Where Eagles Fly : Buffalo Calf Road Woman ~ Fierce Warrior of the First Nations Cheyenne

This beautifully idyllic area on the plains in eastern Montana is the location of a fierce battle fought between the US Army Calvary and its First Nations Crow and Shoshoni allies against the Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne Indians.

This battle is known historically as both the “Battle of the Rosebud” and also the "Battle of Rosebud Creek". It took place on June 17, 1876 during what is called the Great Sioux War of 1876. 

The First Nations Cheyenne tribes peoples call this fight the "Battle Where the Girl Saved Her Brother", because of an incident during the fight involving "Buffalo Calf Road Woman". Buffalo Calf Road Woman rose to an important position of prominence among her people because of this heroic and courageous act. 

It happened when the US Army Calvary, General Crook, and his men attacked her village. As the warriors (traditionally men) prepared to ride out to stop them, she decided to join them as she was fiercely determined to help repulse the attack and save her people. Even after opposition from the warriors, because it was quite unusual for the women to join in battles. she refused to say behind and rode with the warriors into battle.

One in the thick of the fighting, she fought bravely and the while fighting she noticed her brother, "Comes In Sight", trapped by soldiers closing in around him in a gully down below her position. Without hesitation she immediately rode her horse down into the gully, even amidst the volume of bullets flying around her and, in a daring and brave rescue, grabbed her brother and pulled him onto her horse before riding out of the gully to safety. 

The tribal warriors who witnessed this rescue were deeply moved by this impressive act of bravery that they themselves had been hesitant to attempt. They all thought it was an impossible task and that Comes in Sight would be lost in the battle.
(Research Source)

Victorious, her people named the battle for her, The "Battle Where the Girl Saved Her Brother" and called her a Brave Woman. Buffalo Calf Road Woman is documented as also having fought at the Battle of Little Bighorn. There she fought alongside her husband Black Coyote. In June 2005, the Northern Cheyenne broke their more than 100 years of silence about the battle. In a public recounting of Cheyenne oral history of the battle, tribal storytellers spoke of how it was Buffalo Calf Road Woman who had struck the blow that knocked Custer off his horse before he died in the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
(Research Source)

 This story is from my project "Where Eagles Fly".  

About The Project

Where Eagles Fly - The American Wilderness Expedition is my personal mission to introduce people to these amazing locations that surround us. I am piloting a bush plane while exploring and filming throughout the remote back-country areas of North America to raise awareness of the 47% of the USA and 90% of Canada that remain unpopulated wilderness.

About The Author

My name is Zedekiah Morse and I'm a Bush Pilot, Photographer, Explorerand Filmmaker. I live in the Rocky Mountains and devote my time and resources to exploring as much of the world as I can by air.

If you wish to watch a short film detailing how I do my work and this project, go here.  

Thank you for your support and Yehaw!!