Hidden in Kansas: the wagon train siege that lasted longer than the Alamo

The Desperate Wagon Circle Defense at Castle Rock

In August 1867, forty freight wagons near Castle Rock, Kansas faced a fight for survival.

Several hundred Sioux and Cheyenne warriors surrounded the teamsters at dawn on the 22nd, forcing them to form a defensive circle with their wagons.

For over 30 hours, the men fought back wave after wave of attacks while their water and bullets ran low under the hot sun. The siege only broke when soldiers arrived with a government freight train on August 24.

This desperate stand marked one of the bloodiest battles on the Smoky Hill Trail during the Plains Indian Wars.

The limestone spires of Castle Rock still stand tall today, silent witnesses to this forgotten frontier struggle.

Gold Rush Fever Created the Dangerous Smoky Hill Trail

Gold turned up at Cherry Creek near Denver in 1858, starting the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush. Miners needed a faster way to the goldfields, so the Smoky Hill Trail opened in 1859.

This 592-mile path ran from Atchison, Kansas to Denver, Colorado, following the Smoky Hill River for much of the way.

The trail cut about 100 miles off the trip compared to other routes, but travelers faced big problems – scarce water, rough land, and Native American tribes who saw them as trespassers.

Castle Rock’s Limestone Towers Gave Monument Station Its Name

Butterfield Overland Dispatch built Monument Station in 1865 as a rest stop for stagecoaches.

The station got its name from nearby Castle Rock, where odd limestone formations stuck up from the prairie like old monuments.

The company put stations about every 12 miles along the trail, giving horses a chance to rest and riders a spot to stretch their legs.

David Butterfield spent $6 million on his stage line, hoping to beat his rival Ben Holladay in moving people and goods across the plains.

Soldiers Turned a Simple Stage Stop Into Fort Monument

The Army came to Monument Station in November 1865 and turned the stage stop into a military post. They called it Fort Monument, though some people nicknamed it Fort Pyramid because of the castle-like rocks nearby.

The soldiers set up as part of a line of military posts guarding the Smoky Hill Trail.

Other forts lined the route, including Fort Wallace and Fort Harker, all trying to keep travelers safe as they crossed through disputed land.

Broken Treaties and Burned Villages Set the Stage for War

The Sand Creek Massacre in November 1864 left deep wounds when Colorado militia killed over 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, mostly women and children.

Things got worse when General Hancock burned a Cheyenne village at Pawnee Fork in 1867, claiming it was empty. The tribes had enough.

A war pipe passed from camp to camp as Cheyenne and Sioux leaders planned attacks on white settlements. Raids along the Smoky Hill Trail grew so bad that the stage company stopped running coaches.

Forty Wagons Caught in a Surprise Attack

Several hundred Sioux and Cheyenne warriors attacked a freight train near Monument Station on the morning of August 22, 1867. About 40 wagons loaded with supplies got caught in the open when the attack began.

The teamsters acted fast, pulling their wagons into a defensive circle as warriors closed in from all sides.

This attack fit into a larger pattern that summer, as Native tribes fought back against the growing wave of white settlement.

Teamsters Created a Prairie Fortress With Their Wagons

The freight drivers took cover behind their wagons, using the wooden sides and cargo as shields against arrows and bullets. Their quick thinking turned ordinary freight wagons into a makeshift fort on the open prairie.

The men checked what they had and found limited bullets and water – a serious problem with hundreds of warriors circling them.

The attackers kept the wagons surrounded, making it impossible for anyone to escape or go for help.

August Heat Added to the Misery of the First Day

The warriors kept up their attacks throughout August 22nd, testing the teamsters’ nerves and defenses. They tried different tricks to break through the wagon circle or force the men to give up.

The teamsters shot carefully, saving bullets while the hot August sun beat down on their makeshift fort.

No one at nearby military posts knew about their tough spot, so the men could only count on themselves and hope someone would notice when they didn’t show up.

Darkness Brought New Dangers as the Siege Continued

The warriors didn’t leave when night fell on August 22-23.

They kept up the pressure through the darkness, forcing the teamsters to stay alert despite growing tired. The men now faced two enemies: the attacking warriors and their own thirst as water ran low.

The night hours dragged by as the defenders strained to spot movement in the darkness.

The August heat had baked the prairie all day, and even the night brought little relief to the men trapped inside their circle of wagons.

Water Ran Low as the Second Day Dawned

August 23rd brought fresh attacks on the weakening defenders. The teamsters now faced a serious water shortage after more than 24 hours under siege.

Men carefully counted their remaining bullets, knowing each shot needed to count.

The warriors sensed the defenders growing weaker and pushed harder, looking for any sign that the teamsters might give up.

The freight drivers knew they couldn’t hold out much longer without help, but they kept fighting as the second day wore on.

A Dust Cloud on the Horizon Meant Salvation

A government freight train with soldiers appeared on the horizon on August 24th.

The teamsters spotted the dust cloud first, then made out the shapes of wagons and mounted soldiers coming their way. This fresh group brought badly needed help and supplies to the trapped men.

The warriors saw the soldiers too, and had to decide whether to keep fighting against these new odds.

The combined firepower of the teamsters and arriving soldiers changed the situation after more than 30 hours of non-stop siege.

The Wagon Circle Held Until Help Arrived

The military reinforcements forced the Sioux and Cheyenne warriors to pull back on August 24th, ending the 30-hour ordeal.

The teamsters had survived through quick thinking, careful use of ammunition, and sheer determination.

Their successful defense at Monument Station showed how dangerous the Smoky Hill Trail remained during the height of the Plains Indian Wars.

Fort Monument itself didn’t last much longer – the Army abandoned it in June 1868 as the immediate threat along the trail decreased and military resources shifted to other trouble spots.

Visiting Castle Rock, Kansas

You can visit Castle Rock for free on private land where generous owners welcome visitors.

Take I-70 exit 107 at Quinter, then drive south 15 miles to the GO 80/GO K intersection and east 4 miles to the Castle Rock sign. You’ll need 4-wheel drive for the last quarter mile on dry weather roads only.

The actual Fort Monument battle site is one mile southwest with just low mounds remaining.

You can hunt for fossils in the 80-million-year-old chalk formations, but bring your own water since there are no facilities.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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