Sully's Waterhole Interpretive Site

General Alfred Sully and his Northwest Indian Expedition troops were on a punitive expedition in the aftermath of the Minnesota Massacre of 1862. Sully's goal was to retaliate against the Sioux, a coalition of Lakota, Yanktonai, and Dakota Sioux tribes, and force them into submission.

On August 8, 1864, Sully's troops were spread across the Northern Plains in a long column stretching nearly three miles, and began receiving Sioux sniping fire along the procession throughout the day.

Water was a scarce commodity in the semi-arid northern plains, and after two days of traveling across the badlands, Sully needed to resupply. The troop line collected and settled near a waterhole, which was described as being not much more than a stagnant pool of rainwater. The Sioux persisted in their attacks into the evening, with a few outright charging the encampment before sundown. They were repelled by cannon and rifle fire.

Sully's troops settled down at what is now called Sully's Waterhole for a tense night. These events were a prelude to the Battle of the Badlands, in which these skirmishes continued over a few days as Sully's troops continued westward.