Fetterman Massacre: A Turning Point in the Sioux Wars
December 21, 1866
A Tragedy on the Bozeman Trail
Near Fort Phil Kearny in what is now northern Wyoming, a tragic event occurred on December 21, 1866, forever etched in the annals of United States history. The Fetterman Massacre, also known as the Fetterman Fight, unfolded as a tense clash between the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne Native Americans.
The Lakota and their allies lured Captain William Fetterman's patrol of 81 soldiers and two civilians into a well-planned ambush. The soldiers were pursuing a small party of Native Americans when they were surrounded by a force of approximately 1,500 warriors. Despite Fetterman's attempts to retreat, the Native Americans pursued and overwhelmed the soldiers, resulting in the deaths of all 83 men.
The Fetterman Massacre was a significant turning point in the Sioux Wars, as it solidified the Lakota's resistance to the U.S. Army's encroachment on their territory. The incident became a rallying cry for the Native Americans and led to increased tensions between them and the U.S. government.
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