Raid on Godfrey Ranch

The Raid on Godfrey Ranch occurred from January 15–16, 1865 in which a large band of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors attacked an isolated ranch in Colorado owned by Holon Godfrey.[4] The raid was one of the numerous January raids committed by the Cheyenne and their Indian allies as retaliation for the Sand Creek massacre that happened on November 29, 1864 during the Colorado War. After their victory at the Battle of Julesburg, the Indians raided up and down the South Platte River valley. Among the ranches the Indians attacked was the American Ranch, in which a white family and some of their workers perished before the Cheyenne set their sights on Godfrey's ranch nearby. Godfrey learned of the Indian's upcoming attack and fortified his ranch together with his family and ranch hands. At night, Godfrey estimated that 130 Indian warriors surrounded and attacked his ranch. The men inside managed to hold off them off the whole night. By morning, one of Godfrey's men managed to sneak out of the siege and call for help from the U.S. cavalry, which forced the Indians to finally retreat. The ranch, though burned and having lost some of its horses, remained standing and Godfrey's stand was successful. Godfrey christened his ranch as Fort Wicked.

Raid on Godfrey Ranch
Part of the Colorado War
Date January 15, 1865 Location Colorado Territory Result United States victory Indians retreat
Belligerents
United States	Lakota Cheyenne
Commanders and leaders
Holon Godfrey	Unknown
Strength
3-4 men consisting of Godfrey and his ranch hands[1]	130 warriors
Casualties and losses
None	3-17 killed[2][3]

Background

The attack was part of a larger conflict in Colorado between white settlers and their neighboring Indian tribes. Tension arose when both parties started arming themselves because of distrust that stemmed from atrocities committed by both sides. Many Indians, who sided with the Dog Soldiers society, started raiding military outposts and settlements throughout the territory.[5] In retaliation, a Colorado militia consisting of white volunteers attacked a Cheyenne village and killed over 200 Indians, including women and children. This would set up many of the war’s future events, and enraged the Indians who further increased their raids, focusing much of them on the Colorado ranching business. Ranches, farms and cattle drives were soon raided upon in the span of a month. The raids weren't just a retaliation in the Indian's part, they were also important for them to gather resources such as horses.

Holon Godfrey heard of the Indian's warpath coming towards them after a raid on American Ranch occurred a night before which killed almost an entire family of white settlers. Godfrey quickly took action to fortify his ranch in order to avoid suffering the same fate. He surrounded his ranch with 6-foot tall adobe walls and fireports, as well as well-placed shooting nests and bucket brigades in case of fire. Together with his wife, cowboys and others who sought refuge, they prepared themselves to stand their ground.[3]

Battle

In the night of January 15, Godfrey estimated that a band consisting of 130 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors besieged his Ranch. On horseback and encircling the ranch, the Indians tried to punch their way through the well-fortified position. Godfrey's fort repulsed the Indians’ numerous attempts. The women inside loaded the guns, even melting lead bars to make bullets, and the men fired from well-stationed gun ports.[6]

The Indians managed to break into the corral and steal the horses inside, but Godfrey insisted that his men leave it be as their main priority was to defend those inside. Having their attacks on the main house repulsed, the Indians tried setting fire to the dry grass surrounding the ranch to burn the building down. The defenders quickly put the fire out with buckets of water that were already prepared. At one point, as Godfrey and his men were trying to put out a fire, a warrior suddenly ambushed the rancher by the front. Godfrey shot and kill the Indian with his rifle, before continuing to defend. When the initial attacks failed, the Indians started shooting flaming arrows at the ranch's roof, but these too were extinguished quickly by the ranchers.[3]

One of the ranch hands named Perkins volunteered to get help from the outside. He was able to sneak out during the night and sent a telegraph message to Denver asking for help.[6] He managed to contact the military, though only four soldiers accompanied him to the ranch. By morning, the Indians finally gave up and departed before Perkins' reinforcements arrived.

Aftermath

Between 3-17 Indians were estimated to have been killed by Godfrey and his men during the defense.[3][7] Godfrey christened his ranch as Fort Wicked.[3] His story was published in the New York Tribune and today a historical marker stands near Merino to commemorate the event.[8]

Cheyenne warrior George Bent, a participant, described the raids and destruction by the Indians of many ranches in the South Platte River valley but he did not mention an attack on Godfrey's Ranch. Bent recalled that only three Indians were killed in all the raids and that those three were Sioux who were killed in an attack on a wagon train.[9]

References

1. Johnson, azel E. (July 5, 1959). "Holon Godfrey Was A Rugged Pioneer". The Greeley Journal. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
2. Meline, James Florant. Two Thousand Miles of Horseback, page 43
3. Michno, Gregory. "Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850-1890". Mountain Press (June 15, 2003). pp. 163-164. ISBN 978-0878424689
4. Michno, Gregory. Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850-1890. Mountain Press Publishing Company (August 10, 2003). pp. 163-164. ISBN 978-0878424689
5. Hyde, George E. (1968). Life of George Bent Written from His Letters. Ed. by Savoie Lottinville. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 168–195 ISBN 978-0-8061-1577-1.
6. Jessen, Kenneth (September 21, 2014). "Fort Wicked outlasted an Indian attack". Reporter Herald. November 29, 2015
7. McDermott, John Dishmont. Circle of Fire: the Indian War of 1865, p. 27
8. Patten, Jennifer. In View of the Mountains: A History of Fort Morgan, Colorado Aged Page (June 8, 2011). Chapter: Communication West. ISBN 978-0615497037
9. Hyde, George E. (1968), Life of George Bent, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, pp 178-181