“Give me 80 men, and I can ride through the whole Sioux Nation.”

• Captain William J. Fetterman, US Army, 18th Infantry, at Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming.

1. The Overview

 
Oh what a tale of bluster going bad!
Lakota dubbed “One Hundred in the Hand,”
the battle Captain Fetterman has had.
It prequels Gen’ral Custer’s known last stand.
 
It happened late in eighteen sixty six
right near the fort along the Bozeman Trail
named after Phillip Kearney’s politics,
since often martial hero’s names prevail.
 
That’s where just seven hundred guard the path
the wagon trains all take to Oregon.
A flippant quip left tragic aftermath
from native strength the troops would come upon.
 
A Captain, vet’ran of the Civil War
distinguished twice in war, then brevetted
for gallantry, had confidence galore.
His fatal words would soon be edited.
 
Had Fetterman obeyed as he deployed
Things could have been so easy to avoid.
 
 

1. Background

 
Things could have been so easy to avoid,
but Fetterman thought he knew better than
the boss, whose caution kept our man annoyed
the day his reassignment first began.
 
However, details started years before,
wth treaties meant to settle tribal claims.
Nine tribes agreed safe passage to restore
for travelers who go across the plains.
 
The Laramie Treaty was signed that day,
September seventeen of fifty one,
at Horse Creek, in the place where they all say,
agreement signed for large pledged annual sum.
 
The native tribes were promised the Black Hills
as well as other sacred tribal lands,
but agents often withheld dollar bills,
gold miners disregarded treaty bans.
 
Illegal settlers started towns and farms,
No wonder angry warriors took up arms.
 
 

1. Enough is Enough, Says Red Cloud.

 
No wonder angry warriors took up arms,
Invaders started coming to and fro!
Much worse, were rumors setting off alarms,
of white men killing off the buffalo.
 
Chief Red Cloud questioned the invader threat
within the counsel giving ringing speech.
“Did the White Father’s leadership forget
the promises that our signed papers preach?”
 
“Our sacred grounds were to stay out-of-bounds,
so wagon trains near us stay hostile free,
with pathway to pass through our hunting grounds,
so iron horse can travel to the sea.”
 
“Well they were not to tarry long with us,
but they built forts, and settled on our spoil.
To kill the herds I find most treasonous,
and from these evil deeds I must recoil.”
 
“This surely is not what we bargained for.
So listen my Dakotas, I’m for War!”
 
 

1. Within The Fort

 
“So listen my Dakotas, I’m for War!”
With those words they began those short attacks
of Bozeman Trail forts that the tribes abhor,
supporting Red Cloud’s angry speech climax.
 
Fort Kearney, foremost target of their rage
had Colonel Covington there in command.
A cautious leader, slower to engage,
but many under him didn’t understand.
 
He’d send patrols of guarded fire wood cutters,
with special orders to avoid  the ridge,
because it’s out of sight from sentry spotters
upon the rampart’s observation bridge.
 
There’d been some sorties and some skirmishes.
Large camps of Indians were seen nearby.
While sundry warriors made bold flourishes,
their smoke signals sent warnings in the sky.
 
While in the fort repressed emotions ran,
and here begins the tale of Fetterman.
 
 

1. The Bait

 
And here begins the tale of Fetterman,
This fearless leader of a mounted troop
with eighty one within his caravan,
prepared for battle honors to recoup.
 
With group of cutters under heavy siege,
he volunteered to lend required relief.
The cautious Colonel ordered short adage –
“Relieve, do not pursue,” His message brief.
 
The Captain issued here his fatal quote,
“Just give me eighty men and I’ll ride through
the whole Sioux Nation.” Papers later note.
Then flourished a salute in smart adieu.
 
With that the sentinels swung wide the gate,
while flashing colors galloped in great haste,
and heedless of the signs, charged to their fate.
A useless tragedy of human waste.
 
Brave soldiers, ready for a deadly duel,
unwary that their leader was a fool.
 
 

1. Red Cloud’s Plan

 
Unwary that their leader was a fool,
who took them straight into a well laid trap,
where fatal lessons learned can be so cruel,
with overwhelming odds the handicap.
 
For Red Cloud had about one thousand men,
all well concealed in woods beyond the ridge.
As decoys tribes selected only ten,
with Crazy Horse’s courage as their edge.
 
The plan was; have the decoys be exposed
to taunt the soldiers into giving chase
beyond the ridge, where they would be enclosed
and overcome by numbers that they’d face.
 
Now, woodcutters were working in the pines,
to gather wood for cooking and for warmth,
accompanied by troops as their lifelines,
became besieged  by warriors from the North.
 
A crisis, upon which the plan was hung.
And so the trap was ready to be sprung.
 
 

1. The Final Act

 
And so the trap was ready to be sprung.
On Fetterman whose brav’ry and contempt
would bring his eighty one to fight among
those very foes he thought he could preempt.
 
While Covington gave orders of restraint,
the captain’s mood was having none of that,
when Crazy Horse appeared, with no constraint
he took the bait and raced into combat.
 
Where there he ate his words in total shock,
as death surrounded him on every side.
Confronted by the bow and tomahawk,
soon every person with the Captain died.
 
Reports said six just died from bullet wounds.
The rest succumbed to ancient injuries.
Their bodies mutilated and festooned
about the ground, proclaiming victories.
 
The worst Great Plains disaster ever had.
Oh what a tale of bluster going bad!