WI: General Sherman Captured or Killed by the Nez Perce at Yellowstone

Delta Force

Banned
During the Nez Perce War, General Sherman scouted Yellowstone shortly before the Nez Perce arrived and took several tourists hostage, as well as killing a few. From sources I have read, he was accompanied by only a small contingent of soldiers during his survey of the area. What if the Nez Perce had arrived while General Sherman was at Yellowstone, and he was taken hostage or killed in a skirmish?
 
Warning: This could lead to a connection to the last book of the worst AH ever written. All it will take would be someone commenting on the foolishness of commanding generals making implausible personal reconnaissance's.:p
 
Warning: This could lead to a connection to the last book of the worst AH ever written. All it will take would be someone commenting on the foolishness of commanding generals making implausible personal reconnaissance's.:p

My curiosity has been piqued.

But regarding Sherman's untimely death. It would cause a bump in anti-Native American feelings in America, as Sherman was a well known figure and a friend of Ulysses Grant. President Hayes probably wouldn't act any differently though, the Nez Perce would still be defeated, though more of them would probably end up dying in the long run, since there would be soldiers around interested in avenging Sherman's death.
 

King Thomas

Banned
If he is just taken hostage they can get all the way to Canada unbothered and let him go at the Canadian border. But if he is killed the US Army will kick Nez Perce ass big-time.
 

Delta Force

Banned
I'm having a hard time determining what rank Sherman held in 1877, but it seems that Sherman might have held the rank of General of the Army, which would have made him highest ranking officer killed in action or taken prisoner in the history of the United States military. If Sherman had been captured or killed at Yellowstone, how would history looked back upon his other military achievements? Would his reputation be akin to that of Custer?
 

Driftless

Donor
I think there's a then-and-now side to the opinion of history.

Libby Custer ran an absolutely first rate PR show raising her husband to martyr status that carried well into the 20th century - at least from the general publics perspective. His public star started to fade in the 1970's, when alternative views of his decision making got some debate. Brave man, but reckless.

I don't know if Sherman would have gottent the same treatment, if he were killed on a reconassance mission. It would depend on who told the story, I think. i.e. Some of the Georgia papers might describe his death as "divine retribution", while some in the north would extol the courage of Sherman as a general leading from the front. Then others would ask "What was he thinking?"
 
The timing is wrong

The basic problem with this question is that Sherman's route was north from Green River on the railroad in southern Wyoming into what is now the Big Horn basin, then east over the northern end of the Big Horn's and down the Tongue River to Miles City in Eastern Montana. His report of the inspection doesn't mention Yellowstone Park at all in my quick read of it and in any case the trip happened in July while the Nez Perce didn't reach the Yellowstone Country until into August. They were fighting the Battle of the Big Hole over 200 miles west of Sherman's route on August 9th.
 
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