The Strategies and Tactics of the Wagon Box Fight
The Wagon Box fight originally spurred when the Sioux Indians learned that the U.S. government had plans to build the Bozeman Trail as a short cut for gold mining and to construct three forts along the trail. The plan stated the trails were to overlap parts of what earlier Indians had been using as a trade route. The government’s plan caused uproar with the Sioux Indians. “The Sioux Indians felt the trail would eventually run through the land, which was designated as the Sioux Indians’ land by means of a treaty.” (Encyclopedia, 2004) Tensions would eventually get so strong that a war would break out and lead to many historical battles including the Wagon Box Fight.
Prior to the Wagon Box fight, the Sioux Indians were considered the best light infantry fighters in the world. They were revered to as such great fighters due to their mobility, skill, tactics, horsemanship, and proficiency with their weapons. “Their main tactic was known as “grabbing them by the belt”.” (“Wagon Box Fight,” n.d.). To perform this tactic, an individual would get closer to the opponents’ weapon in order to make the opponent’s weapons less effective. The tactical challenge of using this strategy was figuring out how to get close to your opponent. For the Indians, their main offensive tactic was that they would fight at night and ambush their enemy in
Bibliography: Encyclopedia of World Biography. (2004). Red Cloud. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia. com/topic/Red_Cloud.aspx Wagon Box Fight, Banner WY. Retrieved from http://www.offthebeatenpath.ws/Battlefields/ WagonBoxFight/index.html Wyoming Indian Battles. Retrieved from http://www.legendsofamerica.com/wy- indianbattles5.html#Wagon Box Fight