I am amazed by your grasp of this topic. I really appreciate your work. I have watched about 4 of your series. I really enjoyed the early and mid history of Custer. Great overall work on this topic! So good. Thanks for your effort. I cannot wait to get there someday to explore the whole region, and the Indian culture.
Thanks for watching. Nothing comes close to the battlefield itself. Once you go there and see the terrain for yourself then you will understand why people did the things they did during the battle.
Thanks for watching. The battlefield has changed somewhat in that time. The cemetery is now closed. The Indian memorial and Horse memorial have been added on the Custer Battlefield. New markers for Bobtail Bull, Bloody Knife and Little Brave have been added to the Reno Battlefield. A marker for Cpl. John Foley has been placed in the Medicine Tail Coulee area as well. Lastly, there are 18 memorial markers for warriors confirmed killed in the battle at both the Reno Battlefield and the Custer Battlefield.
Thanks for watching. I am currently working on Part 6 now. It is taking a lot longer than I expected. I have rewritten the video a couple of times now and have even altered the maps to compensate. I want to make sure it is as accurate as possible.
Can I ask you what is a good season to visit the battlefield, when there aren't a lot of people and it's not too hot for major walking (at age 55+)? I imagine the week of June 25 is not it.
David Andrews The Fall. I suggest September. It is by far the best weather month and the massive crowds of people that cover the battlefield in the hot summer have by this time subsided.
fascinating storytelling here.. I really got a sense of the action. judging by this I would have to say that Benteen was extremely competent and also heroic. in the case of Reno, it would appear that once the skirmish line broke up that he didn't really know how to proceed in the face of mounting pressure. although his wild dash from the woods seemed reckless,and perhaps spurred by terror, it may have inadvertently saved many lives.
Agree. Reno really did poorly during the entire event. Benteen did well on the hill in taking the shattered command and forming up a good defense and showing some leadership. However his slow movement before reaching Reno Hill played a huge roll in the cavalry defeat.
Indian strength was a factor in the defeat. But that factor alone would not have caused the loss. Other key factors came together to cause the cavalry defeat.
I'm getting a lot out of your map series as I did out of the great doc you put together. Just a point of interest here maybe. You mentioned in the doc as well as here that McIntosh was "shot down". I read that he was surrounded and most likely died a slow agonizing death especially under the added circumstance of him being half Iroquois and from what I've read unmistakeably so to look at him. I just read this in the Philbrick footnotes from "The Last Stand": "Godfrey used the idle moments on Reno Hill trying to harass the warriors in the valley; holding his carbine at a 45 degree angle, he launched a bullet at the group of Indians surrounding McIntosh, probably about a mile away." "The Indians immediately scattered, and the bullet probably struck close to them," he (Godfrey) reported to Camp in Hammer, "Custer in '76." Philbrick's footnotes are making for as much enjoyment as his book did.
+Ward Macfarlan I am in agreement with you on McIntosh. He probably did get special attention from the warriors. We know several men that died in the valley did. This included Bloody Knife, who's head was cut off and taken back to the village.
I'm really digging this. Is part 6 coming any time soon. I've really just recently developed an interest in this. I recently read a book about Custer and Crazy Horse and it really captured my imagination.
Hey Alex. Part 6 has been driving me crazy. I have rewritten the episode three times now to make sure it is perfect. I have also had to alter the map sequence a little by adding or removing maps. I hope to get part 6 out soon. Sorry for the delay.
No worries. Thanks for the update. It's amazing what a difference it makes when you can visualize the battle and movements of the various parties involved. Great work and much appreciated.
Alex Schafer You are welcome. I always enjoy feedback from my subscribers. That was the main reason I have created this documentary. People unfamiliar with the terrain and distances really wanted and requested a visual form of the battle. I have tried to give them what they wanted to the best of my ability.
I was wondering do you think if Capt. Reno would have continued to charge the village instead of forming a skirmish line. That the out come would have been different? With less than two hundred men wouldn't he have been engulf by the warriors and trapped and possibly wiped out? Your thoughts.
+45acpauto I think it would have been a chaotic situation. However the warriors would have been wrapped up in the attack and their families would be in immediate danger. I feel the warrior force would have had a more difficult time with soldiers in the village amongst the women and children. This may have given Custer time to reach Ford B and press the attack there.
I can't remember who it was but at the enquiry he said: "I was glad when Major Reno gave the command to stop. Had we gone another 100 yards we would be there yet." He added that every man in the command could see that to go any further was death for all. I have to take the word of someone who was there with his neck on the line rather than those who were not. Remember too that Gall had had his family wiped out and was mightily pissed off. He charged Reno's command rallying many others as Indians tended to follow example rather than any kind of "orders" as such.
Bill, I have enjoyed all the detail you have put into your videos and now map movements. Great work. However, I have 2 questions: 1) how did you determine to the minute all of the actions and movements? 2) you show the Little Big Horn River as nearly straight in path. I had thought it was mostly serpentine from period maps. I know the river path changes over time giving it hard for me to fully realize the precise placement of Reno's movements in the valley with where the wooded area is today and exactly where the river was to it. The river crossings is certain due to the other side landscape features.
Hey Bob. Many of the movements were timed. The acting engineering officer, 2nd Lt. George Wallace wrote down several times during the move from Halt #1 to the battle. John S. Gray also wrote a book titled, "Custer's Last Campaign" which contains the time motion analysis of all combatants of the battle. I have used most of Gray's information in the documentary. If you have not read his book I highly suggest you get a copy. The map is not 100% accurate when it comes to the Little Bighorn River. Obviously I did not recreate the river with all of its 1876 loops, twists and turns. I generalized the river leaving out the loop system. I actually did not think this would be a problem to anyone that viewed the documentary. If I had thought it was going to be than I would have done a more thorough job on the river.
Just a point about Trumpeter Martine, Is there any truth in the assertion that he was an Italian immigrant, and that his English was so poor as to be virtually unintelligible? If so that would account for Benteen not questioning him to closely re where Custer went at the trail divide?
That is the word. Martini was an immigrant and I'm sure his english was not the best. However, a trumpeter's function is to communicate. I tend to think his english was not as bad as the people protecting their own butts say. Martini also testified at the RCOI. People didn't seen to have a problem understanding him then.
Thanks for that I tend to agree, what does fascinate me is the fact in so called hostile territory, all these couriers go wandering around on their own looking for various commands. Was it not as dangerous as we have assumed? or are they just incredibly brave?
I tend to look at couriers in the west as supply ships on the ocean in World War 2. The area was so vast the chance of discovery was small. Not to say contact never happened. It did and with fatal results.
Bill Smith does a great job on these videos. The animation of the map series is good and the timeline is a nice detail. I only hope that Bill, will learn how to pronounce The word Cavalry. Custer would cringe when his regiment is referred to as the 7th Cavery. 😄. All in all a very good series on what happened in June of 1876. A lot of work went into this series. Good job Bill.
CusterApollo Yes, I've watched all 39 parts. Fascinating! We visited the battle field in 1989 when our kids were little. I think that I might have told you that my great, great grandfather and 5 uncles were in Company H, of the 4th Iowa Cavalry in the Civil War. The 4th Iowa was part of the Union cavalry brigade lead by Lt. Col. Frederick Benteen at the battle of Mine Creek, Oct. 25th 1864. Benteen, not waiting for reinforcements, ordered a charge of 2,500 Union cavalry against 7,500 Confederate cavalry and 8 canons. Benteen's 10th Missouri Cavalry was the lead regiment, but got cold feet and stopped their charge with 200 yards still to go. The 4th Iowa, the next regiment in line, pushed it's way through the line of the stalled 10th Missouri and hit the Confederate line " . . . like a thunderbolt . . . " The Confederate line disintegrated ". . ..like a row of bricks . . . " (according to William Forse Scott's The Story of a Cavalry Regiment: the Career of the Fourth Iowa Veteran Volunteers).
Jay Shaw Jay. Good stuff! One thing I can say about Benteen is that he was good under fire. My main problem with him comes when he was not fighting a battle. At the post, or on campaign the man was impossible to be around. His actions early on June 25th are inexcusable and did play a role in the battle outcome.
This whole series is quite an achievement. Your dedication and attention to detail are admirable. I wondered if you were familiar with this and what you thought of this man's conclusions. 1. Custer and The Battle of the Little Big Horn
Thanks James. I am glad you are liking the videos. I am currently working on Part 6. It should be out soon. I also will check out the link you sent me and comment after I watch it.
I just watched your link. I do agree with most of what the historian did have to say, however there are six points he makes that I don't agree with. Disagreement is not a surprise though. I don't know any Custer historian that agrees with 100% of what another Custer historian says.
James E. Powell The time is one of the things I don't agree with. He suggests they changed the official time to cover their mistakes. But he also has no proof of this. The only time that really counts is from Wallace as he was the acting engineering officer. There is no proof that he changed his official times after the fact.
James E. Powell I will take the other five disagreements one at a time. 1: He suggests a Sergeant Major would not have been sent as orderly to Benteen. But this is verified by Benteen in his own words. He knew who the Sergeant Major of the regiment was and recognized him. And sending the Sergeant Major might have put more emphasis on the order in Custer's mind. Also he stated Sharrow told Benteen to go all the way to the Little Bighorn Valley. This is not the case at all. Sharrow told Benteen if he found nothing in the first valley to go to the next valley over. Valley #3 is not the Little Bighorn Valley and to suggest Benteen's mission was to go all the way to the Little Bighorn Valley is incorrect and holds no weight. Neither Benteen, nor Gibson ever suggested Custer's orders were to go all the way to the Little Bighorn Valley. Based on their testimony, the battalion was to perform a limited scout, send word of that scout, and quickly return to the command. That clearly can't happen if Custer has Benteen crossing numerous ridges all the way to the Little Bighorn Valley.
Watched the 2010 documentaries and just watched all 5 map versions. Very nicely done. I just came back from my 3rd trip from the battle and wish I had watched your video's first. I have one question though. As Reno was fighting in the valley with an enemy that is growing in size and looking like its overwhelming the line. Custer is on the bluff seeing this I believe. Why didn't he attempt to assist Reno? It would seem to me that the preservation of 7th would be more important then getting the non combatants.
Reno actually used this defense at the Court of Inquiry in 1879. He suggested Custer never supported him leaving him to fend for himself. Reno also felt that this resulted in not only his defeat, but Custer's as well. The problem I have with this opinion is the fact that it is not true. Support can take many forms and does not just have to come from the rear. Reno used this terminology several times at the Inquiry stating this is how things were done in the Civil War. But the Indian Wars were not the Civil War and the enemy they were facing was quite different from tactical formations of Confederates standing and fighting with you. Indians when surprised, outnumbered and or outgunned, tended to flee from an attack and scatter. Despite the large size of the village this clearly was happening when Reno charged the southern end of the Indian village on June 25th. It was best to attack the village from more than one direction. This is what Custer was doing and by making such an attack he was in fact supporting Reno, as well as going after the main target, the non combatants. Even Charles Varnum, a staunch liar for Reno at the Inquiry, slipped up and told the truth, when he commented that when he saw Custer moving north along the bluffs he knew Custer was moving to open up another front on the village. This move was supporting Reno, and if Varnum knew this, then Reno knew it too.
CusterApollo Ok, I will have to read the Court of Inquiry. 2 things I heard while I was on my last visit I never heard of before. 1) I heard that 2 riders didn't stop when Reno stopped to form a line and rode right into the village never to be seen again. 2) That some of the bodies including Custers were found on top of LSH by the monument but because of the hardness of the ground were buried on the side instead. Have you heard of this?
Dan Muschik You heard correct. There is testimony from survivors with Reno that two men did not stop and rode into the village. They were killed by the Indians, decapitated and their heads were found burned on the top of two stakes stuck in the ground. And yes what you heard is correct about Last Stand Hill. 10 bodies, Four enlisted men, Private's Edward C. Driscoll (Co I), John Parker (Co I), Charles McCarthy (Co L), and another man as yet unidentified, 5 officers, General George A. Custer (Regimental Commander HQ) , Captain Thomas W. Custer (Company C Commander attached to HQ as Aide de Camp) , 1st Lieutenant William W. Cooke ( Regimental Adjutant of HQ) , 1st Lieutenant Algernon E. Smith (Commander Co E), Chief Trumpeter Henry Voss (HQ) and Regimental Color Bearer, Sergeant John Vickory (Company F and attached to HQ) were found on top of the hill. Due to the hard ground and lack of shovels these 10 men were buried further down on the western slope of the hill. Today Last Stand Hill looks a lot different than it did during the battle. The hill was a cone shape with a flat top of a diameter of 30 feet. The hill itself rose about 6 feet higher than Battle Ridge. Lt. Roe had the hill graded when the soldier memorial was placed in 1881. In the 1920's the hill was once again graded and the iron fence was placed around the memorial stones on the hill. Today the marker that says "Custer fell here" is some 56 feet away from where he actually died. In actuality, Custer's body was found only six feet to the south of the present monument to the soldiers on top of the hill. This area is outside the fence and is located in the grass that surrounds the monument
I am amazed by your grasp of this topic. I really appreciate your work. I have watched about 4 of your series. I really enjoyed the early and mid history of Custer. Great overall work on this topic! So good. Thanks for your effort. I cannot wait to get there someday to explore the whole region, and the Indian culture.
Thanks for watching. Nothing comes close to the battlefield itself. Once you go there and see the terrain for yourself then you will understand why people did the things they did during the battle.
@@CusterApollo I intend to visit it someday
I have been to the battlefield 35 years ago. This map series makes it all more understandable.
Thanks for watching. The battlefield has changed somewhat in that time. The cemetery is now closed. The Indian memorial and Horse memorial have been added on the Custer Battlefield. New markers for Bobtail Bull, Bloody Knife and Little Brave have been added to the Reno Battlefield. A marker for Cpl. John Foley has been placed in the Medicine Tail Coulee area as well. Lastly, there are 18 memorial markers for warriors confirmed killed in the battle at both the Reno Battlefield and the Custer Battlefield.
@@CusterApollo Do you think these changes are for the better? Lose the cemetery, but gain the markers?
Fantastic. Such a great set of videos that has given me such a better understanding. Appreciation from Glasgow.
Look forward to Part 6. Have enjoyed all your good work, especially the multi-part walking tour.
Thanks for watching. I am currently working on Part 6 now. It is taking a lot longer than I expected. I have rewritten the video a couple of times now and have even altered the maps to compensate. I want to make sure it is as accurate as possible.
Can I ask you what is a good season to visit the battlefield, when there aren't a lot of people and it's not too hot for major walking (at age 55+)? I imagine the week of June 25 is not it.
David Andrews The Fall. I suggest September. It is by far the best weather month and the massive crowds of people that cover the battlefield in the hot summer have by this time subsided.
fascinating storytelling here.. I really got a sense of the action. judging by this I would have to say that Benteen was extremely competent and also heroic. in the case of Reno, it would appear that once the skirmish line broke up that he didn't really know how to proceed in the face of mounting pressure. although his wild dash from the woods seemed reckless,and perhaps spurred by terror, it may have inadvertently saved many lives.
Agree. Reno really did poorly during the entire event. Benteen did well on the hill in taking the shattered command and forming up a good defense and showing some leadership. However his slow movement before reaching Reno Hill played a huge roll in the cavalry defeat.
Excellent job....Thank You!
Thanks for watching.
I asked a esteemed historian about this battle.....his response..."Too many frigging Indians" and I believe this is the crux of it....
Indian strength was a factor in the defeat. But that factor alone would not have caused the loss. Other key factors came together to cause the cavalry defeat.
I'm getting a lot out of your map series as I did out of the great doc you put together. Just a point of interest here maybe. You mentioned in the doc as well as here that McIntosh was "shot down". I read that he was surrounded and most likely died a slow agonizing death especially under the added circumstance of him being half Iroquois and from what I've read unmistakeably so to look at him. I just read this in the Philbrick footnotes from "The Last Stand": "Godfrey used the idle moments on Reno Hill trying to harass the warriors in the valley; holding his carbine at a 45 degree angle, he launched a bullet at the group of Indians surrounding McIntosh, probably about a mile away." "The Indians immediately scattered, and the bullet probably struck close to them," he (Godfrey) reported to Camp in Hammer, "Custer in '76." Philbrick's footnotes are making for as much enjoyment as his book did.
+Ward Macfarlan I am in agreement with you on McIntosh. He probably did get special attention from the warriors. We know several men that died in the valley did. This included Bloody Knife, who's head was cut off and taken back to the village.
I'm really digging this. Is part 6 coming any time soon. I've really just recently developed an interest in this. I recently read a book about Custer and Crazy Horse and it really captured my imagination.
Hey Alex. Part 6 has been driving me crazy. I have rewritten the episode three times now to make sure it is perfect. I have also had to alter the map sequence a little by adding or removing maps. I hope to get part 6 out soon. Sorry for the delay.
No worries. Thanks for the update. It's amazing what a difference it makes when you can visualize the battle and movements of the various parties involved. Great work and much appreciated.
Alex Schafer You are welcome. I always enjoy feedback from my subscribers. That was the main reason I have created this documentary. People unfamiliar with the terrain and distances really wanted and requested a visual form of the battle. I have tried to give them what they wanted to the best of my ability.
I was wondering do you think if Capt. Reno would have continued to charge the village instead of forming a skirmish line. That the out come would have been different? With less than two hundred men wouldn't he have been engulf by the warriors and trapped and possibly wiped out? Your thoughts.
+45acpauto I think it would have been a chaotic situation. However the warriors would have been wrapped up in the attack and their families would be in immediate danger. I feel the warrior force would have had a more difficult time with soldiers in the village amongst the women and children. This may have given Custer time to reach Ford B and press the attack there.
I can't remember who it was but at the enquiry he said: "I was glad when Major Reno gave the command to stop. Had we gone another 100 yards we would be there yet." He added that every man in the command could see that to go any further was death for all. I have to take the word of someone who was there with his neck on the line rather than those who were not. Remember too that Gall had had his family wiped out and was mightily pissed off. He charged Reno's command rallying many others as Indians tended to follow example rather than any kind of "orders" as such.
Bill, I have enjoyed all the detail you have put into your videos and now map movements. Great work. However, I have 2 questions: 1) how did you determine to the minute all of the actions and movements? 2) you show the Little Big Horn River as nearly straight in path. I had thought it was mostly serpentine from period maps. I know the river path changes over time giving it hard for me to fully realize the precise placement of Reno's movements in the valley with where the wooded area is today and exactly where the river was to it. The river crossings is certain due to the other side landscape features.
Hey Bob. Many of the movements were timed. The acting engineering officer, 2nd Lt. George Wallace wrote down several times during the move from Halt #1 to the battle. John S. Gray also wrote a book titled, "Custer's Last Campaign" which contains the time motion analysis of all combatants of the battle. I have used most of Gray's information in the documentary. If you have not read his book I highly suggest you get a copy. The map is not 100% accurate when it comes to the Little Bighorn River. Obviously I did not recreate the river with all of its 1876 loops, twists and turns. I generalized the river leaving out the loop system. I actually did not think this would be a problem to anyone that viewed the documentary. If I had thought it was going to be than I would have done a more thorough job on the river.
Just a point about Trumpeter Martine, Is there any truth in the assertion that he was an Italian immigrant, and that his English was so poor as to be virtually unintelligible? If so that would account for Benteen not questioning him to closely re where Custer went at the trail divide?
That is the word. Martini was an immigrant and I'm sure his english was not the best. However, a trumpeter's function is to communicate. I tend to think his english was not as bad as the people protecting their own butts say. Martini also testified at the RCOI. People didn't seen to have a problem understanding him then.
Thanks for that I tend to agree, what does fascinate me is the fact in so called hostile territory, all these couriers go wandering around on their own looking for various commands. Was it not as dangerous as we have assumed? or are they just incredibly brave?
I tend to look at couriers in the west as supply ships on the ocean in World War 2. The area was so vast the chance of discovery was small. Not to say contact never happened. It did and with fatal results.
Bill Smith does a great job on these videos. The animation of the map series is good and the timeline is a nice detail. I only hope that Bill, will learn how to pronounce The word Cavalry. Custer would cringe when his regiment is referred to as the 7th Cavery. 😄. All in all a very good series on what happened in June of 1876. A lot of work went into this series. Good job Bill.
lol. That darn cavalry word gets me every time.
Dear Bill, These are great. Looking forward to Part 6.
Thanks Jay. Glad you are enjoying the videos. I think this series compliments my earlier work, the 39-Part Little Bighorn 2010 Documentary.
CusterApollo
Yes, I've watched all 39 parts. Fascinating! We visited the battle field in 1989 when our kids were little.
I think that I might have told you that my great, great grandfather and 5 uncles were in Company H, of the 4th Iowa Cavalry in the Civil War. The 4th Iowa was part of the Union cavalry brigade lead by Lt. Col. Frederick Benteen at the battle of Mine Creek, Oct. 25th 1864. Benteen, not waiting for reinforcements, ordered a charge of 2,500 Union cavalry against 7,500 Confederate cavalry and 8 canons. Benteen's 10th Missouri Cavalry was the lead regiment, but got cold feet and stopped their charge with 200 yards still to go. The 4th Iowa, the next regiment in line, pushed it's way through the line of the stalled 10th Missouri and hit the Confederate line " . . . like a thunderbolt . . . " The Confederate line disintegrated ". . ..like a row of bricks . . . " (according to William Forse Scott's The Story of a Cavalry Regiment: the Career of the Fourth Iowa Veteran Volunteers).
Jay Shaw Jay. Good stuff! One thing I can say about Benteen is that he was good under fire. My main problem with him comes when he was not fighting a battle. At the post, or on campaign the man was impossible to be around. His actions early on June 25th are inexcusable and did play a role in the battle outcome.
very good into detail .
Thank you.
CusterApollo when is part 6
Paul Jenkinson I am currently working on Part 6. Hope to have it finished and on RUclips in the next few days.
ok ty
This whole series is quite an achievement. Your dedication and attention to detail are admirable.
I wondered if you were familiar with this and what you thought of this man's conclusions. 1. Custer and The Battle of the Little Big Horn
Thanks James. I am glad you are liking the videos. I am currently working on Part 6. It should be out soon. I also will check out the link you sent me and comment after I watch it.
I just watched your link. I do agree with most of what the historian did have to say, however there are six points he makes that I don't agree with. Disagreement is not a surprise though. I don't know any Custer historian that agrees with 100% of what another Custer historian says.
CusterApollo Don't hold back man, which six? I was most curious about the time elements.
James E. Powell The time is one of the things I don't agree with. He suggests they changed the official time to cover their mistakes. But he also has no proof of this. The only time that really counts is from Wallace as he was the acting engineering officer. There is no proof that he changed his official times after the fact.
James E. Powell I will take the other five disagreements one at a time. 1: He suggests a Sergeant Major would not have been sent as orderly to Benteen. But this is verified by Benteen in his own words. He knew who the Sergeant Major of the regiment was and recognized him. And sending the Sergeant Major might have put more emphasis on the order in Custer's mind. Also he stated Sharrow told Benteen to go all the way to the Little Bighorn Valley. This is not the case at all. Sharrow told Benteen if he found nothing in the first valley to go to the next valley over. Valley #3 is not the Little Bighorn Valley and to suggest Benteen's mission was to go all the way to the Little Bighorn Valley is incorrect and holds no weight. Neither Benteen, nor Gibson ever suggested Custer's orders were to go all the way to the Little Bighorn Valley. Based on their testimony, the battalion was to perform a limited scout, send word of that scout, and quickly return to the command. That clearly can't happen if Custer has Benteen crossing numerous ridges all the way to the Little Bighorn Valley.
Watched the 2010 documentaries and just watched all 5 map versions. Very nicely done. I just came back from my 3rd trip from the battle and wish I had watched your video's first. I have one question though. As Reno was fighting in the valley with an enemy that is growing in size and looking like its overwhelming the line. Custer is on the bluff seeing this I believe. Why didn't he attempt to assist Reno? It would seem to me that the preservation of 7th would be more important then getting the non combatants.
Reno actually used this defense at the Court of Inquiry in 1879. He suggested Custer never supported him leaving him to fend for himself. Reno also felt that this resulted in not only his defeat, but Custer's as well. The problem I have with this opinion is the fact that it is not true. Support can take many forms and does not just have to come from the rear. Reno used this terminology several times at the Inquiry stating this is how things were done in the Civil War. But the Indian Wars were not the Civil War and the enemy they were facing was quite different from tactical formations of Confederates standing and fighting with you. Indians when surprised, outnumbered and or outgunned, tended to flee from an attack and scatter. Despite the large size of the village this clearly was happening when Reno charged the southern end of the Indian village on June 25th. It was best to attack the village from more than one direction. This is what Custer was doing and by making such an attack he was in fact supporting Reno, as well as going after the main target, the non combatants. Even Charles Varnum, a staunch liar for Reno at the Inquiry, slipped up and told the truth, when he commented that when he saw Custer moving north along the bluffs he knew Custer was moving to open up another front on the village. This move was supporting Reno, and if Varnum knew this, then Reno knew it too.
CusterApollo Ok, I will have to read the Court of Inquiry. 2 things I heard while I was on my last visit I never heard of before. 1) I heard that 2 riders didn't stop when Reno stopped to form a line and rode right into the village never to be seen again. 2) That some of the bodies including Custers were found on top of LSH by the monument but because of the hardness of the ground were buried on the side instead. Have you heard of this?
Dan Muschik You heard correct. There is testimony from survivors with Reno that two men did not stop and rode into the village. They were killed by the Indians, decapitated and their heads were found burned on the top of two stakes stuck in the ground.
And yes what you heard is correct about Last Stand Hill. 10 bodies, Four enlisted men, Private's Edward C. Driscoll (Co I), John Parker (Co I), Charles McCarthy (Co L), and another man as yet unidentified, 5 officers, General George A. Custer (Regimental Commander HQ) , Captain Thomas W. Custer (Company C Commander attached to HQ as Aide de Camp) , 1st Lieutenant William W. Cooke ( Regimental Adjutant of HQ) , 1st Lieutenant Algernon E. Smith (Commander Co E), Chief Trumpeter Henry Voss (HQ) and Regimental Color Bearer, Sergeant John Vickory (Company F and attached to HQ) were found on top of the hill. Due to the hard ground and lack of shovels these 10 men were buried further down on the western slope of the hill. Today Last Stand Hill looks a lot different than it did during the battle. The hill was a cone shape with a flat top of a diameter of 30 feet. The hill itself rose about 6 feet higher than Battle Ridge. Lt. Roe had the hill graded when the soldier memorial was placed in 1881. In the 1920's the hill was once again graded and the iron fence was placed around the memorial stones on the hill. Today the marker that says "Custer fell here" is some 56 feet away from where he actually died. In actuality, Custer's body was found only six feet to the south of the present monument to the soldiers on top of the hill. This area is outside the fence and is located in the grass that surrounds the monument