On May 8, 2000, I traveled to the Milk Creek battle site, twenty miles northeast of Meeker, Colorado. I had spent the prior six months researching and studying all the literature that could be found about the 1879 battle. The purpose of my visit was to investigate the site with a metal detector and prove or disprove various facts about the battle, which are unclear in the historical record. I was granted permission to access the private property where the battle occurred and over the next six months, I made sixteen trips, encompassing 44 days of research at the Milk Creek site. My research has revealed a number of new discoveries about the battle. In addition, I recovered over 800 artifacts from the site. Some of these artifacts are very unique and similar artifacts, to my knowledge, have never been discovered on other Indian War battle sites. Currently, I am writing a book about my research at the Battle of Milk Creek, which will document the discoveries and artifacts for the historical record.

I write this afterward to announce in a published paper the most important discovery made during my work at the battle site. On October 22, 2000, I inadvertently discovered the skeletal remains of the two cavalry troopers pictured above. This inadvertent discovery solves the conflicting and confusing historical accounts concerning the gravesite of the twelve United States Army and civilian personnel killed in the Battle of Milk Creek. Much of the misinformation about the final resting place of the fallen troopers of Milk Creek originated from Marshall Sprague’s 1957 book, “Massacre-Tragedy at White River.” Sprague claimed that the dead troopers were taken with the wounded back to Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming Territory. Mark Miller, in his book, “Hollow Victory” debunked Sprague’s claim about the troopers’ status. My research has revealed the most accurate primary source account on the exact status and location of the troopers’ graves. Joe Rankin’s book, “Reminisces of Frontier Days,” page 82, states: “Because of the Indians quitting the fight and the stench about the trenches being unbearable, Merritt ordered the camp with the wounded men moved up Milk Creek one mile to the east where there was grass for the stock. Details of troops scouted the surrounding hills during the day. From this camp, Capt. Auger, with an escort of his cavalrymen and a detail of workers, was ordered to bury the dead. Of these, all were buried near the trenches except Major Thornburgh.” Rankin’s account is accurate, except Capt. Auger did not dig new graves near the trenches. In fact, Capt. Auger’s burial detail utilized an existing trench, which was dug during the battle. This trench is located approximately in the center of the barricade area and may have been dug for the wounded during the battle. I believe this trench was dug during the battle because of the large amount of artifacts recovered from the thirty inches of soil directly over the soldiers’ remains. Looking at the photo, it was the trooper on the left who I discovered first. He lies on his side. While excavating further, I discovered his comrade on the right. He lies on his back, with the legs of the soldier on the left resting across his mid-section. Because of the position of the remains and the reference in Rankin’s book, I strongly believe that the other ten fallen troopers buried by Capt. Auger are either below or to the sides of the troopers pictured above. After examining the grave, I said a pray for them and backfilled the trench.

Next, I informed the landowners about my discovery. They were shocked to learn that the battlefield contained a mass grave, yet sadly; they denied me further access to the entire battlefield, which has halted study of this important historical site. Most importantly, their denial of access to the site has halted U.S. Army efforts to properly disinter, identify, and re-intern, with full military honors, the hallowed remains of the forgotten troopers of Milk Creek. In the weeks after my discovery of the troopers, I attempted to enlist the help of professional archeologists. For whatever reason, no guidance or assistance was offered. Then, by what I thought as mere coincidence, I came into contact with a U.S. Army officer. I met with Major General Kenneth R. Bowra in February 2001. After learning the facts about the Milk Creek troopers, General Bowra wholeheartedly agreed to help in the efforts to honor the fallen soldiers. Over the next several months, General Bowra offered invaluable guidance and assistance. I can assure you the reader, that the time-honored U.S. Army tradition of “leave no man behind on the battlefield” even applies to soldiers lost for 123 years. General Bowra arranged and coordinated within the Army the aid of the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting. This multi-service group of archeologists and forensic experts were established in 1993 to recover our killed and missing-in-action from the Vietnam War. Their dedicated efforts have resulted in the recovery of over 600 of our fallen soldiers throughout southeast Asia. With the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting ready to conduct a professional disinterment, I asked General Bowra to appeal in writing to the landowners, requesting their cooperation and assistance in the recovery of the Milk Creek troopers. General Bowra wrote a most eloquent plea to the landowners in which he stated, “The U.S. Army has a proud history. You can help, not only to preserve that history, but also to have the soldiers who died at Milk Creek receive the honors so long overdue. The U.S. Army also has a tradition of recovering our dead from the battlefield. This too is long overdue, but now possible.” Sadly, the landowners refused the General’s request to recover the soldiers’ remains.

At this writing, the twelve lost troopers of Milk Creek still man the trenches in their lonely vigil upon that windswept battlefield. I remain determined to continue the efforts to honor these men. These soldiers gave the last full measure of devotion in the service of the United States of America and deserve an honored final resting place in one of our national cemeteries, rather than their current shallow, unmarked mass grave located on a cow pasture. These brave men who died in the fighting at Milk Creek, yet still remain there, must never be forgotten. Their names are:

Private John Burns, Co. F, 5th Cavalry
Private Dominick Cuff, Co. E, 3rd Cavalry
Sergeant John Dolan, Co. F, 5th Cavalry
Private Michael Firestone, Co. F, 5th Cavalry
Lowery C. Grafton, Civilian Guide
Private Michael Lynch, Co. D, 5th Cavalry
Private Samuel McKee, Co. F, 5th Cavalry
William McKinstry, Civilian Wagon Master
Thomas McQuire, Civilian Teamster
Waggoner Amos D. Miller, Co. F, 5th Cavalry
Private Thomas Mooney, Co. D, 5th Cavalry
Private Charles Wright, Co. D, 5th Cavalry

Anyone with comments or questions about my work at Milk Creek may contact me at BradLEdwards@earthlink.net.