Post by markland on Sept 23, 2008 15:47:26 GMT -6
I found this in the NY Sun, 04/08/1900; originally from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Cheyenne, Wyo., March 31.-The death in this city last week of Billy, the old cavalry horse, and the only survivor of the Custer massacre, closes the last chapter in the story of the gallant fight of Gen. Custer and his brave band on the Little Big Horn in 1876. Found wandering around on the battlefield, badly wounded and sniffing at the dead bodies of the victims of Sitting Bull's hordes in an effort to find his master, Billy was taken in charge by an officer in Gen. Reno's command. At first the animal recovered slowly, and for a time it was thought he would have to be shot. Medicine and kind treatment had the desired effect, however, and in a few months Billy was himself again. Major Thomas F. Talbott of this city, saw Billy and took a great fancy to him, and after much persuasion Quartermaster-Sergeant Ross consented to sell the faithful old fellow, and the Major became his new master.
Billy was about 37 years old at the time of his death and stood 15 hands high. A beautiful light bay with long mane and four white feet, he was a magnificent specimen of horse flesh. He was bred in old Kentucky, and, while full of life until stricken down by the illness which resulted in his death, he was ever gentle and never known to "act up." He attracted attention wherever he went, not because of his history especially, but because of his magnificent carriage and stately stride. Even in late [sic] years when Major Talbott participated in a parade Billy was always given a position at the head of the column, and made the best appearance of all the horses in line.
During the early days of Cheyenne's history Major Talbott was engaged in hunting criminals and always rode his faithful steed. Being fleet of foot and with great endurance powers, the animal was very valuable in the chase after bandits. On several of these occasions, when master and horse would camp for the night in some lonely spot in the mountains or on the plains, the rider would sleep with his saddle for a pillow and with the saddle blanket for a covering, while Billy, being on a rope fastened to the saddle horn, would graze and keep faithful watch. If he scented danger he would awaken his master by tugging gently at the saddle with his teeth.
Major Talbott says Billy accompanied him on many exciting trips into the robbers' country, and by his fleetness pulled him out of a number of tight places. On one of these memorable trips, when the officer was after thieves who had stolen a team from Mayor L. R. Bresnahen of Cheyenne, Billy started several hours behind them, but by making the trip from Pole Creek to Lane's Ranch, on the head of Horse Creek, a distance of eighty miles, in nine hours, the thieves were caught as they were preparing to enter the mountains, where it would have been impossible to catch them.
The last trip Billy made after criminals was in the early 80s, when a man named John Baird making his way to the Black Hills with a horse and saddle he had stolen in Denver, was overtaken at the Nine-Mile ranch, north of Cheyenne.
Old Billy is buried in a secluded spot in the garden at the Talbott residence in northwest Cheyenne, and a stone, suitably inscribed, marks the last resting place of the only survivor of one of the memorable events in American history.
The Death of Old Billy
A Cavalry Horse That Was the Last Survivor of the Custer Massacre
Cheyenne, Wyo., March 31.-The death in this city last week of Billy, the old cavalry horse, and the only survivor of the Custer massacre, closes the last chapter in the story of the gallant fight of Gen. Custer and his brave band on the Little Big Horn in 1876. Found wandering around on the battlefield, badly wounded and sniffing at the dead bodies of the victims of Sitting Bull's hordes in an effort to find his master, Billy was taken in charge by an officer in Gen. Reno's command. At first the animal recovered slowly, and for a time it was thought he would have to be shot. Medicine and kind treatment had the desired effect, however, and in a few months Billy was himself again. Major Thomas F. Talbott of this city, saw Billy and took a great fancy to him, and after much persuasion Quartermaster-Sergeant Ross consented to sell the faithful old fellow, and the Major became his new master.
Billy was about 37 years old at the time of his death and stood 15 hands high. A beautiful light bay with long mane and four white feet, he was a magnificent specimen of horse flesh. He was bred in old Kentucky, and, while full of life until stricken down by the illness which resulted in his death, he was ever gentle and never known to "act up." He attracted attention wherever he went, not because of his history especially, but because of his magnificent carriage and stately stride. Even in late [sic] years when Major Talbott participated in a parade Billy was always given a position at the head of the column, and made the best appearance of all the horses in line.
During the early days of Cheyenne's history Major Talbott was engaged in hunting criminals and always rode his faithful steed. Being fleet of foot and with great endurance powers, the animal was very valuable in the chase after bandits. On several of these occasions, when master and horse would camp for the night in some lonely spot in the mountains or on the plains, the rider would sleep with his saddle for a pillow and with the saddle blanket for a covering, while Billy, being on a rope fastened to the saddle horn, would graze and keep faithful watch. If he scented danger he would awaken his master by tugging gently at the saddle with his teeth.
Major Talbott says Billy accompanied him on many exciting trips into the robbers' country, and by his fleetness pulled him out of a number of tight places. On one of these memorable trips, when the officer was after thieves who had stolen a team from Mayor L. R. Bresnahen of Cheyenne, Billy started several hours behind them, but by making the trip from Pole Creek to Lane's Ranch, on the head of Horse Creek, a distance of eighty miles, in nine hours, the thieves were caught as they were preparing to enter the mountains, where it would have been impossible to catch them.
The last trip Billy made after criminals was in the early 80s, when a man named John Baird making his way to the Black Hills with a horse and saddle he had stolen in Denver, was overtaken at the Nine-Mile ranch, north of Cheyenne.
Old Billy is buried in a secluded spot in the garden at the Talbott residence in northwest Cheyenne, and a stone, suitably inscribed, marks the last resting place of the only survivor of one of the memorable events in American history.