Raid on Godfrey Ranch

Raid on Godfrey Ranch
Part of the Colorado War
Date January 15, 1865 Location Colorado Territory 40°26′36.6″N 103°22′45.2″W / 40.443500°N 103.379222°W / 40.443500; -103.379222 Result United States victory Indians retreat
Belligerents
United States	Lakota Cheyenne
Commanders and leaders
Holon Godfrey	Unknown
Strength
3 men[1]	130 warriors
Casualties and losses
None	3-17 killed[2][3]

The Raid on Godfrey Ranch, also known as Skirmish with Indians at Godfrey's Ranch, occurred from January 15–16, 1865 in which a large band of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors attacked an isolated ranch in Colorado owned by Holon Godfrey.^[3] The raid was one of the numerous January raids committed by the Cheyenne and their Indian allies as retaliation for the Sand Creek massacre that happened on November 29, 1864 during the Colorado War. After their victory at the Battle of Julesburg, the Indians raided up and down the South Platte River valley. Among the ranches the Indians attacked was the American Ranch, in which a white family and some of their workers perished before the Cheyenne set their sights on Godfrey's ranch nearby. Godfrey learned of the Indians' upcoming attack and fortified his ranch together with his family and ranch hands. At night, Godfrey estimated that 130 Indian warriors surrounded and attacked his ranch. The men inside managed to hold off them off the whole night. By morning, one of Godfrey's men managed to sneak out of the siege and call for help from the U.S. cavalry, which forced the Indians to finally retreat. The ranch, though burned and having lost some of its horses, remained standing and Godfrey's stand was successful. Godfrey christened his ranch as Fort Wicked.