The New Battle of Killdeer Mountain
A recent fight for preserving part of the Killdeer Mountain Battlefield is now lost in favor of commercial gain.
The Battle of Killdeer Mountain (otherwise known as Tahkahokuty Mountain) took place over a century ago on June 28, 1864. On that day, Brigadier General Alfred Sully led over 4,000 soldiers against reportedly 1,600 Sioux warriors, during the time of the Sioux Wars. History would come to know this as the largest expedition that the U.s. Army ever carried out against Native Americans. It's result was massive destruction and death.
A place where such a battle occured would likely be a National Park, correct? No, it is not. However, there is a state historic site. But this did not stop applications for drilling to the area, though. Four wells have already been approved, and Hess Corp made the request to add two more.
This did not go over so well with a Killdeer Mountain resident. Loren Jepson filed a request against this earlier this month. Jepson stated that the State Mineral Resources Director, Lynn Helms, presented incorrect information that was clearly biased in Hess Corp's favor.
On February 21, the Jepsons' petition was dismissed by the North Dakota Industrial Commission. Workers have already moved in to fill the area of archaeological interest to begin drilling, which is likely to destroy any archaeological evidence present.
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