UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1999 Massacre, memoir, and myth: The 1866 Fetterman Fight, a reconstruction Richard S Haynes University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Haynes, Richard S, "Massacre, memoir, and myth: The 1866 Fetterman Fight, a reconstruction" (1999). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1090. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/aqtm-i1ks This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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Havnes Bachelor of Arts Brigham Young University 1968 Master of Business Administration University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1989 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Department of History College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 1999 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1397997 Copyright 2000 by Haynes, Richard S. All rights reserved. UMI* UMI Microform 1397997 Copyright 2000 by Bell & Howell Information and Leaming Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. 00x1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Richard S. Haynes 2000 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval UNIV The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas November 12 _____ , 19 99 The Thesis prepared by Richard S. Haynes Entitled Massacre. Memoir, and Myth; The 1866 Fetterman Fight. A Reconstruction is approved in partial fuLSUment of the requirements for the degree of _________________________ Master of Arts in History Examination Committee Chair Dean o f the Graduate College ommittee Member Examinatian Commit U Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Massacre, Memoir, and Myth: The 1866 Fetterman Fight, A Reconstruction By Richard S. Haynes Dr. Willard H. Rollings. Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of History University o f Nevada. Las Vegas Myths permeate histories of the 1866 Fetterman Fight, or Massacre. Thesis foci include myths of the 1866 Fort Laramie Treaty, the July 1866 Skirmish at Crazy Woman’s Fork. Jim Bridget’s role from May 1866 to spring 1867, and the December 1866 Fetterman Fight. Beginning in 1867, Colonel Carrington. Captain Fetterman s commanding officer, shifted blame from himself to Fetterman. Based upon Carrington’s allegations, historical consensus indicts Captain Fetterman for arrogantly disobeying orders, foolishly leading eighty men into a fatal ambush by 1.800 Lakota. Cheyenne, and Araphoe warriors, and committing mutual suicide with Captain Brown when hope was gone. In his 1991 article "Price of Arrogance.” John D McDermott reaffirmed Carrington’s accusations. This thesis debunks the myths, challenges the consensus version, reconstructs the fight with soldier and Indian memoirs, and Army documents, and offers a new interpretation of the Fetterman Fight. lit Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................................vi CHAPTER 1 MASSACRE, MEMOIR, MYTH............................................................................................. I CHAPTER! PLAINS PARADISE.............................................................................................................. 17 CHAPTER 3 TRAILS. TREATIES, TROUBLES.......................................................................................36 CHAPTER 4 TRUNCATED TREATY....................................................................................................... 65 CHAPTER 5 FORTS AND FIGHTS............................................................................................................88 CHAPTER 6 COLTS. CROWS. AND CHEYENNES.............................................................................. 112 CHAPTER 7 FETTERMAN RETURNS ....................................................................................................138 CHAPTER 8 THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS...................................................................................... 177 CHAPTER 9 AFTERMATH CONCLUSION. FUTURE..........................................................................232 APPENDICES Known Dead in the Fetterman Fight, 21 December 1866 .................................................................. 245 Maps I to 9 ................................................................................................................ 249 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................................ 259 VITA............................................................................................................................................................. 266 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Second Battalion Captains by Date of Rank, 1866 .......................................................................77 Table 2. Enlisted Rank Distribution ofFetterman’s Composite Company 195 Table 3 Date of Enlistment Distribution in Fetterman's Composite Company 196 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I express sincere appreciation to the committee chair. Dr. Willard H. Rollings, for his years of instruction, guidance, encouragement, and suggestions, without which this thesis never would have been written. Thanks to Dr. Jay A. Coughtry and Dr Colin T Loader for courses taught, papers directed, analytical tools shared, and time spent as members o f the committee. Appreciation to Dr. Gary B. Palmer for sharing time from his active schedule to serve with the committee. Thanks also to Dr. Robert W. Davenport for teaching me the historiographical tools essential to this thesis. For their kindness and cheerful help, appreciation also to Kathy Adkins and her office staff. Assembling the source material for the thesis required the services of library staffs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of Nevada, Reno; University of .Arizona; Brigham Young University; Newberry Library, Chicago; Sheridan Public Library, Sheridan, Wyoming; and the National .Archives. Thanks to all of you for your time and expertise. Special thanks go to Linda DeTavemier at the Fort Phil Kearny State Historical Site for her kindness and familiarity