The Cheyenne had left the native army…

The Cheyenne had left the native army after the battle near Powderville, but the Lakota have continued to harass Cole and Walker as the soldiers retreated southward up the Powder River.

They had attacked again on September 8 and 9, but were beaten off.

A snowstorm had caused further problems for the soldiers most of whom are now on foot, in rags, and reduced to eating raw horse meat.

On September 13, Connor's Pawnee scouts had found Walker and Cole and led them to the newly established Fort Connor (later Fort Reno) on the Powder River east of Kaycee, Wyoming.

Cole and Walker and their soldiers had arrived there on September 20.

Cole had reported twelve men killed and two missing.

Walker had reported one man killed and four wounded.

Cole claims that his soldiers had killed two hundred natives.

By contrast, Walker says, "I cannot say as we killed one."

Native casualties are likely light.

George Bent, a Cheyenne warrior and a participant in the battles, only mentions one native killed and says that the Lakota would have annihilated Cole and Walker had they possessed more good firearms. (Hyde, George E. Life of George Bent: Written from his Letters Norman: University of Oklahoma press, pp. 240-241)

Connor finally unites all the components of his expedition on September 24 at Fort Connor.

However, orders transferring him to Utah are awaiting him when he arrives here.

The 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry remains to staff Fort Connor and all other troops withdraw to Fort Laramie, most to be mustered out of the army.

Although achieving some successes, the expedition has failed to defeat decisively or intimidate the natives.

Native resistance to travelers on the Bozeman Trail becomes more determined than ever.

"There will be no more travel on that road until the government takes care of the Indians," a correspondent wrote. (Brown, Dee. The Fetterman Massacre Lincoln: U of NE Press, 1962, p. 15).

The most important consequence of the expedition has been to persuade the United States government that another effort to build and protect a wagon road from Fort Laramie to the gold fields in Montana is desirable.

This conviction will lead to a renewed invasion of the Powder River country a year later and Red Cloud's War, the first major military conflict between the United States and the Wyoming tribes, and one in which the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho will emerge victorious.