Fetterman Fight, Wyoming

In the annals of the American West, few events resonate with the stark tragedy and strategic significance of the Fetterman Fight, a clash that unfolded in the rugged terrain of northeastern Wyoming. This encounter, also known as the Fetterman Massacre, stands as a chilling testament to the escalating tensions between the U.S. military and the Native American tribes vying for control of the Powder River Country in December of 1866.

The seeds of conflict were sown by the westward expansion of settlers and the U.S. government’s determination to establish a network of forts and roads through territory traditionally held by the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho nations. The Bozeman Trail, a vital artery for prospectors seeking gold in Montana, cut directly through the heart of this contested land, igniting a fierce resistance led by prominent figures like Red Cloud. Fort Phil Kearny, established in 1866, served as a key military outpost along the trail, a constant provocation to the indigenous inhabitants who viewed it as an encroachment upon their ancestral hunting grounds.

The stage for the Fetterman Fight was set on December 21, 1866. Earlier that month, Native American warriors had engaged in skirmishes, such as the one at Peno Creek, targeting troops engaged in lumbering operations near Fort Phil Kearny. On that fateful day, a small band of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, numbering around ten, launched another harassing attack on a wood-cutting detail returning to the fort. Colonel Henry B. Carrington, the commanding officer at Fort Phil Kearny, responded by dispatching Captain William J. Fetterman with a force of 80 men to relieve the wood wagons. This contingent consisted of two additional officers, 76 soldiers, and two civilian volunteers, bringing the total number of men under Fetterman’s command to 81.

Unbeknownst to Fetterman, this was no ordinary skirmish. The attack on the woodcutters was a meticulously planned decoy, designed to lure the soldiers into a carefully orchestrated ambush. A much larger force, estimated to be as many as 1,000 Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors, lay in wait approximately two miles north of the fort. This formidable force was led by the legendary Chief Red Cloud and Minneconjou Sioux Chief High Back Bone, both seasoned strategists deeply committed to defending their people’s way of life.

Colonel Carrington, aware of the potential dangers beyond the fort’s immediate vicinity, issued a strict order to Fetterman before his departure: under no circumstances was he to cross Lodge Trail Ridge, a geographical feature that would take his troops out of sight of the fort. Carrington understood that venturing beyond the ridge would expose his men to a significantly increased risk of ambush. However, the allure of pursuing the seemingly small band of Native American warriors proved too tempting for Fetterman. He allowed himself to be drawn northward, beyond the ridge, and into the jaws of the trap that Red Cloud and his warriors had so patiently prepared.

As soon as Fetterman’s troops disappeared from the sight of Fort Phil Kearny, the concealed warriors sprung into action. The Native American force included renowned figures such as Crazy Horse, Black Shield, and White Bull, all skilled warriors eager to strike a blow against the encroaching U.S. Army. The battle unfolded on a north-south ridge that would later be known as Massacre Hill, a grim testament to the events that transpired there.

The ensuing clash was swift and brutal. The warriors, following their carefully laid plans, overwhelmed Fetterman’s command with devastating efficiency. The soldiers, caught in a relentless crossfire and outnumbered, fought valiantly but were ultimately unable to withstand the overwhelming force of the Native American assault. The Fetterman Fight was a massacre. The battle lasted only about half an hour. Relief columns dispatched from Fort Phil Kearny arrived too late, scattering the remaining warriors but finding only the lifeless bodies of Fetterman and his men. Accounts suggest that Captains Fetterman and Frederick H. Brown, realizing the hopelessness of their situation, may have taken their own lives in a final act of defiance, reportedly shooting each other in the head simultaneously as the battle reached its climax.

While the Fetterman Fight resulted in the complete annihilation of Fetterman’s command, the Native Americans also suffered casualties. Although poorly armed compared to the soldiers’ modern repeating rifles, they fought with unwavering determination. Estimates suggest that the Cheyenne lost two warriors, the Arapaho one, and the Lakota Sioux approximately 60. It is believed that around 100 more warriors sustained injuries.

The Native Americans referred to the battle as "The Battle of the Hundred Slain," a somber acknowledgment of the victory they had achieved. The white settlers, however, branded it the Fetterman Massacre, a label that reflected the shock and outrage at the loss of so many soldiers. This name was also fueled by Fetterman’s own boastful claim that he could defeat the entire Sioux Nation with a single company of cavalrymen. The Fetterman Fight was the worst defeat inflicted on the U.S. Army by the Plains Indians up to that point, a stark reminder of the challenges and dangers of military operations in the West.

The aftermath of the Fetterman Fight was marked by a wave of recriminations and a renewed sense of urgency. Colonel Carrington, facing severe criticism for the disaster, hired civilians John "Portugee" Phillips and Daniel Dixon to carry a desperate message to the telegraph station at Horseshoe Bend, near Fort Laramie, requesting reinforcements from Omaha headquarters. Phillips undertook a perilous 236-mile ride through a raging snowstorm to reach Fort Laramie, a feat that would later be celebrated in Wyoming history.

News of the Fetterman Massacre sent shockwaves through the East, sparking public outrage and demands for accountability. Colonel Carrington became the target of intense scrutiny, though he defended his actions by arguing that he had been denied sufficient reinforcements by Philip St. George Cooke, the department commander, and that 700 men were simply inadequate to garrison three posts in the heart of hostile Indian territory. In January 1867, Carrington was relieved of his command.

President Andrew Johnson ordered an investigation into the events surrounding the Fetterman Massacre. The outcome of this investigation, combined with growing public pressure, led to a shift in government policy. The U.S. government ultimately agreed to withdraw troops from the Powder River Country as part of a treaty agreement with the Native American tribes. Forts Reno, Philip Kearny, and C. F. Smith were abandoned in August 1868. Cheyenne warrior Little Wolf later set fire to the abandoned buildings at Fort Philip Kearny, symbolizing the Native Americans’ triumph.

Today, the site of Fort Phil Kearny has been partially reconstructed, offering visitors a glimpse into the life of soldiers stationed on the frontier. The sites of both the Fetterman Fight and the Wagon Box Fight, another significant engagement between the U.S. Army and Native American warriors, are located within a few miles of each other near Story, Wyoming, just off Interstate 90. The fort and Wagon Box sites are accessible via secondary roads, while the Fetterman Massacre site is located on U.S. Highway 87.

The State of Wyoming operates the site, located near Banner, Wyoming, preserving this important chapter in American history for future generations.

Contact Information:

Fort Fetterman State Historic Site
752 Hwy. 93
Douglas, Wyoming 82633
307-684-7629