Give Me Eighty Men: Women and the Myth of the Fetterman Fight (Women in the West)

Various books have been written about the Fetterman Massacre which took place outside of Fort Phil Kearny in Wyoming on December 21, 1866. I don't know that this book will change anyone's opinion regarding who is to blame for this unfortunate occurrence but this book emphasizes the wives of both Colonel Henry Carrington and Tenodor Ten Eyck in their support of their husbands and defending the honor of their name.While it is true that Col. Carrington was perhaps unsuited to be put in charge of the fort, the bureaucrats in Washington certainly did not provide him with the necessary men, ammunition, and other necessary supplies to make a successful go of the fort. Built along the Bozeman Trail through central Wyoming Fort Phil Kearny was located in Teton Sioux territory who didn't take kindly to having these interlopers coming onto their land without permission.Col. Carrington apparently gave strict order to Captain William Fetterman to not pursue the Indians beyond Lodge Trail Ridge. Fetterman, who appeared contemptuous of the ability of the fighting enemy and also of Carrington's lack of nerve, charged on ahead with his men into an ambush that whipped them all out. I would think that Fetterman would have had second thoughts before recklessly violating Carrington's order since their weaponry was grossly inadequate for what they would be up against. The Indians used this tactic previously in luring the soldiers into a trap. However, for a soldier to advance in rank bravery in such situations was necessary to demonstrate a justification in promotion.However, we must keep in mind that both wives of Carrington, Margaret and later Francis Grummond whose husband George died in the Fetterman fight, supported Colonel Carrington and kept his reputation intact. Also, the wife of Tenodor Ten Eyck came to his support for not charging down in a suicidal attempt to fight the Indians when the battle was completed. Unfortunately for Fetterman, he had no wife to come to his support in clearing his name.I found the book to be an interesting read on the subject but the part following the infamous incident on December 21, 1866, got to be somewhat tedious in explaining the various scenarios that may have taken place. There are some things in history we will never get answers for and the author of this book presents the possibilities and lets the reader decide for themselves.

(Really 3.5 stars) I'm surprised no one has reviewed this book yet so I thought I'd put down some early comments. I say early because I am half way through the book (but deep enough to offer an opinion). One of the author's premises is that Fetterman is not the imbecile that history has made him out to be. From what I've read so far, she might be right or partly right. It's one of those historical details we will never truly know. The other premise is that much of the history of the short life of Fort Phil Kearny was heavily influenced by women, particularly Margaret Carrington and Frances Grummond (who later became the second Mrs. Carrington). Both women wrote books about their time at Fort Phil Kearny (no doubt with some assistance from Henry Carrington). Now I'd like to point out two errors and make one point.1- On the top of page 29 she attributes a quote to Red Cloud that he invariably gets credited with saying at a meeting at Fort Phil Kearny. Problem is that the quote comes from Margaret Carrington's book and she didn't claim he said it. Not only that, Remi Nadeau, in a book written in 1967(!) called "Fort Laramie and the Sioux," proved that Red Cloud wasn't even present at this meeting. Even Robert Utley (in an article I found a year or two ago on the Internet) acknowledged that he was mistaken in believing that this incident ever occurred. And the foonote source she gives (a speech by Carrington called The Indian Question) doesn't even contain the quote. Again the quote is in Mrs. Carrrington's book (Absaraka) and not attributed to Red Cloud (though he keeps getting credit for it).2- The author's method of telling the story is not chronological. From chapter to chapter and within chapters she goes forward and backward in time. The problem is that we are generally linear thinking people and when we hear a story told out of sequence we just might start to recall it in that sequence until B comes before A. Want proof? On page 81 the author tells of an incident that occurred on November 11. Then on page 85 she tells that there was a picnic on September 6 that the Bisbees did not attend and most definitely makes the point that their absence had to do with what happened on November 11. Yes, they didn't attend a social gathering for something that happened two months in the future.3- The author tells that Henry and Margaret Carrington did not get along too well with Captain James Powell. They thought he lacked social graces, was profane and illiterate. Further down the page we learn that Powell scoffed (mocked) religion. Well, the Carringtons were card carrying bible readers. I have to wonder just how much this fact played in their opinion of him. Just a thought.Lastly, while I know about the Fetterman battle, still I am not that well-versed in all that went on at Fort Phil Kearny during this time period, especially the crazy governmental orders and expectations. So, despite my criticisms I am learning a lot of new things, too.-------Having finished the book I will add a few more comments. As I stated earlier, Fetterman just might not be the arrogant soldier he is so often accused of being. On the other hand, the possibility exists he made a statement about a small number of soldiers being able to defeat a much larger group of Indians, a statement that came back to damage his memory after he was killed. He could have said it shortly after arriving and later changed his mind but since Carrington needed a scapegoat, whatever Fetterman said was magnified. (This is my opinion and not mentioned in the book.) In any event, the army blamed Carrington and Carrington blamed Fetterman. In the end, it was the army's fault for not supplying enough men, ammunition, horses, etc. to Carrington. Then again, as the author points out, Carrington tended to send mixed messages to the higher ups about his predicament. This is typical when one doesn't want to sound too needy or inefficient to his/her superiors. I enjoyed the last three chapters best.

First let me humbly mention that I am something of an Indian Wars author myself, although my works are reprints of Army technical manuals of the 1870's and 1880's with my own modern notes and commentaries. Suffice it to say, I am a passionate (if amateur) student of the era.Ms. Smith has given a very fresh and well researched view of a very misunderstood Indian fight. She has done so by pointing out the elephant in the room during Victorian [and maybe to some extent our?] times, that is, that a lady would NEVER lie. For whatever discrimination they suffered economically or politically, the alleged gentler gender held the trump card socially. They were [perceived as being] morally superior. Colonel Carrington's two wives and Captain Ten Eyk's daughter played their readership like a fiddle and I'm glad Ms. Smith has finally pointed out that the Empresses had no clothes. Had a man wrote it he might have been labeled a misogynist. It's good when myths are dispelled.

This the third book I have read on this particular subject and it is more sympathetic towards W J Fetterman. Carrington on the other hand appears to cast the blame elsewhere other than himself. It will always remain a mystery whether Carrington actually ordered Fetterman not to cross 'Lodge Trail Ridge' or not and the truth will probably never be known. I for one believe that Grummond was the instigator of the massacre, due to his complete disregard to orders and the possible ambush by the Indians. A very good and interesting read a must for all Fetterman fans and strongly recommended.

I usually use a book for either: reading, or, propping the door open.