after the bear river massacre, connor was appointed brigadier general in the volunteer army. from july to september 1865, he led the punitive powder river expedition against sioux, cheyenne, and arapaho indians who were attacking travelers along the bozeman trail and overland mail routes. connor's 2,600 men were organized into three widely separated units, which traversed hundreds of miles of what would become montana and wyoming. as the expedition began, connor's orders to his officers were, "you will not receive overtures of peace or submission from indians, but will attack and kill every male indian over 12 years of age." connor's superiors countermanded this order.