2d Dragoons

WYOMING

David.Gettman October 12th, 2008

Company I left Omaha Barracks, Nebraska, April 6, 1870, for summer duty at Medicine Bow Station, Wyoming, on the Union Pacific Railroad, total strength three officers and sixty-two enlisted men. Discovering a party of four Indians near the station on June 25, a detachment under 1st Lieutenant Christopher T. Hall was sent in pursuit. After chasing the savages for four miles, the soldiers found that they had been decoyed to the main body of Indians and were surrounded. After a brisk fight of about one-half hour the troops charged, routing the Indians and driving them across the Little Medicine Bow River.

Leaving Omaha Barracks April 9, Company A took station to guard the Union Pacific Railroad at Rawlins Springs, Wyoming. While scouting in the mountains at Pine Grove Meadow, Wyoming, June 27, a detachment from the company, under Lieutenant R. H. Young, Fourth Infantry, contacted a band of about two hundred warriors. After a brisk fight the Indians escaped, leaving fifteen killed, and wounding one soldier.

In 1870, Looking Glass Creek, Nebraska, was the focus of much Indian trouble. For this reason Company K left Omaha Barracks April 16 and took station at this place for the protection of the settlers during the summer and fall. An outpost from the company, consisting of an officer and fourteen men, was stationed on Shell Creek to protect the upper settlements. As a result of a tilt with the savages June 27, on the Calamus River, the company killed one Indian and captured twenty-one ponies. On October 6, it went in pursuit of Sioux Indians who had attacked the Pawnees on their reservation. The troops followed them for fifty-five miles, killing at least one Indian.

Late fall of 1870 found the companies stationed as follows:

Regt. Hq., Band, Cos. C, E, K, M; Omaha Barracks, Neb.
Co. A; Fort Fred Steele, Wyo.
Co. B; Camp Stambaugh, Wyo.
Co. D; Fort Douglas, Utah
Cos. F, G, H, L; Fort Ellis, Mont.
Co. I; Fort Sanders, Wyo.

CAMP STAMBAUGH During June, 1870, Company B left Fort Bridger and established...
WYOMING CAMPAIGN The Sioux Indians signed a treaty September 17, 1851, in...
FIVE MEDALS OF HONOR Several incursions of hostile Indians had occurred in the Wind...
WINTER QUARTERS Company B left the camp again July 13 and scouted...
FIGHT AT PRYOR’S FORK A column consisting of Companies F, G, H, and L,...
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COLONEL HARNEY BECOMES DEPARTMENT COMMANDER IN TEXAS After the death of General Brooke, the Department Commander in...