Attack-Relief-Decoy-Pursuit

By December, 1866, For Phil Kearny was in the final phases of construction. Logs for the stockaded post were hauled by wood train from the pinery six miles west of the fort.

On December 21, a heavily escorted wood train left for the pinery. It came under Indian attack about three miles to the west. When pickets on Pilot Hill signaled the train was being attacked, Colonel Henry B. Carrington ordered out a relief party and reluctantly put Captain William J. Fetterman in command. It included two other officers, 76 enlisted men and two civilians. the soldiers in the party were from four companies of the 18th Infantry and one company of the 2nd Cavalry.

The Indians had broken off the attack by the time the relief party was under way but Fetterman pursued them to the crest of Lodge Trail Ridge—so far keeping within range of his orders.