A bright clear Sun shon bright in the early morning of 1870 on the western plaines of the United States. The Sun had yet to bring the full heat of the day to the small area of North Dakota known as Sutter's Bight. In the Bight was the town of Miller's Hitch and a couple miles from that was Fort Defiance!
The Commander of the Fort Colonel Dale Diggery set about giving orders to his command as they readied to secure all the civilians in the Bight and bring them to Fort Defiance. He knew he had to destroy the Indian village across Willow Creek at the far end of the Bight and to do that meant he could have no distractions.
The Colonel was a mean man, crass, brutal and dishonest but he was a seasoned soldier and not afraid to make hard decision on his soldiers lives.
His force was considerable, he had A Company of the 6th Cavalry supported by half companies of B and D Companies. He had 3 new 12 pound field guns, a half a regiment of the 47th infantry and a wagon carrying extra ammo.
He had to secure a mining camp
and two settlers homes
as well as the town of Miller's Hitch
before he could ride out to the sleep Indian village at the far end of the Bight.
Orders were issued to D Company to bring in the Miners, B Company to secure the Settlers not far from the Mining camp and 3 adn 4 sections of A company was to secure the other settlers farm. His own 1 and 2 sections of A company supported by the infantry and 3 12 pdrs would secure the town.
Orders were issued. Food, ammo and extra horse fodder was dolled out and with a rousing chorus of "Columns of Two Forwaaard Yeeeeeooooo!" Away went the gallant 6th!
The 6th was miles away from the Mining camp and unbeknownst to them a band of about 30 Indians rode over the hill and spotted the Miners. The Indians decided that the Miners were in a place they shouldn't oughta be and so started shooting at them.
While the Miners fought the small band of warriors another group of 40 arrived and went to attack a settlement close by the mining camp.
The Miners put up a small fight but they couldn't last against so many of the Native warriors!
While this was happening Smoke signals started and then the aweful drums! The Native Warriors were gathering.
The Cavalry moved as quickly as possible and little did they know their peril. As D and B Companies engaged the 40 Warriors near the settlement the lead element of A company went through a pass and just then the drums ceased! All available Indian Warriors arrived right on the flank of 3 and 4 sections!
In a short brutal fight over 340 warriors attacked the 10 troopers from 3 and 4 sections were over run and shortly after 1 and 2 sections joined them in dying far from achieving their mission.
The Cavalry were decimated and looked to be in big trouble until the infantry opened fire and although they only killed 2 warriors the Indians decided enough was enough and left (really they knew the cavalry couldn't defeat the village now so no reason to continue to be killed for no reason!).
The remaining cavalry and infantry moved back into Fort Definace and hoped to be reenforced as early as possible.