Fetterman Fight 1866
Recorded location from Wikidata; battle sites are often approximate.
Key facts
| Date | 21 December 1866 | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 1866 | Wikidata P585 (point in time) |
| Era | 19th century (1800–1913) | derived from year |
| Location | United States | Natural Earth (modern borders) |
| Continent | North America | Natural Earth |
| War / conflict | Red Cloud's War | Wikidata P361 |
| Coordinates | 44.5712, -106.8410 | Wikidata P625 |
About the battle
The Fetterman Fight, also known as the Fetterman Massacre or the Battle of the Hundred-in-the-Hands or the Battle of a Hundred Slain, was a battle during Red Cloud's War on December 21, 1866, between a confederation of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and a detachment of the United States Army, based at Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming. The U.S. military mission was intended to protect travelers on the Bozeman Trail. A group of ten warriors, including Crazy Horse, acted to lure a detachment of U.S. soldiers into an ambush. All 81 men under the command of Captain William J. Fetterman were then killed by the Native American warriors. At the time, it was the worst military disaster ever suffered by the U.S. Army on the Great Plains.
The Lakota alliance emerged victorious and the remaining U.S. forces withdrew from the area. The Fetterman Fight took place on Crow Indian land that was guaranteed to them by a treaty signed with the U.S. government. The Lakota and their allies were operating without the consent of the Crow.
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article Fetterman Fight (revision 1380823483), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: excerpted from the article lead section; formatting and citations removed. No text added.
Nearby battles
- Battle of the Tongue River 1865 · 45 km
- Siege of the TA Ranch · 48 km
- Battle of Suggs 1892 · 58 km
- Battle of the Rosebud 1876 · 74 km
- Battle of Prairie Dog Creek 1876 · 79 km
- Battle of Wolf Mountain 1877 · 82 km
Other battles of the Red Cloud's War
- Hayfield Fight 1867
Browse more: battles in United States · North America · 19th century battles