History: Sibley’s Scouts

Nearly 150 years ago this week, one of the most thrilling escapes in the history of the Wyoming Indian Wars happened not far from Dayton, Wyoming on the Big Horn Mountains. Texas-born Frederick W. Sibley, a lieutenant in the Second Cavalry, under General Crook, encountered a band of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians near present-day Sibley Lake.

Sibley was born in 1852, and entered West Point Military Academy when he was 16. In 1874, he was commissioned as second Lieut. in the Second Cavalry. In 1876, he joined General Crook’s Big Horn Expedition. He fought in the Battle of Powder River in Montana Territory, and the Battle of the Rosebud in June of the same year.

On July 7, 1876, Sibley’s command encountered a large Sioux and Cheyenne force when he was sent on a scouting expedition. His company managed to escape, and not one man in his command was wounded in the engagement.

Sibley Lake

The Cheyenne Weekly Leader, July 22, 1876, gives a detailed account of the battle. Sibley’s Scout. Details of One of the Most Thrilling Escapades Ever Known in the Annals of the Border. A reconnoitering party of thirty persons, under the command of Second Lieutenant Sibley, of the Second Cavalry, was sent from Crook’s camp July 6th to observe the movements and position of the Sioux Indians, and learn if possible, the whereabouts of Terry.

On the 9th they returned, on foot, after a terrible retreat of two nights and one day. They were surrounded by the enemy in prodigious number, and only escaped miraculously by the sacrifice of all their equipment and all their ammunition, including thirty-three packed horses and two mules. But for the sagacity and caution of the guides, Grouard and Baptiste, and the judgment and gallantry of Sibley, none would have survived.

They marched all night of the 9th toward the sources of the Little Big Horn. On the 7th, after a light meal, they pursued their course through some foot hills verging toward the mountains. At about half past four a large body of Sioux was espied from the top of the bluffs, marching eastward. They seemed to spread all over the plains, and were evidently moving to attack the camp on Goose Creek.

Sibley’s party remained concealed and in horrible anxiety for an hour, watching their movements. Soon a tremendous shout warned them that the trail they seemed to be looking for was found. Quickly hundreds of Indians were upon it, and set out upon the chase at full canter, uttering those terrible wolfish cries, peculiar to the Sioux and Cheyennes.

The Sibley party mounted and galloped towards the mountains, the Sioux yelling as they caught a glimpse of them. Like hounds on the scent they continued the pursuit, but had broken into two bodies, and were making a double circuit to gain the high points, which they knew the pursued must pass. The scouting party climbed the outer ridge and were approaching shelter, when suddenly a volley of fifty shots was poured from the surrounding rocks, where Indians were massed.

As many more of them charged down on them like fury, and every man of the little party felt despair chill them, and they wheeled and galloped for the timber in the valley, followed by another volley. Before they reached shelter three horses were wounded. They dismounted on a knoll, covered by a grove, and they could see the enemy swarming on the foot hills below, while constant reinforcements gained the higher points around them.

The roar of the volleys was perfectly deafening. The bullets were all too high, but the enemy was gradually perfecting their aim. All the boldest attacking Indians seemed to shout Cheyenne war-cries. The fusillade continued an hour, the scouts replying but seldom in order to save ammunition, when suddenly there was a lull, seeming to portend some new mischief. The party held a brief council, and it was determined to attempt to escape further into the mountains, leaving their horses tied to the trees that they might engage the attention of the Sioux. All the ammunition was taken from the saddles, and the party then moved stealthily from the ground and dashed behind projecting rocks.

The Sioux did not see them and they climbed up over slippery precipices until exhausted. Awhile resting they heard firing recommence louder than ever; the volleys were terrific, the Sioux thinking they still had them in their clutches. The scouts resumed their climbing, and continued to hear the sound of rifles until it died away in the distance.

They toiled over the mountains until dawn of July 8th, resting under the cliffs. They once more abandoned all hope when they saw a large band of Sioux among the foot hills, moving as it to intercept them. It, however, turned toward the Tongue River, and they supposed it was the rear guard of the larger force, which had been advancing to attack the camp or wagon train. Their hunger was great as they had abandoned all their rations. About dawn on the ninth, they reached the bank of Tongue River.

Two men were so worn out that they could not ford the swift current. They therefore hid themselves in the thicket and were left. One of them was crazed by exhaustion and fear. A few miles farther south the Sioux were seen, but luckily the fugitives escaped observation. Four miles from camp, a packer who was hauling loaned his mule to one of the scouts and the news was carried to the Colonel who was commanding during Crook’s absence. About two companies of cavalry were sent out with horses to bring them in. Before meeting their relief they were so fatigued they could only march 100 yards without dropping to the ground.

Sibley Lake Big Horn Mountains

And this item was in the Cheyenne Weekly Leader, July 29, 1876 Crook on Sibley’s Scout. Following is Gen. Crook’s report to Gen. Sheridan concerning Lieut. Sibley’s famous scout: “Camp on Goose Creek, Wyo., July 16, via Fort Fetterman, July 19th.— I sent out Lieut. Sibley on the 6th with a small detachment of the Second Cavalry to escort my guide, Frank Grouard in making a reconnaissance. “When the party came, on the 7th, to a point near where Little Big Horn debouched from the mountains, they encountered the Sioux in strong force, and saw enough to convince them that the main village of the hostiles is not far from that point. They succeeded in making their escape, only after abandoning their animals and marching across the rugged foothills of the Big Horn Mountains. Lieut. Sibley and Frank Grouard are entitled to great credit for the coolness and judgment displayed in saving the detachment when surrounded by a largely superior force of the enemy. (Signed), GEORGE CROOK, Brigadier General.’

A close up of the monument at Sibley Lake

Later, the Laramie Weekly Sentinel, August 7, 1876, had this story.

Sibley’s Scout. The most gallant exploit in the present Sioux war was performed by Lieut. Frederick W. Sibley, of the Second Cavalry, from Fort Sanders. In speaking of the men of Sibley’s party, the Louisville Courier-Journal’s correspondent at Crooks headquarters says. “It seems as if an All-Wise Being guided and protected them throughout, permitting every man to return without a wound. In this command there are probably as old Indian fighters as can be found in the country, and not even guides, ever heard of such a miraculous adventure and favorable termination.

Frank Grouard, of whom I have written so much, freely acknowledged that. Time and time again he gave up every hope and contemplated suicide, but not until he had done everything he could. Lieut. Sibley says that three different times he abandoned every hope, and resigned himself to die game, but with his own pistol.

Lieutenant Sibley spent the whole of last winter at Fort Sanders and made many friends among our citizens by his quiet conduct and gentle disposition. He graduated at West Point in June, 1874, and, although he has not been in the field much over two years, has laid the foundation of a brilliant reputation in his profession To have made his escape without the loss of a man, from such overwhelming odds, sounds more like a story of romance than the sober truth of history, and he will, no doubt, be suitability rewarded by the authorities at Washington.

For his leadership and gallantry, Sibley was brevetted to First Lieutenant, and he was later recommended for the Medal of Honor.

There is a monument near Sibley Lake in the Big Horn Mountains, not far from Burgess Junction, erected by the Historical Landmark Commission of Wyoming in 1954. The Sheridan Chapter of the D.A.R. named the lake after the brilliant commander.