Red Cloud's War - The Fetterman Battle The Fetterman Massacre, also known as the Fetterman Fight, was a significant conflict between the United States Army and Native American tribes that occurred on December 21, 1866. This event took place near Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming, which was a military post along the Bozeman Trail, a route connecting the gold rush territory of Montana to the Oregon Trail. The battle was named after Captain William J. Fetterman, who led a detachment of 80 soldiers from the