New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-12
WHERE FETTERMAN FELL.
GENERAL BRIsBIN REvIsITS THE SCENE
OF THE PHIL KEARNY MASSACRE.
THE GRAVES on CUSTER BATTLEFIELD MARKED
AFTER TwENTY-THREE YEARS
OF NEGLECT

Fort Custer Mont, Nov. 16.-Captain John W.
Frenchs Company d. 25th Infantry has Just competea
melancholy duty, the setting up OF tomos,ohcs
over the graves OF Ill officers, soo'ors
and citizens, who fell at the Phil hearhy
Massacre. or December 81 1865. There are many
panhIl memories connected with the massacre OF
Colonel Feterman and his mon, or as IL Is generally
called add best known to the country the PM
Keamy Massacre"
The Government had determined TO find . shorter
route TO tho Yellowstone Valley from the Piaue
River in Wyoming, and sent out a regiment under
Colonel Henry Darlington 18th Infantry, 10 occupy
the Powder River region and build three forts, Phil
Kearny at the crossing OF Plney Creek, Fort Reno
further up and Fort C. 7. Smith at tho crossing OK
the Big Horn River The occupation OF this country
by armed forces gave great offenee TO the indians
and especisy 10 Red Cloud and his Bands who claimed
to own the country though IL really belonged to the
Crow Indians, who friendly to the whites ana
did not object to the building Of the forts RED
Cloud protested and finally ordered the troops 10
leave the country or he would go 10 war with them
Little attention was paid 10 his talk hut true to his
threats he one day attacked and killed party OF
soldiers and citizens who were going rom fort fhi
Keany to FettermaD, on the Platte. This WAS INC
signal for war; and the fighting soon became general
along the whole line from Big Horn 10 PM
Kearny So closely did the Indians invest the forts
and watch the roads that It impossible for small
with large trains and strong escorts were In danger
The diminishing and fighting had been going on all
summer when December 81. 1865, the little children
who had been playing just outside the gates OF Fort
Phil Kearny ran in calling out, Indians Indians y
At the Same moment, almost picket stationed on
a high hill called Picket Hill, near the fort, sgnaed
that the wood train had been attacked while coming
in with fuel for the post. They were about two
and half three miles off, and the picket reported
had gone into corral and were standing or the
Indians. Colonel Darlington at once ordered relief
party to 60 to their assistance, and Colonel Fetter
man was detailed 10 lead It. Feterman's own COM
pany, with Company c. Cd Cavalry, under command
of Captain Brown and some attachments, con-
stuted the relief force. Lieutenant Grummond 18th
Infantry at his request was permitted by Colonel
Darlington TO go with Fetterman. Tho whole COM
mand, when It left the fort, consisted OF Colonel
Fetteman, Lieutenant Grmmond, Captain Brown,
Wheatley, the guide, Fischer, old fronticSmln,
sevcnty-slx enlisted men and two three citizens
whose not known. Not one returned
alive
Colonel Darlington gave explicit orders TO Colonel
Fetterman to be careful and under circumstances
to go beyond Lodge Trail Ridge, which would divide
him from, the fort and hide his column from view
After Fettcrman had marched out with his infantry
Colonel Darlington repeated his orders to the cavalry
officer who was saddling up, and did not go out
quito as soon As Fctterman and his men. No at
/
command marched straight ahead and over Lodge Trail
Ridge out OF sight and communication with the fort
Soon after Feterman had gone it was discovered that
no medical officer had gone with him, and Colonel
Darlington directed DR.. Hines with an orderly, to
overtake Feterman, If possible Hines started, but
soor returned, saying the train had gone on TO tho
woods, and Colonel Feterman was on the ridge, with
hosts OF Indians in front of him and his tanks.
When asked why he did not push through he said
ID was impossible there many Indians he
could not get near letterman. Pretty soon sharp
firing was heard which became heavier every moment,
but seemed further away. IL was evident Feter-
man driving the Indians before him. For time
the firing almost ceased, then it sprang up again and
reared IL was evident now battle was in full
pro grcss, and the anxiety at the fort became pain
full. Vollcys were heard, which Is pretty suro
sign of hard and hot work The strain could be
endured longer at the fort, and Captain Ten Eyck
Lieutenant Matson, DR.. Hines and DR.. ould, with
relieving party, marched from the fort to aid Fetter
man. They went at double quick and straight
for the hill over which Fetterman had disappeared.
The firing had ceased Either he had gained great
victory or himself being slaughtered. 1t proved
to be the latter. No word came from the battle
field, and Colonel Darlington each moment became
more and more apprehensivc that disaster had be-
fallen his troops. He watched the little rescung
party going up the hill. and feared that they too
might be cut off, Then he thought of those at
homo and made haste TO put the fort In order
Nearly every out in the two parties with
Fetteman or Ten Eyck, and the post was in no
condition with its low sockado to Withstand serious
attack from Indians. Every empoye, boy and
woman, was armed. Colonel Darlington. am told
placed a revolver in the hands Of his wife, and after
explaining its to her, said II the worst comes
to us do not allow yourself to be taken prisoner, but
kill yourself rather than be captured
Soon after Captain Ten Eyck left the fort he heard
two heavy vclleys with some rapid file firing over
the ridge and then all was silent. Ten EycK was as
cautious as he was skilful and brave, and he moved
with great care being careful not TO get cut on from
the fort He was puzzled to know what had happened
and thought II strange that no word came from the
battlefield He pushed forward his skrmishers and
himself went to the front. The Indians were running
away in all directions except toward tho fort but he
! could see or hear nothing OF Colonel Feuerman ana
his men. At last he came upon them, but all were
dead. The bodies were still warm and life had but
barely departed from some of them. lie sent an
orderly Private Sample to carry the sad news to the
fort but hold his ground on ridge The valley
beyond was filed with yelling sayages who challenged
| Ten Eyck and his party TO come down and night them
They moved to the right as If 10 get between him and
the fort and Ten Eyck steadily withdrew short
distance Seeing them again retiring he boldly adj
| vanccd and the Indians retired to the east. They
| seepcd y, he demorslIzed and running away. Ten
Eyc did not relax his caution, but manOeuved before
! them so as TO conceal his forces ard Yet
show every man he had around the hills.
Tho Indians fell back and finally fed I'm great haste
Ten Ryck then went up on the ridge TO where Feter-
man and his men lay dead. They were nearly all
together and the bodies were horribly mutlated and
scaIped Fetterman and Captain Brown lay nearest
thu fort each with revolver shot in the left temple
and 40 srorhed with powder as 10 leave little doubt
that they had shot each other when all hope OF
SUCCESS or escape had fed. John wheatley, The
guide and Fischer, the old frontiersman, were found
close together near pfc of rocks and surrounded by
exploded cartridge shells, showing their Henry rifles
had done good execution before they were Killed
There were a2O exploded shells lying about the rocl
,rLoa,Iav had taken refuge. The men d