Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ans, women and children included, fled on foot in temperatures that dipped below -30°F.
The Cheyenne surrendered a few weeks later.
The reservation spread into the Black Hills, much of which was thought to be gold-rich
and was purchased by the government from the Sioux in 1876. Although the Indian Peace
Commission had originally offered $6 million, and the Sioux, understanding the value the
white men saw in the soil, had asked for $70 million, a final sale price of $4.5 million elim-
inated Indian ownership of the land.
With the Indian Wars essentially over, a new type of conflict arose between the moneyed
cattlemen and the hardscrabble homesteaders across the Powder River Basin. Texas cattle
had come into the region between 1875 and 1884. They were grazed on the open range until
homesteaders started fencing off pastureland and watering holes. The cattle herds continued
to increase while the open rangeland decreased. With drought followed by freezing tem-
peratures, cattle numbers sustained cataclysmic losses over the winter of 1886-1887, later
referred to as the “Great Die-up.” Cattlemen became even more resolved to make their out-
fits profitable.
While the cattlemen were trying to rid themselves of pesky rustlers and homesteaders,
a hired group called the Regulators pursued a “dead list” of ambitious and outspoken
homesteaders and people believed to be rustlers. Known as the Johnson County Wars, there
were major conflicts between cattlemen and townspeople who supported the outspoken
homesteaders.
The last Indian battle in Wyoming took place on October 30, 1903, southwest of New-
castle, when Sioux returning to their reservation from Montana ran into lawmen from New-
castle. At stake was the issue of whether or not the Indians were violating game laws
by hunting off the reservation. Three lawmen were killed, and the Indians eventually sur-
rendered, were put on trial, and were ultimately acquitted.
Throughout the 20th century, the story of this corner of Wyoming centered on cattle and
sheep production, and more recently (and far more lucratively), coal and coal-bed methane
production. With wide-open ranch country and Devils Tower as the country's first national
monument, it's not a stretch to see why tourism too continues to play an important role in
the region.
Travelers heading east or west on I-90 will have easy access to much of the region.
Sherid-
an
is a wonderful town to visit and a terrific hub for many of Wyoming's
dude ranches.
Although most ranches are busiest in summer, a few open in May, and some stay open into
