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Some of the Army officers who came
to Fort Phil Kearny were
"fire-eaters," who hoped to prove their courage and win
recognition
by battling the Indians. Foremost
among these was Captain William
Fetterman, who boasted that if he were given 80 soldiers he could
"ride through the entire Sioux nation."
One day, Fetterman was sent
out with 80 mounted troopers to protect a column of soldiers that
were bringing wood to the fort.
A party of Indians led by Crazy
Horse appeared on a ridge near the fort and, contrary to orders,
Fetterman led his troops in pursuit of the Indians, over the ridge and out of site of the fort.
On the other side of the ridge, Fetterman found himself in the
midst of a thousand hostile Indian warriors.
Fetterman had been lured into a trap, and he and his entire
command were quickly and totally wiped
out. |
