1864 Indian Raids

The raids followed a spring of attacks on Cheyenne camps. In May 1864 Colorado volunteers under Major Jacob Downing struck a Cedar Canyon village north of the South Platte whose people were mainly old women and children. On May 16, near Ash Creek, troops under Lieutenant George Eayre, acting on Colonel John Chivington's order to kill Cheyennes wherever found, shot Lean Bear as he rode out alone. In 1863 he had met President Lincoln at the White House and brought home a peace medal and papers calling him friendly. After that the Dog Soldiers overrode the peace chiefs.

What the plaque says

1864 Indian Raids During the Civil War many regular troops were withdrawn from Plains military posts to fight in the east. The Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho, seizing this opportunity, attempted to drive white settlers from their land. Beginning on August 7, 1864, the Indians made concerted attacks on stage stations and ranches along the Oregon Trail, hitting nearly every settle- ment for 400 miles from Julesburg to Big Sandy. Travel ceased for two months. The most severe attacks were along the upper Little Blue River where about 100 people were killed. Several died at Oak Grove but others escaped and Pawnee Ranch was successfully defended. At "the Narrows" the Eubanks families were attacked and seven killed. Mrs. Eubanks, two children and Miss Laura Roper were taken prisoner and held captive for months. Teamsters were killed, wagon trains burned and ranches were smashed or burned. Settlers fled east to Beatrice and Marysville or northwest to Fort Kearny on the Platte for protection. Troops and local militia companies attacked and drove back the Indians in the battle of the Little Blue on August 17, 1864. Major raids ceased but skirmishes continued through the fall. Civil War Centennial Commission Historical Land Mark Council

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• National Willa Cather Center — 29 mi
  The restored Moon Block on Red Cloud's Webster Street, home of the Willa Cather Foundation, with the town she grew up in and wrote about laid out around it.
• Willa Cather Memorial Prairie — 33 mi
  Six hundred and twelve acres of never-plowed mixed-grass prairie south of Red Cloud, once Kitkehahki Pawnee country, named for the writer who said the grass was the country.

More markers nearby

• Indian Captives — 11 mi
• Spring Ranche — 12 mi
• Original Townsite of Oak — 12 mi
• Clay Center — 13 mi