Historic SitesWagon Box Fight

The Wagon Box Fight was an engagement on August 2, 1867, during Red Cloud's War, between 26 soldiers of the U.S. Army and six civilians and several hundred Lakota Sioux Indians in the vicinity of Fort Phil Kearny.

The Wagon Box fight site is located about five miles west of Fort Phil Kearny near the town of Story, Wyoming. It is here on August 2,1867, that a detachment of 32 men and officers under the command of Captain James Powell expected to be massacred by hundreds of Red Cloud’s warriors.

However, the soldiers had one advantage – they had cover behind a corral of 14 wagon boxes and new rifles which could fire rapidly and repeatedly.

Over the eight hours of battle, the soldiers were able to stave off Red Cloud’s assault.

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