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Summit Springs Battlefield

May 5, 2002

Rode the ZRX out to the Summit Springs Battlefield historical landmark on Sunday, May 5, 2002. This landmark is only a few miles South of Sterling, CO. Didn't get started until quarter to one in the afternoon. Sort of late. The ride over there was about 110 miles. It didn't take too long. Made it by 3:30. There is a 5 mile dirt road leading to it. As you can see, there isn't much to the site except a couple of stone markers. The main marker reads:
'Fleeing after a series of bloody raids on the Kansas frontier, a band of 450 marauding Cheyenne Dog soldiers led by Tall Bull (Tatonka Haska) camped here. On the afternoon of July 11, 1869, 350 men of the 5th calvary and Pawnee scouts under General E. A. Carr made a successful surprise attack on the camp. Chief Tall Bull was among the 52 Indians killed in the battle; 418 horses and mules were captured, and 84 lodges were put to the torch. Fifth Calvary Scout Buffalo Bill Cody later made this last Plains Indian battle in Colorado a regular feature of his wild west show.'
The canyons, where most of the Cheyenne Indians hid from their attackers, are on private property and fenced off. The pictures were taken with my new Canon Powershot A40, which I purchased from Wolf Camera the day before.
Summit Springs Battlefield
Cheyenne herdboy marker. Log was part of Indian lodge.

Summit Springs Battlefield
ZRX parked next to main historical marker. Canyons in the background.

Summit Springs Battlefield
Layout of entire historical site.

Summit Springs Battlefield
Marker tells the story.

Summit Springs Battlefield
ZRX and marker.

Summit Springs Battlefield
Chief Tall Bull.

Summit Springs Battlefield
Tall Bull's lodge, where Mrs. Weichel was found.

Road Trip Introduction Garage 02 Motorcycles Matt's Links
On A Plain