Late in July, 1853, the Cheyenne and the allied tribes of Arapaho, Sioux, Kiowa, and Plains Apache gathered to seek revenge on the Pawnee, a tribe the Cheyenne called the Wolf People. The Cheyennes had lost several important men when the Pawnees had surprised them and slaughtered the entire party in 1852.

Now, scouts had discovered a large hunting camp of about 400 Pawnee warriors and their families. The Cheyennes and allied tribes skillfully moved close to the Pawnee camp with one thousand warriors and their women and children. The attack was planned for July 24, 1853.

That morning everyone in the camp moved to the base of a big hill within five miles of the Pawnee camp. Before they could attack sacred ceremonies had to be performed. George Bird Grinnell relates the proceedings in The Fighting Cheyennes. The men began to unwrap their medicines. The sacred hat, made from the skin of a buffalo cow with two carved and painted buffalo horns, was placed on a bed of sage stems. From the Medicine Arrow Bundle one arrow was withdrawn and given to Wooden Leg. Standing in front of the line of warriors, Wooden Leg began the arrow song while dancing in time with the music and pointing the arrow in the direction of the enemy.

“As he sang and danced, all the men in the lines stamped their feet in time to the song and made motions with their weapons or shields toward the enemy,”

Long Chin had requested permission to wear the sacred hat into battle, but as he tied it the string broke, seen as a harmful omen. The sacred arrow bundle was attached to Black Kettle’s lance. While everyone was intent on the ceremonies eight young men, led by Big Head, slipped away, hoping to gain honors in being the first to strike the Pawnees.

The sacred hat and arrows could only be carried into battle when the whole tribe was present, including children. When the ceremonies were finished the men started toward the Pawnee camp with the women and children following. The march turned into a wild charge overlooking the Pawnee camp, but the camp had been abandoned. There was nothing on the ground except the ashes of spent campfires.

Disappointment turned to anticipation when riders were seen coming their way. The Cheyennes and allied tribes charged toward the oncoming horsemen only to discover that they were the young men who had slipped away during the battle ceremony. Big Head was waving a scalp and shouting, “The camp is right over the hill. Go slowly, for there are many of them.”

Big Head and his party had broken the sacred law by leaving the camp before the ceremonies were completed. In doing so the protective powers of the sacred hat and arrows was undone. The damage was done, no one thought of breaking off the attack.

The sun was high in the morning sky when the warriors charged over the hill to find the Pawnees prepared for a fight.

The women, children, and horses were in a stream that cut a ravine between the attacking Cheyennes and the Pawnee camp. The men were positioned along the protective banks. The defenses were as strong as any fortress. The Cheyennes swarmed down upon the waiting Pawnee but were repelled by their strong defenses. Over and over the Cheyennes and allied tribes reorganized and charged, but could not dislodge the Pawnees, who refused to fight in the open.

At the beginning of the fight, Sky Chief had just left the Pawnee camp and witnessed the attack on his people. He immediately rode for help from the Pottawatomies who dressed like buckskinned frontiersmen. Like their Anglo counterparts the Pottawatomies were accomplished riflemen. At the time, most of the wild tribes only used the knife, arrow, and lance.

At about 4 o’clock in the afternoon Sky Chief arrived with 20 riflemen. They immediately took charge. Half of them fired and fell back to reload while the remainder stepped forward and fired. The constant volley startled the Cheyennes, who along with their allies ran for their lives.

The Pottawatomie riflemen pursued them until the Cheyennes turned and charged them, forcing them back. Again, superior firepower shattered the Cheyenne attack, forcing them to retreat with the Pottawatomies hot on their heals. Tiring of the chase, both sides stopped, and two Pottawatomies rode to the front and dismounted as a sign of disrespect.

Kiowa warrior, Satanta, answered the challenge and killed one of them with a lance. Cheyenne Good Bear shot the other, while his warrior companions charged once again. By then the riflemen had reloaded and seventeen Cheyennes and others of the allied tribes fell before a barrage of hot lead.

Both sides withdrew, with the bold Cheyennes and their allies licking their wounds. The Pottawatomie riflemen had turned the tide of battle and won the day on The Way West.

The Cowboy,” Jim Gray is author of the book Desperate Seed: Ellsworth Kansas on the Violent Frontier, Ellsworth, KS. Contact Kansas Cowboy, 220 21st Road, Geneseo, Kan. Phone: (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.