Situated on the Tongue River near the mouth of Hanging Woman Creek, Birney’s history is painted with the conflict between early pioneer settlers and Cheyenne and Sioux Indians. When Cheyenne and Sioux tribes migrated in 1877 to the mouth of Otter Creek (near present-day Ashland), General Miles attacked the Native Americans, forcing the two tribes to relocate to Birney’s present-day site.
However, white settlers were unhappy with their new neighbors, so General Miles attacked again on January 7, 1877, and took four native women, three children, and one warrior captive. The Cheyenne and Sioux retaliated on January 8, 1877, and the conflict became known as the Battle of Wolf Mountain. Realizing that peace could not be won with the white settlers, the two tribes migrated to the Big Horn River, and Birney’s residents felt at ease again. Birney still exists today, and its post office has operated since December 1886.
Photo Gallery
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Bunk Biscuit 1 640x425
Bunk Biscuit 1 640x425
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Colin on Mushrooms 640x428
Colin on Mushrooms 640x428
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Colstrip Shovel 2 640x425
Colstrip Shovel 2 640x425
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Daniels County Courthouse 640x425
Daniels County Courthouse 640x425
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Makoshika sunrise 640x480
Makoshika sunrise 640x480
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Makoshika.2 640x480
Makoshika.2 640x480
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Makoshika.3 640x480
Makoshika.3 640x480
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Med Indian face 640x480
Med Indian face 640x480
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Medicine Rocks view 640x480
Medicine Rocks view 640x480
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Medicine Rocks 640x480
Medicine Rocks 640x480
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Medicine Rocks hole 640x480
Medicine Rocks hole 640x480
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Old Gas Stop Terry MT 640x480
Old Gas Stop Terry MT 640x480
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S of Forsythe 1 640x425
S of Forsythe 1 640x425
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St Peter Wibaux 640x480
St Peter Wibaux 640x480
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Tongue River 640x480
Tongue River 640x480
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Tongue River Reservoir 2 640x480
Tongue River Reservoir 2 640x480
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Tongue River View 640x480
Tongue River View 640x480
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Wibaux Home 640x480
Wibaux Home 640x480
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Wibaux Museum 1 640x480
Wibaux Museum 1 640x480
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Yucca 4 640x480
Yucca 4 640x480