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Early in 1876 an expedition of cavalry under Colonel I.I. Fetterman was dispatched from Fort Fetterman to try and locate the main camp of the Sioux Indians. Despite temperatures of -40 degrees, the troopers endured the cold winter and finally found a large encampment at Otter Creek in the Powder River area. On March 17 a surprise attack routed the enemy camp, the Indians fleeing. Soon however, the retreating Indians realized they were numerically superior to the cavalry force and launched a counterattack, and engaged the troopers in deadly combat forcing the cavalry to withdraw. Private Jeremiah Murphy and five comrades were on an outlying picket and were cut off from their retreating comrades. The small group fought determinedly to reach the main unit, every man but Murphy being killed or wounded. While trying to carry a wounded comrade to safety in the face of direct fire, the wounded man was hit again and had to be dropped. In an amazing display of determination, and despite several bullets hitting his clothing, Murphy then reached the main body of his unit. Hospital Steward William Bryan and Blacksmith Albert Glavinski also earned Medals of Honor in the March 17 engagement at Powder River.
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