Rowland surviving untouched, by hiding in bushes. There were at least two unknown warriors killed, and another unknown warrior wounded in the battle.

Order of Battle

United States Army, (Colonel Nelson D Cole, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery Regiment, in command).

• 2nd Missouri Light Artillery Regiment, (equipped as Cavalry), Eight Companies, (Batteries), (A, B, C, D, E, H, L, M).
• 12th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, Twelve Companies, (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M ).
• 15th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, One Company, (H).
• 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, Eight Companies, (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H ).

Warriors, (Sitting Bull, Roman Nose).

• Sioux.
• Cheyenne.
• Arapaho.