Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of Whitestone Hill

Battle of Whitestone Hill was a battle fought on 3 September 1863 at Dakota Territory, in what is now North Dakota, United States; it lasted 2 days. It was part of the Sioux Wars, which ran from 1854 to 1891. The recorded result: United States victory. Recorded strength: 1200 soldiers; 600 to 700 engaged against 600 to 1,500 warriors; 2,000 to 3,000 women and children present.

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A Native American (Sioux) camp is being invaded by Sully's brigade during the Dakota Wars at the Battle of White Stone Hill, North Dakota, September 3, 1863.
A Native American (Sioux) camp is being invaded by Sully's brigade during the Dakota Wars at the Battle of White Stone Hill, North Dakota, September 3, 1863.. Template:Alfred Sully, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought3 September 1863lasted 2 days
WhereDakota Territory, North Dakota, United States46.170N, 98.856W
OutcomeUnited States victory
BelligerentsUnited States of AmericaagainstYanktonai, Santee, and Teton (Hunkpapa and Sihasapa) Sioux
Casualties and losses22 killed, 38 woundedand~200 killed and wounded, including women and children; 156 prisoners
Battlefield todayWhitestone Hill battlefieldNPS site ND004, 5,301 acres studied, 778 core
Part ofSioux Wars1854 to 1891

Where it sits in the Sioux Wars

Grattan massacre, 1854Battle of Ash Hollow, 1855Battle of Big Mound, 1863Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake, 1863Battle of Stony Lake, 1863Battle of Whitestone Hill, 1863Battle of Killdeer Mountain, 1864Battle of the Badlands, 186418541864Battle of Whitestone Hill, 1863
8 placed engagements of the Sioux Wars in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date3 September 1863
to 5 September 1863
PlaceDakota Territory, North Dakota, United States
46.170N, 98.856W
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength1200 soldiers; 600 to 700 engaged600 to 1,500 warriors; 2,000 to 3,000 women and children present
Casualties and losses22 killed, 38 wounded~200 killed and wounded, including women and children; 156 prisoners
Commanders
  • Alfred Sully
Battle of Whitestone HillBattle of Whitestone Hill20 km46.170N, 98.856W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. The dashed outline is the battlefield study area mapped by the NPS American Battlefield Protection Program. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1863

The National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program maps this as the Whitestone Hill battlefield (site ND004): a study area of 5,301 acres, with a core area of 778 acres where the fighting was concentrated; 5,302 acres retain enough integrity to be potentially eligible for the National Register.

Battle of Whitestone Hill is one of 3,507 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 1,148 in present-day United States (7 in North Dakota).

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1167754, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Whitestone Hill, revision 1384395790, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Battlefield boundary and area from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (public domain). Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.