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Post by Diane Merkel on Oct 18, 2006 10:19:47 GMT -6
I thought there were a few more identifying features regarding the graveyard in her narrative, but I'll have to dig more. I was thinking she might have mentioned a specific type of tree near the place the Benteen baby was laid to rest. --LMC Thanks so much, Leyton. The reference to the hill is puzzling because, as you can see, the fort area is very flat. It does appear that the entire fort is on a hill, however, because you can see a valley in the background. I appreciate your finding that reference. The man I've referred to is Myron Steves, who was married to Benteen's granddaughter. He is 93 now, and I would love to help him find the gravesite. Diane
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Post by Hostler on Oct 18, 2006 10:39:58 GMT -6
Diane,
Great pictures and information, thank you.
Leyton, are you referring to the funeral for one of Benteen's children? And it is in Fougera's book? I've got to get that I guess. Thanks.
Regards, Hostler
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Post by Tricia on Oct 18, 2006 11:29:11 GMT -6
Hostler--
Yes, it is. Apparently, the pine box they were to use for the burial was so barren, Kate Gibson donated her wedding dress to the Benteens. The book is a wonderful read--I found it easier to get through than LBC, who tends to get a bit florid for my liking. Contains some interesting references to many members of the Seventh. I believe I got it--a used copy--from Amazon for like $2.00.
--LMC
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Post by Tricia on Oct 18, 2006 11:30:07 GMT -6
Diane--
I'll see if I can find anything more. But you're right; that landscape does seem pretty flat!
LMC
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Post by Tricia on Oct 18, 2006 13:39:47 GMT -6
rch--
I found a photo of Gibson in GA Custer: His Life and Times by Swanson. It is taken by Goff, supposedly at FAL, and features that same curtain with the Roman print. Tends to make me think Barry borrowed Goff's studio at Fort Lincoln he came to town. There are also a couple of shots where the floor is similar. If I can get my scanner to behave, I'll send some this way.
Regards, LMC
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Post by markland on Oct 18, 2006 23:22:10 GMT -6
Diane, per the Surgeon General's Circular # 8 dealing with "Descriptions of Military Posts" p. 424 of 1875, the cemetery at Ft. Rice was: "Three hundred yards west of the fort, on a gently sloping hill...It contains one hundred and sixty-three graves."
Billy
P.S. I am trying to figure out how to present both the 1870 & 1875 Surgeon General's reports on-line with the minimum of work (which is a pipe-dream as both will have to be scanned, OCR'd, then proofread, etc.)
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Post by Tricia on Oct 19, 2006 9:04:53 GMT -6
the cemetery at Ft. Rice was: "Three hundred yards west of the fort, on a gently sloping hill... Diane-- I hope you have a looong measuring tape! Billy, thanks--as always--for the info! LMC
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Post by Hostler on Oct 19, 2006 10:05:09 GMT -6
Good info Billy!
Diane indicated she didn't see any older stones there. I wonder if some or all of the dead were re-interred somewhere else when the post was abandoned. It seems odd Benteen wouldn't have supplied a stone for his daughter if that is where she is.
Regards, Hostler
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Post by Diane Merkel on Oct 19, 2006 11:50:55 GMT -6
Darn you, Billy! Now I have to plan another trip to Fort Rice! (Perhaps I can go after the North Platte conference next year. More miles on the old Tahoe!)
As far as I remember, we were heading due south when we saw the fort, which was on the left side of the road, which would mean the cemetery would be across the road about three football fields away!?!
Billy, I'm taking your cellphone number with me next summer. If you get an obscene call next July, you'll know who it is!
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Post by Tricia on Oct 19, 2006 12:21:30 GMT -6
Good info Billy! Diane indicated she didn't see any older stones there. I wonder if some or all of the dead were re-interred somewhere else when the post was abandoned. It seems odd Benteen wouldn't have supplied a stone for his daughter if that is where she is. Regards, Hostler Hostler-- I was kind of thinking--about possible reinternments--that myself. Surely the cemetery did not go abandoned when Ft. Rice crumbled ... LMC
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Post by Hostler on Oct 19, 2006 12:52:51 GMT -6
Diane.
It's mostly Leyton's fault. She's the one who brought up the Fort Rice subject, and now I've ordered another book because of it. (The one by Katherine Fougera) And Billy just eggs things on. Do you guys own some stock in Amazon or what?
Regards, Hostler
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Post by Diane Merkel on Oct 19, 2006 14:27:23 GMT -6
No, but that's a good idea. ;D
I just remembered that TreasureDude has promised to come to the North Platte conference. He lives in Rapid City, so he'll probably pass by Fort Rice and can scout the cemetery for me. It will probably cost me a cold one, but it will be well worth it.
BTW to all going to the 2007 conference, Tom Goodrich has already scouted the watering holes in North Platte, so the official one will be the Flat Rock. See you there!
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Post by markland on Oct 19, 2006 14:34:37 GMT -6
Darn you, Billy! Now I have to plan another trip to Fort Rice! (Perhaps I can go after the North Platte conference next year. More miles on the old Tahoe!) As far as I remember, we were heading due south when we saw the fort, which was on the left side of the road, which would mean the cemetery would be across the road about three football fields away!?! Billy, I'm taking your cellphone number with me next summer. If you get an obscene call next July, you'll know who it is! Diane, I look forward to the obscene phone call. Perhaps you can tell me something I haven't already learned! For some reason, I now have that darned Ray Stevens song in my head.... It's Me Again Margaret...You have the cell, home office, home & pager numbers. I can get you the cell numbers for the daughter & wife-I wouldn't want to miss a thrill! Fun aside and back to Ft. Rice. The majority of the bodies were removed to Custer Battlefield National Cemetery. There remain four military interments at the fort as well as some civilians. This link states that there are 20 Unknowns from Ft. Rice buried at CBNC: www.interment.net/data/us/mt/bighorn/custernatl/cust_misc.htmNo Benteens are buried at CBNC. The original burial registers for Ft. Rice can be found at this site. Select "Dakota Territory" and then "Ft. Rice" to view. www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/military/toc.htmlBilly P. S. Hmmm, I think I can supply some names to those "Unknowns" at the CBNC.
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Post by Diane Merkel on Oct 19, 2006 22:37:04 GMT -6
Thanks, Billy! You have redeemed yourself and are off my obscene phone call list for the moment.
Now I don't know where to look for the Benteen child.
Interesting note at the end of the Fort Rice listings: " . . . three children are buried after the Indian mode, elevated on scaffolds of poles in the cemetery."
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Post by rch on Oct 23, 2006 14:07:24 GMT -6
Re: Benteen's children.
When the Lincolns came to Washington in 1861 they were supposed to have brought the remains of one of their children with them. When Lincoln was killed, the remains of that son and a another who died while Lincoln was President were returned to Illinois.
It might be that the children's remains were reinterred in the Atlanta area. Does anyone know were Benteen's father or son are buried? Perhaps there is a family plot.
Re: Weir's boots
Weir's boots reminded me of the 1873 group photo mainly of officers and their wives on and around the stoop of the first Custer House at Ft Lincoln (Katz K - 121 and 122).
Capt Yates is the only officer wearing his trousers tucked into his boots. I went looking for photos of cavalry officers wearing full dress and trousers tucked into boots. All those that I found were mounted. This leads me to believe that on the days they were photographed Weir and Yates had some sort of mounted duty that they had to perform in full dress.
I recall reading somewhere that Custer sometimes paraded his command without officers. I participated in one such review as a member of the 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment in 1968 or 69. Yates and Weir may have served as reviewing officers at such parades.
rch
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