Battle of Platte Bridge

Battle of Platte Bridge
Part of Colorado War, Sioux Wars, American Indian Wars
DateJuly 26, 1865
Location
Near present day Casper, Wyoming
Result Indian victory
Belligerents
 United States Lakota
Cheyenne
Arapaho
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Martin Anderson
Capt. Adam Smith Leib
Lt. Caspar Collins  
Sgt. Amos Custard  
Man Afraid Of His Horses
Red Cloud
Roman Nose
Crazy Horse
Dull Knife
Strength
150 soldiers, a few civilians and Shoshoni scouts 2,000 to 3,000
Casualties and losses
29 killed, 10 seriously wounded 8 killed

The Battle of Platte Bridge, also called the Battle of Platte Bridge Station, on July 26, 1865, was the culmination of a summer offensive by the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne Indians against the United States army. In May and June the Indians raided army outposts and stagecoach stations over a wide swath of Wyoming and Montana. In July, they assembled a large army, estimated by Cheyenne warrior George Bent to number 3,000 warriors, and descended upon Platte Bridge. The bridge, across the North Platte River near present-day Casper, Wyoming, was guarded by 120 soldiers. In an engagement near the bridge, and another against a wagon train guarded by 28 soldiers a few miles away, the Indians killed 29 soldiers while also suffering at least eight dead.