Garry Owen for Sale

[Scout]

I think one of the problems there would be the remoteness of where the dead were. As for those killed in the 1850's to the 1870's in Montana, Wyoming, etc., .. the dead lay buried in areas as far away as the moon as far as the government and public was concerned. Time took care of the caring after awhile.

[fred]

gocav76 said:

We had the Civil War re interment program 1866-70.

There was a very interesting article in the New York Times over the summer. In New York City, one of the cemeteries is re-doing every Civil War grave site. Cleaning, re-setting the stones, even finding stones that have sunk beneath the grass surface. Off-hand, I do not remember which cemetery, but I saved the article and have it filed in my LBH folders. I will dig it out tomorrow and if there is anything of interest, I will post it here. One of the things I specifically remember is that each of the wars has its own emblem for the grave-stone, i.e., a shield, a cross or Star of David within a circle, etc. And this is in New York City, mind you!

Best wishes,
Fred.

[harpskiddie]

Larry, Fred and Scout:

The dead were not all forgotten; but many if not most probably were. The dead from Fort Phil Kearny, Reno and CF Smith [the former I'm sure of, the two latter, maybe] were moved to Custer Battlefield National Cemetery, and I think the same happened with bodies from other posts [not necessarily to Custer BNC]. I expect that there are many still out in the wilderness, including those killed on the Yellowstone in 1873. There are likely a few still to be recovered on the LBH Battlefield.

I just read an article on one of the Archaeological sites about the discovery of the site of a skirmish somewhere in Montana or Idaho with attendant artifacts and some relics. I don't think it is possible to recover all of them, since details were not always well-recorded at the time, and steps were usually taken to prevent discovery of the bodies.

Gordie
MC

[Melani]

It's been pointed out that the enlisted men were treated rather differently from the officers--they were buried where they lay, and later moved to a mass grave, while the officers were removed and sent elsewhere the following year. Though I believe the Army did not pay for the transporting of the bodies--the families had to do that.

I suppose the Libbie Custer Collection could be donated to the battlefield museum--or would that also require an Act of Congress? To be fair, I know they are pressed for space there.

[bubbabod]

Gordie, dead, but not altogether forgotten. This is the reburial of an unknown soldier from Ft. Phil Kearny whose bones were discovered when they were building the parking lot near LSH where the soldiers from Ft. Phil were originally reburied at the LBH. This took place I think in 2004. He was buried a space or two down from Fetterman and Brown:

i63.photobucket.com/albums/h153/bubbabod/BozemanTrailDays-LBHAseminarWyoming.jpg

[ignimbrite]

Melani wrote
The Civil War Preservation Trust manages to buy large hunks of battlefields back East. I have been to their website to try to figure out how they do it and what happens to the land after they buy it, but have not had much success in gathering that info. Maybe I should email somebody there, if I can find a contact address, and ask 'em about it.


A large percentage of land the Civil War Preservation Trust preserves they don't outright purchase. They arrange to buy "development rights" or obtain preservation leases. This often allows the land to remain on the tax rolls and continue to be farmed, grazed or whatever. It really lets them leverage their money. The also are very adept at using matching funds programs, often getting $3-4 match for every dollar contributed. They are an awsome group.
Ruth

[fred]

ignimbrite said:

They are an awsome group.

I agree here; but the tiny Custer Battlefield Preservation Committee hasn't done a bad job either. When I got this map I alluded to earlier, I was quite surprised at how much they control or outright own. If you are a member, you are theoretically allowed to walk their grounds. The only significant feature of the battle they don't own is the northern half of Sharpshooters' Ridge.

The Committee owns the entire southern area below Benteen Hill for a distance of about 1/4-mile south to well over 1 mile east. They also own the entire bluffs-area west of the Reno-Benteen field to a small area across the river. They own the land immediately north and south of Garryowen (the privately-owned property at Garryown stretches all the way to the river, across, and up the bluffs almost to the access road; but it is only about 1/4-mile wide, north to south). They also own all of Weir Peaks, all the way up to Deep Coulee. According to this map, it's a fairly impressive job they have done.

After seeing it now, I am a bit miffed my friends and I didn't do more off-road walking back in June.

Best wishes,
Fred.