A Note On The Characters: Carrington and Grummond

Colonel Henry B Carrington



Henry Carrington not only has the best middle name I've ever heard (Beebee!), he is also the Commander of the Fort where this whole ordeal started, Fort Phil Kearny, which he also designed and built. And, yes, before it was burnt down by the Sioux in 1867, it was a beautifully designed fort.
Much unlike his young daredevil Officers, Carrington was much more of cautious man, focusing on what needed to be done at the Fort, which was, at the time, the guarding of both the Bozeman Trail and also the wood train which had the task of getting wood from the nearby pinery. He ignored the incessant insults to himself, from people such as Fetterman, and also their desires to go out and fight.
This was the sensible thing to do and was proved when Fetterman and his command were wiped out on 21st of December, victims of disobeying his orders.
However, after these events, Carrington spent the rest of his life trying to justify his actions of that winter.

Lieutenant George Grummond



The third main character who shared the dismissive opinions about Carrington and the determined and impulsive spirit in battle, Grummond is very lucky to be alive on the 21st December after almost getting killed on December 6th after disobeying his orders and excitably running forward, almost straight into the attacking Indians. This means in the story, he's displayed as quite as excitable, wild eyed one. :)
However, he suffers under Fetterman's command on December 21st, killed with the rest of them, though not with the main party of bodies found by Ten Eyck later on that day. He volunteered to lead the cavalry that day and caused me a few bouts of utter confusion by leaving after Fetterman to gather his mounts, which led to a disruption of how I'd originally planned them to meet - in fact, no I didn't even know he went out to begin with. Great amount of research to start with, as you can see :D
Anyway, now, he joins Fetterman and his command at the crossing of the creek and together they disappear over the ridge out of sight of the fort, much to Carrington's chagrin, who ordered them not to go over this ridge.
This results in everybody's death at the hands of thousands of Indians (that had been hiding over this ridge, waiting for the soldiers who had been decoyed on by a small group including Crazy Horse).
Grummond's wife, back at the fort, later went on to marry Carrington, which I think was a bit of a statement, to be honest. What of I'm not sure but considering Grummond's attitudes towards Carrington, it's kinda....ironic I suppose.