Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 145 Years Ago Today

The Custer family lost 5 members at The Little Big Horn that day.
George himself,
Tom, who was 5 years younger than the General, had won two Congressional Medals of Honor in the Civil War. He was the commander of E Company, but was serving as an aide to the General.
Boston Custer was 8 years younger than George, he was listed as a scout for the expedition.
Henry “Autie” Reed was George’s nephew, son of his older sister Lydia. He was 18 and was listed as a cattle herder.
Lt James Calhoun was married to Custer’s younger sister Margret. IIRC, Calhoun also commanded one of the 5 companies which made up Custer’s battalion that day.
Everyone has their own opinion about Custer, but I find the man to be a very interesting character. Many things about him I admire, and some not so much.
7mm

I believe you are right about the horses. The men were just as exhausted.

One of the things I find interesting about the battle is CPT Weir's push to the north. Apparently he watched the end of the battle from what is now Weir's point, but never discussed it. He was transferred to recruiting duty in NY soon after and was dead before the end of the year due to complications associated with alcoholism. He never disclosed what he saw that day.

For the Civil War buffs, Sheridan gifted the table that was used for the signing of surrender of the confederate forces to Custer.

Custer was stationed here in Elizabethtown KY after the war for the reconstruction efforts, and to help put down the KKK. Of course he spent most of his time up in Louisville mucking it up with VIPs.



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One less yankee.

I’ve always liked American history especially the West. We took a family vacation to Yellowstone about 10 years ago and stopping to see where battle took place was one of the highlights of the trip for me. The terrain isn’t steep by any stretch but is very rolling. Once the initial mistake was made it was easy to see how it would turn into a numbers game while using the rolling prairie to a tactical advantage.

It’s been nearly 30 years since I’ve visited the battlefield.
I’d like to see it again someday.
Every thing I’ve read leads me to believe Custer was an arrogant asswhole.

It is nice to see that Indian Natives are no longer seen as wild savages. There are some good modern movies about ......... at the Little Big Horn. One is called Son of the Morning Star.

Based on my last walk through the area, about three quarters of the deaths could have been caused by snakebite.

For those who visited the battlefield, any spooky experiences?

None here but it felt a little surreal. Probably like visiting any historic battlefield.

My experience as well. Same for Wounded Knee.

I recall reading that somewhere before, Bob.

Ever shoot yours ?

Why don't you go visit Pine Ridge Rez on commodities day or just walk around it at night?

Never have.

Ya know???? I need to build up some ctgs. Got bullets. Make up some brass. Load with holy black. Too many projects.

No one has seen the Indians as savages for about 50 years at least but....

The Crow Indians who guided Custer and the other cavalry columns against the predominantly Lakota camp on the Little Big Horn did so to save the lives of their own people, the Little Big Horn was far inside Crow territory and the Lakotas and Cheyennes had killed far more Crows than the White folks ever did.

Close to half the Lakotas at the Little Big Horn had comes off the reservation to get with their holdout relatives at the sun dance bringing their Agency rations with them, which did much to feed the huge gathering. After the repulse and killing of Custer’s men it was common knowledge among the Indians that severe retribution in the coming months was imminent. Probably most of the Lakotas returned to the relative safety of the reservation, which at that time was enormous.

In the winter of ‘76/‘77 the remaining holdouts were relentlessly hunted down by the US Cavalry, Sitting Bull and his followers famously fleeing to Canada. Another group of Lakotas was less fortunate, they, they were surprised at their winter camp by a column led by George Crook guided by Pawnees, who like the Crow had suffered much at the hands of the Lakotas.

Crook was able to surprise the Lakota camp because they had been up all night celebrating a scalp dance. Despite their desperate situation at the very end of their era when their world was collapsing around them, the men of the band had gone to the time and trouble to go out against the Shoshones and had returned with thirty scalps of men, women and children.

What on earth were they thinking? If they weren’t savages they were at least decidedly different from us.

Like dumbassess…to their demise lol

If y’all can get hold of a copy of "The Life of George Bent" by Hyde, I highly recommend it.

Nothing really to do with LBH. But excellent southern Cheyenne perspective. Bent was a decently educated ( back in Missouri) 1/2 white 1/2 southern Cheyenne. George Bent went thru a series of interviews by the author. Lots of good internal Native politics explained. And a damn good read. Lots of excellent back stories.

Bent knew most of the “heavies" among both Native and Whites in the area of the time

Which side are you talking about?

I chortled! 👍

Custer was a great American and an exceptional soldier.

I admire everything about him.

Revisionist historians can all eat a dick. Their stories are lies.

As I read the excellent comments on the original post by 7mm, I cannot help but ponder if there may be parallels between the indian nations homeland security issues of yesteryear and ours today.