Battle of Suggs
Part of Johnson County War
Date June 17, 1892 Location Suggs, Wyoming 44°38′56″N 106°06′50″W / 44.649°N 106.114°W / 44.649; -106.114 Result Homesteader victory
Belligerents
9th Cavalry	Homesteaders
Commanders and leaders
Charles S. Ilsey	Unknown
Strength
20	Unknown
Casualties and losses
1 killed 2 wounded	None

The Battle of Suggs, also known as the Suggs Affray or the Suggs Affair, was a shootout between Buffalo Soldiers and Wyoming homesteaders in Suggs, Wyoming on June 17, 1892. ^{[1] [2]} The skirmish was part of a larger conflict known as the Johnson County War that was fought between 1889 and 1893.

Background

Communities near the Powder River in Wyoming became battlefields for a range war known as the Johnson County War, in which large cattle ranchers fought smaller settlers and homesteaders for the limited resources needed for ranching. ^{[3] [4]} The war resulted in lynchings and assassinations, culminating in a gunfight at the KC Ranch and a large siege at the TA Ranch. ^[5]

To stop further violence, the government sent out the army to keep the peace. Initially, the 6th cavalry from Fort McKinney was tasked to pacify the locals but failed because many became embroiled in the conflict. This failure resulted in the death of US Marshall George Wellman and the injury of First Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood. ^{[6] [7]} The 6th was later replaced by the 9th Cavalry, a Buffalo Soldier regiment from Fort Robinson, on June 13, 1892. The regiment was composed of 310 men and was led by Major Charles S. Isley. ^[8] They created Camp Bettens as a base of operations upon arriving. ^{[9] [10]}

The cattle barons hoped that the regiment would be less sympathetic to the plight of the homesteaders as compared to the 6th. This turned out to be correct, as the arrival of the 9th was met with hostility from the locals who did not take kindly to the authority of colored soldiers. ^[1] The hostility was exacerbated by the 9th's association with Phil DuFran, a detective and combatant for the cattle barons during the TA Ranch siege. DuFran assisted the soldiers during their occupation. ^[2]

Battle

The battle occurred on June 17, 1892. Off-duty Buffalo Soldiers were being refused services in bars, barbershops, and brothels by the locals of the nearby town of Suggs. At that time, Suggs was a temporary makeshift community built near a railroad. The fraught relationship between the two parties became heated to the point that a dispute over a prostitute resulted in a brief gunfight. Even after the soldiers retreated, they were continually shot upon by the locals. The next day, a group of 20 or more soldiers slipped out of the camp and rode out to Suggs. ^{[9] [10]} Upon arrival, they began firing their guns and demanded the town surrender the people responsible for the prior act of violence. The locals refused and began firing at the soldiers from behind windows, doors, and walls.

The retaliation surprised the soldiers; two of them were wounded and another, Private Willis Johnson, was killed. The soldiers were then forced to retreat. ^{[2] [1]} In his report, Major Isley stated:

Black regulators, the soldiers, have no particular business in Suggs. The camp of the six troops of colored cavalry is located three miles above Suggs, in a heavy growth of cottonwood. Here they have the canteen located a half mile away where beer and trimmings are sold on sight. The guard house is located on a high bluff and is a tent with the sides rolled up. There are a number of the survivors of the Suggs war still confined in the guard house. The track of bullets is’ seen in window-glass, tents and logs that flew promiscuously through the air of Suggs that fatal night. ^[2]

After the gunfight, Camp Bettens sent out two detachments to pacify Suggs. ^[1] In contrast to the previous event, the homesteaders allowed these troops into the town. The Army conducted an investigation but could not identify the people responsible for Johnson's death. To prevent further violence, the camp could only prohibit the presence of off-duty soldiers in the town. ^[2]

Other murders

Another soldier by the name of Brown was murdered in a separate incident in Johnson County. Brown was at a shooting range when a cowboy rode by and came upon him. After a brief conversation, the cowboy drew a pistol and shot Brown, killing him. ^[11] DuFran also went missing during the fracas. ^[8] Wyoming native G. T. Seabury wrote to a friend about another incident in the town where locals fired on a hotel where several soldiers were staying. He stated:

There is going to be a terrible row at Powder river. They shot seventeen bullets through Barber’s hotel the other night when the (black soldiers) were killed. They did not seem to care where they shot. As it was no one in the hotel happened to be hit, but they were in big luck. There will be here to-day or to-morrow six companies more of cavalry from the east. There is sure to be war here before this thing is ended. ^[8]

Aftermath

The deaths of several Buffalo Soldiers forced the Army to remove the regiment from Johnson County and back to Fort Robinson in November 1892. ^[11] Peacekeeping went back to local law enforcement for the duration of the war.

In other media

The battle was briefly mentioned in Asa Mercer's book entitled The Banditti of the Plains ^[12] and the episode "Johnson County Cattle War" of the documentary Vendettas by History Channel. ^[13]

References