1) Red Cloud's War from 1864-1868 consisted of raids by Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe tribes on frontier settlements and emigrants in rugged terrain against remote forts and outposts using guerilla tactics that differed from the Army's style of warfare.
2) Native Americans fought in loosely organized groups without unified plans of attack, typically raiding in small parties to steal horses, cattle, or make quick kills. They saw the influx of white settlers as a new tribe trespassing on their lands.
3) At Fort Phil Kearny, Indians killed over 70 soldiers and civilians and drove away hundreds of horses and mules between July and December 1866 despite reinforcements arriving. T
1) Red Cloud's War from 1864-1868 consisted of raids by Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe tribes on frontier settlements and emigrants in rugged terrain against remote forts and outposts using guerilla tactics that differed from the Army's style of warfare.
2) Native Americans fought in loosely organized groups without unified plans of attack, typically raiding in small parties to steal horses, cattle, or make quick kills. They saw the influx of white settlers as a new tribe trespassing on their lands.
3) At Fort Phil Kearny, Indians killed over 70 soldiers and civilians and drove away hundreds of horses and mules between July and December 1866 despite reinforcements arriving. T
1) Red Cloud's War from 1864-1868 consisted of raids by Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe tribes on frontier settlements and emigrants in rugged terrain against remote forts and outposts using guerilla tactics that differed from the Army's style of warfare.
2) Native Americans fought in loosely organized groups without unified plans of attack, typically raiding in small parties to steal horses, cattle, or make quick kills. They saw the influx of white settlers as a new tribe trespassing on their lands.
3) At Fort Phil Kearny, Indians killed over 70 soldiers and civilians and drove away hundreds of horses and mules between July and December 1866 despite reinforcements arriving. T
Red Clouds War consisted of the various raids by the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe upon frontier settlements and emigrants between the years 1!" and 1! involving rugged terrain, remote forts # outposts, tribal based enemy with a warrior culture, and an elusive enemy whose tactics di$ered greatly from the Army% Clausewit& said, 'War is an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will%( )n this case, the *%S% +overnment had a desire to occupy and traverse an area ,-he .o&eman -rail/ )n the short period 1!0/1!!, more than "122 civilians used the .o&eman -rail3 containing the )ndians most sacred hunting grounds% -he 4owder River country was a land rich in natural resources% .u$alo, deer # bear, as well as many other forms of game were abundant% -he rivers teemed with 5sh, and the land in general was well watered from the runo$ of the .ighorn 6ountains% )t had everything needed for the )ndians sustainment and survival% 1!0/! was a loosely organi&ed, protracted e$ort with the desire to wea7en the governments will to occupy native lands% NATIVE AMERICAN TACTICS )ndians fought as individuals8 their tendency was for no formal organi&ation and lac7ed a uni5ed plan of attac7% )nstead, an )ndian war party operated as 'a body of loosely organi&ed individuals acting toward a common cause%( 9ormally they attac7ed as raiding parties using A6.*S: tactics aimed at stealing horses, cattle or a ;uic7 7ill% -he mass migration of white settlers to the plains amounted/in their eyes/to a new tribe trespassing the area% -he Army faced an enemy that blended extremely well with the non/combatants% )ndians could switch rapidly from friend to foe, ma7ing it di<cult to distinguish one from the other% -he )ndians 7new they could never prevail in a head on assault upon the fort% :owever their numbers had grown to the point that they were con5dent they could destroy a contingent of any si&e provided they could trap them away from the fort% COIN [COunt!-IN"u!#n$%& Counterinsurgency or 'C=)9( as it is referred to, is a relatively new term, but the 5ght with insurgents is much older such as the )ndian Wars of the 1>th Century% ?ver since the success of the Sand Cree7 6assacre 1!0 C=)9 involved8 ':ammer # Anvil(, shoot as many )ndian horses as possible, burn as many -epees as possible, ta7e women # children hostages and exterminate the bu$alo =n @une 1A, 1!! Carringtons column departed Bt% Caramie with the eight companies of the 1th )nfantry% Whats important here is what was missing% -he force was infantry instead of cavalry% While at Bt% Caramie, Carrington had made repeated re;uests of the post commander for his promised 122,222 rounds ammunition, horses and wagon drivers% .ut the re;uests fell on deaf ears, and were never to be had% -he 1th )nfantry had come to the 4owder River country e;uipped with the men, arms, and supplies to build and garrison forts, not to wage war with an active enemy% Additionally, the troops were out5tted with old mu&&le loading mus7ets, rather than newer Spencer carbines and breech loading riDes% -he troopers had no experience in )ndian warfare% -hose who were veterans were well versed only in battles li7e those experienced in the Civil War% 'ORT ()IL *EARNY 11 -: @uly 1!! Carrington and his force arrived at the location he had chosen for fort 4hil Eearny% :is 5rst tas7 was to build the post% .y concentrating on building and establishing the fort at the expense of o$ensive operations, he was following orders and doing exactly what he was sent there to do% =n @uly 1!th, two civilians were 7illed during an )ndian raid% -he next day the 5rst soldier was 7illed% Furing the period @uly G! th H G2 th Fecember 1!! )ndians 7illed >1 soldiers, 1 civilians, wounded 12 soldiers, wounded G1 civilians, drove away "2! cows, "20 mules and !1 horses Reinforcements arrived " rd 9ovember% -he reinforcements consisted of one troop of sixty men from the Second Cavalry% While any help was welcome, those green recruits arrived directly from the recruiting depot and could scarcely mount their horses without help% Ced by Cpt%Betterman # Ct% +rummond% 'uno<cial leadership( fell to Betterman because of his war record% C)AIN O' COMMAND 1 C+,+n, C-!!.n#t+n/ Carrington was selected to command Bt% 4hil Eearny% Carrington spent the Civil War as recruiter% As such he was generally well regarded by his seniors, but not by subordinates because of his lac7 of combat experience% :e had nevertheless ac;uired a methodical habit of leadership and led mostly through the written order% 0 C-1t-.n 'tt!2-n8 Betterman possessed a sterling record of combat in the Civil War and was considered a genuine war hero% :is battle honours included Shermans +eorgia Campaign 1!0% :is reputation for bravery came with an aggressive and con5dent attitude which became contagious to those under his command% :is lac7 of respect for the commanding o<cer was sowing discord within the ran7s% At one point Carrington tried to explain to his o<cers that the situation re;uired a defensive posture% Betterman replied, 'give me 2 men and ) can ride through the whole )ndian nationI( 3 L.utn-nt G!u22+n4/ +rummond was rec7less and insubordinate% )n 1!0 whilst drun7 he had shot and wounded Cpl% Walsh but was given a warning% +rummond had total disdain for )ndians% =n Fec ! a wood wagon was attac7ed% Carrington dispatched Ct .ingham and "2 cavalrymen to drive the )ndians away% Ct +rummond >without permission3 also rode out with G1 men, the intention of circling around Codge -rail Ridge and ambushing the retreating )ndians, it would be a classic 'hammer and anvil( tactic% -he soldiers were too late but +rummond convinced .ingham to chase 12 loitering )ndians% -he two charged o$ on their own after the 12 )ndians% Suddenly another !2 appeared% .ingham was dragged o$ his horse and 7illed% +rummond cut his way bac7 to safety using his sword% +rummond was given a warning for disobeying the original order