Legendary Scout Jim Bridger's Final Days
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- Gold was discovered in Montana in 1862, ushering in a flood of prospectors straight through the heart of Lakota territory on a new road called the Bozeman trail, further straining tensions between settlers and Natives. Jim Bridger opened up his “Bridger’s Trail”, a much safer - and popular - alternative but the powers that be were dead set on erecting forts on the Bozeman. Violence erupted across the Great Plains as the Lakota, Arapaho, and Cheyenne took to the warpath, vowing to drive the whites from their land forever. These new tensions saw Bridger return to military duty once again, first guiding the Army during the Powder River campaign and again as he led Colonel Carrington to the Bighorn country and establishing Fort Phil Kearny. Jim Bridger, now in his sixties, was still riding the prairie, rifle across the saddle, and still blazing new trails.
This is episode five and the last installment in this series on Jim Bridger. Links below for the previous four. In this episode, we’re going to explore the Powder River Campaign, the Fetterman Massacre, Jim’s eventual retirement and death, and a quick look at the massive change that occurred during Bridger’s lifetime. #wildwest #history #western
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Most folks could only wish to have half the life experiences of Jim Bridger. My God, what a ride.
My Grandma once told me, "Some folk learn by reading books, some by watching others, & some just need to piss on the electric fence for themselves"
Smart lady
Your grandma was a wise lady god bless her .i have to remember that saying that's a good one 😊
It must have been for sheep
Love it!
My Grandma used to say, “ (He or She) was so dumb, they couldn’t pour piss out of a boot with directions on the heel.”
Piss on the fire and call in the dogs…it’s bedtime
Outstanding series as always. Bridger was that guy. What a life!
Thanks!
Josh you're the man! I wish my grandpa was still alive so he could enjoy all of your hard work. I listen to you daily brotha. Thank you for all the content.
Jim Bridges history was truly epic - man, what a ride. Thanks for the journey.
Thanks for listening
What a fantastic man thanks for this. Think it's safe to say they don't make them like him any more. RESPECT 😊
A terrific tribute to a man of history. Jim Bridget’s story tells the story of a man and a time that learning about is an adventure and well worth the listening to if you are a lover of the real old west.
Seen this posted yesterday.
I was actually waiting on the weekly fix of Wild West Extravaganza.
But because of commitments and things that had to be done.
I had to postpone the listening.
Now after 9 hours of nightshift and I'm on my 3rd, 9% Smirnoff citrus vodka.
I'm loving it.
In my option,Old mate Bridger ,
Lives more than 9 lifetimes and is still a very underrated pioneer,diplomat and salt of the earth type of guy.
Thankyou for the history lesson.
Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺👍😎
Crikey!
I love the series format I'm sure they're a lot of work but they're great
Timing is everything....spot on!
I am so excited for your Lakota series!! I'm from Minnesota and there is a lot of history here about them
The Dakota band was in Minnesota
Damn great series! Hell of a history lesson! Wow! Best series yet!
I appreciate the history and the tips on other podcasts thanks josh
My pleasure
I really enjoyed this story. It is fascinating what these men did to survive, adapt, overcome. I look forward to each and everyone of your biographies about The wild West!
Glad you enjoyed it
This was a great five-part series I sure am looking forward to more about the Lakota.
Another great job Josh .. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
That was a beautiful story thanks
What a life indeed! I can't help but feel a bit envious of these men and that old way of life!
Another awesome episode. Keep up the good work. Thank you for making my day.
Thanks Shawn
Excellent work sir. Insightful and entertaining.
Superb episode as always
Right on time to go with morning coffee. Thank you friend.
Thank you so much for doing these videos. Loaded with history.
Glad you like them!
As a retired senior NCO I believe that I can answer your question about officers with a little story. You see any good NCO will bridel at being called sir and inevitably rip the uneducated man a new asshole starting with "Don't call me sir I know who my parents are". Now there are a lot of good officers but it seems that college has a way have eliminating what common sense a man starts out with. Yeah I was an old school knuckle dragging NCO.
Keep doing what you do, you're awesome
I'm trying
This guy was amazing.. excellent job my man, love it
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love this channel I'm a heavy haul driver and I get in the truck at 6am and listen until I get off at night so glad you were able now to do this full time
That's awesome! Stay safe on them roads
Amazing series. Thank you!
Glad you like it!
My great grandfather was Elijah "Uncle Nick" Wilson. He rode the Poney Express and was also a scout for the United States Army. He founded the town of Wilson Wyoming.
Very cool
Jim Bridger - what a guy!! Keep these stories coming Josh!
Great story
You Sir is the mf bomb! Preach peace and annihilate the unwilling!
I found your channel today and spent the day listening about the history of Jim Bridger. As someone from Wyoming who loves history, I must say you did an excellent job on this one. Half of what you talked about I had never heard before, great job on the research. Jim is still such a huge figure out here, especially with anyone who spends time outdoors. Bravo!!!
Awesome! Thank you!
Having been in the military, I can tell you firsthand that they use military intelligence, which is an oxymoron that speaks for itself
There is no military intelligence. Lol From a retired Army SSG.
I always wondered how they considered half of what they did as intelligent!
You is the man Joshua! Keep rocking dry powder baby love rules!
Very good presentation thank you for the time you took to put it together.
My pleasure!
Army and Air Force vet here. To answer your question (Why do officers think they know better than an experienced expert?):
My take is that a lot of officers are told from their military academy days to be confident in their support decision-making abilities as an officer. After all, who wants to follow someone who is second guessing themselves?
They're also instructed in mil history and strategy, which gives them an arguably better overall picture of the theater. I think that's where the disconnect starts.
Just because someone is confident and has a decent grasp of a conflict doesn't mean they have a grasp on the boots-on-the-ground tactical situation in the field. An officer may not pay attention to a better-informed underling - especially if that underling is a civilian advisor - because they're confident they understand the situation better than the advisor.
I don't know if that makes any sense and it's only a small piece of the picture, but that's my 2c. Anybody who is a better explainer than me, feel free to help me out!
I too used to be a drunk. Great video once again. Goin through your whole channel one by one
I apologize that I have been away.
Another great episode Josh!
As someone who served in the Infantry, I will say this about the Officers not listening to Bridger, or others deemed subordinate.
Ego, pure and simple Ego.
They felt that they had to seem “Large and In Charge”, to the rest of their Command.
They felt that to defer to someone “beneath” them, made made them look incompetent.
The reality is that when they did decide that they knew best and ignored those who did actually know, their incompetence cost lives and became on display for all of their men to see.
Now a days, most effective Officers listen to their Senior NCOs.
When I listen to your episodes I put in Earbuds and do a chore while listening to your great stories…it seems to make my toils shorter and easier for my old busted up body to deal with.
Thank you so much for that.
I’ll just say this…you mentioned in this episode that America lost it’s first war (Redcloud’s War).
Please, please correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t you folks lose the “War of 1812”, when America invaded Canada?
Then were beaten back by the early Canadians and the British with no land won.
Just saying is all…and I’m sorry that this was so long.
Now on to the next episode!
Thanks Josh!
Cheers. 🇺🇸🇨🇦
I'll have you know, sir...the War of 1812 began and ended with the battle of New Orleans! I'm glad I can serve as a distraction during your toils and I've heard similar stories from other infantrymen. Its a shame.
@@WildWestExtravaganza
Indeed.
I cannot help but wonder how many Airmen, (and Primarily) Soldiers and Sailors have been lost over time due to men like that.
Even as recently as the Vietnam Conflict, you could hear Soldiers lamenting about perhaps “Fragging”, an out of touch and incompetent Officer.
Only recently have things improved with the quality of the Officers with respect to understanding the value of their Senior NCOs.
God Damn, I love your channel man!!!
Oh, and thanks for the New Orleans, War of 1812 tid-bit!
Cheers Josh! 🇺🇸🇨🇦
Thank you
I can relate to his comment on the landscape of the west. You can see so much farther out there. First thing i notice on my virgin drive out. Havent been back but to visit family
This is the best commentary you've ever did period
Another great series. Learned alot about Jim Bridger from this. This guy went alot of places and seen alot of things in his life. I recently bought a used copy of Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. Any chance of you doing a video someday on that? Also really looking forward to the Billy the Kid series. Out of all of the people of the Wild West era, he has been the most interesting person to me. I think that's because alot of things aren't known about his early life.
Definitely covering Wounded Knee and a lot of the events from Bury My Heart soon
Met author Dee Brown shortly after the book came out. Changed many folks uneducated minds! He was amazing as were the people👊🏽
First off, I’d like to say beautiful story! I absolutely love your storytelling.
Secondly, I’ll answer your question. During my time in the Marine Corps, I observed a great many officers and senior enlisted personnel display the same exact behavior that you described here. I do believe most of it involves pride and that they cannot take credit for something they themselves didn’t come up with. I even had one such instance involve me directly. I was specially trained in CQB tactics and such was my job. Upon being ordered to another battalion, we had CQB training where I offered my services and advice. Afterwards I was told by the senior leadership, “that’s not how we do things here.” To which I responded by saying “yes sir, if y’all wanna die, have it your way. Just happy I’m not going to be deploying with you.” Needless to say I hope that shed some light on the mentality. Turns out not much has changed when it comes to military attitude from back in old Jim’s day! 😂
Great insight, thanks.
Bridger. A man misunderstand by others. Most only understand benefit to themselves. Here's a man with integrity that is often sought, rarely discovered or even more rarely experienced in oneself, so how does one interact trust or understand a person like that? It's called A CONSCIENCE. Most folks are raised to take orders, conform. Very few are brought up understanding balance or that people are different or that we all bleed red.
👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks Josh
I'm read up on Jim, great job.
Thanks
Iraq vet here the officers put pride over intelligent ALOT they don't want Jim taking the credit even though Jim didn't care about that he was just trying to keep his men alive like a platoon Sargent
Around Encampment WY the story is Bridger spent his last days along the Little Snake near Baggs, at the foot of now Bridger Peak in the Sierra Madres of Medicine Bow National Forest. Fantastic landscape.
Interesting
You asked about military officers not listening. Well they still do that at least of 2010 when I was in Afghanistan. Me and 5 other guys were stationed on a base called PB Beatly. The unit that would later have Kyle Carpenter awarded the Medal of Honor met us there halfway through our deployment. Our captain was in the rear medevact, for kidney stones. So the Lt. in charge was given a brief by us with the highest ranks being myself a HM2 and a marine Sgt. We told them about what we learned, specifically not to cross open fields in the daylight and we needed to go to a place we called shady village and set up an OP.
The next morning the Lt. took his guys on a patrol and was immediately pinned down, in a complex attack, crossing an open field.
Fast forward a few month and we were leaving to come home. Right after we left they decided to set up an OP in shady village. They waited bc they didn’t want to share the credit with us.
Well, the first night they had a couple casualties from grenades thrown over the walls and the second night they had more grenades thrown one of which Carpenter jump on saving his buddy and later being awarded the MOH.
That probably wouldn’t have happened if they listened and did it when they got there, were at full strength, and had us bc we were a specialty unit and we could have had drones flying over us the whole time to keep the taliban from being able to sneak up close enough to throw grenades.
So part was the Lt. was going if what he was taught it school and didn’t want to be seen talking “orders “ from a lower rank and not letting the enemy dictate his movements. The other part was being glory hungry by their command
i went by fort bridger on route 30,hundreds of times,headed to northwest....
Thank you, again.
Thank you again for listening
Jim is my great great etc grandfather.
❤
Very cool
Great series brother! Looking forward to Billy the Kid
Thanks Omar
Damn good summary sir.
I think Jim Bridger's rifle is at the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, Wyoming
Josh, you're the man! 🤠
Far from it but thank you
The English Express rifles were designed for use in Africa and India. They were no fucking around the heaviest caliber rifles available at the time. I agree that Jim Bridges rifle was probably sub 62 caliber, most likely a 50. In the black powder era, 50 caliber was a lighter load, with the standard army caliber being 69 until the adoption of black powder cartridges in 45-70.
Hello Joshua of Wild West Extravaganza. I have found the area on Jim Bridger where his goiter hump is. You can see it on his most famous photo
Red Cloud is the perfect example of a young man who chases glory in war needing to prove himself, transitioning into an old man tired of war who will do anything to keep his grandchildren from going to war.
Thank you I've read a book along time ago on jim but any way you were most informative thanks
Hello Tommy
That's that's a good question and I think the answer to it is the military officers think they know better they've been trained better at west point then Jim bridger possibly could have been
11 B. Leg infantry. I heard they are all 11B now but when I was in The Army mechanized and leg infantry had different designations. 11 M being used for mechhanized which I heard is now defunct. I have no idea why that would be but supposedly they are all called 11 B now.
Not sure why he wouldn't go off into the wild and enjoy some peace and tranquility.
josh, man u ever going to get to that black jack episode?
Yes
Can't waite going to check out that 11 channel
When I was in the Army in 1979-1996 it was said officers commanded bun Non- Coms ran the Army
Anyone in the military can fill you in on rank and its implications.
Being an old Marine I can say for sure that most new officers think they know everything, only when they get their azz ripped by a Staff NCO do they listen to people mainly NCO's and SNCO's. Not saying everyone of them were that way but most were. Semper Fi from an old Marine
They ignored Bridger because of ego. A problem that spans centuries.
Let me break down the military officer mindset. Huge egos won't let senior officers implement any plan that they didn't think up, and that they can't take total credit (or blame) for. It has cost countless soldiers' lives over the centuries.
👋🐸💨
Great story, can you do a show on the desecration of our lands in North America and the almost complete annihilation of native civilization ?
I'll try
The US Army gets in the habit of fighting like they did in the last war. So they’d teach the tactics they used to defeat the CSA. In the west on the natives. Smart officers learn and adapt
Gadfly here 🤫
Military logic 🤔
You are touching on the acronym
“SNAFU”😬
Typical bureaucracy, I read that the Army paid, Ol' Gabe, $5 to $10 dollars a day depending on what he was doing, huge wages back when. Then they wouldn't listen to him or take his advice. Great job, Josh, Thanx👍
God knows the wild west didnt start in east tennessee but we have plenty left and way too often we can be wrong even if we're right when the edge is so narrow. Got no tolerance for follerin damn fools with malice in their hearts.
Are u the guy from southbound and down??
I wish
@@WildWestExtravaganza ur voice sounds like him.. lol. Do u ever get that?
For the biggest reason why the army don't always listen to Advice from experienced people. It's all about the person in Command. The army is a 2 class system. Enlisted and officers. The enlisted is the lower class and officers are the higher class. this creates an arrogance Amongst some officers. a small amount of these officers the arrogance is even higher. they only believe what they want to. I have seen this multiple times either cause loss of life or set back Relations with the local people.
What’s with officers in the military? Power attracts the narcissistic.
It's best to remember that Officer Commissions could be and were Bought and paid for by either the relatives or friends of young men like Fetterman, and often these men were Il Equipped for the tasks they were given(Fetterman Mebbe, but I know few facts about the man and don't meant to slander him unnecessarily, but his actions that got him and his men killed, does indicate that he was A Pompous Ass). This behavior and mindset was by no means a rarity in the 19th Century Military & the practice of Primo Geniture also must have had an effect on those who sought a Military Career that they were wholly Unfit for.
Interesting facts to include.
The vast majority of water and lakes in Texas, didn't exist back then. This is true for much of the US. If i remembercorrectly its about 90% of ground water in the middle of the US, is man made resivours. I don't think today's generations fully appreciate the scarcity of water for survival of Europeans, scouts, guides, and natives had to deal with.
Lastly, as a military man myself, it is something bred into military leaders. No better today than it was then. It is extremely rare to find a career officer who is willing to believe or accept a non military person may know better or have better information.... even if it's been repeatedly proven that that individual is THE person to listen to, THE EXPERT in the the field. Military Officers struggle with Ego and perception.
Good info
Thr best officers I had while serving in the Marines were "Mustangs", or former enlisted men that went through OCS to obtain their commission.
Interesting
@@WildWestExtravaganza if I grow up before I croak, I hope to emulate you Josh & create a podcast, although in a different genre.
Had a been a wise young man, I would be retired now, but I was a fool & wandering star
Frank Sinatramay have got away with "🎵 Did it my way!🎵"
but most folks that take that trail, metaphorically speaking, end up like Fetterman, or Custer. Pride makes fools of us All😉🥴
Let me know when you do and I'll help
@@WildWestExtravaganza 😯👍
Ants love honey on human buried body to every level but leave face as baits very sweet blindness.
Groundhog days better than beavers truman tales.
F troop very interesting life maybe fools can't agree.
Does anyone have any evidence or know of an instance where the women and children were killed by their own men rather than allowed to be taken prisoner by the Indians?
The only other incident I could find was one similar to what was described in this episode at Fort Phil Kearny. Following the Fetterman Fight all extra ammunition and explosives were placed in a powder magazine and surrounded by wagons. If the fort was attacked the women and children were to be ordered there. Carrington gave orders that if over run, the last of the soldiers would retreat there to and blow it up so that nobody remained alive to capture.
@@WildWestExtravaganza Thanks, Josh. I'm going to look more into this. It's such a common trope that it almost goes without questioning. I just find it hard to believe it ever really happened. You can plan all you want for what you'll do when the women and children might be captured but to actually go through with it is something else. I'll let you know what I find out.
Let me know what you find
I'm going to bed in australia
If only these poor Western-bound early American pioneers had a leader as bold, brave, focused, hard working and qualified as Mayor “Gay Pete”!
I have no doubt that such an insightful, revolutionary individual could have easily implemented an equity based, gender fluid, non-binary, minority focused approach so everyone could peacefully give their hard earned assets to everyone else.
Maybe we could have replaced the red, white & blue / stars & stripes with beautiful rainbows…
I have no idea what you're talking about
That’s funny.😂
Think about this for a minute
If Bridger was always arguing with high ranking soldiers why did he stay for so long ?
The Bridger Trail was being attacked also the Natives would go where the people were they wanted the goods from food to weapons the settlers had and it was not Tribal Chiefs that signed the Treaties it was Hostile Offshoots that were cruel and misguided out of all the Natives it was a total of a couple thousand warriors and the women and children they brought with to do the work at camp.