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{{For|the ranch in California|American Ranch}} {{For|the ranch in California|American Ranch}}
{{Infobox military conflict {{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=American Ranch Massacre | conflict = American Ranch Massacre
|partof=the ] | partof = the ]
| image= Farny 80.jpg | image = Cheyenne Scout by Henry Farny 1899.png
| image_size = 200 | image_size = 200
|caption=''"Cheyenne Scout" by Henry F. Farny.'' | caption = ''"Cheyenne Scout" by Henry F. Farny.''
|date=January 14, 1865 | date = January 14, 1865
|place=]<br/>Near present-day ], ] | place = ]<br/>Near present-day ], ]
| coordinates = {{coord|40.472241| -103.343643| display=inline, title}}
|coordinates=
|result=Cheyenne/Lakota victory | result = Cheyenne/Lakota victory
|combatant1={{flag|United States|1861}} | combatant1 = {{flag|United States|1861}}
|combatant2=]<br>] | combatant2 = ]<br>]
|commander1=N/A | commander1 = N/A
|commander2=unknown | commander2 = unknown
|strength1=3 civilians<br> | strength1 = 3 civilians<br>
5 ]s 5 ]s
|strength2=~100 ]s | strength2 = ~100 ]s
|casualties1=7 killed<br>1 wounded<br>3 captured | casualties1 = 7 killed<br>1 wounded<br>3 captured
|casualties2=3 killed | casualties2 = 3 killed
|notes=<br> | notes = <br>
*''The three captives were Sarah Morris and her sons, one of whom was killed later on.'' *''The three captives were Sarah Morris and her sons, one of whom was killed later on.''
}} }}
{{Colorado War}} {{Colorado War}}


The "American Ranch Massacre" occurred in 1865 during the ]. ] and ] ]s attacked a ranch near present day ], ] where they killed all of the male settlers and took three captives.<ref name="forttours.com">http://www.forttours.com/pages/americanranch.asp</ref> The '''American Ranch massacre''' occurred in 1865 during the ]. ] and ] ]s attacked a ranch near present-day ], ] where they killed all of the male settlers and took three captives.<ref name="forttours.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.forttours.com/pages/americanranch.asp|title=American Ranch|date=17 December 2020}}</ref>


==Massacre== ==Massacre==
In the first winter of 1865, the ] Sioux and the Cheyenne were raiding in the ] when they attacked American Ranch, about thirteen miles up the ]. On the morning of January 14, two ranch hands named Gus Hall and Big Steve were crossing the South Platte to cut wood when around 100 natives on horseback appeared. A skirmish began and Big Steve was killed, Hall was shot in the ankle and was forced to defend a part of the sand bluffs by the river. Some of the warriors remained behind to harass Hall while the rest proceeded to American Ranch. At the ranch were Bill Morris and his wife Sarah with two young boys and five ]s. The Cheyenne and Lakota charged in the shooting and quickly set the buildings of the ranch on fire forcing the ranchers away from cover where they were killed. Sarah Morris was about to be killed when a warrior named White White saved her to keep for himself. The two young boys were also taken and one was later killed while in captivity. Gus Hall watched the massacre at the ranch from across the river but because of his wound, he was unable to do anything. One of the natives snuck up behind the wounded cowboy while he was distracted and shot an arrow that cut Hall's chest and landed behind him. Hall then shot and killed the bowman with his revolver.<ref name="forttours.com"/> In the first winter of 1865, the ] Sioux and the Cheyenne were raiding in the ] when they attacked American Ranch, about thirteen miles up the ]. On the morning of January 14, two ranch hands named Gus Hall and Big Steve were crossing the South Platte to cut wood when around 100 natives on horseback appeared. A skirmish began and Big Steve was killed, Hall was shot in the ankle and was forced to defend a part of the sand bluffs by the river. Some of the warriors remained behind to harass Hall while the rest proceeded to American Ranch. At the ranch were Bill Morris and his wife Sarah with two young boys and five ]s. The Cheyenne and Lakota charged in shooting and quickly set the buildings of the ranch on fire forcing the ranchers away from cover where they were killed. Sarah Morris was about to be killed when a warrior named White White saved her to keep for himself. The two young boys were also taken and one was later killed while in captivity. Gus Hall watched the massacre at the ranch from across the river but because of his wound, he was unable to do anything. One of the natives snuck up behind the wounded cowboy while he was distracted and shot an arrow that cut Hall's chest and landed behind him. Hall then shot and killed the bowman with his revolver.<ref name="forttours.com"/>


After this, the Indians moved on to continue raiding so Hall had to walk twelve miles down the river to Wisconsin Ranch which was also attacked during the war. Though wounded twice in the foot and across his chest, Hall managed to survive the cold journey and eventually relayed his account of the event to the ] who arrived at Wisconsin Ranch soon after. At American Ranch, the soldiers found nine bodies, seven whites and three natives next to ] decanters. Hall later said that Bill Morris intended to poison the whiskey with ] because he suspected an attack and knew the Cheyenne and Lakota would drink his alcohol.<ref name="forttours.com"/> After this, the Indians moved on to continue raiding so Hall had to walk twelve miles down the river to Wisconsin Ranch which was also attacked during the war. Though wounded twice in the foot and across his chest, Hall managed to survive the cold journey and eventually relayed his account of the event to the ] who arrived at Wisconsin Ranch soon after. At American Ranch, the soldiers found ten bodies, seven whites and three natives next to ] decanters. Hall later said that Bill Morris intended to poison the whiskey with ] because he suspected an attack and knew the Cheyenne and Lakota would drink his alcohol.<ref name="forttours.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Glenn R. |date=1989 |title=HISTORIC TRAIL MAPS OF THE STERLING 1° x 2° QUADRANGLE, NORTHEASTERN COLORADO |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/1894/report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726085139/https://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/1894/report.pdf |archive-date=2020-07-26 |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=USGS}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
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{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


{{coord missing|Colorado}}
{{Forts in Colorado}} {{Forts in Colorado}}


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Latest revision as of 11:34, 30 October 2024

For the ranch in California, see American Ranch.
American Ranch Massacre
Part of the Colorado War

"Cheyenne Scout" by Henry F. Farny.
DateJanuary 14, 1865
LocationColorado Territory
Near present-day Sterling, Colorado40°28′20″N 103°20′37″W / 40.472241°N 103.343643°W / 40.472241; -103.343643
Result Cheyenne/Lakota victory
Belligerents
 United States Cheyenne
Sioux
Commanders and leaders
N/A unknown
Strength

3 civilians

5 cowboys		 ~100 warriors
Casualties and losses
7 killed
1 wounded
3 captured		 3 killed


  • The three captives were Sarah Morris and her sons, one of whom was killed later on.
Colorado War

The American Ranch massacre occurred in 1865 during the Colorado War. Cheyenne and Sioux warriors attacked a ranch near present-day Sterling, Colorado where they killed all of the male settlers and took three captives.

Massacre

In the first winter of 1865, the Lakota Sioux and the Cheyenne were raiding in the Colorado Eastern Plains when they attacked American Ranch, about thirteen miles up the South Platte River. On the morning of January 14, two ranch hands named Gus Hall and Big Steve were crossing the South Platte to cut wood when around 100 natives on horseback appeared. A skirmish began and Big Steve was killed, Hall was shot in the ankle and was forced to defend a part of the sand bluffs by the river. Some of the warriors remained behind to harass Hall while the rest proceeded to American Ranch. At the ranch were Bill Morris and his wife Sarah with two young boys and five cowboys. The Cheyenne and Lakota charged in shooting and quickly set the buildings of the ranch on fire forcing the ranchers away from cover where they were killed. Sarah Morris was about to be killed when a warrior named White White saved her to keep for himself. The two young boys were also taken and one was later killed while in captivity. Gus Hall watched the massacre at the ranch from across the river but because of his wound, he was unable to do anything. One of the natives snuck up behind the wounded cowboy while he was distracted and shot an arrow that cut Hall's chest and landed behind him. Hall then shot and killed the bowman with his revolver.

After this, the Indians moved on to continue raiding so Hall had to walk twelve miles down the river to Wisconsin Ranch which was also attacked during the war. Though wounded twice in the foot and across his chest, Hall managed to survive the cold journey and eventually relayed his account of the event to the United States Army who arrived at Wisconsin Ranch soon after. At American Ranch, the soldiers found ten bodies, seven whites and three natives next to whiskey decanters. Hall later said that Bill Morris intended to poison the whiskey with strychnine because he suspected an attack and knew the Cheyenne and Lakota would drink his alcohol.

See also

References

  1. ^ "American Ranch". 17 December 2020.
  2. Scott, Glenn R. (1989). "HISTORIC TRAIL MAPS OF THE STERLING 1° x 2° QUADRANGLE, NORTHEASTERN COLORADO" (PDF). USGS. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-07-26. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
Colorado Forts in Colorado
Overview
Trading posts and
civilian forts
Forts
Major events
U.S. and Spanish
military forts
Extinct or museums
Active
National cemeteries
Major events
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