An Overview of the Fetterman Fight: Truth Distorted Over Time 

You need to talk about Adolph Metzger the bugler that fought till the end. The natives did not mutilate is body like the others because he fought bravely. They carved a cross in his chest to symbolize he faced his enemy and covered his body with a buffalo robe, to where it looked like he was sleeping.

John Monnett's book is a must read for info on this battle. It is right on target.

I visited the Fetterman battle site, it’s very interesting and worth visiting. It’s very near Fort Phil Kearny, also worth a visit. Not far off the interstate, an easy trip.

Over rating your own abilities and underestimating that of your enemy can often be a fatal mistake

I have been there. Was amazed at the huge amount of land this covered . The movie makes it seem like they were just over the hill out of sight. They were actually miles away from the fort.

Even if the "I can ride through the whole Sioux nation with 80 men" quote is made up it doesn't change that Fetterman rode over the ridge after the Indians when he had been ordered not to. That got his command killed. So he was rightfully blamed for the disaster.

This is a great video. I'm only 16, but I have been fascinated with the Fetterman Fight for years. I even reenact at Fort Philp Kearny, and am part of Company A 18th infantry! Thanks a ton for making this!

Custer gets more attention for the battle of little big horn, yet this disaster was just as bloody. I beg Hollywood to produce a film about this battle.

Finally visited Ft Phil Kearney 5 years ago. I highly recommend a visit for anyone interested in the western Indian wars. The place is out of the way and was almost deserted (unlike Little Big Horn which is a madhouse of tourists) and gives a visitor ample time to visit the sites and talk with the local rangers. I also was able to speak to some of the LBH rangers who were visiting at Phil Kearney

Amazingly enough, in 1968 while in Marine Corps boot camp one of my platoon mates last name was Fetterman. I asked if he was aware of the name's history and he replied Captain Fetterman was a grand uncle. Interestingly enough it appears the Native Americans were accomplished strategists utilizing the same "reverse slope tactics" employed to great successes by the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo. And as an aside, this picture of Captain Fetterman facially resembles British Leftenant Gonville Bromhead VC of the 24th Regiment of Foot. One of brave defenders at Roark's Drift.

Custer is better remembered because his widow was a formidable one woman public relations firm.

Thank you for telling this story. My mother's maiden name is Fetterman. I know that the Fetterman clan have a long history of military service. There were Fetterman men serving proudly with George Washington.

I'm so happy I found your channel. A few months ago I was searching for one like this but couldn't find it. Then suddenly recommendations came through. Time to binge.

Thanks for a realistic review of these events. The art work you included is very good.

Your voice is very pleasant for these awesome tales of the past

It's written that the burglar was the only soldier that was spared mutilation. After he ran out of ammunition, he used his bugle as a last resort. The bugle found next to him was pounded flat. A blanket was placed over his body by the warriors as a sign of reverance.

Well done video and glad to see this subject covered. I had read the transcripts from Carrington's court martial online some years ago and have been fascinated with this incident and Red Cloud's war in general ever since.

Excellent video; I have researched this Fetterman story in the past and this adds more details. The end is of personal interest to me since I have a letter from a US Army soldier who was on the detail to move the Fetterman bodies to Custer National Cemetery. He was the husband of my wife's Great Aunt who lived back in New York State.

Very well researched and documented, and a high quality production. Subscribed now to see more quality historical programs. Thank you.

In the excellent book “The Heart of Everything There Is” by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, the credit for planning and organizing the ambush belongs to Red Cloud, who was a master battlefield tactician. He is also credited with rallying the disparate participating tribes to join forces and fight a common enemy, so he had strategic vision as well.

Very well done and informative. One gentle correction, the narration at ~12:03 says Fetterman's wife wrote the book "Home of the Crows" but it was Carrington's wife who wrote it.

I learned about this battle as a child because of Paul Goble’s wonderfully illustrated book Red Clouds War. Also of Little Big Horn.

Watched the `dog walk` video and subscribed immediately! This is excellent stuff. British military historian, here. Respect, Sir!

Thank you for covering this .

Fetterman was clearly ordered not to cross the ridge, but he did. I don't really see why he's not to blame.

It's great to see so many History RU-vid channels

In many ways Fetterman is the polar opposite example of Major Reno at Little Big Horn. Fetterman is blamed for being too aggressive in crossing well over the ridge whilst Reno is accused of being too cautious and not leaving his dug in position on Reno's Hill to rescue Custer. Incidentally I have read the reason Carrington told Fetterman not to cross the ridge was that once he was out of line of sight of the Fort he couldn't be supported by the Fort's mountain howitzers. These were light artillery pieces which could fire canister rounds which contained an early version of shrapnel. The howitzers exceeded effective rifle range by a considerable margin and the Lakota were careful not to linger in range of these pieces of ordnance.

Never heard of this story, thanks! I love our Old West stories!❤️

This is good stuff. Well done! The music track is superb also!

I've always wanted to know more about this fight., Thanks for all your hard work .

Great rendition, Very informative to a story that's always been abridged

Dee Browns book “ The Fetterman Disaster” is both excellent and moving, and notes that the MSM of its day treated this battle as an opportunity to paint a lurid picture of what happened, blaming Carrington for the lost lives and making Fetterman appear almost super human. If you send a small group of soldiers into a unknown territory, then instruct that the limited number be split in three, some-one is going to die - no-one in Washington accepted responsibility (as usual).

I went to the Museum and battlefield last summer. The museum is at the Fort Phil Kearney location. Unlike Little Big Horn, one can move freely over the battlefield. Very somber place. Hard to imagine what these men, on both sides of the fight, were thinking as it all happened. The Wagon Box fight location is only a few miles away too.

My first time watching your work. Very nice presentation, using facts and sound research. Very detailed, yet not too long. I am an instant fan. I have known for too long that history has been distorted, and I can usually smell a rat when there is one. There are certain books I just won't buy on history after reading a few pages of them, as well as look at the credentials of the writer. Your video here is a refreshing turn down the road of truth. Liked, Subscribed, and now looking to view more of your work. Thank you and keep on making them!

Great video. Being only superficially familiar with US history, I found this fascinating. I love your disciplined approach.

This is like the perfect movie to be made be really surprised nobody thought about making one about the story

I just found this channel... wow, what a great job of teaching and explanation! This is alot like Little Bighorn and so is the terrain. I subscribed 😁

I am blown away after watching your video! It is very enjoyable and interesting

Thank you for this video. I actually visited the site of the Fetterman massacre back in the '80s having never heard of it. Fascinating story.

Very good video. Lots of graphics…which I really appreciate. Thank you.

So we’ll done! Thanks for posting

I have read the books you mention . I was left with questions. Thanks for answering them

been there too. thanks for shedding new light on this

Nice video, I have been to the site of the Fetterman Battlefield many times , as well as the Wagon Box Fight , and the site of the old Fort Phil Kearny. My wife and I lived in Sheridan, WY for 20+ years.

Well done! I would recommend Terry C. Johnston's book "Sioux Dawn" it's a work of historical fiction but uses all of the books cited in this vid plus additional material for reference it's quite historically accurate & very authentic. As historical fiction writers go: Johnston is one of the best & at the top of his game. He really adds life to the story. Red Dawn is just the first book in "The Plainsmen" series a 16 book series which follows all of the major battles & engagements of the American west aside from Little Bighorn (he has a 3 book series dedicated to Custer) truly worth checking out if you desire a deeper understanding & more detailed account.

Well done. Thank you for sharing.

Incredible! I’ve never heard of this. Great story 👍

Most interesting documentary - I first learned about the Fetterman fight, at school in the mid 1960's , reading Kenneth Wylatts (spelling) "North Against the Sioux" which included an account of the scout "Portugee Phillips" ride to report the massacre.

Upon hearing of the defeat, Henry Carrington, according to his wife, was so shaken that he stood butting his head against the walls of Fort Laramie, repeatedly shouting: "William Fetterman, give me back my legions!"

Grew up in Sheridan, and was raised on this history. Even had a 3rd grade field trip to the fort, site of the Wagon Box fight, and of course Fetterman's Hill.

Excellent video! I've been Ft Phil Kearney, and to the tower commemorating the Fetterman fight. I did not tour the battlefield, however. I have seen his grave at Little Bighorn cemetery in Montana. Great video! Just subscribed!

I live very close to this site (about six miles as the crow flies), and I have no problem understanding how easy it would be to walk into an ambush. What looks like a little fold in the ground could hide a thousand men and horses. And there are high points around where a hidden spotter could watch the approach of the enemy and relay the position to those waiting to attack them. A few years later, and very close to the site of the Fetterman Massacre, the tables would turn dramatically during what came to be known as the Wagon Box Fight.

Damn good story. Thank you for the how perceptions change over time aspect.

Great story. I read about this fight in Evan S. Connell's book, "Son of the Morning Star" and had the chance to visit the battlefield and monument back in 1987. You did a great job of explaining how some these myths evolved over time though I have to admit, it was always a more compelling story with the 80 soldiers quote!

nice narrative and visuals - I've walked that battlefield a couple of times, and noticed on my last visit in 2019, there were interpretive signs along the ridge. The viewscape has not changed much since the original battle.

Awesome video man.

Excellent documentary! I've always thought that the "give me 80 men and I will..." quote sounded too good to be true. Shows that the more famous a battle is, the more versions there are of it. 15:10: Fetterman's wife?

Just discovered your channel and have subscribed. I'm impressed. My father was a history teacher and an historian of the American West. He even did some LA TV programs when I was a kid. I've read these books and primary sources. I've been to the battlefield. I still vividly remember standing on the rocks as a boy. Fetterman was not totally in the wrong but he obviously let his small command get spread out. If Grummond or Brown led an uncontrolled pursuit he should have recalled them with bugles and messengers. If the civilians didn't obey then the consequences were on them. We'll never know why he didn't follow sensible tactics. The most interesting thing about the fight and the war itself was the outcome. Red Cloud and Spotted Tail conducted an excellent campaign and even better negotiations. They made the cost of the war too high. Effectively they won the war. The Red Cloud Reservation is still huge, though it has lost some territory in the last 150 years. The tribes still control most of their range. They never needed to engage in another conflict with the government. I regard them as American generals and statesmen who should be taught in our military academies. Unfortunately, like George Crook, the best American military minds of the late 1800's remain largely unknown. I suspect part of the reason the fight has never been pushed by left wing academics is the undoubted torture and mutilations of the soldiers. It's hardly surprising that after similar cases in the 1850's, the Sioux Uprising in Minnesota during the Civil War where civilian men, women and children were butchered (the phtographs are truly grisly) and this incident; there were isolated cases of mutilations of dead native bodies after fights. Thanks for this presentation. I'll look at your other episodes. I notice you cover the Little Big Horn. My father had a particular expertise on this battle and my brother and I inherited his papers and some knowledge about it. I look forward to your next program. Thanks again.

Really great information. You would thing that General Custer would have learned from this battle if it was possible for him to know about it in those days with limited communication

Awesome narrative, great job.

Well done! Thanks for the clear explanation. It seems to me as if Fetterman followed the foolish Grummond as he dashed off after the decoy. What else could he do? They needed a Ranald MacKenzie’s good sense and leadership in charge of the cavalry but didn’t have it.

Really well crafted.

I have read the entirety of Carrington’s report. He, of course, could not see over the ridge. The narrative that makes the most sense to me that is more recent demonstrates that Grummond ordered his mounted infantry far beyond the ridgeline. His men were the first to be surrounded by the Indians. Apparently Fetterman tried to rescue that detail and was immediately surrounded. In any case, both Fetterman and Grummond disobeyed Carrington. Carrington never recovered his reputation and Fetterman had a massacre and fort named after him. He was no hero. What is painfully clear about the Indian war after the Civil War was over is that the US military, especially Sherman, had no idea what so ever how to engage cavalry with cavalry. Nor were the soldiers armed with the best weapons available. At the beginning of the war the cavalry had 7 shot lever action repeating rifles. Those weapons were taken away from the soldiers and replaced re-tooled muskets single shot breach loading Sharps rifles and the cavalry was mostly replaced by mounted infantry (14-20 vs. 8-10 shots per minute). Forty dollars per unit vs. $30 per unit). The best weapons available were Colt pistols and Henry rifles. The Henry held 14 rounds and could fire 28 rounds per minute and cost the same per unit, $40, as the Spencer. The mounted infantry dismounted when engaged and two men were charged with moving the horses out of the battle area, hence, two less guns fighting. The Indians would surround them and lob arrows into their midst inflicting far more casualties than they took from the muskets. A horse cost $120 to $140 dollars appease. Save ten dollars per unit on rifles and sacrifice hundreds of horses at three times or more the cost of the horses. Why? Because during the Civil War cavalry fared poorly against infantry. Different war. Dumb!!! At the battle of the Little Big Horn, the newly minted muskets jammed frequently. The firing rate of arrows was superior to any of the rifles available. The Texas Rangers figured all this out and had Colt make them pistols that they used very effectively against the Indians in Texas, so it wasn’t like no one knew how to beat the Indian cavalry.

Great recounting, thanks!

I have read that Grummond with his Cavalry caused the problem by chasing the decoy party and the veteran experienced Fetterman went to save his sorry ass. Got discredited w/ disobeying orders & went down in history as the culprit. Hell, Grummond almost got killed 2-3 days before by chasing another decoy party & Carrington himself was on that patrol and saved him. Consequently, the Indians were confident they could kill all the soldiers because they were "not learning from their mistakes". Actually their Civil War experience was their downfall- they were fighting a very different enemy! Indians not white men.

Very well done, thank you…

That place is worth a visit if you go that way as it's just off of I-90 and the fort has a nice little museum.

That had to be one hell of a chapter in history.

I was at this sight many years ago as I was driving along the trail of USA vs NAs during the late 1800's. My one feeling about this site was a profound humility for all the participants at the loss of life. The land remembers their stories.

Thank you for the video , to see the actual location on film where this took place adds to the written accounts. I read the book ‘ The Fetterman Massacre over forty years ago , a great book , but can’t remember the author .

Excellent video sir. I went to high school in Buffalo near the Fort and massacre sight. I used to wonder about the real truth of the event as we would pass by on the “old road” to Sheridan. We lived on Carrington Av in Buffalo! Thanks

I grew up in Story WY and remember riding to the Fetterman monument and the old fort site as a kid on horseback with my friends. Love the history.

In the middle 1960 there was an anthology series - I think it was on NBC - which dramatized this event. Robert Fuller played Fetterman ; Richard Egan and Carroll O'Connor were also in the cast.

Well done!

Excellent video!

Outstanding video. 👍

Great video. I have been to both the Little Big horn Battlefield ( several times ) and the site of the Fetterman fight ( once ) and felt the presence of the combatants who fought at both locations. I am in awe of all combatants. The native Americans were doing their best in an impossible fight to save their country and their way of life, and the soldiers were doing their duty ( as they saw it) to advance " civilization." As in most wars, many honorable lives were sacrificed in pursuit of what was thought to be right. I have the greatest respect for all involved for doing what they perceived to be right even though killing each other is never a good idea. If you are one who follows historical events, visiting various historical sites, especially battle sites, can bring a sort of Deja-Vu experience into your life.

Never under estimate your enemy.

Excellent. Many thanks.

Thank You for this very sad and tragic real history. As a former military officer I have seen such "leaders" and such "scandals". Very sad. GOD bless the brave soliders and citizens who have served & serve today, and their families. Be well & safe. Peace & Health

The rest of the story of the Bozeman Trail and the Powder River Forts would make a great screenplay along the lines of Deadwood.

Dear SOW, firstly thankyou for an excellent video- you write it is your 'inaugural effort'? Surely you have done this kind of thing before, the presentation is excellent! Thankyou. The drone shots are excellent, as there is nothing like 'walking the ground' to understand the tactical situation. I see that the battlefield is identical to many of our training areas in Australia: deceptively open country, but with plenty of gullies and small streambeds in which an enemy could hide in dead ground, waiting, as the enemy did, to close with the US troops. With single shot Springfield rifles, and without the numbers to deliver a wall of shot ( and obviously without any of the modern enablers we use now, least of all automatic weapons and fire support) , it would have been almost impossible to stop an enemy who appeared virtually adjacent to your position, armed for hand to hand combat against soldiers whose only alternative was either a clumsy piece of wood and steel with a bayonet mounted at one end, or six rounds in a service revolver. ( Aside from the civvy contractors who had the better firearms) It was a different story , I think some weeks later in the 'Wagon Box fight' ( which is not covered in the video for those readers who have not heard of it) when the Springfields were replaced by repeating rifles, much to the dismay of the hostiles who assumed there would be the pause as the rifles were reloaded. You are correct that history is often the tool by which facts are manipulated. I confess, all of my knowledge as a non-American was shaped by late Dee Brown's book, 'The Fetterman Massacre', I think published ibn the late 60's or early 70's. Brown, as you well know, a noted historian of the American West and I think particularly known for his work 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee'. It is clear that from your narrative, Brown relied heavily on the 'Fetterman reckless officer' story. At the end of the day, the truth is unknowable and probably lies somewhere between what you have described and Carrington's defence: whatever the case, I think William Fetterman would tip his hat to you for going in over 150 years later and defending his reputation.

Excellent presentation.

I really enjoyed this video. I also did a video on the Fetterman Fight and our facts are along the same line. I liked your graphics. Superb video.

Excellent video

I lived close to this battle ground until just a few years ago. I also lived close to Ft. LARAMIE as a child.

fascinating. I have never even heard of Fetterman’s. Glad to learn more old west history!

Great job, a very interesting tale.

He was told not to pursue over the ridge, and he did anyhow. I read a book written by the later Mrs Carrington, I found her to be honorable, and decent. I believe her account, the pain and sadness she expressed that fateful day comes truly from her heart.

Thank You. A very good video. From the boy in me who in 1954 looked west from the boundary of Sioux Falls out the window at the horses and bison putting their backs to the winter winds. That house now long gone, and the boundary of the zoological preserve moved further west.

Excellent video, the narration was outstanding. Well done! I love history and have added you to my subs. I had the somber opportunity to visit Custer battlefield a few years ago. I know now I have another place to visit. If I may, could you please do a video on the battle of the Rosebud. Again, well done.

Fantastic! Thank you! What would be nice is a scale of miles in the area of which we are speaking. One can presume all this took place between - 3-5 miles - from the fort? Thanks again!

Excellent Documentary

Thank you...

Bottom line is Fetterman fell for a simple trick and in doing so disobeyed his orders. It was very similar to the Custer fight, were Custer was ordered to scout and report back any indian presence. However he split his command on the sight of his enemy and attacked, getting his own column overrun. Out of a force of 700 men, Custer and 273 of his soldiers were killed.

There was a author named " JOHNSTON" who several books on the plains wars. His depiction was very similar to this presentation.

Excellent,, Thank you

Really good stuff have you done any work on the Modoc Indian wars

EXCELLENT video. It goes to show how often it is easy to put the blame for an incident on a dead man who cannot defend himself. I too believed that Fetterman was the person to blame for the massacre until I saw your video. Thanks for giving much "Food for thought " !

So Well Done !!! 👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍