Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-04

mentioned in history. They had a re-
union here at the state fair last summer,
when a monument was dedicated on the
site of the massacre with appropriate
ceremonies.
Gen. Darlington, now on the retired
list, who was in command at Fort Phil
kearney at the time. and was held re-
and perhaps has published by this time
an autobiogra ply. in which he endeavors
TO vindicate himself and gives his version
Of the affair to the public for the first
time
There had been much hard fighting be-
tween Red Clouds bands of Sioux and
their allies. the Cheyennes. number of
soldiers had Been killed and scalped
Red Cloud was in personal command of
the Indians. and lowered around Fort
Phil kearney. attacking all parties that
left the fort. 1t was believed he was plan
ming to strike crushing blow upon the
fort and exterminate the garrison.
December 81. 1863. the fuel supply hav-
ing run low. Gen. Darlington sent out
company of eighty soldiers. under Lieut..
Col. Fetterman. to protect the wood
choppers while they were filing their
wagons and escort them safely back to
the post. His instructions were explicit.
Fetterman was distinctly forbidden to
engage or pursue the Indians under any
circumstances
Some hours after the command left the
fort Col. Darlington discovered that no
surgeon had accompanied them. and at
once dispatched DR.. Hines, with an or
derby. to report to Col. Fetterman. The
surgeon soon returned with the report
that there were so many Indians that
he could not get through
Col Darlington Immediately ordered out
relief party under Capt. Ten Eyck. with
instructions to proceed on double quick
to reinforce Fetterman. Ten Eyck re-
ported that he could see nothing of Fet-
terman or his men.
Col Darlington himself headed second
relief party. and found the bodies of Fet-
terman aud siXty-five of his soldiers
lying dead and scalped upon the ground.
The remainder of the bodies were found
the next morning where they had at
tempted to find refuge.
Hefoic Defense.
There was every evidence of heroic
defense. Red Cloud in after years often
spoke with admiration of the bravery of
the little band. one of whom, he said.
killed seven Indians and wounded nine be-
fore he was overpowered.
The Indians losses were much larger
than the number of Fetterman's COM
mand. Red Cloud would never give the
figures.
There has been great deal of discus
sion concerning the responsibility for the
massacre. Gen. Carringtons defenders
have held that Fetternian began the at
tack in direct disobedience of orders, and
the Indians confirmed the theory.
He was brave man, but had con-
tempt for the Indians. Capt. Brown, his
second in command. another gallant Off
Ger. also moderated the fighting qualities
Of the Sioux. and had frequently boosted
that he intended to take Red Clouds scalp
the first chance he got.
Col. Darlington holds that these two
brave officers, having Overtaken band
of Indians, resolved to teach them a les
son in warfare, and made the attack with
out realizing the difference in numbers.
Garrison in Straits.
This massacre left the little garrison at
Fort Phil Kearney in a desperate condi-
ton They we're few in number and en-
barrassed by ten or twelve women, wives
and daughters of the officers. They had
little fuel in the midst of severe winter.
and were unable to get more. while their
ammunition was running very low.
Col. Darlington started three scouts TO
Fort Laramie Tor reinforcements Their
riderless horses. which found their way
back to the fort riddled with bullets, dis
closed their fate.
Finally John Phillips. hunter aud
trapper who had lived in Wyoming for
many years on the most friendly terms
with the Indians and had never been con-
nected with the army in any way, O1ered
to undertake the dangerous mission. He
selected a beautiful thoroughbred belong
ing to Col. Carrington's daughter. and
started at shutdown, Christmas eve. 1865.
with the thermometer at 20 degrees be-
low zero. for a 235-mile ride across
plain that was literally covered with hos
tile Indians.
few days later near midnight The sad
news he brought broke up ball which
the officers and their wives were giving
to the soldiers of the post.
"virginian" Scenes Laid Here.
II you want a description OF the coun-
try around here read 1.-The virginian.'
Medicine Bow. the railway station where
the author first met his hero. lies directly
south. a hundred miles or more. and
Owen Wister got his frontier education
on the ranch of Frank Wolcott In this
vicinity.
See-right ranch. just west of the town
Of Caspar, was the scene of the mixing
up Of the babies at barbecue dance
described in the story. 1t was an actual
incident in the early history Of this sec
ton.
While the fathers and mothers were
dancing in the big room of the ranch
house two mischievous guests changed the
outer clothing of the babies SO that the
unsuspecting parents took home the
wrong infants and had to have a round
up the next morning to recover their
own.
Wister spent some time at Careyhurst,
the ranch of ex-senator Carey Of Wyom-
ing on the bank Of the North Platte
river a little farther up the road. and
has visited other cattle and sheep own
ers in this part OF the state.
No one has ever been able to identify
the hero of THE Virginian," for no such
remarkable individual ever lived in these
parts. He is a composite of several from
tier heroes. and while nearly all the in
cidents which Wister has woven into the
story so sklllfully actually occurred, they
were in the experience OF a dozen men,
instead Of one.
Most of the material used in the story.
according to local authorities. was col
iected by DIR. Barber. now a practicing
physician at Cheyenne, formerly con-
tract surgeon In the army. While serving
at Fort Fetterman for several years he
made a practice of recording in note
book all of the interesting incidents and
anecdotes Of frontier life that came to
his knowledge and opened his storehouse
to Mr.. Wister.
Lin McI.ain, another Of Wister's
heroes, they tell me, was an Ohio man.
He served in volunteer regiment during
the civil war. was mustered into the reg
ular army as private. promoted to
commission, was then cashiered because
Of reckless spree and finally settled
down in this locality as a cowboy.
SUICIDE POLITE AND CALM.
1:- o~l