How a drunk army major massacred the wrong camp of Blackfeet families in 1870

The Marias Massacre

In 30-below weather on January 23, 1870, U.S. troops surrounded Chief Heavy Runner’s camp of 32 lodges near what’s now Dunkirk, Montana.

Heavy Runner walked toward the soldiers waving government papers promising protection, but was shot dead.

The massacre that followed killed 173 Blackfeet, including 50 children under 12. One officer called it “the greatest slaughter of Indians ever made by U.S. troops.”

Here’s the story of Montana’s worst Indian massacre, and how you can learn about this history at the Blackfeet Nation today.

The Orders to “Strike Them Hard”

General Philip Sheridan sent clear orders from Chicago: “If the lives and property of citizens of Montana can best be protected by striking Mountain Chief’s band, I want them struck. Tell Baker to strike them hard.”

These orders came after Pete Owl Child from Mountain Chief’s band killed Malcolm Clarke, a white trader. Clarke had earlier whipped Owl Child for allegedly stealing horses. Montana settlers demanded action, pushing the military to target Mountain Chief’s band.

The March to the Marias in Brutal Cold

Major Baker and his troops left Fort Ellis near Bozeman on January 6, 1870. They stopped at Fort Shaw to add more soldiers to their group. The force included four companies of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry and 55 mounted men from the 13th Infantry.

Soldiers traveled 200 miles in temperatures as low as 30 below zero. During the final days, they made no fires to keep their approach secret.

Heavy Runner’s Peaceful Camp

Heavy Runner led a band of Piegan Blackfeet who had good relations with white settlers. His camp had 32 to 44 lodges along the Marias River in northern Montana.

The U.S. government had given Heavy Runner papers marking his band as peaceful allies. Most men had left to hunt buffalo when Baker’s forces arrived.

This left mainly women, children, and the elderly in the camp.

The Warning That Went Unheeded

Scout Joe Kipp knew the Piegan bands well. He quickly saw they had found Heavy Runner’s camp, not Mountain Chief’s, and told Major Baker about the mistake.

Baker showed no concern: “That makes no difference, one band or another of them; they are all Piegans and we will attack them.”

He threatened to have Kipp shot if he warned the sleeping camp and put him under arrest as the attack began.

Heavy Runner’s Death with Papers in Hand

Chief Heavy Runner came out of his lodge at first light when he heard the soldiers. He walked toward them as they positioned on bluffs above his camp. He carried and waved his government papers proving he was “a friend to the whites.”

Scout Joe Cobell fired the first shot, killing Heavy Runner on the spot. Cobell was married to Mountain Chief’s daughter and may have acted to protect his father-in-law’s camp downstream.

The Three-Hour Slaughter

The attack started at 8:00 a.m. with soldiers firing from high ground above the camp. They had set up what one officer called “a natural firing range” overlooking the lodges.

The shooting lasted until about 11:00 a.m. This was not a battle but a one-sided killing. While the Army counted 173 dead Blackfeet, scout Joe Kipp later claimed 213 to 217 people died.

The Victims of Smallpox

Many people in Heavy Runner’s camp already suffered from smallpox when the attack came. This disease, spread through contact with white settlers, had weakened the community.

Blackfeet Agent William Pease reported the dead included 90 women, 50 children, and 18 elderly men. Only 15 men between ages 12 and 37 died, showing most warriors were away hunting during the attack.

The Abandoned Survivors

Baker first took about 140 women and children as prisoners to bring to Fort Ellis. When he found many had smallpox, he left them without food, shelter, or warm clothing in the bitter cold.

Many froze to death trying to reach Fort Benton, 90 miles away. Some children found safety with other Blackfeet bands. Others were taken in by whites who felt sorry for what happened.

Destruction of the Village

After the killing stopped, soldiers burned all the tipis and belongings. This destroyed the band’s winter shelters and supplies when they needed them most.

The Army also took the band’s horses, leaving survivors with no way to travel or hunt. Reports tell of about 1,000 buffalo robes burned.

These robes would have provided warmth and trade value during Montana’s harsh winter.

The Target That Escaped

Mountain Chief, the actual target of Baker’s mission, got warning about the coming soldiers. He moved his camp before Baker’s forces arrived.

Mountain Chief and his band, including Pete Owl Child, escaped to Canada where U.S. soldiers couldn’t follow.

Baker’s troops later learned Mountain Chief had been camped just a few miles downstream from where they attacked Heavy Runner’s people.

Visiting The Blackfeet Territory

The Blackfeet Nation occupies 1.5 million acres in northwestern Montana, with Browning serving as the tribal headquarters. You can reach the reservation via Highway 2 or Highway 89, both offering scenic routes to this culturally rich area.

The Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning showcases traditional and contemporary Blackfeet art, crafts, and historical artifacts. Nearby, the Blackfeet Heritage Center & Art Gallery features works by tribal artists and provides cultural context.

For outdoor experiences, try the guided cultural tours through buffalo herds at the Blackfeet Buffalo Program.

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