Battle of Grand Coteau (North Dakota)

Battle of Grand Coteau (North Dakota)
	Battle of Grand Coteau (North Dakota); Red dot shows approximate location
Date	July 13 and 14, 1851
Location	47°59′N 101°12′W; southeast of Minot, North Dakota
Result	Métis victory
Belligerents
Métis buffalo hunters	Sioux (Yanktonai)
Commanders and leaders
Jean Baptiste Falcon	Chief Medicine Bear
Strength
67-77	2,000
Casualties and losses
1 dead; 12 horses killed	15-80 dead; 65 horses killed

The Battle of Grand Coteau (North Dakota) or the Battle of Grand Coteau du Missouri was fought between Métis buffalo hunters of Red River and the Sioux in what is now North Dakota between July 13 and 14, 1851. The Métis won the battle, the last major one between the two groups.

The buffalo hunt was a yearly event for the Métis of the Red River Colony. After sowing their fields in the spring, the Métis would set out with their wives and children and leave the aged and infirm to take care of the crop. Their principal settlement was situated on the banks of the Red River of the North in what is now the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Made up largely of French Métis, they would leave for the summer buffalo hunt around the middle of June and returned in the middle of August with their pemmican and other dried meats. Often harassed by the Sioux, the Métis from the various settlements of Red River traveled in large groups for defence.

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