George Crook

Recorded sideUnited States Army

Recorded resultcaptured the fortified position on the second day at heavy cost; 8 soldiers killed and 12 wounded

Costly U.S. tactical victory: Crook's troops scaled the rocks and took the stronghold, reportedly killing the leader Sieto, but suffered relatively heavy losses and the surviving defenders escaped.

Crook pressed a determined infantry assault directly into a strong natural fortification on the second day rather than withdrawing; taking the high ground and killing the defenders' leader broke the position, though the defenders escaped and the wider war continued.

What followed

One of the few named, well-documented engagements of the otherwise diffuse Snake War, and an early example of George Crook's aggressive frontier campaigning. It illustrates the grinding, small-unit character of the western Great Basin fighting.

Recorded sideUnited States Army

Recorded resultChecked; withdrew

Indecisive in casualties but a strategic Native success: Crook's aggressive Native attackers fought his column to a standstill and forced it to withdraw to resupply.

Aggressive, mobile mounted attacks and use of broken terrain prevented Crook from pressing forward; the disruption removed his column from the converging campaign.

What followed

By knocking Crook out of the campaign, the Rosebud left the other columns unsupported eight days before Little Bighorn.