In 1877 the government sent one thousand Northern Cheyennes to a reservation in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), where many died from disease and malnutrition. In September 1878, more than 300 Northern Cheyennes attempted to return to their homeland. Chief Little Wolf's band hid in the Nebraska Sand Hills, finally reaching safety in Montana. The army captured Chief Dull Knife's band and confined them at Fort Robinson.

The Cheyennes broke out of their barracks prison on January 9, 1879, but with a terrible loss of life. In the twelve days of fighting that followed, sixty-four of the Cheyennes died and seventy-eight were recaptured. About fifty-four Indians made it to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and were later allowed to go to Montana.