Henry B. Carrington

Henry B. Carrington was a United States Army officer, author, and historian best known for his role in the opening phases of Red Cloud's War in the American West. A colonel commanding the 18th U.S. Infantry Regiment, his establishment of Fort Phil Kearny in present-day Wyoming became a focal point of conflict with the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho nations. While his military career was later scrutinized, his extensive writings provide a detailed, if partisan, account of Plains warfare and frontier policy during a critical period.

Early life and education

Henry Beebee Carrington was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, and spent his youth in Ohio. He graduated from Yale University in 1845 and subsequently studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1848. He combined his legal career with a strong interest in militia affairs, serving as Adjutant General of the Ohio Militia from 1857 to 1861. During this period, he also authored a seminal work on military law and procedure, *"The Militia of the United States"*, which established his reputation as a military theorist and brought him to the attention of influential figures like Ohio Governor William Dennison Jr..

Military career

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Carrington was appointed colonel of the 18th U.S. Infantry in May 1861. His service was primarily administrative and involved training and organizing troops, with assignments including command of the Camp Thomas recruitment depot in Ohio. He saw no major combat during the war, a point of later criticism. In 1866, he was assigned to command the Mountain District of the Department of the Missouri, tasked with protecting travelers along the Bozeman Trail through the heart of the Powder River Country, a prime hunting ground for northern Plains Indians.

Role in the Powder River Expedition

Carrington’s most historically significant assignment was leading the Powder River Expedition of 1866 to construct a series of forts along the Bozeman Trail. He meticulously oversaw the building of Fort Phil Kearny in modern-day Wyoming, which quickly became a magnet for attacks by allied Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors led by Red Cloud and Crazy Horse. The post was under constant siege, culminating in the disastrous Fetterman Fight in December 1866, where a detachment of 81 men under Captain William J. Fetterman was annihilated. Although Carrington was not present on the fatal patrol, the catastrophe led to his relief of command and a subsequent court of inquiry, which officially absolved him of blame but left his reputation permanently tarnished.

Later life and writings

After resigning from the Army in 1870, Carrington embarked on a prolific second career as an author and lecturer. He became a prominent advocate for temperance and wrote extensively on frontier history and his own experiences. His major works include *"Ab-sa-ra-ka, Land of Massacre"* and *"The Indian Question"*, which presented his views on federal Indian policy and the necessity of military force. He lectured widely, often with his second wife, Frances Grummond, a survivor of Fort Phil Kearny. He lived for many years in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, and remained a public figure until his death in Boston.

Legacy and historical assessment

Henry B. Carrington’s legacy is complex and contested. For decades, historians depicted him as an inept, bookish officer whose failures precipitated the Fetterman Fight. More recent scholarship acknowledges the near-impossible task he faced—building a fort with limited resources in hostile territory—while still critiquing his rigid adherence to protocol and strained relations with subordinates like William J. Fetterman. His extensive publications remain valuable primary sources for the study of Red Cloud's War and U.S. Army life on the frontier. The site of his command, Fort Phil Kearny, is now a National Historic Landmark and state park, ensuring his role in this pivotal conflict is remembered.

Category:United States Army officers Category:American historians Category:People of the American Old West Category:Writers from Connecticut