Society of the Military Horse • View topic - A soggy view of the Tongue River Battlefield

Society of the Military Horse • View topic - A soggy view of the Tongue River Battlefield

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.

Grand Army of the Republic Memorial, Casper Wyoming

This is the Grand Army of the Republic Monument in Casper, Wyoming. This commemorates local men who had served in the Union forces during the Civil War, although obviously they weren't Wyoming residents at the time they entered the service.

These photos were taken in two sets, one in 2011 and the other in 1987.

Veterans Park, Casper Wyoming

The memorial depicted above was originally across the street from City Park. It was removed to Veterans Park when a controversy about a Ten Commandments display, long in the park, brewed up due to outside agitators. At that time, the city, taking a look at the various memorials it had here and there, decided to consolidate them in the remodeled park.

This particular memorial contains an odd error in it in that a name on the memorial for a Korean War Marine is there in error. That particular individual was late in reporting back from a patrol late war, and listed as MIA. The creators of the memorial later presumed that he had died, and he was listed on the memorial, even though he did not die in the war, and may still be living.



This stone monument commemorates those who have died in the Middle Eastern and Central Asian Wars that have been fought since 1990.


Sign discussing the Korean War. Signs are present in the park for every widely recognized war fought by the United States since the Civil War.


This is the sign for World War One. This particular sign is unfortunately incomplete in terms of its information, as the sign maker was apparently unaware of the role of the Wyoming National Guard in the war. If you read the sign, you would be left with the impression that the Guard had little or no role, when in fact it was called up prior to the war for the Mexican border crisis, and it served as heavy artillery during World War One.

Indeed, the role of the Army National Guard is sadly lacking at this memorial in general, which is ironic given the strong presence of the Army National Guard in most Wyoming towns during the 20th Century, and the Air National Guard in Cheyenne. Only the Army National Guard's service in the Korean War is really featured in the park's displays.




A World War One trench mortar is on display at the park.

Ft. Meade, South Dakota

Spanish American War Memorial, Cheyenne, Wyoming

This Memorial is called "Taking the Oath".

Oddly enough, the bottom photographs were taken years after the first, but in both instances, snow appears on the ground.

World War Two Memorial, Courthouse, Evanston Wyoming

World War One Memorial, Courthouse, Evanston Wyoming

World War One Memorial, Episcopal Cathedral, Laramie Wyoming

Memorial at the Episcopal Cathedral in Laramie, WY to the war dead of World War One. This memorial has, unfortunately, been vandalized.

World War Two Memorial, Ft. Washakie, Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyoming

War Memorial, Hudson Wyoming