On 21 December 1866, the US Army suffered its worst defeat in the western Indian Wars up to that time. (Custer's defeat at Little Bighorn would later surpass it)
Fetterman, a Captain at Fort Phil Kearney, was given the mission to relieve a wood cutting party who had been attacked by Indians, possibly led by Crazy Horse and/or Red Cloud. In fact, the attack on the woodcutters was a diversion and Fetterman and his 81 man detail were led into an ambush. All 81 were killed.* Traditional history, gives the idea that Fetterman was out to make a name for himself and had said, "With 80 men, I could ride through the entire Sioux nation." For a deeper and somewhat contrarianview to the traditional, click here.

Books from Amazon.com

Every now and then I hear something that I know to be true from my own experience and I really feel for good companies that struggle with doing the right thing for their customers, but having to deal with some of its customers who believe they own the company. Read below the email from Alt-Berg Boots:

sales@altberg.co.uk

Dear E-Member:

We have received emails from some customers asking why we have decided to discontinue our refurbishment service from 7th December 2011 (it was wrongly stated in the previous email as 2012 – a typing error).

We have offered our refurbishment service for the past 15 years – and it is with regret that we’ve decided to withdraw the service.

Watch this clip about a bunch of old Taiwanese men who decide to set their ailments aside and take a motorcycle tour. This is the spirit of motorcycle touring in a nutshell. Great video!

Stuart Jenkinson, a retired teacher and motorcycle touring legend in the UK, has decided to auction off his 1955 Vincent Black Prince. Jenkinson, now 83, wants to auction it to a caring owner who can take it from the 721,703 miles it currently has to 750,000 and beyond. From the BBC article;

The bike will be auctioned at the International Motorcycle Show in Staffordshire on 24 April 2011 and has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £35,000 - £40,000.

Go ahead, give Vinnylonglegs a new owner. I'm sure the Battlefield biker readers have £40,000 to spare!

Triumph has announce its 2011 Adventure Tours in conjunction with Edelweiss Bike Travel. Three of the tours start at Triumph's Hinckley, Leicestershire factory.

Motorcycle sales are recovering in the UK according to The Telegraph.

Total registrations for "powered two wheelers" have increased by 25.5 per cent compared to January 2010, with further analysis showing that motorcycle sales grew by 29.2 per cent and that moped sales grew by 10.6 per cent.

And Honda seems to have done especially well as of late:

The Oregon legislature is to consider relaxing the current law for over 21 year olds.. That is good news for those who choose not to ride with a helmet. I'm a big fan of repealing helmet laws for over 18s, but I don't get the over 21 thing. If the person commits a crime at 18, he is an adult, but he is treated like a child in other laws like helmets and alcohol? Illogical.

The Battlefield Biker uses, and encourages under 18s to use, helmets. Once a person is 18 and an adult, I encourage them to make up their own mind. Because, you know, that is what adults do... and live or die with their decisions.

The 2011 Carlisle, Pennsylvania Bike Fest is scheudled for 22-24 July 2011. The organisers promise that the:

On 10 January, 1862 Union forces, under Colonel James Garfield, sought to drive out the Confederates, under General Humphrey Marshall, who were recruiting in the vicinity of Paintsville, Kentucky. Garfield was an new Colonel of Ohio volunteers who was to make his name at the Battle of Middle Creek. This fame would eventually propel him to the White House. Marshall, on the other hand, came into the battle with an outstanding reputation from the Mexican War where he led the First Kentucky Cavalry. He was to leave Middle Creek with a big question mark over his head. As Garfield approached from the north, Marshall fell back to Prestonburg along the Middle Creek to take up defensive positions, even though his rebels were not well provisioned. The Confederate cavalry that was to provide a rear screen were surprised by the Federal cavalry as they were breaking camp.

What chance does American history have against the congressional dealers of pork? Getting re-elected ai'nt enough anymore, they want immortality to surpass the people who actually built out the land with their bare hands.