MilkCreek

The following photos of the brave Milk creek Troopers were taken shortly after their discovery. I have also included several landscape shots of the Milk Creek Valley,. The Battlefield is located approximately in the center of the valley.

September 29, 1879, in an open valley in northern Colorado, 150 U S Cavalry are fighting for their lives. Their wagon corral surrounded by a group of the White River Ute Warriors retaliating for their dislike for the Indian Agent Nathan Meeker. 137 of the men survived, 13 didn’t. Only one of the dead was returned for burial and military honors, the remaining 12, lost at the battle site for over 121 years.

Milk Creek Battlesite

The dead soldiers remained on their battlefield until late in 2000 when a student of western history discovered the mass grave of the long lost soldiers.

I discovered this trooper first

Note how the trooper lies on his side.

Shortly after I discovered the first trooper, I discovered a comrade lying on his back within 24" of the 1st trooper

Here's a different angle

Winter in the Valley of Milk Creek

The Valley of Milk Creek. Milk Creek Oxbows in foreground. The Thornburgh Mountains loom in the background.

Painting by Robert Lindneux, who first sketched a drawing at the battlesite in September 1935 Courtesy Colorado Historical Society