Enemy Ambush on the Plains: The Fetterman Fight in Kevin Costner's The West

As America stumbled in the aftermath of the Civil War, a new kind of conflict brewed on the Western frontier. Young soldiers, armed with Civil War tactics, would soon face the agile Lakota Light Cavalry.

The Reconstruction Era and Military Tensions

In 1866, the nation grappled with the challenges of Reconstruction. President Andrew Johnson, a former slave owner, had taken office after Lincoln’s assassination and was tasked with rebuilding the South. With federal authority weakened across the West, the U.S. Army shifted resources to protect freedmen, leaving frontier forts understaffed and under-supplied.

At Fort Phil Kearny, Colonel Henry Carrington urgently requested reinforcements to secure the Bozeman Trail. By September 1866, he received fresh troops, new horses, and a dynamic second in command—Captain William J. Fetterman.

The Arrival of Captain Fetterman

Captain Fetterman arrived at the fort lauded as a hero of Sherman’s March to the Sea. Celebrated by eager young officers, he quickly formed a clique that highlighted a growing rift with Colonel Carrington. The fort’s commander was cautious and had never seen combat, whereas Fetterman was aggressive, strong-willed, and epitomized the cavalry officer’s bravado.

Among Fetterman’s newcomers was Lieutenant George W. Grummond, known for his hotheaded nature and court-martial record due to drinking and insubordination. Although these soldiers excelled in Civil War engagements, they lacked experience in the hit-and-run tactics practiced by Native American tribes.

The Clash of Cultures

Civil War veterans expected traditional massed-line battles, yet the Western theater presented a radically different opponent. The semi-nomadic Lakota, Arapaho, and Cheyenne excelled in guerrilla warfare, using superior horsemanship and intimate knowledge of the terrain to outmaneuver invaders.

The Lakota Light Cavalry stood as arguably the finest horsemen in the world, trained from adolescence for mounted combat. Their swift tactics exposed the U.S. Army’s rigid formations and overconfidence at every turn.

Plans for Engagement

After days of drilling Fetterman’s troops, headquarters in St. Louis ordered Carrington to launch an attack on enemy winter camps. However, an old scout reported 1,000 to 1,500 teepees of combined Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Northern Arapaho under Red Cloud’s alliance. Outnumbered and wary, Carrington abandoned the offensive and fortified the post instead, instructing his soldiers to protect woodcutters who ventured miles into the wilderness for fuel.

A Critical Moment of Confrontation

Months of sporadic skirmishing followed until Red Cloud struck on December 6, 1866. As reports reached Fort Phil Kearny that the wood-gathering train was under attack, Lieutenant Grummond and a small detachment impulsively charged, pursuing a decoy party led by Crazy Horse.

Separated from support and weaponless—Grummond had forgotten his rifle—they were quickly surrounded. Grummond fought with only his saber, but two officers were killed and gruesomely mutilated: one impaled on a stump, another scalped and bisected. U.S. forces had underestimated the enemy’s resolve and tactics.

The Lakota’s Tactical Advantage

Despite losing about ten warriors, the Lakota gained a crucial insight: the U.S. military could not resist a retreating foe. They observed that American soldiers often broke ranks in pursuit, revealing a dangerous mindset of superiority that Red Cloud exploited.

Looking Ahead

The Fetterman Fight marked a turning point in Red Cloud’s War and underscored the perils of cultural misunderstandings on the frontier. U.S. forces would soon adopt more cautious strategies, but the lessons learned at Fort Phil Kearny revealed the need for adaptive tactics when facing unconventional opponents.

• Actionable Takeaway: Understanding and respecting your adversary’s strengths is essential in any conflict.

“Fetterman is a genuine hero of the Civil War. He’s cited for bravery. He’s with Sherman during the March to the Sea.” —Kevin Costner

What do you think the U.S. military could have done differently to prepare for warfare against Native American tribes during this period?