First Scalp for Custer: The Skirmish at Warbonnet Creek, Nebraska, July 17, 1876 With a Short History of the Warbonnet Battlefield

by Paul L. Hedren, Don Russell (Introduction)

"Interest in the 'Days of '76' shows now sign of abating, and why should it? The skirmish at Warbonnet Creek pitted the Indian-fighting U.S Army against Cheyenne warriors intent on joining the victors of the Little Big Horn. With the renowned Buffalo Bill Cody as its central figure, the action of July 17, 1876, almost inevitably passed into legend. Now back in print in this revised and updated edition, Paul Hedren's First Scalp for Custer remains the definitive work on this small, yet memorable episode. Hedren places the fight in its proper context, the 'end of the beginning' of the Great Sioux War."—Eli Paul, author of Blue Water Creek and the First Sioux War, 1854-1856

107 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

A native Minnesotan, Paul Hedren retired from the National Park Service in 2007 after nearly thirty-seven years as a park historian and superintendent at such storied places as Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Wyoming, the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Utah, and the Niobrara National Scenic River in Nebraska.

Paul is also a lifelong writer and the author of scores of scholarly and popular articles plus eleven books, with stories largely focusing on the Great Sioux War of 1876-77 and particularly that conflict’s subtleties and consequences. Paul’s won numerous writing awards including a Spur from the Western Writers of America, the Vivian Paladin Award from the Montana Historical Society, and the Herbert Schell Award from the South Dakota State Historical Society. In 2011 his book After Custer: Loss and Transformation in Sioux Country won a prestigious Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and also the Sills Book Prize from the Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association.

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book is ambiguous, when I read it, I thought it meant the first scalp taken by General Custer in his battles with the Native Americans. That is not the case, the reference is to the first Native American scalped in revenge after Custer was completely defeated at the Little Big Horn. Three weeks after Custer’s death there was a minor skirmish between the American Fifth Cavalry Regiment and a group of Cheyenne at Warbonnet Creek in Nebraska. There was only one death in the fight, the Cheyenne warrior Yellow Hair was killed by scout William (Buffalo Bill) Cody. Cody did in fact take the scalp of the dead warrior and he used the event and the evidence in his subsequent Wild West Shows.
The authors went to great lengths to research the facts of this battle that was minor, yet significant as it was the first combat after Custer’s defeat. Recollections were checked and cross-checked until the researchers were confident that they had an accurate chronicle. There are many photos of the Army officers, locations of the action and the monuments to the event that were put up in commemoration.
Although the battle was significant only within the context of the only major defeat suffered by the American Army at the hands of the Native Americans, it is still an interesting event, making this book important. It is also significant that the whites did in fact scalp their dead Native American adversaries.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting discussion of the Southern most military action during the Summer Great Sioux War of 1876. The story is told entirely from the 5th Cavalry point of view and especially from the view of the Chief of Scouts Buffalo Bill. It is well worth reading this book to determine how poorly communications were soon after Custer has been wiped out at the Little Big Horn. An intrepid General Caar had the foresight to block off Indians leaving the RED Cloud and Spotted Tail Agencies to participate in the warfare.
It is an easy read and contains a plethora of side notes for the truly devoted. The photograph are dark and haunting. Highly recommended.