Probably quite a few of you are familiar with the 1865 Battle of Tongue River in Northern Wyoming (the Connor Battle), inwhich Gen. Patrick Connor's troops attacked the Arapaho on the TongueRiver. The battle was not a military success, as Connor was initiallyable to drive the Arapaho band back and take the village, but was soonrepulsed. He was not overrun as he had howitzers that he was able touse to keep the counterattacking Arapaho back. The Arapaho band was actually not at war with the US, but Connor was not aware that he was attacking a peaceful band.
Anyhow, I was up in that country today and had some late day spare time. Having never seen the battleground, I drove over to it. I found that it is quite near the Interstate Highway, and could easily have viewed it.
I have to say, it was a bit of a disappointment as the State has built a campground and park right in the battlefield, and the battlefield is basically in the town of Ranchester, a very small village north of Sheridan.
As it happened, the Tongue River is flooding, so the view I received wasn't even remotely similar to that which Connor's troops viewed in August 1856, nor is it at all the conditions in which the Arapahos had camped. None the less, I have to say that it's a surprising battlefield, being in a flat river valley as it is.
Of course, for that matter, so is Little Big Horn. . . some 80 or so miles north of this battlefield.
Anyhow, I was up in that country today and had some late day spare time. Having never seen the battleground, I drove over to it. I found that it is quite near the Interstate Highway, and could easily have viewed it.
I have to say, it was a bit of a disappointment as the State has built a campground and park right in the battlefield, and the battlefield is basically in the town of Ranchester, a very small village north of Sheridan.
As it happened, the Tongue River is flooding, so the view I received wasn't even remotely similar to that which Connor's troops viewed in August 1856, nor is it at all the conditions in which the Arapahos had camped. None the less, I have to say that it's a surprising battlefield, being in a flat river valley as it is.
Of course, for that matter, so is Little Big Horn. . . some 80 or so miles north of this battlefield.
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