The story of Native American resistance is one of unparalleled courage and resilience, etched into the fabric of history through a series of defining battles.
These clashes were not just about land. They were struggles for survival, culture, and sovereignty against relentless expansion and oppression.
But what moments truly shaped this resistance and altered the course of history? Here are the seven defining battles encapsulating this fight for freedom and identity.
1. Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)
Few battles in American history are as iconic as the Battle of Little Bighorn, also known as Custer’s Last Stand. This clash between the combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes against the U.S. Army marked one of the most significant Native victories during the Plains Wars.
Led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, thousands of warriors overwhelmed General George Custer and his 7th Cavalry in a decisive defeat.
While this victory was a high point for Indigenous resistance, it also provoked an intensified military campaign by the U.S., leading to eventual displacement and loss of autonomy for many tribes.
2. St. Clair’s Defeat (1791)
Known as the most devastating loss ever suffered by U.S. forces at the hands of Native Americans, St. Clair’s Defeat was a major victory for a confederation of tribes led by Chief Little Turtle (Miami), Chief Blue Jacket (Shawnee), and Chief Buckongahelas (Lenape).
In what is now Ohio, Native forces ambushed and decimated an army led by General Arthur St. Clair, killing over 600 soldiers.
This battle underscored the strength of Indigenous alliances in resisting westward expansion but also prompted the U.S. to reorganize its military strategy.
3. Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)
The Battle of Tippecanoe pitted Tecumseh’s confederacy against U.S. forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison in Indiana Territory. Tecumseh’s brother, Tenskwatawa (The Prophet), spearheaded this confrontation at Prophetstown.
Although Harrison claimed victory, this battle galvanized Native resistance across the Midwest.
Tecumseh’s vision for a united front against settler encroachment would later influence Native alliances during the War of 1812.
4. Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814)
This battle, part of the Creek War during the War of 1812, saw Andrew Jackson lead U.S. troops and allied Native forces against the Red Stick faction of the Creek Nation in Alabama.
The defeat of the Red Sticks resulted in the Treaty of Fort Jackson, which forced the Creek Nation to cede over 22 million acres of land. (ref)
This battle was a turning point in breaking organized resistance in the Southeast.
5. Fetterman Fight (1866)
Also called Fetterman’s Massacre, this battle was part of Red Cloud’s War in Wyoming Territory. Lakota Sioux leader Crazy Horse lured Captain William Fetterman and his men into an ambush, where all 81 U.S. soldiers were killed.
This victory temporarily halted U.S. efforts to build forts along the Bozeman Trail but ultimately led to further military campaigns against the Sioux.
6. Battle of Washita River (1868)
In retaliation for raids on settlers, Colonel George Armstrong Custer attacked a Cheyenne village led by Black Kettle in present-day Oklahoma during the Indian Wars. (ref)
This brutal assault resulted in significant casualties among women and children and symbolized escalating violence between Native tribes and U.S. forces.
It also highlighted how Indigenous communities were increasingly targeted during westward expansion.
7. Battle of Palo Duro Canyon (1874)
This battle, part of the Red River War, marked a devastating blow to the Comanche resistance in Texas. Colonel Ranald Mackenzie led U.S. forces in attacking Comanche camps deep within Palo Duro Canyon.
By destroying food supplies and capturing horses, this campaign ended organized Comanche resistance on the Southern Plains.
Read Next:
Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
