Fort Morgan (Wardwell) was most active in 1865 dealing with attacks along the South Platte River Trail in retaliation for the Sand Creek Massacre in November, 1864. Towards the end of 1865, as many as 11 companies of men from the 3rd and 5th U. S. Volunteer Infantry (Galvanized Yankees), the 13th Missouri Cavalry, and the 21st New York Cavalry were based at Fort Wardwell. These men protected supply trains and emigrants along the route.The following report was made on October 29, 1865 by Captain Austin A. King of the 13th Missouri Cavalry who was then in command of the fort describing a recent skirmish with the natives.
I have the honor to report that the Colorado scout sent after the band of Indians that were recently upon the road have returned without being able to accomplish any good. The attack was made on the morning of the 20th inst. about daylight by two hundred warriors supposed to be of the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes. The train attacked consisted of about sixty government wagons and was camped about eleven miles below Valley Station.
The design of the Indians was to surprise the camp, but was foiled in their plan by two men who rose and heard one of whom they killed the other succeeded in reaching the train and giving the alarm after discharging both of the revolvers. The mules were secured immediately and the camp put in train for fighting which as soon as the Indians seen they immediately withdrew back into the sand hills out of sight and awaited until the train had pulled out and was about half way across the range of sand hills then some hundred or more made the second attack, but missed the time as the wagon Master corralled his train befor [sic] any general engagement occurred the Indians then circled around the train and raised the war whoop but finding they could not approach the train upon their ponies dismounted and made a charge upon foot. Some succeeded in getting into the wagons but the teamsters stood their ground nobly and drove them back to their ponies and across to the north side of the river leaving sight of their dead upon the ground also several ponies number of wounded not known.
The train then moved down the road a little distance where a second party made its appearance but were detered [sic] from attacking the train by my scout coming in sight. This party also crossed to the north side of the river except fourteen who went down the road for the purpose of plundering a small citizen train but they were also repealed by a detachment of the 6th Virginia Cav. coming up the road. The Indians then concentrated their force in the small hills on the north side of the Platt [sic] and moved off in the direction of the Cedar Canyon .
The Lieutenant immediately began returning fire but, the Indians were able upon their ponies to make distance so great that the shots were not effective he being unable to overcome them as [sic] force them to fight returned to the road to replace the telegraph wire which had been torn down, which being accomplished he crossed the River and made an another scout through the sand hills but found no Indians or signs of any returned. The Lieut. thinks the Indians lay in the Cedar hills and Poll? creek I have not heard of any Indians going south since my last effort. There have been no Indians upon the road for some time.
Source: Bloedorn Research Center at the Fort Morgan Museum
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