Raid on Godfrey Ranch

The attack was part of a larger conflict in Colorado between white settlers and their neighboring Indian tribes. Tension arose when both parties started arming themselves because of distrust that stemmed from atrocities committed by both sides. Many Indians, who sided with the Dog Soldiers society, started raiding military outposts and settlements throughout the territory.[5] In retaliation, a Colorado militia consisting of white volunteers, attacked a Cheyenne village that killed over 200 Indians, including women and children, setting up much of the events of the war. This enraged the Indians who further increased their raids, focusing much of it on the Colorado ranching business. Ranches, farms and cattle drives were soon raided upon in just a span of a month. The raids weren't just a retaliation in the Indian's part, they were also important for them to gather resources such as horses.

Holon Godfrey heard of the Indian's warpath coming towards them, after a raid on American Ranch occurred a night before that killed almost an entire family of white settlers. Godfrey quickly took action to fortify his ranch so to not suffer the same fate. He surrounded the place with 6-foot tall adobe walls and fireports, as well as well-placed shooting nests and bucket brigades in case of fire. Together with his wife, cowboys and others who sought refuge, they prepared themselves to stand their ground.[3]

In the night of January 15, Godfrey estimated that a band consisting of 130 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors besieged his Ranch. On horseback and encircling the ranch, the Indians tried to punch their way through the well-fortified position. Godfrey's fort repulsed the numerous attempts of the Indians. The women inside loaded the guns, even melting lead bars to make bullets, and the men fired from well-stationed gun ports.[6]

The Indians managed to breakthrough into the corral and steal the horses inside. But Godfrey insisted to his men to leave it be as their main priority was to defend those inside. Having their attacks on the main house repulsed, the Indians tried setting fire to the dry grass surrounding the ranch to burn the building down. The defenders quickly put the fire out with buckets of water that were already prepared. At one point, as Godfrey and his men were trying to put out a fire, a warrior suddenly ambushed the rancher by the front. Godfrey shot and kill the Indian with his rifle, before continuing their defense. When the initial attacks failed, the Indians started shooting flaming arrows to the ranch's roof, but these too were extinguished quickly by the ranchers.[3]

One of the ranch hands named Perkins, volunteered to get help from the outside. He was able to sneak out during the night and sent a telegraph message to Denver asking for help.[6] He managed to contact the military, though only four soldiers accompanied him to the ranch. By morning, the Indians finally gave up and departed before Perkins' reinforcements arrived.

Between 3-17 Indians were estimated to have been killed by Godfrey and his men during the defense.[3][7] Godfrey christened his ranch as Fort Wicked.[3] His story was published in the New York Tribune and today a historical marker stands near Merino to commemorate the event.[8]

Cheyenne warrior George Bent as a participant described the raids and destruction by the Indians of many ranches in the South Platte River valley, but he did not mention an attack on Godfrey's Ranch. Bent recalled that only three Indians were killed in all the raids and that those three were Sioux who were killed in an attack on a wagon train.[9]