Arrows and Hatchets: Plains Tribes weapons through the eyes of Margaret Carrington

In this episode we hear from Margaret Irvin Carrington, the wife of Colonel Henry B. Carrington, she documented her experiences during her time at Fort Phil Kearny In this work, she provides descriptions of the weapons used by Plains tribes, including bows and arrows, rifles, and hatchets.

During the period leading up to events like the Fetterman Fight in 1866, Plains tribes such as the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho primarily relied on traditional weapons like bows and arrows. These bows were typically short, stout, and designed for use on horseback, effective at short ranges but with less reach than the muskets used by U.S. soldiers. While some warriors had acquired firearms through trade or capture, their ammunition supplies were often limited. 

VIDEO HERE  (9:50 minutes)