35-xx-xx ep28John Phillips - Hero of Fort Phil Kearny

Frontier fighters, fear fighters, thrill-packed episodes in the lives of those stalwart sons and daughters of Western destiny.

No name is more exalted in history than John M. Bozeman, who charted a new and shorter lifeline for those early pioneers from the Middle West to the Goldfields of Montana. To this route he gave his name, and so the famous Bozeman Trail came into being.

All along the route were forts, sturdy custodians of the destinies of farmers, trappers, or Two of the most important forts in the chain along the Bozeman Trail were forts Phil Carney and Fort Laramie. As our story opens, the hero who steps into our drama is not John Bozeman, but John Portigay Phillips.

The scene is for Phil Carney, the time December 21st, 1866. A messenger has just brought the horrible news that an expedition of 81 men set out against the greatest menace to immigrants along the Bozeman Trail has been wiped out.

I'm into my quarters. I don't want to alarm the women and children. They're dead. Dad, I tell you, you massacre me here, man. Get hold of yourself. Sorry, sir. Those bloodthirsty savages, those red devils, let us into a trap.

And suddenly from out of nowhere, they came yelling and shooting. Lieutenant Grummond was killed. So Captain Peterman asked me to bring ride for reinforcements? No, sir. He knew they were done for. He had me ride and warn you that red cloud and his warriors playing the march on the fort.

Of course, we've only got 119 left now. That includes civilian employees. No, poor Captain Fetterman. Hell, officially no to report, Captain. Yes, God rest the souls of those brave men and their Captain. No, get some rest, Corporal.