US Army Cavalry Horse -- nr Ft. Laramie NHS, Ft. Laramie WY
N 42° 12.557 W 104° 33.735
13T E 536134 N 4673105
A historic marker at the 90-degree turn on County Road 53 to the Fort Laramie National Historic Site commemorates the Army cavalry horse who went on "The Greatest Ride in History"
Waymark Code: WMK2E4
Location: Wyoming, United States
Date Posted: 02/02/2014
Views: 7
During the Sioux War of 1866-1867, Fort Kearny was the center of renewed hostilities over white men chasing Black Hills gold made illegal incursions into the Black Hills of Dakota Territory, which by treaty was supposed to belong exclusively to the Sioux Indians.
Sioux Indian Chief Red Cloud met the US Army cavalry from Fort Phil Kearny near Powder River WY and defeated them. One man, escaped on his horse, making a mad dash for help from Fort Laramie, 236 miles away.
The waymarked animal memorial is a plaque on a concrete post at the 90-degree hairpin turn on County Road 53 to the Fort Laramie state historic site. It reads as follows:
"THE GREATEST RIDE IN HISTORY
In memory of the Thoroughbred Horse
ridden by
John “Portugee” Phillips
From Fort Phil Kearny Wyoming to Fort Laramie Wyoming December 24 and 26 1866, when he sought aid for the garrison at Fort Phil Kearny, which was surrounded by Indians. After the battle with Lieutenant Colonel William F. Fetterman, resulting in the death of Lieutenant Colonel Fetterman and 80 men, the horse died from exhaustion soon after arriving at Fort Laramie, having gone 236 miles in two days, through a blizzard, with the temperature below zero.
Placed by
The Wyoming Historical Commission"
The brave horse died, but the word got to Fort Laramie in time. Soldiers from Fort Laramie were dispatched back to Fort Kearney, where they dispersed Red Cloud's warriors, rescuing the Army soldiers holding out in Fort Kearny.
July, 1951"
Type of Memorial: plaque
Type of Animal: service, work animal
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Visit Instructions:
Proof of visit is required. The easiest proof is a gps photo of the memorial. GPS photos will always be acceptable proof. Individual waymarks may ask for an alternative type of proof of visit.