Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-08-16
81 MEN DIED
AS RESULT OF

from HIgtorical parel

Continued from Historical Pagel
lying side by side with bullet holes
through their heads. 1t was known
that both had sworn 10 commit suicide
rather than to ever fall into Indian
hands, although it has been given out
by many historians that doubtless they
had stood side by side and shot each
Others
cYears later, Chief American Horse
then passing his last days at Pine
Ridge reservation, South Dakota, con-
fided to Capt. James H. Cook. 1is
close white friend, and also an init
mate friend of mine, that he was a
prominent leader IN the Fetterman
fight, which was commanded by Red
Cloud. American Horse stated that he
personally killed Captain Fetterman.
riding up behind him and knocking
him from his horse with a war club
and finishing him with his knife. This
chief, as well as others of the Sioux.
stated that the Fetterman command
seem e d completely terror stricken
when they saw how vastly they were
outnumbered; that they made no at
tempt to fight back, save in the cases
Of some Of the more experienced SOL
diers. and that the Indians killed
them with clubs, stones, hatchets. etc.
like sheep This story may or NAV not
be true, but I am inclined to believe
it because of the close intimacy be-
tween Captain Cook and all the lead !
ing Sioux chiefs at Pine Ridge during 1
their latter days, when they were more I
inclined to talk freely of their DAYS 6
Of battle.) '
Fort Horror Stricken I
Ten Eyck had brought wagons along. S
and without stopping to make further
the bodies of the 20 dead Z
men were loaded into the wagons and b
he return to the fort made In safety. {
The fate Of the other 80 men of the y
Command he did not know, but it was
afe to suppose that all had been -
illed.
The inmates Of the fort were horror n
tricken at this appalling calamity. st
Iearly one-fourth Of the entire COM
hand at the post had been wiped out. n
iuards were doubled. A night attack y
as looked upon as a surety No man ~
ept, and the women and little chill A
rem at the fort, of which there were a
9veral, were filled with terror. The ~
ight passed, however, without an IN
larm. Il
The next morning Darlington called =
council Of officers as to the wisdom II.
sending out another party to search
" the remaining 80 Of Fettermans
Most OF them were against
lch a move. There were no more
en- to be sacrificed. But Colonel Car tn
ngton was firm in his declaration wa
lat he would in person make such d.
/ attempt If it cost him his own life. OF
e had no trouble to get followers me
very soldier wanted to join his party. ISIS
Colonel Darlington left positive or
RS that in case of an attack upon ect
lie post while he was absent, the me
omen and children were to be placed tia
the ammunition magazine, with an hes
ficer pledged not to allow them to vac
captured alive, and in case Of a val
ccessful assault by the Indians this tin
ficer was to apply the match and the
w all to eternity. VOL
ice Of Folly vid
Passing the spot where the first 90 Ten
dies were found, Darlington present. I
came upon evidences of a great the
uggle and fierce hand-to-hand ope
hitting. Bodies were strung along the hou
ID clear to the western end farthest to
m the fort. Behind little pile of tria
ks were found the bodies of Wheat Uni
and Fisher, the two frontiersmen
o had accompanied Fetterman. Fl
ned with the Henry repeating rifles. be
the side of one, over so empty Am,
Ills were counted, and nearly that fore
nber by the other. Wheatleys body com
rly briStled with los arrows. In tire
Mt Of these two men were counted Am,
great blood clots on the snow. and sion
,reat number Of dead ponies. show sem
the deadly accuracy Of their mod ton
weapons. The remains of every lob
} of the missing 80 were accounted ture
all stripped naked, scalped and citiz
tilated beyond recognition in prot
Istly and revolving manner. two
'etterman had disobeyed his orders. It v
tead Of returning to the fort after jobs
wood train had been relieved, he inva
gone in pursuit of the Indians to G
had cunningly led him into an Of eC
bush, then fell upon him like an Anne
lanche and annihilated his entire "V
lmand within 20 minutes. What woul
y in believing that with so or 100 sion
4 he could ride through the Sioux it,
io,, 20 @%A -