Into The West (2005 clip)- 1854, the Grattan massacre

This video clip from from the TV series " Into the west " is close to accurate of what happened.
The Native American whom actually killed the cow was a Miniconjou Indian named High Forehead. Leave it to Hollywood to get close but no cigar !

This also shows a misunderstanding and language barriers. Not to mention when information is passed along and the information get twisted and turned. sometimes for the worse. It really didn't help that the interpreter was drunk. I am sure he was looking out for himself. Of course we may never know the truth to this event.

The Grattan Massacre, also known as the Grattan Fight, was the opening engagement of the First Sioux War, fought between United States Army and Lakota Sioux warriors on August 19, 1854. It occurred east of Fort Laramie, Nebraska Territory, in present-day Goshen County, Wyoming.

On August 18, 1854 when a Mormon caravan passed Conquering Bear's Brule camp about eight miles east of Fort Laramie, a cow ran into the village. There, it was shot and killed by a visiting Miniconjou Indian named High Forehead.

This matter was reported at the fort by both the Mormons and Brule Chief Conquering Bear to Fort Laramie's commanding officer, Lieutenant Hugh B. Fleming. Though the chief offered to make amends, the Lieutenant rejected the overtures and decided to arrest High Forehead, an act in violation of existing treaties. The commander assigned the mission to John L. Grattan, a rash 24-year-old lieutenant fresh out of West Point, and gave him broad discretionary powers.

The next afternoon Grattan, an interpreter named Lucien Auguste, and 29 infantrymen set out with a wagon and two small cannons. They stopped first at the Gratiot Houses fur trading post and then at James Bordeaux' trading post, 300 yards from the Brule camp and eight miles southeast of Fort Laramie. Over Grattan's protests, at both places the interpreter, who had become intoxicated, abused and threatened loitering Indians.

The Indian offender refused to give himself up and a series of conferences between Grattan and Conquering Bear and other chiefs culminated in front of High Forehead's lodge, where Grattan finally moved his troops despite the warnings of the alarmed Bordeaux. The chiefs made new offers to pay for the cow, pleaded with the unyielding Grattan to postpone action until the Indian agent arrived, and continued to urge the obstinate High Forehead to surrender. Conquering Bear explained that High Forehead was a guest in his village and was not subject to his authority. Aggravating matters was the arrival of some impetuous young Oglala warriors, who in defiance of Grattan's orders had hurried down from their village. Distrusting Auguste's translation of what was being said and seeking to avoid a clash, Conquering Bear tried but failed to obtain the translation services of Bordeaux. As the situation became more tense, the Brule women and children fled from the camp toward the river.

At some point a few shots were fired and an Indian fell, but the chiefs cautioned the warriors not to reciprocate. Convinced nevertheless of the need for an even greater show of force, Grattan ordered his men to fire a volley. Conquering Bear slumped to the ground mortally wounded. Arrows flew. Once Grattan fell, his command panicked and fought a running battle back along the Oregon-California Trail. Finally the mounted Indians, forcing the foot soldiers onto level ground, overwhelmed them. All died except for one mortally wounded man who managed to make it back to Fort Laramie.
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/wy-grattanfight.html

http://www.sangres.com/wyoming/history/grattan-massacre.htm#.WZhJ8PkrKt8

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grattan_massacre

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