The Fetterman Massacre of 1866 stands as one of the most dramatic and tragic engagements during Red Cloud’s War, a pivotal conflict between the United States and several Northern Plains Indian tribes, particularly the Sioux. The event not only underscores the fierce resistance of the Sioux to U.S. westward expansion but also reveals the consequences of strategic miscalculations and the clash of differing worldviews.
Historical Context: Red Cloud’s War
Red Cloud’s War (1866–1868) was fought over control of the Powder River Country, a region rich in resources and vital to the way of life of the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes. The war was instigated by the construction of the Bozeman Trail, a route designed to facilitate access to the goldfields in Montana but which passed directly through Native American hunting grounds. This intrusion was seen as a violation of treaties and a threat to the tribes’ survival.
The U.S. Army established forts along the trail, including Fort Phil Kearny in present-day Wyoming, to protect settlers and miners. However, the presence of these forts was deeply resented by the Sioux, who viewed them as an invasion of their sovereign lands. Under the leadership of Red Cloud, the Sioux organized a sustained resistance campaign, aiming to halt the trail’s use and dismantle the forts.
Prelude to the Fetterman Massacre
By late 1866, tensions in the Powder River region had escalated. The Sioux adopted guerrilla warfare tactics, attacking supply trains and isolated groups of soldiers. These ambushes were designed to frustrate and demoralize the U.S. Army while avoiding direct confrontation with its superior firepower.
Captain William J. Fetterman, a Civil War veteran stationed at Fort Phil Kearny, underestimated the Sioux’s tactical acumen. Fetterman reportedly boasted, “Give me eighty men, and I can ride through the whole Sioux nation.” This overconfidence, combined with his disdain for Native American combat capabilities, would prove fatal.
The Battle
On December 21, 1866, a decoy strategy masterminded by Sioux leaders, including Crazy Horse, successfully lured Fetterman and a force of 80 soldiers and civilians out of Fort Phil Kearny. The Sioux staged a mock attack on a wood-gathering party near the fort, prompting Fetterman to lead a pursuit. Despite explicit orders from his superior, Colonel Henry B. Carrington, not to cross Lodge Trail Ridge, Fetterman advanced beyond the safety of the fort’s range.
Unbeknownst to Fetterman, over 1,500 Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors were lying in wait. As Fetterman’s column crested the ridge, they were surrounded and overwhelmed. The battle lasted less than 30 minutes, with the Sioux employing traditional weapons such as bows and arrows alongside captured firearms. Every member of Fetterman’s command was killed, marking the U.S. Army’s worst defeat on the Plains up to that time.
Aftermath and Significance
The massacre shocked the United States and led to calls for intensified military action against the Sioux. However, it also highlighted the effectiveness of Native American resistance and the strategic failures of the U.S. Army. The loss prompted an investigation into the leadership at Fort Phil Kearny, with Colonel Carrington being blamed for the disaster despite his cautious approach.
The Fetterman Massacre emboldened the Sioux and their allies, prolonging Red Cloud’s War. The conflict eventually culminated in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which temporarily halted hostilities and led to the abandonment of the Bozeman Trail and the forts along its route. However, the treaty’s terms were short-lived, as U.S. expansion and settlement continued to encroach on Native lands in the following decades.
Legacy
The Fetterman Massacre remains a potent symbol of resistance against overwhelming odds and a testament to the Sioux’s tactical brilliance. It serves as a reminder of the complex and often tragic history of U.S.-Native American relations. Today, the site of the battle, near Fort Phil Kearny, is preserved as a National Historic Landmark, offering visitors a chance to reflect on this pivotal moment in American history.
Sources
- Showalter, Dennis. The Encyclopedia of Warfare. Amber Books, 2014.
- Greene, Jerome A. Battles and Skirmishes of the Great Sioux War, 1876-1877: The Military View. University of Oklahoma Press, 1993.
- Utley, Robert M. Frontier Regulars: The United States Army and the Indian, 1866-1891. University of Nebraska Press, 1973.