Near this site on July 12, 1859, 300 Nebraska Territorial Militia and U. S. Army Dragoons under the joint command of General John Milton Thayer and Lieutenant Beverly Holcombe Robertson prepared to attack a large Pawnee village, but the Pawnee, having been alerted, immediately surrendered, ending the Pawnee War of 1859 without bloodshed. The conflict had begun on July 1st when messengers arrived at Omaha, the territorial capital, reporting numerous depredations by Pawnee against Elk Horn Valley settlers. Because only the Governor could call out the militia and Governor Samuel Black was a day’s journey away, Territorial Secretary J. Sterling Morton, petitioned by Omaha citizens, assumed the responsibility and issued the call. Thayer left at once with forty men in pursuit, and a few days later he was joined by Governor Black with more volunteers and Lieutenant Robertson with Co. K of the 2nd U. S. Dragoons. Although no battle occurred, the stream where the attack took place became known as Battle Creek, and the nearby town took the same name when it was founded in 1867.