Ft. Phil Kearny, Wyoming

These are monuments at Ft. Phil Kearny, the command which suffered defeat at the Fetterman Fight, but endured an attack later at the Wagon Box Fight.

This blog does not attempt to document battlefields photographically, and the same is true of historic sites. For this reason, this entry does not attempt to depict all of Ft. Phil Kearny. Those wishing to see more photos of the post should look here. Rather, this only attempts to depict a few things topical to this blog.

The monument depicted above is an early one, placed by the State of Wyoming well before any archeology on the post had been done, and very little about its grounds was known. Now, because of archeology on the site, this monument is in a location where it is probably only rarely viewed.


These photographs depict a common device for historic sites in Wyoming, a pipe used for sighting a distant location. In this case, the location is the location of the post cemetery. The cemetary originally held the bodies of the soldiers, and civilians, killed at the Fetterman Fight, but the bodies were later removed to the national cemetery at Little Big Horn.

These are the monuments and markers at the Wagon Box Fight battlefield. These monuments reflect the evolution of how Indian Wars' battles are viewed, as a marker at the the site of the brass monument notes that this monument wholly omits Indian casualties, which of course is correct. As it notes, at the time it was erected this was simply not a consideration, whereas it would be now.

This is a well preserved battlefield. More photos of the location itself may be viewed here. For some reason, when I took these photos, I did not think to get a photograph of the entire monument, perhaps because I was more focused on the battlefield.

In addition to the bronze monument, there is also this early stone monument erected by the State of Wyoming. This monument is in a location where it is probably that most visitors to this site do not take note of it.

John "Portugee" Phillips Monument

John "Portugee" Phillips was an Azores born civilian who found himself working out of Ft. Phil Kearny at the time of the disastrous Fetterman fight. After the battle, Phillips, together with another civilian, rode over 200 miles to bring the news of the disaster to the Army. Phillips rode slightly further, and therefore is remembered, than his compatriot.

Phillips remained in Wyoming, married, and became a rancher. He's buried in Cheyenne. This memorial to his long ride is located just outside of the grounds of Ft. Phil Kearny in what is effectively a ranch yard. Indeed, my photographs of the monument are not closer, as two ranch dogs from the adjacent ranch were self employed in guarding it, and discretion proved the better part of valor. Besides, it's refreshing to see two such dedicated employees as they, and I honored their objections as to my dismounting from my vehicle.

The Fetterman Battleground, Wyoming

This is one of the very first state monuments in Wyoming and, for a monument of its type, it is the first. It was actually a private project originally, by a group of "interested citizens". The monument commemorates the December 21, 1866 Fetterman battle, in which Fetterman's command was completely eliminated at the hands of the Cheyenne and Sioux. You can read more about the battle, and see more photographs here.

Typical for monuments of its age, this monument notes only the European American causalities, and does not address at all the Indian casualties. The state park, however, covering only a portion of the battleground, does an excellent job fully interpreting the battle.

Governor to Mark "Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day" 2012

Governor to Mark "Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day" 2012

Oregon Trail Marker and Stuart Cabin

This monument commemorates the Oregon Trail, noting an 1841 date, and the 1812 Stuart cabin, which was at one time commonly noted to be the "first white man's cabin" in Wyoming. It was more likely the first European American cabin, as it could certainly be debated as to whether French Canadians had built prior temporary structures. The cabin itself was what was originally principally commemorated here, and at one time there was a wooden sign of the type placed by the State of Wyoming to mark historic sites here. The sign was removed many years ago for some reason.

The cabin was occupied only briefly, as the occupants, fur trappers, discovered that they had built it in an area that was being contested between two Indian tribes. Upon discovering that, they relocated their winter quarters to a spot near the current town of Torrington, over 100 miles away. As a cabin, it was a primitive structure, with a simple open hole in the roof allowing for a fire to be built on the floor with the smoke venting out the top.

Today, highway construction is going on in this location.

Teton County War Memorial, Jackson Wyoming

This is the memorial to Teton County's veterans, located in the central park in Jackson. The same park also features a John Coulter memorial, a photograph of which is below, dedicated to the memory of the famous mountain man.

American Legion Post 43 Empty Saddle Memorial, Jackson Wyoming

This memorial is in front of Jackson Wyoming's American Legion Post 43 and commemorates the history of the post, and the men who came from Jackson who have made it up over the years. The memorial notes that a "troupe" of Jackson residents traveled to Cheyenne to join the Army in World War One. What "troupe" indicates in this context I'm not sure of, but a photo of those men is included in this memorial.

Ft. Caspar Cemetery, Casper Wyoming

Tombstone for Lt. Caspar Collins. Collins is not actually buried here, but his men were at one time.

These are photographs of the cemetery at Ft. Caspar, Wyoming. The cemetery was the post cemetery for Platte Bridge Station/Ft. Caspar, the frontier Army post occupied off and up until the 1860s, and then on a permanent basis through most of the 1860s. The post was abandoned as part of the settlement reached during Red Cloud's War.

The cemetery contained the bodies of soldiers lost at the Battle Platte Bridge Station, as well as those who otherwise died on post during the 1860s, but not to the exclusion of other locations. Originally thought to be the exclusive post cemetery, excavations, principally for construction projects, has revealed that there were in fact several other locations within 1/2 mile of the post that were also used. The exact reason for this is unknown, but there is some speculation that the bodies of those who died in the post hospital were buried off post, perhaps due the concern of spreading disease.

In the 20th Century the U.S. Army determined to consolidate military cemeteries and recovered the bodies of many men who were buried at remote posts such as this. This included the bodies of those buried at Ft. Caspar. However, given the presence of several burial grounds around the post, not all of the bodies were actually recovered. As discussed elsewhere on this site, there were also those buried at other local posts which, at least in one instance, were not recovered. This particular cemetery now contains only tombstones, but it is probable that the bodies of soldiers are still buried on or near the post. The bodies of those killed at the Battle of Red Buttes, which occurred on the same day as the Battle of Platte Bridge Station, and which was visible from the post, were buried in a common grave which has been lost.

The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial in Natrona County is located immediately astride this cemetery.

Turkish Soldiers' Memorial, Republic of Korea

This is Turkish Soldiers' Memorial in South Korea. The photo is not a great one, as I took it during a brief stop while participating in the Team Spirit 1987 maneuvers. I didn't actually have the chance to go up to the memorial and closely observe it.

Up close, this is a very impressive memorial. It commemorates the valiant service of Turkish soldiers while part of the United Nations mission to Korea, during the Korean War.

World War One Memorial, Laramie Wyoming

This is the World War One Memorial in Laramie Wyoming. This memorial commemorates every resident of Albany County, together with every student or employee of the University of Wyoming, who lost their life in World War One. These photographs were taken in waning light, and therefore are not great. The dark bronze plates list names, and are full all the way around the memorial.

The number of names on this memorial is impressive, giving evidence to just how severe the combat of World War One was. This is one of two World War One memorials located in Laramie, with the other being located at the Episcopal Cathedral. This one is on a corner of the block occupied by the Albany County Courthouse.

View from the back steps of the Albany County Courthouse.

This memorial hasn't always been in this location. It was, at one time, located in a prominent location downtown. It only occupied this prominent downtown position for several years, however. It was moved by 1929 to its current location but the area still looks different as as the current courthouse had not yet been built.

Some Gave All: Spanish American War Memorial, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Recently updated:

Some Gave All: Spanish American War Memorial, Cheyenne, Wyoming: This Memorial is called "Taking the Oath". Oddly enough, the bottom photographs were taken years after the first, but in both instances...

Roll of Honor, Wyoming State Capitol

This is a monument just inside the doors of the Wyoming State Capitol.

An unfortunate aspect of this memorial is that it is not specific for the war dead it commemorates. Given the number of names, and the lack of a conflict being identified, my presumption is that it commemorates those who were lost in World War One.

Pony Express Memorial, Ft. Caspar Wyoming

Another in the series of off topic memorials I've been posting recently, but perhaps not as completely off topic as they may initially seem. These Frontier Era memorials concern events that are in some ways closely associated with the topic that this site otherwise addresses, albeit in a somewhat different context.

Oregon Trail Memorials, Ft. Caspar Wyoming

This is an Oregon Trail memorial at Ft. Casper Wyoming. I somewhat wonder if the medallion on this one came from an older monument, as the medallion is a very common site along the trail on older memorials. At some point prior to World War Two a significant effort was made to place such memorials commemorating the trail, which in many locations had become state highways.

This is an even older Oregon Trail Memorial, also located at Ft. Caspar. As can be seen from the monument, it was placed in 1914. During this period, traveling on the trial itself was very common, as nearly every stretch of it was some sort of local road. Indeed, in some parts of Wyoming, this is still the case.

Once again, these monuments probably really do not belong here, but they are strongly associated with the history of Western movement, which involved a lot of sacrifice of all sorts by all involved.

Guinard's Bridge, Natrona County Wyoming.

Again, not really in the focus of this blog, but the location of a significant local battle, that being the Battle of Platte Bridge Station, which is otherwise noted on this site. This is Guinard's Bridge, which was the Platte Bridge guarded by the post later known as Ft. Caspar. The bridge type structure depicted here is, of course, a replica. The monument is an old monument posted on this location well before the construction of the replica bridge.

Empty Saddle, Casper Wyoming

This isn't a war memorial, but presumably a memorial of some kind. "Empty Saddle", at the old Natrona County Courthouse in Casper Wyoming.

Pony Express Memorial, Casper Wyoming

This is another that's really outside the scope of this site. This is the Pony Express Memorial at the Three Trails Center in Casper, Wyoming.

Caspar Collins, Casper Wyoming

This is a statute of Caspar Collins, as Casper Wyoming's All Events Center. Casper is named after Collins, who lost his life in the 1865 battle of Platte Bridge Station, which is the subject of other memorials at Fort Caspar and in Mills, Wyoming.

This is a remarkable statute, and fairly accurately depicts Collin's dress on that day. Not expecting to survive the battle, in which the 11th Ohio Cavalry lieutenant volunteered to lead troops of the 11th Kansas Cavalry into a desperate fight to rescue an oncoming Army wagon train (which would be engaged in the Battle of Red Buttes later that day) , he dressed in his best uniform. Collins was not stationed at Platte Bridge Station, and his volunteering was heroic, if doomed.