Battle of Pumpkin Creek

The Battle of Pumpkin Creek, also known as the Volborg fight, was fought on February 12, 1880, by United States Soldiers, and Scouts, against Sioux warriors. The Battle occurred near Pumpkin Creek, a tributary of Mizpah Creek, in Montana Territory, in present day Montana, United States.

Background
Early in 1880, the Lakota began warring along the Yellowstone River near Fort Keogh. Hunkpapa Lakota fought with Gros Ventres on February 3, 1880, and on February 5, 40 Lakota attacked 3 hay cutters on the Powder River, wounding two. The workers reported the incident to the fort, and Sergeant Thaddeus B. Glover, Private Charles W. Gurnsey, Private George E. Douglass, and five other soldiers of Company B, in the 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment, and 11 Indian scouts went after the Lakota.

The Battle
On February 12, 1880, the small detachment of 19 soldiers and Indian scouts under Sergeant Glover located a group of 6 Lakota Sioux Warriors. The warriors fled, and Glover's detachment chased them for about 65 miles. At Pumpkin Creek, the soldiers and scouts surrounded the Warriors in a rock formation. Both sides fired shots at each other, and one Sioux Warrior was killed, and two were wounded. Private George E. Douglass of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry was killed, and Private Charles W. Gursey of the same regiment was wounded. The engagement was decided, when Company F, of the 5th United States Infantry Regiment under the command of Captain Simon Snyder arrived from Fort Keogh. The now much larger force of over sixty United States Soldiers overwhelmed the defense of the five remaining warriors, and the Lakota surrendered.

Medal of honor
One Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded for actions during the battle. It was for:
 * Sergeant Thaddeus B. Glover, Company B, 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment.

The battlefield
The Pumpkin Creek Battlefield is at an unknown location near Pumpkin Creek in Powder River County, Montana, or Custer County, Montana. The nearest present-day unincorporated community to the battlefield is Volborg, Montana, and the nearest present-day towns are Broadus, Montana, and Miles City, Montana.

Order of Battle
United States Army, Sergeant Thaddeus Brown Glover, Captain Simon Snyder, Commanding.
 * 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment, Company B (Detachment-8 men), Sergeant Thaddeus B. Glover.
 * 5th United States Infantry Regiment, Company F, Captain Simon Snyder.
 * 11 Indian Scouts

Native Americans
 * 6 Lakota Sioux Warriors.