The Burials

[markland]

Here follows some orders, reports and other transcriptions regarding the condition of the battlefield and subsequent burials of the remains of the troops. I'll try to post in chronological order, but, sometimes things happen such as I posting the Worcester Spy editorial which set off the Staples letter and places the entire thing in some context.

Bob Reece has written and posted a very nice overview of the entire story of the burials at LBH at: friendslittlebighorn.com/dusttodust.htm

Billy

[markland]

Source: Letters Receivd by the Office of the Adjutant General, 1871-1800
National Archives series M666, roll 273

Worcester Spy
Thursday, August 23, 1877


A Chicago correspondent, who has recently visited the scene of Custer’s disastrous battle with the Indians, last summer, tells a shocking story of the condition of the remains of the gallant men who fell upon that bloody field. According to this correspondent, the work of burial was so carelessly and hastily done by the soldiers of Col. Sheridan’s command, shortly after the battle, that the first heavy rains laid bare the bodies, and ravenous wolves devoured the flesh of the victims of the massacre, and scattered their bones about the field. When the scene of the battle was visited, last month, to remove the remains of Custer and his officers, this state of things was discovered, and another hasty pretense of burial was made. But a few days after, the rains again washed out the shallow trenches in which lay the dead, and their bones are still bleaching under the summer sun. These charges are said to have aroused the indignation of army officers in Chicago, and Col. M.V. Sheridan in particular, pronounces them sensational and wholly unworthy of belief. It is unfortunate, however, that Col. Sheridan fails to make good this explicit denial. His statement in regard to the matter seems to confirm the assertations of the correspondent in almost every particular, though of course he does not accept the blame which the correspondent lays upon him. The officer says that two days after the battle, he, with a detail of troops, gave the bodies such interment as he could, the men having but few spades to work with. The bodies were buried as they had fallen, for the reason that they were too much decomposed to bear transportation, and were placed in graves from one to two feet deep. When the same officer visited the battle field, last July, nearly all the remains were exposed, and were again decently covered. He attributes this disgraceful condition of the battle field to the soil, which is as light as ashes, and is readily washed by rains, and to the rapacity of the wolves. He says the result would have been the same if the bodies had been buried deeper, and instances the case of Lieut. Hodgdon [sic], whose body was wrapped carefully in two army blankets and a piece of tent cloth, and buried several feet deep. A few days later, the body was found literally torn from the grave by wolves, and the bones really worse disturbed than those which had received but shallow burial. Lieut. Gen. Sheridan confirms the statements of his namesake so far as relates to the condition of the soil, and says the remains should and doubtless will be removed to the new military reservation, where they can be cared for by the soldiers of the post. It is hoped that this will speedily be done. The least the government can do for the brave men who loyally followed their impetuous commander to certain death, is to preserve their remains from exposure to the elements, and the ravages of wild beasts.

[markland]

Source: Letters Receivd by the Office of the Adjutant General, 1871-1800
National Archives series M666, roll 273




Worcester
Nov. 9, 1877




Hon. W.W. Rice

Dear Sir

I received your favor in due time and will state to you as briefly as I can my wishes in regard to the remains of my son and of those who fell with him at the battle of the Little Big Horn June 25th, 1876. But first let me say that soon after the massacre, I wrote to some of the officers (the proper ones I supposed) to learn if it was possible for me to [remove?] the body of my son and have it sent home for proper burial here, but was told in every case that it could not be done, though I had been informed that he was easily recognized and was not mutilated. Under the circumstances I felt that I must submit to the sad alternative and bear my grief as well as I could, knowing that all who fell remained together. But during the last summer I learned from a weekly paper that the remains of Gen. Custer and most of the commissioned officers had been removed and were then on their way for burial among their friends, or as in the case of Custer, to be buried at West Point. This preceeding appears to have been purposely kept out of the daily papers and from the knowledge of the friends of the soldiers, only one civilian going with the expedition to the battle ground as far as I know. Of course if I could have known about it in time I should have made every possible effort to have gone and [recovered?] the remains of my son.

Soon after the information reached me of the removal of the officers, there appeared an editorial in the Worcester Daily Spy of Aug. 23, which I enclose for your perusal, showing the sad condition of the dead upon the battle ground. This has given me very much unhappiness and I desire to know the truth or the falsity of these statements. If true, I think the government can do no less than to give these remains decent burial, by putting them in coffins and remove them to some suitable place. If the statements are not true then the friends of the deceased should be so informed, and upon such testimony, that there cannot be a shadow of doubt about the facts in the case.

It is hard for me to understand how the remains of the officers could be in [condition?] for removal and recognition [while?] those of privates and non-commissioned officers had become food for wolves.

I talked to Mr. [Howe?] about this matter and he thought that an order of inquiry [instructed?] in the House upon the Secretary of War, would draw out a full statement of the case. What I want is this: All the facts in the case, if possible to recognize the remains I want to [remove?] the body of my son. If not I want that he, with those who fell with him, should have decent and suitable burial at some permanent fort or at the national cemetery where these bodies could rest undisturbed, and some fitting monument erected to their memory.

I leave the matter in your hands and hope for suitable action in the matter.

S.E. Staples

[markland]

Source: Letters Receivd by the Office of the Adjutant General, 1871-1800
National Archives series M666, roll 273

Washington
March 15, 1878

Hon. G.W. McCrary
Sec. of War.

Sir,

Mr. S.E. Stables [sic] of the City of Worcester, a respectable & worthy man, lost a son in Custer's attack upon the Indians.

He and his wife have been greatly pained at the newspaper, and other accounts, of the burial and subsequent exposure and neglect of the remains of the Soldiers who fell in that charge and whose bodies were never recovered or identified, of whom their son was one.

I respectfully ask that you will cause such a statement of the circumstances attending the burial and subsequent fate of the remains to be prepared, as may be from the information in your Department, and handed to me for the Stables [sic]. And, if not objectionable, possibly for publication by the Papers which have contained the accounts to which I have referred.

Very Respectfully yours,

W.W. Rice
M.C. 9th Mass.

[markland]

Source: Letters Receivd by the Office of the Adjutant General, 1871-1800
National Archives series M666, roll 273

Headquarters Military Division of the Missouri
Chicago, Illinois
May 16th, 1877

Lieut. Col. M.V. Sheridan
Aide-de-Camp


Colonel

In compliance with the authority of the Hon. Secretary of War, herewith enclosed, you will proceed to the battlefield of the Little Big Horn, and recover, as far as it is practicable, the bodies of Lieut. Colonel Geo. A. Custer and other officers who fell with him on June 25th, 1876, and bring them down to Fort Abraham Lincoln, where they will be properly prepared for burial.

The body of Lieut. Col. Custer will from thence be transshipped to the cemetery at West Point, New York, and those of the other officers to the National Cemetery at Fort Leaveworth, unless the relatives and friends of the officers desire to take possession of the bodies for interment at such places as they may elect.

In the performance of this duty, the most rigid economy will be required, and the expense will be paid by the Hon. Secretary of War out of the Contingency Fund of the Army.

All commanding officers will be required to give Lieut. Col. Sheridan such assistance in the way of details and transportation as he may find necessary to make a requisition for, and Brig. Gen. Terry is requested to detail Capt. Nowlan 7th Cavalry, to accompany Col. Sheridan to the battlefield and assist him in his duties.

Very respectfully,
(signed) P.H. Sheridan
Lieutenant General.

[markland]

Source: Letters Receivd by the Office of the Adjutant General, 1871-1800
National Archives series M666, roll 273

Headquarters Military Division of the Missouri
Chicago, Illinois
April 8th, 1878

To:

The Adjutant General of the Army
Washington, D.C.

Sir,

In compliance with the request of the General of the Army, I have the honor to state that I visited the Custer battle-field, July 21, 1877. Shortly after reaching the field, I made a detail of Maj. Geo. A. Forsyth, of my personal staff, and seventy men, with Sioux guides who had been in the battle, to scour the country around the battle-field and thoroughly examine for any body or bones, and if found, to carefully bury them. I then visited the main portion of the battle-field myself, and found all the graves nicely raised as in cemeteries inside of civilization, and most, if not all, marked with head-boards or stakes. I respectfully refer to Maj. Forsyth’s report, herewith endorsed, as to what he and his party accomplished.

I wish to state to the General of the Army that it has been my intention to ask him this spring to have this spot set off as a national cemetery, if possible. It is only thirteen miles from Fort Custer and could be easily taken care of from that post. If this is deemed impracticable, I will this summer have the remains removed to the cemetery at Fort Custer and there buried.

It has been utterly impossible to take any steps up to this time to make any satisfactory arrangement regarding these remains. We have had so much to do at Fort Custer and so few men to do it with that up to the present time we have been obliged to look out first for the comfort of the living. This summer, if the spot is not made a national cemetery, I will have all the remains taken up, transferred to Fort Custer and there buried.

I am half-inclined to think, strange as it may appear, that nearly all the desecration of graves at the Custer battle-field has been done by curiosity hunters in the shape of human coyotes. I have myself known of one or two cases where bones were exhibited as relics from the Custer battle-field.

Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

P.H. Sheridan
Lieut. General

[markland]

Source: Letters Receivd by the Office of the Adjutant General, 1871-1800
National Archives series M666, roll 273

Headquarters Military Division of the Missouri
Chicago, Illinois
April 8th, 1878

Lieut. Gen. P.H. Sheridan,
Commanding Mil. Div. Missouri,
Chicago.


General,

I have the honor to make the following supplementary report, regarding the condition of the graves on the Custer battle ground situated on Little-horn or Custer River, as they apeared on the 21st day of July, 1877. The original report made upon this subject shortly after your return from your tour of inspection has, in some manner been lost or mislaid.

By your direction, a detail of 60 enlisted men and three commissioned officers was made from the detachment of troops accompanying your headquarters, and with with this force, equipped with all the spades, shovels and picks of the command. Maj. V.K. Hart, 5th Cavalry, commanding the escort, and myself made a thorough and careful survey of the battle-field upon both sides of the river, with the following results:

We found that, as a general thing, the graves were in as good a condition as, under the circumstances and considering the extreme lightness of the soil and the entire absence from it of clay, gravel or stones, could have been expected. The grave of Lieut. Crittenden, the only officer’s body that had not been removed for burial was plainly and distinctly marked by a wooden cross, as were also the graves of several of the citizens who fell in the fight. The soldiers’ graves were generally grouped together in four distinct places, and with two exceptions, where the wolves had dug for prey, were well covered.

On the side of a ravine where a number of bodies had been buried, we found several skeletons that had been exposed by the rains washing out the side of the ravine, which with this soil is not an uncommon thing, as it is as easily washed out as so much ashes. Upon the west side of the river, near Maj. Reno’s first battle-field, we also discovered parts of several skeletons evidently disinterrred by wolves.

Our search over the whole field was thorough and exhaustive, and when we returned to camp I do not think that there was a human bone unburied on the field. The total number of skeletons or parts of skeletons reburied was seventeen (17). Our party was divided into three detachments, each commanded by a commissioned officer, and the time spent in reburying and searching for graves that had been disturbed was over four hours. I do not think that there will ever be a time in the spring, or after the spring rains, that portions of the skeletons will not be exposed, if the remains are left there, for the soil is so light, bakes as hard and disintegrates to such an extent in summer that wash-outs from four to ten feet in depth among the hillocks are not at all unusual.

I am General,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

Geo. A. Forsyth
Maj. & A.A.D.C.

[Dark Cloud]

I call attention to two things.

The CYA of "as could be expected", which the rest of the letter indicates 'could not at all be so expected now or ever.'

Then, the addition of detail - which they screw up - to add substance and the illusion of task dedication. There are 70 men or 63 men, depending who you believe. I realize it's not a big deal, but the unwary, reading this and noting what passes for precision might be greatly misled into thinking the mission accomplished.

This is a good an easy example of what Tuchman meant by 'details tend to obscure.' Military minds tend to thin(k)g layering on details will flummox the layman, impress the wannabe as if he's been blessed by special knowledge and shares in the warrior life, and conceal the truth, and they're right far too often.

They did the best they could which was not nearly good enough. Given the description of the Custer Brother burial, and the absolute absence of consistency with their retrieval description, would indicate that these letters lack in large measure any great dedication to actuality.

[markland]

Dec 20, 2008 9:56:33 GMT -6 Dark Cloud said:

I call attention to two things.

The CYA of "as could be expected", which the rest of the letter indicates 'could not at all be so expected now or ever.'

Then, the addition of detail - which they screw up - to add substance and the illusion of task dedication. There are 70 men or 63 men, depending who you believe. I realize it's not a big deal, but the unwary, reading this and noting what passes for precision might be greatly misled into thinking the mission accomplished.

This is a good an easy example of what Tuchman meant by 'details tend to obscure.' Military minds tend to thing layering on details will flummox the layman, impress the wannabe as if he's been blessed by special knowledge and shares in the warrior life, and conceal the truth, and they're right far too often.

They did the best they could which was not nearly good enough. Given the description of the Custer Brother burial, and the absolute absence of consistency with their retrieval description, would indicate that these letters lack in large measure any great dedication to actuality.

Glad you are so impressed. I assume this means you will not be reading any further, right?

<expletive deleted>

Billy

[Dark Cloud]

?

No, I thought it very interesting for the reasons I gave. Why that annoys you is beyond me. Never thought you a wannabe.

It illustrates how the substance of the letter can be totally at odds with the writer's introductory summary which could be used as a handy quote. In short, the graves are secure and dignified = as good as could be done in soil that prevents the status of secure to be achieved and we have to move them. And, as the years proved, they missed not a few anyway.

Chill. The Chiefs only have two more fiascos and then it's over. The Broncos may take the division with like a 40% win record. Impressive.

[markland]

Dec 20, 2008 18:42:08 GMT -6 Dark Cloud said:

?

No, I thought it very interesting for the reasons I gave. Why that annoys you is beyond me. Never thought you a wannabe.

It illustrates how the substance of the letter can be totally at odds with the writer's introductory summary which could be used as a handy quote. In short, the graves are secure and dignified = as good as could be done in soil that prevents the status of secure to be achieved and we have to move them. And, as the years proved, they missed not a few anyway.

Chill. The Chiefs only have two more fiascos and then it's over. The Broncos may take the division with like a 40% win record. Impressive.

No problems, everything is irritating me today. A few easy toilet repairs (I only used $5.49 of the $50.00 in parts I bought) and then, voom, cut on the blessed water and the shut-off has developed a leak. I hate plumbing, optimists, negativists and Christmas.

Bah, humbug.

Billy

P.S. The Chefs aren't my favorite flavor either.