Today we pack up and leave Custer, South Dakota and head to Buffalo, Wyoming with a couple of interesting stops along the way. The first stop is Fort Kearny.
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark located between Sheridan and Buffalo, Wyoming, and was named after a Union general killed during the civil war. The Fort is located near the Big and Little Piney Creeks and was established in July 1866. The Fort was built to protect the settlers heading west on the historic Bozeman Trail. The Fort was abandoned by the army in August 1868, and was burned shortly after by the Cheyenne. Today, a couple sections of the outer wall were rebuilt so visitors can have an idea of the size of the fort. No other part of the Fort has been rebuilt. There is a small museum located on the site.
Because the fort was well fortified, the Indians never directly attacked the fort. However, the fort needed wood for heat and cooking and the nearest supply of timber was several miles away. The daily trek to the trees gave the Indians ample opportunities to attack the wood cutters. Perhaps the most famous fight involving this fort was the Fetterman Fight. Captain Fetterman left the fort with 80 solders to protect the wood cutters from attack. The Sioux and Cheyenne band together to lead Fetterman and his men into a deadly trap. Within 30 minutes, all 80 men had been killed by over 2000 Indians. Only the Battle of Little Big Horn stands as a worse defeat for the army and a great victory for the Indians.
Another story involving an attack on the wood cutters was a private who was shot by the Indians, scalped, and left for dead. However, we wasn't quite dead. He broke off the arrow shaft and managed to crawl some distance to get help. He soon died of his wounds before the doctor arrived.
In these pictures, Sean and his shadow, Ethan, are at the Fort. The hills in the background are the closest stand of timber several miles away. That's how far the wood cutters had to go making their daily trips. It's no wonder the Indians never risked attacking the Fort.
Now it's back on the highway heading towards Devils Tower. Devils Tower is older than I am, about 50 million years give or take a few centuries. The Tower rises 867 feet from its base and is 1000 feet across the base. It is 5112 feet above sea level.
The next photo is Sean standing at the Devils Tower sign in Wyoming.
Here we are arriving at the RV parking area. The plan was to unhook and drive up to the base of Devils Tower.
But, the weather was not cooperating. It was cold, windy, and rainy. So, we decided not to unhook and take some pictures and leave.
Here's a shot of Sean with Devils Tower in the background.
In this photo, some sun rays managed to find the Tower highlighting the base.
We quickly snapped this shot before the wind blew us away!
L to R: Victoria, Ethan, Sean, John, Kitty, Kallie, Sophie, Dale, and Craig. You can see part of Devils tower over my right shoulder. Kallie took this picture! She is faster than the shutter!
Later that day we arrived at Indian Campground and RV Park in Buffalo, Wyoming. We had camp sites next to each other. We met John's brother Richard and his wife Linda. They were kind enough to have supper prepared for us and it was a real treat! Later, John fixed a cobbler over coals in a dutch oven. We ate like kings and our waist line proved it!
Here's a shot of Sean between our rigs.
The next blog we arrive in Hardin, Montana for one of the highlights of the trip, a visit to the battlefield where Custer's last stand happened and a reenactment of the last stand. It's going to be interesting. Don't miss it!
No comments:
Post a Comment