Fetterman Fight Anniversary Tour Dec. 21

On December 21, beginning at Fort Phil Kearney at 10 a.m., the fort will host the annual Fetterman Fight Anniversary Program. Donovin Sprague will give the Fetterman Fight Anniversary talk.

Sprague was born and raised on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and is a member of the Minnicoujou Lakota. He is an historian, the author of ten books, and currently teaches at Sheridan College. Donovin is on the Fort Phil Kearny/Bozeman Trail Association Advisory Board.

Participants will then caravan to the Fetterman Battle site, where Jim Powers will lead an archaeology-based tour, including to the Wheatley/Fisher Rocks.

Jim Powers is a longtime Sheridan resident and archaeological technician and has actively participated in 18 years of archaeological investigations throughout many western states including at Fort Phil Kearny, the Fetterman and Wagon Box Battlefields and related sites.

Powers meticulously cataloged the Sterling Fenn Collection in the Sheridan Library Wyoming Room and is active in the preservation of other significant records.

The event is free and open to the public. The event will be weather permitting, and participants should dress for winter weather.

Kearny’s Frontier Regulars will also participate with period weapon demonstrations.

The Fetterman Fight was one of the bloodiest battles waged between the Indians and the US Army in Wyoming. On Dec. 21 of 1866, 81 men went out from Fort Phil Kearney with a wood train to bring in wood and were attacked by a large force of Indians operating with a well-laid plan. All the soldiers in Fetterman’s command were killed by the Sioux and Cheyenne forces.

For more information go to fortphilkearny.com or email fpkbta@gmail.com

Another upcoming event at the fort will be the First Day Hike on Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. Watch Sheridan Media for more about this event.