Battle of Powder River

Battle of Powder River
Part of the Big Horn Expedition, Great Sioux War of 1876
The Powder River looking north on the battlefield
Date March 17, 1876 Location Powder River, Montana Territory 45 05 18 N 105 51 28 W Southwest of Broadus in present-day Powder River County, Montana[1][2] Result Native American victory
Belligerents
Northern Cheyenne Oglala Lakota Sioux	United States
Commanders and leaders
Two Moon He Dog Little Wolf Wooden Leg	Joseph J. Reynolds Anson Mills Henry E. Noyes Alexander Moore
Strength
100–250	383
Casualties and losses
3 killed, several people later died of exposure 3 wounded	4 killed 6 wounded 66 frostbitten[3]

The Battle of Powder River, also known as the Reynolds Battle, occurred on March 17, 1876, in Montana Territory, United States, as part of the Big Horn Expedition. The attack on a Northern Cheyenne and Oglala Lakota Indian encampment by Colonel Joseph J. Reynolds initiated the Great Sioux War of 1876. Although destroying a large amount of Indian property, the attack was poorly carried out and solidified Northern Cheyenne and Lakota Sioux resistance to the U.S. attempt to force them to sell the Black Hills and live on a reservation.^[4]