Rosebud Battlefield State Park Named A National Historic Landmark

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Rosebud Battlefield State Park, near Decker, was recognized Oct. 7 as a National Historic Landmark. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, approved the designation.

National Historic Landmarks must be nationally significant in American history and culture. Examples include: Mount Vernon, Pearl Harbor, and the birthplace of Martin Luther King. Fewer than 2,500 locations bear this national distinction.

The 3,000-acre battlefield is where the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians battled General Crook’s soldiers, assisted by the Crow and Shoshone, on June 17, 1876. The homestead and ranch of the Kobold family are also here.

"The events of June 17, 1876 along Rosebud Creek were crucial in the history of the Great Sioux War and in U.S. history," said Joe Maurier,   Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks division administrator for State Parks.

Maurier said the battle at Rosebud Creek was exceptionally significant because the Indians fought with great intensity to defend their traditional land. The outcome of the battle fueled the Indian’s victory at Little Big Horn just eight days later and bolstered their confidence in defending their homeland.

Of the many heroic acts during the battle, the story of Buffalo Calf Trail Woman saving her older brother, Chief Comes in Sight, was included in the site’s nomination documents.

Chief Comes in Sight fought bravely, drawing fire from enemy forces throughout the day. As he rode back and forth in front of the soldiers, his horse was shot out from under him. The custom was that a man whose pony was shot should show his bravery by taking off the horse’s bridle and calmly walking away. Buffalo Calf Trail Woman saw the activity and rode out into the open field where her brother was being heavily fired upon by enemy forces. Chief Comes in Sight was able to jump onto the back of his sister’s horse and both rode to safety.

Following the battle at Rosebud Creek, Crook’s troops were withdrawn from the war zone to resupply and did not join Colonel Custer and his troops at Little Bighorn. This situation led to Custer’s defeat a week later at Little Bighorn.

Today, of the nearly 2,500 National Historic Landmarks, 23 are in Montana including: Bannack State Park Historic District in Beaverhead County; Chief Plenty Coups’ home at Chief Plenty Coups State Park in Big Horn County; Lake McDonald Lodge in Flathead County and Travelers’ Rest State Park in Missoula County.

For more on Rosebud Battlefield State Park, go to the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov and look on the State Parks page for Visit A State Park. Or go to: http://fwp.mt.gov/lands/site_283981.aspx .