The battle ended Cheyenne Dog Soldier resistance on the southern plains, killing chief Tall Bull and effectively closing the Comanche War's northern front.
Key Facts
- Date
- July 11, 1869
- Location
- Washington County, Colorado, near Logan/Washington county line
- US Commander
- Colonel Eugene A. Carr
- Cheyenne Leader
- Tall Bull (killed in action)
- Conflict context
- Retaliation for raids in north-central Kansas
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Chief Tall Bull's Cheyenne Dog Soldiers conducted a series of raids across north-central Kansas, prompting the United States Army to mount a retaliatory expedition. Colonel Eugene A. Carr was tasked with locating and engaging the Dog Soldiers to suppress their raiding activities and protect American settlers in the region.
On July 11, 1869, US Army forces under Colonel Carr attacked the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers' encampment at Summit Springs, in what is now Washington County, Colorado. The engagement resulted in the death of Tall Bull, the principal leader of the Dog Soldiers, dealing a decisive blow to the band's fighting capacity.
The death of Tall Bull and the defeat at Summit Springs effectively broke the military power of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers as an organized fighting force on the southern plains. The battle marked the end of significant Cheyenne resistance in the region and contributed to the conclusion of the broader Comanche War in 1869.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Colonel Eugene A. Carr.
Side B
1 belligerent
Tall Bull.