The Actual Real West (1 Viewer)

[Mister Dave]

I had the privilege this past week to travel out West with my fun-loving 10 year old daughter. The trip was partly an effort to spend some QT with little B. before what I hope is my last brief state-side tour of duty in support of OEF set to commence in a little over 2 weeks. Among the many classic sights taken in we had the good fortune to spend a mostly cloudy, windy day at Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument and it was every bit as spooky as I'd remembered from my own childhood many years ago. The written accounts really do not convey the isolated feel of the place and also do not give a good sense of the breadth of the actual battlefield. Reno Hill is 5 loooooong miles from Last Stand Hill for example.

On the day following we had a most enjoyable visit to the site of Fort Phil Kearny about 19 miles SW of Sheridan, WY. The log fort constructed on the site in 1866 is gone, but some sections of the pallisade walls have been reconstructed and the site is walkable with former building sites marked and altogether gives a good idea of the place. There is an excellent museum and interpretive center on the site also. This was one of 3 outposts built to police the "Bloody Bozeman" trail leading to Montanna's gold fields from Fort Laramie between 1866 and 1868. Several significant incidents occurred in the fort's vicinity during this period, including the infamous Fetterman massacre on Dec. 21, 1866, in which Captain Fetterman led approximately 80 men from the post's cavalry and infantry garrison to their deaths at the hands of Cheyenne, Sioux, and Arapaho warriors waiting in ambush behind nearby Lodge Trail Ridge. The massacre site is marked with an impressive monument and the site of the action is partially walkable. The "Wagon Box Fight" occurred in August 1867 about 4 miles NW of the fort when a logging camp at nearby Piney Creek mostly defended by civilian wood-cutters and also by a small detachment of infantry from the fort successfully fended off a large party of attacking Indians by sheltering within a defensive circle of wagons. They were aided in this action by the arrival of newer breech loading weapons allowing much faster reloading and firing than the unfortunate souls with Captain Fetterman a year earlier.

It is amazing how drastically the landscape changes from lush green grass and cornfields to sage covered prairie the instant one crosses the Missouri River heading West across the vast expanse of mid SD. Very heady stuff, and little B. and I had a great adventure together to say the least. She has already RSVP'ed for next years excursion which will include Fort Laramie and the nearby Grattan Massacre site among other stops as yet to be determined.

MD

 

[marco55]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us Dave.Sounds very interesting as I've never been out west.
Mark

 

[UKReb]

Great pictures Dave that flashed me back a few years to my visit-vastness; eerie; wind blowing and moving the grass; a strange silence over the field; beware the darn rattlesnakes (although I never saw one)-thanks for posting.

Did you see (are they still there?) those wooden peepholes at the Wagon Box site? I found them quite handy to understand the position of the Indian during the course of the fight. Plus those mounted Indian cutouts on the ridgeline at the Fetterman site-when I saw those at first I almost ran for cover

Reb

 

[Mister Dave]

Great pictures Dave that flashed me back a few years to my visit-vastness; eerie; wind blowing and moving the grass; a strange silence over the field; beware the darn rattlesnakes (although I never saw one)-thanks for posting.

Did you see (are they still there?) those wooden peepholes at the Wagon Box site? I found them quite handy to understand the position of the Indian during the course of the fight. Plus those mounted Indian cutouts on the ridgeline at the Fetterman site-when I saw those at first I almost ran for cover

Reb

Yes, Bob, the wooden posts with the sight tubes are still there. Also, very accurate description of the landscape and feel of the place. I hope you are able to get back some day soon.

I'll try to post more photos in the next several days.

MD

 

[Mister Dave]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us Dave.Sounds very interesting as I've never been out west.
Mark

You are welcome Mark. Definitely a trip worth considering if you've the time and interest.

MD

 

[Harrytheheid]

I had the privilege this past week to travel out West with my fun-loving 10 year old daughter. The trip was partly an effort to spend some QT with little B. before what I hope is my last brief state-side tour of duty in support of OEF set to commence in a little over 2 weeks. Among the many classic sights taken in we had the good fortune to spend a mostly cloudy, windy day at Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument and it was every bit as spooky as I'd remembered from my own childhood many years ago. The written accounts really do not convey the isolated feel of the place and also do not give a good sense of the breadth of the actual battlefield. Reno Hill is 5 loooooong miles from Last Stand Hill for example.

On the day following we had a most enjoyable visit to the site of Fort Phil Kearny about 19 miles SW of Sheridan, WY. The log fort constructed on the site in 1866 is gone, but some sections of the pallisade walls have been reconstructed and the site is walkable with former building sites marked and altogether gives a good idea of the place. There is an excellent museum and interpretive center on the site also. This was one of 3 outposts built to police the "Bloody Bozeman" trail leading to Montanna's gold fields from Fort Laramie between 1866 and 1868. Several significant incidents occurred in the fort's vicinity during this period, including the infamous Fetterman massacre on Dec. 21, 1866, in which Captain Fetterman led approximately 80 men from the post's cavalry and infantry garrison to their deaths at the hands of Cheyenne, Sioux, and Arapaho warriors waiting in ambush behind nearby Lodge Trail Ridge. The massacre site is marked with an impressive monument and the site of the action is partially walkable. The "Wagon Box Fight" occurred in August 1867 about 4 miles NW of the fort when a logging camp at nearby Piney Creek mostly defended by civilian wood-cutters and also by a small detachment of infantry from the fort successfully fended off a large party of attacking Indians by sheltering within a defensive circle of wagons. They were aided in this action by the arrival of newer breech loading weapons allowing much faster reloading and firing than the unfortunate souls with Captain Fetterman a year earlier.

It is amazing how drastically the landscape changes from lush green grass and cornfields to sage covered prairie the instant one crosses the Missouri River heading West across the vast expanse of mid SD. Very heady stuff, and little B. and I had a great adventure together to say the least. She has already RSVP'ed for next years excursion which will include Fort Laramie and the nearby Grattan Massacre site among other stops as yet to be determined.

MD

Dave,

I've translated your text into Chinese and shown those quite excellent photo's to my wife. We're both extremely glad you had such a great time with PRINCESS MD and we look forward to seeing the rest of the photos.


Thanks Mate
Harry & Lucy

 

[Mister Dave]

Dave,

I've translated your text into Chinese and shown those quite excellent photo's to my wife. We're both extremely glad you had such a great time with PRINCESS MD and we look forward to seeing the rest of the photos.


Thanks Mate
Harry & Lucy

Well thanks Harry and Ms. Lucy too. I am glad you liked the photos and I appreciate the positive feedback. Still "coming down" from the journey....we both wish we were still there.

Here are a few more snaps for your viewing pleasure. These should include a view of the bluffs climbed in haste by Reno's men as they retreated east across the river....very inhospitable terrain for mounted troops indeed. Also a photo of the LBH river about midway between Reno and Last Stand hills. A grouping of head stones near Reno hill with some familiar names. Apparently Bloody Knife was carried to this position as he was fatally wounded on the other side of the river in the woods prior to the retreat. Finally, I believe is a shot of some markers below Last Stand hill with the LBH and site of the big village in the distance. Oh, yes, and one more view inspired by Harry's native bonnie Scotland.

Adios,
MD

 

[Scott]

Thanks for posting those photos. It's great to have a child you can share history with. My son has his own interests but my daughter eats it up.

 

[1879fanatic]

Dave,
Priceless memories for you and your daughter! I remember when I went out to the LBH with Grampa when I was 11. Simply priceless.
Where are you going active? DC?
Best of Luck and Wishes,
Mike

 

[Harrytheheid]

Oh, yes, and one more view inspired by Harry's native bonnie Scotland.

Adios,
MD

Hmm, yeah I can see what inspired that comment.


Thanks for the other photos as well. I don't suppose we'll ever get the chance to go to S.Dakota, so its great to see where you guys have been.
And in case I forget, good luck while serving your country Dave.

Respects
Harry

 

[Mister Dave]

Thanks for the sentiments Scott, Mike and Harry. Now I've got the 10 year old hooked on "roaming the road" I will be starting in on the 6 year old too.

Not Walter Reed this time Mike. I will be working in the Ft. Knox system until mid November.

Regards,
MD

 

[UKReb]

Thanks for the snaps Dave-it's an area that haunted me when I was there and still haunts me today-only one other place Stateside had that same effect on me- Monument Valley-something very mystical about them both.

Bob

 

[1879fanatic]

Not Walter Reed this time Mike. I will be working in the Ft. Knox system until mid November.

Regards,
MD

Dave,
God Bless!
Mike

 

[Mister Dave]

Dave,
God Bless!
Mike

Thanks Mike.

MD

 

[Mister Dave]

Thanks for the snaps Dave-it's an area that haunted me when I was there and still haunts me today-only one other place Stateside had that same effect on me- Monument Valley-something very mystical about them both.

Bob

I still need to get there Bob....have not yet had the opportunity.

MD