|
|
Western
History in Buffalo, Wyoming and Johnson County, Wyoming |
|
| History books and Western novels have all tried to capture
the past of Johnson County, but it is only when you are here that you can really
experience the American West as it was and still remains today in our community.
Here many of the great Indian Wars were fought, the famous Bozeman Trail runs through our
midst and was the site of the Johnson County Cattle War. Just a
reminder, our living history is all around us and most areas are public, while others are
privately owned. Please, before you visit, call the Chamber of Commerce in Buffalo
(800-227-5122) or Kaycee (307-738-2444) to find out when and how some of the sites on
private lands may be visited, and when the public sites are open for the season. |
|
| Fort
Phil Kearny, one of the three forts built as the U.S. Army moved north to protect
immigrants on the Bozeman Trail, is located at the foot of the Big Horns which was then
Crow land. This, the largest stockade post of its time, was under daily attack by Lokota
and Cheyenne warriors during its brief two year existence.
Fetterman Monument - On December 21, 1866, Captain W. J. Fetterman and 80 men,
including two civilians, were lured over Lodge Trail Ridge, ambushed and killed by 2,000
Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors. Crazy Horse, who would become better known in later
years, was instrumental in setting the successful trap for Fetterman and his command. This
was the worst defeat suffered by the U.S. military at the hands of the Indians until ten
years later at the Little Big Horn. |
Fort Phil Kearny
|
| Wagon Box Fight - On
August 2, 1867, Captain Powell and 31 other soldiers were able to withstand a large Indian
attack led by Red Cloud and his nephew. The woodcutting detail had been recently supplied
with the newly converted Springfield breech loading rifles. This new firearm technology
and the protection the circled wagon boxes were influencing factors in this famous battle. |
|
Hole-in-the-Wall Country
|
Hole-in-the-Wall and Outlaw Cave
- The Hole in the Wall is closely associated with such names as Butch Cassidy, the
Sundance Kid and the Wild Bunch along with other lesser known outlaws who frequented this
area of southern Johnson County while evading the law. The entire area west of
Kaycee is referred at as the Hole-in-the-Wall Country. The Hole-in-the-Wall area is
characterized by spectacular red rock buttes and wide open spaces.
Indian Rock Art Cave - Located on BLM lands. There are 17 motifs
of late prehistoric fine line work. A large warrior picture plus others are visible
on the ceiling of the cave. |
|
|
| Johnson County Cattle War - In
the late 1880's, anger was growing between large and small cattlemen in Wyoming. Small
ranchers believed new laws were giving unequal rights to large ranchers. Large ranchers
thought many small ranchers were stealing their cattle. In 1892, the Wyoming Stock
Growers Association, whose members operated large ranches, decided to take matters into
their own hands. With the approval of many state officials, a train left Cheyenne on April
5th carrying 25 hired Texas gunmen and over 20 Wyoming ranchers, stock detectives, and
others. This group became known as the "Invaders." They were headed north to
Johnson County, Wyoming to kill or drive off men who were suspected rustlers. ����
The Invaders� first stop on the morning of April 9th was the KC Ranch near Kaycee,
Wyoming. Inside a cabin at the ranch were Nate Champion, who was probably wanted by the
Invaders, and Nick Ray. Ray was shot as he left the cabin and died soon after. |
Sign describing the killing of Nate Champion
and Nick Ray in Kaycee, Wyoming.
|
| Champion held Ray�s killers off
for several hours until a burning wagon was pushed into the cabin.� He was killed
trying to escape the flames. The Invaders then moved to the TA Ranch south of Buffalo,
Wyoming. News of the events at the KC Ranch quickly reached Buffalo. Sheriff
Red Angus led over 200 citizens to the TA Ranch and surrounded the Invaders on April 11th.
Federal troops from Fort McKinney, Wyoming arrived on April 13th to escort the Invaders to
safety at the request of Acting Governor Amos Barber. There were no convictions for
the deaths of Ray and Champion. |
| Jim Gatchell Museum and Hoofprints
of the Past Museum - Many historical artifacts and other displays can be seen at
the Jim Gatchell Museum
in Buffalo and the Hoofprints of the Past Museum in Kaycee. The Jim Gatchell Museum
recently received the designation as a nationally accredited small museum. |
|
Jim Gatchell Museum - Buffalo
|
Hoofprints of the Past Museum - Kaycee |
|
|
|
