The Battling Bugler | What Happened to Corporal Metzger at the Fetterman Fight?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- Learn how Adolph Metzger, a young German immigrant, served as a bugler and made an impression on the native warriors in Wyoming.
Special thanks goes out to the folks at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Buffalo, Wyoming for allowing us to film artifacts inside their museum. To learn more about the museum's origins and mission, check them out at jimgatchell.com/ or on Twitter at: / gatchellmuseum
Another special Thank You goes out to the Fort Phil Kearney/Bozeman Trail Association, for letting us film at and around Fort Phil Kearney. You can learn more about them at www.fortphilkearny.com/
Thanks for watching and feel free to comment on your thoughts regarding the video!
Email: storyoutwest@gmail.com
Patreon: patreon.com/TheStoryOutWest
Twitter: / storyoutwest
Time stamps/Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Coming to America
03:40 A New War
04:51 A Skirmish and a Battle
07:54 "No Weapon but a Noisemaker"
Music:
Man Down
Man Down by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
![แฟนแนวใด๋ - ยูริ โตเกียวมิวสิค [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4_XVMuhhbsU/mqdefault.jpg)
The story of Cpl. Metzger is one I've known about a long time. The fact that the Indians did not mutilate him but rather covered him in a buffalo robe was a great honor not given to any other white man I know of. He obviously personified fighting spirit and courage to them. An honorable act given to an honorable enemy no matter how much they hated the invaders.
John 3:16
Counting Coup was the highest act of bravery a Plains Indian could do.
Metzer’s act of only carrying a bugle into battle and fighting was seen as courageous and was treated like a brave warrior when he fell.
They carved a cross into his chest and covered him with a buffalo skin and other trinkets, as barbaric as that sounds it was a honour not bestowed on many on the plains, brave kid
Musicians carried sidearms i.e 1860 army or 1851 navy.
I knew about Metzger, but the exact circumstances of his death are a mystery. You did an excellent job of telling the Metzger story.
Thank you sir!
Looks like you have some good content on your channel. I'll be checking your stuff out. I love good ole Wyoming History. I live in Laramie & my cabin is 2 years older than the Wyoming Territorial Prison which I can see from my house.
He was a brave man
Thank you for telling the story of Adolph Metzger in a pleasant and respectful way. It is the most detailed account that I have heard about "the bugler".
A remarkable story. I'd certainly say anyone going into battle with just a bugle is brave
You can see the warriors' point . To go into battle and be in the thick of it , without means to respond to the fire being directed at you and stay your post to communicate your officers' commands throughout , would have been an outstanding act of bravery .
well said, mine own :)
This was an amazing story of bravery to the point that even the enemy looked towards him with respect and honored him in death. Even while severely wounded he still fought until he scummed to his injuries. Interesting that at least two Indians recognized and remembered him and spoke highly of him as well. It is good that even now he is being honored by the military too as he is remembered. Great video.
Steadfast bravery while knowing he is at deaths door is honorable.
While I knew of the Fetterman fight I had never heard of Metzger. I really enjoyed the way this was presented, especially with the inclusion of Native American oral history. Far to often Native American oral histories are discounted when in reality they often can bring a new perspective on historical events. Great job and keep up the food work.
Great video. I have long known about the Fetterman battles, but had never heard of Metzger. Unfortunately life is full of such heroes whose deeds go unsung...thanks for highlighting this man's story!
A certain basterd with the same first name probably didn't help his cause either
I read this story as a youngster, I wasn't sure if it was the truth, so many tales are embellished. Indeed! what courage this man showed, and to be honored so by the Sioux and Cheyenne.
Great video! Super interesting to learn about these untold stories of American history. I assume most Americans wouldn't know of them either without videos like this!
I’m doing my part. Glad you liked the video!
As an ex trumpeter/ bugler in the kings troop Royal horse artillery……I can fully empathise with this story…. Obviously honoured by the Indians….. I to was a C.O’s trumpeter….. and had to make all the troops calls through the day… mounted an dismounted.😎…… a little addition you might find interesting is that I’ve actually sounded the bugle that was used in the charge of the light brigade…🤨…..I served in the late 60’s an was involved in a small way with the remake of the above film……. And was present at the premiere of the film in London. Great story of yours about trumpeters/Buglers😉
Thank you for sharing your uniquely personal connection. History is always closer to us than we think.
Thank you for sharing the story of a brave immigrant bugler. Courage is an uncommon characteristic shared by people regardless of race or culture. A clash of cultures led to this sad story, and preserving the unique details is important. Thank you for creating this video.
Job well done with your narrative of the story. Metzler's life and actions are truly inspirational. Thank you.
What a great story. Thanks to the Native Americans for their oral history. I have Cherokee blood and Im proud of it.
Legit every time you post a video, I know I'm in for an entertaining and educational ride. This one did not disappoint. Your ability to coalesce a complicated story into complete and engaging narrative is beyond excellent.
That legit means a lot to me. Thank you 🙏
Thank you for this wonderful story. I had read much on the Fetterman fight but was unaware of this courageous Corporal. Allons! 11th Cav Vietnam.
A most enjoyable and informative video. As a Montana resident, I must say how much I enjoy the history of this area in SE Montana and Northern Wyoming. Thank you.
I first came across this story in a book about the Plains Indian wars (can't remember the title now) a long, long time ago and was particularly impressed with it. Oddly, the way it read made Metzger sound almost like a boy soldier rather than a young man; howsoever what mattered was his courage which led his opponents to recognise and honour him. Nice to be reminded of it again, and get the full background. Peace to your bones, soldier.
THE POOR MAN WAS TERRIFIED TO KNOW HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE. WHAT A HERO, WHAT A MAN!!!! LOVED THE STORY ABOUT HIM!!! THANK YOU!!!
You tell every story so eloquently. I wish your videos were twice as long!
I remember hearing this story told by a Native American man who descended from the combatants that were there. I remember him saying in their oral tradition Metzger was armed with a pistol, and after expending all his cartridges, picked up his bugle and began wildly swinging it around, before being killed. The reason they respected Metzger is because he did not run away, nor did he try to surrender.
As a Brit and a European its interesting to hear this story and I always find your videos interesting and informative. Thanks.
Interesting story. I've been at the Fetterman site. In fact at the very rock you pictured. Thanks forxposting Carrington's report on the multilation of the cavalry dead. The media and even the publishers usually censor this out while detailing whire atrocities. Metzger was probably a Sargent in the Civil War Army and like everybody else had to go down a couplexof steps in rank. He had obviously seen brutal combat during the war.
Get a clue. The native warriors mutilated the whites' bodies *_in retaliation_* for what the whites did at the Sand Creek Massacre, where most of the deaths were of unarmed noncombatants.
corporal Metzger's bravery reminds me of the charge of the light brigade... bravery and courage that no man, no matter the side, could view and respect
I've read many accounts of the Fetterman fight and I knowsbout Metzger this video still gave me new information. I plan to visit the site next summer. (2023)
Nice job. The museum should be proud of the job that you did. Well written. That is important. People can be sincere as your are but telling the story properly without historical cliches is an art that starts with good writing. /// What does this German dissent musician think of this story? The understanding of the native American thought process is the amazing part of the story, for me. The notion of German dedication? Good stuff. We are a dedicated people. Five stars for bravery.
Thank you for this video! I've read a fair amount about Native American history, but had never heard about Cpl Metzger. Please make more of these!!
Good documentary. I have often stopped by this battlefield site. I am always the only person there. It is an eerie feeling to be in a place where such violence took place not all that many decades ago. As I walk the narrow path I have seen rattlesnakes basking in the sun. Looking at the rocks amidst the grass I can imagine the horror of the mutilated bodies of the soldiers. I have had thunderstorms suddenly come out of the Bighorn Mountains to break the dead silence and have had to dash back to my car. The sight of the freeway way down in the valley is jarring.
My dad had a bugle that was dented and battered form the American Civil War that my grandmother donated to a museum when he died. I don't think it was the same bugle, but I remember it rattled. Very messed up horn. I never heard this story until now, and it reminded me of my dad's old bugle in our basement storage.
I am glad I discovered this channel. Not only is the history stuff and presentation great, I am also thankful for the inspiring message you gave in this episode.
I knew the bugler but I did not know the background of their role in the military. I shared this with my high school class and they loved it.
Super cool. People like you are the reason I do this. Make sure to show them part 2
I always look forward to your videos and this one also did not disappoint. Keep up the great work.
Thank you 🙏
Great to see you back!
And once more,such a great story.
You have that certain way of storytelling that alot of us wish we had. Can't wait to see what's in the works for next time. 👍
Thank you, I’m glad you dig it. I wish I could tell these stories more often 🙏
The way that was instilled in me from a very young age was "never give up, never quit..." . When I was a teenager and reading all that I could about WW2, I remember reading about a General that made the comment , I think it was like this...."Never let the bastards think they won..."
I have also greatly liked the saying..."It is not the size of the dog in the fight, but it is the size of the fight in the dog..."
Foreal, what a tough dude? My heart goes out to him. His bugler was probably his pride and joy, like a rifle would be to a solider. So while smashing it on his enemy, he know it was over and he must of fought multiple people at once, to have respect from the Indians. I’d like to think he broke a Indians nose with the bugler, takes the Indians hatchet and throws it at the next one coming at him. It’s so cool the Indians carried that kinda respect for good warriors, Man, I love these stories! Your voice carries a nice cadence. Cool channel.
In the Book Custer battlefield casualties. It's stated that one Weston Harrington of Company L was found under a blanket and not disfigured in any way. Have to wonder what kind of fight he put up?
I must say that the story of Adolph Metzger is an interesting one, and the story of his Regiment, the 2nd U.S Cavalry is a rich one. This was an amazing video!! If I may suggest another topic involving the 2nd Cavalry, might I suggest the death of Lieutenant Lyman Kidder and his detachment at the hands of the Cheyenne and Lakota in Kansas while delivering dispatches to George Custer? Once again, fantastic video!!
I visited the Kidder Massacre site last month (March-2023). It’s a very bleak & desolate place.
This is fascinating. From the beginning, I was pulled right in and mesmerized. Thank you for this EXCELLENT content--keep up the tempo!
I’m glad you got something out of it
Read the story when I was 10-11 yrs. Old. Of several versions I've heard, the story of the bugler is always mentioned and honor that was shown him for his tenacity and courage.
Thank you for this wonerfully told historical story...
Very well done, the gatchel and it's director are some of the best in country.
I agree.
💯
I like the story I like the story of all brave people no matter what race but what I really like is the story-telling and it is nice to hear the soft music playing in the background the music is like Chimes playing in a soft summer night's breeze
I recently read Joseph M Marshall III's book about the Fetterman fight, Hundred in the Hand. Your video was a very interesting supplement. Thank you very much!
True Americana and valor in battle, are the Heritage we must leave the next generation 🇺🇲
This is a great story of a man displaying simple courage - thank you for telling us it
I have seen the bugle in person at the museum in Buffalo Wy. My son and best friend were on our way to fish the Bighorn in Montana and I knew the story of the Fetterman fight but they didn't so they were puzzled as to why I wanted to stop. As three retired soldiers I can tell you it has an impact when you see it. You ask yourself what would you have done. I don't think the bugle was found as the story told us. Supposedly one of the natives kept it after the battle and later on traded it to a store keeper whose family eventually gave it to the museum.
No matter what side of the debate someone is on as it relates to the wars against the Plains Indians no one can reasonably deny the fact the Corporal Metzger was a brave and honorable man and that deserved the honor and respect that he was given and that the Native Americans that gave him that honor and respect were Honorable also
It was my understanding that he used the bugle as a weapon fighting to the end. That would explain why the bugle is so beat up.
One hell of a soldier. Rip
Awesome video
3:30 I grew up in Winchester ❤
Great story of the bravery of this American soldier and the honor and respect shown by the Native Americans after he was killed. I really appreciate your telling of the stories out west (which is a really cool channel name, by the way).
Thank you, I appreciate it
Counting coup was respected by the Indians. To strike an opponent with a stick meant you could have killed him but didn't and it was an act of bravery. Cpl. Metzgar's "noise maker" was seen as a coup stick and as he had no weapon, was seen as a brave man by the Indians, hence the respect his body received.
Very moving story
🐗🎺🇺🇸🫡 Classic Germanic-American warrior, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his new adopted Country, in the Civil War. Made the sacrifice, doing his duty in such a way, it earned the respect of his enemy, fighting for their longtime homeland and for their way of life. What a wonderful find, meaning the story of Trooper Metzger, his duty and speciality, which still exists in the form of radiomen or communicatiom specialists. Not just that but the histories and testimonies preserved and provided from the tribes warriors.
Thank you for this video.
Very interesting to hear this. Have been to the Fetterman Memorial, and this really explained so much more.
We love your videos!! ❤️
My pleasure, thanks!
As a Vietnam veteran I cannot fathom going into a fight without my AR-15. Metzger was obviously a real professional, unbelievably courageous and, at the risk of further abuse of an abused word, a genuine hero. Excellent presentation of a great, great story.
Sounds worthy of the medal of honor
I suppose he sort of got it, from his opponents
I was at Fort Kearny in 1976 before they changed it to what it looks like these days. Only a small new blockhouse. nothing else. I walked the entire site and was able to locate some of the original post holes with some wood still in them, but that was about it. It was one of those days where your mind roams over about what it would’ve been like there. I was the only person there. No people at all. Then I went over to the Fetterman site, and like at the fort. No new rock walls surrounding the big boulders (like now). Nothing. No people, just myself. Just like it was at the time of the fight. Wrap your head around that one. Close your eyes, drift your thoughts of what went on and then open them and in the back of your head you see it all again. A bit of a chill and, for both sides, some sadness.

Yesss!!!! Another video!!
I've really enjoyed all of your videos I've viewed. Great story telling and detail.
Metzkers great great grandson went to school with my youngest son. My sons class went to the fetterman fight site when i found out this young man was a direct relative. It was pretty cool.
Love to find these stories! So many great tales of the old west worth telling!
Amazing story. Thank you for sharing this.
Another impeccable presentation. Keeping these stories alive is invaluable and much appreciated.
I find myself fascinated by the treatment of Metzger's body, and find myself comparing it to that of Tom Custer's. We can never know the exact circumstances of their deaths - but it's easy to conjecture that Tom didn't 'go down easy' either (based on his previous conduct) and his mutilations were an inverse form of respect, if that makes sense? It's an intriguing dichotomy.
You make an interesting comparison. In Tom Custer’s case, he might have been recognized by some of the warriors (he had arrested some a few years prior) and so his body’s treatment might have had a personal, vengeful element to it. Very cool point, glad you’re watching!
I'm a Dakota I had family had the little bighorn, I don't know what happened exactly but I can tell you Custer was shot trying to cross a Fjord. And about an hour later he and all the men with him were dead. The fight with Custer and his men was over quickly. It lasted as long as a man can eat lunch. A group of warriors who took a suicide pact to fight until dead attacked the men on last stand hill and broke the defense. After that it was what my people call a buffalo run. These men had no time to reload their single shot weapons and it was a close quarters hand to hand blood bath. So the state of Thomas Custers body was most likely due to a horrific 30 mins to 45 mins of sheer violence. It would explain why most of the men were "mutilated" when in fact it was a very very horrible and violent end. Some men were mutilated after death yes, but I don't think Thomas Custers body was, I think the state he was found in was how he died. All the scalping and stuff didn't happen on last stand hill where that hand to hand blood bath happened. All that gore was due to the horrific fighting that happened in 30 to 45 mins. Some men did manage to shoot themselves, but like I said it was a very horrible and very violent. Yes some of my people were about that life but I can guarantee the men on last stand hill were not mutilated that's just unfortunately how they met their end. 200 men?? Against 24 suicide warriors, and 2000 warriors in the fight with another 5000 to 8000 in reserves. By the way we knew who was attacking the camp we had been waiting for it for days. But back to last stand hill, you had about 800 warriors on Custer with the rest on Reno hill. Meaning you had at least 800 other warriors charge in after the suicide warriors charge. Reno and Benteen don't know what happened, they were too busy fighting their own battle. And the last of the fighting wasn't on last stand hill, it was in the fields going towards deep ravine. Conveniently left open for the soldiers to retreat to into more waiting warriors. Those 28 men are somewhere in that ravine, they were just left there because that was the last of the alive men. So really the last stand of Custers men is in deep ravine. There are many last stands all over the battlefield too.
That could explain why Thomas Custers body was "mutilated" even though he fought bravely. Each those men were all fighting a fight that was 15 to 1 odds. There will be definite overkill with that much people coming for you. I'm not making excuses just sharing oral history from my side.
@@JackDiamond21 Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the Lakota and Cheyenne oral history was ignored for far too long. There's a similarity with the Anglo-Zulu war, were the British were horrified by the Zulu ritual disembowelment of dead soldiers. Looked at from the Zulu point of view it made perfect sense to cleanse themselves and honour was to be gained from 'washing their spears.'
Obviously the British weren't too gentle in their treatment of injured Zulu's either. War is brutal.
Beautifully told and quite emotional.
Respect! Speechless 😶 thinking of it !
Reminiscent of the story of Gunga Din. Poem by Rudyard Kipling. Bugler sounded the alarm till he fell under the bullets of the Khyber rifles. Bugled to the last !
I feel bad for Metzger to he cursed with being assigned to Grummond’s command. I served under some crappy officers in my day but holy crap that Grummond was in a league of his own. I can’t believe Fetterman didn’t charge him for insubordination, instead he has him command the cavalry on the next mission. Fetterman must have been desperately short of officers to tolerate that kind of crap.
Apparently Fetterman wasn't any better if Carrington and others are to be believed.
These are great productions. I’ve been out that way, but failed to make a visit. I’d like to revisit some day and pay respects to these brave soldier’s.
You would be hard pressed to convince me to goto battle without at least a pistol and a knife. That is one brave man.
Excellent history and presentation. Thanks.
Great Story and great video.
Will there be any new videos soon?!?! I miss them!!
I’ve got some projects in the pipe, I promise
great story, thank you for your hard work. awesome
Thanks for your hard work on this.
Real cool stuff! thanks for sharing this with us boss.
Thanks Mr. Shmoe! 🙏
I love any video that opens with praise for my towns history museum.
Great story and well told.
That place is legit, for sure. Glad you liked the video!
Amazing! I read that Captain Keogh of the 7th Cav was not mutilated either. It was said that he wore medals from his previous service in the Papal forces and these engraved images were considered big medicine.God rest them all
Excellent !
phenomenal stuff as usual
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙏
Really enjoyed this video and I’ve shared on Twitter too.
Awesome thank you! 🙏
A fascinating story of an immigrant giving his all for his new country. Do you know if his wife went to the Fort with him and did they have children? Thanks for the marvellous upload 👍
His wife did not go to the fort with him and word is that Metzger didn’t even tell his family in the Old Country he had gotten married. Glad you liked the video!
Awesome job !
Very well done
Excellent Video, well done
Beautifully told
Great story and well told.
Love your videos ,that man was a real hero
Great History. Great Video.
Great video and excellent story......
great narration, subject and a great man in metzger!
Nice video, thank you...
I needed to hear this story today to inspire me "to keep on fighting" for God and country.
Very interesting.
thank you 👍
Awesome story
Really enjoying your channel!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it
If Metzger (if it was him), had been knocked or fallen unconcious after fighting so bravely, I wonder if the Indians would have spared him