Three columns of soldiers were to descend upon the Powder River Country of Wyoming and Montana, unite, and "make vigorous war upon the Indians and punish them so that they will be forced to keep the peace.

Also included were civilian guides headed by mountain man Jim Bridger, 95 Pawnee scouts under Captain Frank J.

After the initial attack the few able warriors in the village put up an effective defense, retreating about twelve miles up Wolf Creek while covering the flight of the women and children.

[5] Most of the soldiers remained in the village to loot and burn the tipis, but Connor and about 30 men, including 15 Pawnee, pursued the retreating Arapaho.

The soldiers there completed their work of destruction as the Indians harassed them from a distance, attempting to re-capture their horse herd.

He strictly forbade looting, and the next day ordered all the property collected during the occupation of the village burned, and had the captured women and children released.

Two days later, they killed Captain Osmer F. Cole of the 6th Michigan Cavalry, commander of the military escort for the Sawyers Expedition.

They killed two men, wounded several more, stole livestock, and kept the wagon train under siege for two weeks until General Connor's soldiers rescued it.

The effectiveness of the Arapaho attack was limited by their shortage of powder for their muskets, and many of the bullets they fired failed to penetrate the skin of either men or oxen.