Fort Phil Kearny and the Fetterman and Wagon Box Memorials

 

On a warm and windy afternoon we drove north of Buffalo to visit Fort Phil Kearny. The fort was established in 1866 to protect travellers along the Bozeman Trail during Red Cloud's War. After the railroad stretched far enough west the fort was abandoned in 1868. Shortly thereafter the Cheyenne burned it down. During it's existence two notable battles with the natives occurred. One was the Fetterman Fight. In December 1866, soldiers were lured over a ridge by 10 decoys (including Crazy Horse) where the 81 soldiers and civilian were ambushed by nearly 1,000 natives. The Wagon Box Fight happened about 8 months later where 26 soldiers managed to hold off attacks until reinforcement showed up.