Post by herosrest on Jun 13, 2012 7:54:42 GMT -6
1 - THE TIME OF THE PLACE - From 'Early History of North Dakota - Essential Outlines of American History' (1919), page 323,
by Col. Clement A. Lounsberry. Founder of the Bismarck Tribune.
Lt. Col. Reno and Maj. Custer
were near the village of the buffalo hunters at Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn river) at about 12:30 pm, on the 25th June 1876. The first itinery of 7th Cavalry's march is dated July 6th, 1876; it was not controvercial; it was widely published.
Evidence
Page 320 - The wounded were sent to the rear some fourteen miles on horse litters, striking the Far West sixty odd miles up the Big Horn, which point they left on Monday, July 3, at noon, reaching Bismarck, 900 miles distant, at 11 P. M., Wednesday, July 5. (see Page 317 below)
Page 321 - We are indebted to Colonel Smith for the following full list of the dead ; to Doctor Porter for the list of wounded, which is also full.
Page 323 - Total number of commissioned officers killed - 14
Acting assistant surgeon - 1
Enlisted men - 237
Civilians - 5
Indian scouts - 3
Note.— An officer of Custer's regiment penciled on the margin of this account the following
"Our march on June 24th was twenty-eight miles; leaving barracks at 11pm, we marched eight miles; halted at 2am, 25th; again marched at 8am. till 10:30am. Then about noon took up our march for the attack. Up to this time we had marched about forty-eight miles."
48miles less 28 miles during the 24th, less 8 during the night march, gives 12 miles covered until about noon and the march for the attack. The itinery was published July 6th 1876, in the New York Herald. Followed by a map of the battleground on 14th July, 1876.
Page 317 - From Salt Lake there came a rumor that a battle had been fought, but there were absolutely no details. When or where no one pretended to know. General Sheridan was most emphatic in his denunciation of the story. The first news that gave any information came from Bismarck, and the first publication, aside from a bulletin sent out by the Tribune which appeared in the New York Herald of July 6th, was in the Bismarck Tribune of that date.
There were no Mergenthalers then. Composition was by the slow hand process and there were but two printers in town. They took the pages as they fell hot from the hand of one who was at the same time furnishing a 50,000 word press report, who had only time to give them facts, and here is the account as it was then published, and it is indeed worthy of a place as it was then written, in the history of Dakota.
Page 318 - At 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 24th, Custer's scouts reported the location of a village recently deserted, whereupon Custer went into camp, marching again at 11pm, continuing the march until daylight, when he again went into camp for coffee. Custer was then fifteen miles from the village located on the Little Horn, one of the branches of the Big Horn, twenty miles above its mouth, which could be seen from the top of the divide, and after lunch General Custer pushed on.
The Indians by this time had discovered his approach and soon were seen mounting in great haste, riding here and there, it was presumed in full retreat. This idea was strengthened by finding a freshly abandoned Indian camp with a deserted tepee, in which one of their dead had been left, about six
miles from where the battle took place.
Custer with his usual vigor pushed on, making seventy-eight miles without sleep, and attacked the village near its foot with Companies C, E, F, I and L of the Seventh Cavalry, Reno having in the meantime attacked it at its head with three companies of cavalry which, being surrounded, after a desperate hand to hand conflict in which many were killed and wounded, cut their way to a bluff about three hundred feet high, where they were reinforced by four companies of cavalry under Colonel Benteen. In gaining this position Colonel Reno had to recross the Little Horn, and at the ford the hottest fight occurred. It was here that Lieutenants Mcintosh, Hodgson and Doctor DeWolf fell; where Charley Reynolds fell in a hand-to-hand conflict with a dozen or more Sioux, emptying several chambers of his revolver, each time bringing down a redskin before he was brought down—shot through the heart.
It was here Bloody Knife surrendered his spirit to the one who gave it, fighting the natural and hereditary foes of his tribe, as well as the foes of the whites. The Sioux dashed up beside the soldiers, in some instances knocking them from their horses and killing them at their pleasure. This was the case with Lieutenant Mcintosh, who was unarmed except for a saber. He was pulled from his horse, tortured and finally murdered at the pleasure of the red devils. It was here that Fred Gerard was separated from the command and lay all night with the screeching fiends dealing death and destruction to his comrades within a few feet of him and—but time will not permit us to relate the story—through some means succeeded in saving his fine black stallion in which he took so much pride. The ford was crossed and the summit reached, the bluffs, having, Colonel.Smith* says, the steepest sides that he ever saw ascended by a horse or mule, though the ascent was made under a galling fire.
* Note - quoted comment by Capt. E.W. Smith.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Clement A. Lounsberry: Those for whom Lounsberry is a footnote or unknown of Little Big Horn, his credentials are impeccable. Lounsberry was the correspondent of the New York Herald who furnished that paper with the fourteen-column account of the Custer massacre. In 1872 he established the Bismarck Tribune, the first newspaper published in North Dakota, with which he remained until 1884. In February, 1876, he was appointed postmaster at Bismarck taking over after Linda Slaughter's resignation, and held the position until Cleveland's election, when he resigned.
It was apparent to any observer that, notwithstanding the liberal provisions made by the Government for the Indians, the Indians were suffering from hunger, and their attitude became constantly more threatening. There were other ugly rumors, which unfortunately proved to be true, that the traders were paying enormous tribute to persons connected with those in official position, and that the quota apportioned to each of the traders at Forts Buford, Lincoln and Rice, to be paid monthly, was $1,000, with lesser sums for the smaller posts.
General Custer was a man of action and of high ideals, and believed in a square deal. These ruinors, backed with absolute proof, reached him. He also believed that smuggling of arms and liquor was carried on to a great extent and that by this means also money was provided to pay the tribute exacted of the traders. The wife of the then Secretary of War was the beneficiary on the part of the military traderships, while one related to the President was sharing the profit from the Indian traderships.
General Custer was instrumental in having Ralph Meeker sent out by a New York newspaper to report on this matter. He reported to General Custer. His mission was known to the writer of these pages, then editor of the Bismarck Tribune, and to James A. Emmons at Bismarck, who had previously flaunted the main facts in the face of the Secretary of War by means of a printed circular, when General Belknap was on an official visit to Fort A. Lincoln. Meeker gained employment through General Custer at the Berthold Indian Agency, and thereby gained opportunity for interviews with a number of the Sioux whom he met there and at Fort A. Lincoln and Standing Rock. Custer was not backward in supplying Meeker the facts that had come to his attention, and the publication of the story resulted in the impeachment of Secretary Belnap, who resigned rather than have the facts, of which he was not wholly conscious, become a matter of record. - C.A. Lounsberry 1919; p314
Lounsbery was a member of the Historical Commission of the North Dakota Historical Society and editor of the "Record," published under the auspices of the North Dakota Historical Society, at Fargo. His work 'The Early History of Noth Dakota' was published by Liberty Press in 1919. Of him it was said; 'He hates shams and the men pretending to be what they are not, no matter to what profession they may belong or what profession they may espouse. It was noticed in him as a child when he declared he would not ride a stick and call it a horse, though he was willing to drag it by his side and continue to play with his associates.' His military record is found on page 875, 'Michigan in the War', published by the state of Michigan.
December 2, 1864, Clement A. Lounsberry was promoted Major by brevet "for gallant and meritorious services in the campaign before Richmond. Virginia." The appointment was made by President Lincoln. December 20, 1864, he was appointed Lt. Col. and March 2, 1865, Colonel on his twenty second birthday. The colonelcy was offered some months before but declined on the ground it belonged to his old captain. He was educated in public schools at Hicksville, Ohio, where he went to reside after the death of his parents, which occurred before his seventh year; also at the public schools in Michigan. At fourteen he went to Fort Wayne to learn the machinist's trade, but with no opening he started on a tramp for work, which he secured on a farm, near Albion and spent three winters in country schools. April 21, 1861, he enlisted in response to Lincoln's first call for troops and became a private in Company I, First Michigan Volunteers and was mustered into the United States service for three months. Three days before expiration of his term he was wounded and taken prisoner at first Bull Run and remained a prisoner at Libby prison, in Richmond, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Salisbury, North Carolina, until June 17, 1862, nearly a year. Mustered out July 6, 1862, at Detroit, Michigan, he enlisted again in the Twentieth Michigan, August 9, 1862, and upon the organization of the regiment he became first sergeant of Company I ; January 26, 1863, he became second lieutenant Company K; November 19, 1863, first lieutenant Company H; May 12, 1864, captain Company A.
Home from a year in southern prison, it is related of him in the History of Calhoun county, Michigan, that "he sought the first opportunity to re-enlist, declaring that he wanted to go back and pay his board bill, as he was indebted to the Confederates for a year's free entertainment." In camp at Alexandria the Confederates came down one night and fired on the Union pickets. It was just before July 4, 1861. On the 4th Lounsberry, a lad of eighteen, and William H. Smith, shouldered muskets, stole out of camp through the pickets, and taking the main road to Fairfax Court House, fourteen miles distant, where Beauregard's army was stationed, fired on their pickets in broad daylight, killing one and wounding another. They heard the long roll beat in the rebel camp, in ten minutes were surrounded by the enemy, but through the friendly offices of an old negro managed to escape and get back into camp. The colonel says he was as badly frightened as the rebels when they opened fire on them.
Wounded at first Bull Run he refused to leave the field and afterward fell into line with the fragments of a hundred broken regiments to assist in repelling that famous charge of the Black Horse Cavalry. At the time his regiment met Morgan's command in Kentucky the Colonel had command of the advance guard and though the numbers against him were overwhelming, forgetful of danger, he stepped from shelter in the woods into the middle of the road, followed by Charles Benham of his company. Captain Chenault and a sergeant on the Confederate side followed their example. The four fired. Captain Chenault and Benham were killed, the Confederate sergeant was shot through both hips and Lounsberry through the right thigh, the ball passing through between the bone and the main artery. At Spottsylvania Court House his command consisted of Sergeant William Gleason, now of Jamestown, North Dakota, and twenty-five men. Twenty-two of the twenty-seven, including Gleason and the Colonel, fell under the murderous fire. It was a hand-to-hand conflict as to a portion of the men who clubbed their muskets when to load and fire was impossible. It was in this engagement that the tree, cut down by minie balls, exhibited at the World's Fair, was found. AtFort Saunders the conflict was also hand to hand and at one point of the angle of the fort the dead were five deep, and the Confederates claimed there was blood enough in the ditch to drown a cat. Each man of Colonel Lounsberry's command had from two to three muskets loaded and used them with terrible effect. Muskets were clubbed and in some instances the rebels were cut down with axes and in others bayonetted. Lieutenant Benjamin fired his artillery with deadly effect, even after the rebels had laid hands on his guns. The Colonel promises to make war reminiscences a feature later in the 'Record'. Twenty-two years after the battle at Spottsylvania Court House his leg, weakened by the gunshot received in that engagement, broke from his weight.
He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Cumberland river, Kentucky, in battle with Morgan's forces, when they were starting on their raid into Ohio, but escaped from imprisonment through inducing one of the enemy to desert. General Burnside sent out a force to recapture him, under the command of Lt-Col Robert Jacobs, afterward governor of Kentucky.
At the close of the war his was the first regiment to leave Washington under the order mustering out the troops. He commanded the two regiments which took possession of Petersburg and received the surrender from the three committees sent out by the city council to surrender the city. Masons will be interested to know that a member of the Masonic lodge, of which Washington was W.M., was placed at the head of each of these committees and by those signs which one Mason may know another in the dark, as well as in the light, made themselves known to Col. Lounsberry, then a master Mason, a member of St. Albans, Michigan. Masonry, received credit for the protection which was extended to the citizens. Greeley in his great work on the Rebellion calls attention to the fact that at Petersburg there was no disorderly conduct on the part of the soldiers who took possession. There was no drunkenness and in no single instance was private property disturbed nor public property injured.
The war was over and under Col. Lounsberry Union troops became protectors. The mayor, common council and sixty citizens of Petersburg waited on Gen. O. B. Wilcox and requested that Lounsberry be appointed provost marshal of the city, but this was refused on the ground that his services were invaluable at the front. He marched on with Wilcox and was present with the Army of the Potomac when Lee surrendered, as he was at Alexandria when Ellsworth was killed. He was at the first battle of Bull Run, heard the roar of cannon and rattle of musketry at Antietam, participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Horse Shoe Bend, Kentucky, where wounded and taken prisoner. Blue Springs, Loudon, Lenoir Station, Campbell Station, siege of Knoxville, Fort Saunders, Thurley's Ford, Strawberry Plains and Chucky Bend, Tennessee, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House where he was again badly wounded, Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, capture of Petersburg and siege of Petersburg, Virginia, from October 10, 1864, to April 3, 1865. During all these months there was not an hour when the whistle of minie ball could not be heard, and casualties were of almost constant occurrence, while there were frequent sharp engagements. During most of this time Colonel Lounsberry was an aide or adjutant-general on the staff of General Cutcheon, commanding the brigade. Cutcheon, in recommending him for appointment as governor of Dakota in 1884, spoke of him as having served under him as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, adjutant-general and also of my staff, and succeeded later as colonel and I regard him as the bravest soldier I ever saw."
Lounsberry was the correspondent of the "New York Herald" who furnished that paper with the fourteen-column account of the Custer massacre. In 1872 he established the "Bismarck Tribune," the first newspaper published in North Dakota, with which he remained until 1884. In February, 1876, he was appointed postmaster at Bismarck taking over after Linda Slaughter's resignation, and held the position until Cleveland's election, when he resigned. He was to have accompanied Custer and provide media coverage, however, at the last minute Lounsberry's wife fell ill, so the editor asked Kellogg to take his place as correspondent. Kellogg sent three dispatches back, the last four days before battle from the mouth of the Rosebud River. His last dispatch read, "By the time this reaches you we would have met and fought the red devils, with what result remains to be seen. I go with Custer and will be at the death." There is considerable doubt as to where Kellogg's body lay after the battle, Judson placing him near the scout Isiah Doorman in the valley, consistent with Gibbon's examination of the timber.
QPCOF IC2FE2-1
CONCLUSION - Throw away your time-line. Forty-eight miles from 24th June, until noon of the 25th is forty-eight miles. Inconsistencies between Battle time-lines are the function of interpretations of a report to the Chief of Engineers dated July 10th 1876, by Lt. Edward Maguire, Engineer Officer accompanying Gen. Alfred H. Terry. Lt. Col. Custer and Maj. Reno were near the village in the valley of the Little Big Horn river Greasy Grass at about 12:30 pm, on the 25th June 1876. The first itinery of 7th Cavalry's march is dated July 6th, 1876; was not controvercial and was widely published, (ie authentcated and provenanced).
ps Fred Great book. Well done.
I hope this is not a matter of controversy?
by Col. Clement A. Lounsberry. Founder of the Bismarck Tribune.
Lt. Col. Reno and Maj. Custer
were near the village of the buffalo hunters at Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn river) at about 12:30 pm, on the 25th June 1876. The first itinery of 7th Cavalry's march is dated July 6th, 1876; it was not controvercial; it was widely published. Evidence
Page 320 - The wounded were sent to the rear some fourteen miles on horse litters, striking the Far West sixty odd miles up the Big Horn, which point they left on Monday, July 3, at noon, reaching Bismarck, 900 miles distant, at 11 P. M., Wednesday, July 5. (see Page 317 below)
Page 321 - We are indebted to Colonel Smith for the following full list of the dead ; to Doctor Porter for the list of wounded, which is also full.
Page 323 - Total number of commissioned officers killed - 14
Acting assistant surgeon - 1
Enlisted men - 237
Civilians - 5
Indian scouts - 3
Note.— An officer of Custer's regiment penciled on the margin of this account the following
"Our march on June 24th was twenty-eight miles; leaving barracks at 11pm, we marched eight miles; halted at 2am, 25th; again marched at 8am. till 10:30am. Then about noon took up our march for the attack. Up to this time we had marched about forty-eight miles."
48miles less 28 miles during the 24th, less 8 during the night march, gives 12 miles covered until about noon and the march for the attack. The itinery was published July 6th 1876, in the New York Herald. Followed by a map of the battleground on 14th July, 1876.
Page 317 - From Salt Lake there came a rumor that a battle had been fought, but there were absolutely no details. When or where no one pretended to know. General Sheridan was most emphatic in his denunciation of the story. The first news that gave any information came from Bismarck, and the first publication, aside from a bulletin sent out by the Tribune which appeared in the New York Herald of July 6th, was in the Bismarck Tribune of that date.
There were no Mergenthalers then. Composition was by the slow hand process and there were but two printers in town. They took the pages as they fell hot from the hand of one who was at the same time furnishing a 50,000 word press report, who had only time to give them facts, and here is the account as it was then published, and it is indeed worthy of a place as it was then written, in the history of Dakota.
Page 318 - At 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 24th, Custer's scouts reported the location of a village recently deserted, whereupon Custer went into camp, marching again at 11pm, continuing the march until daylight, when he again went into camp for coffee. Custer was then fifteen miles from the village located on the Little Horn, one of the branches of the Big Horn, twenty miles above its mouth, which could be seen from the top of the divide, and after lunch General Custer pushed on.
The Indians by this time had discovered his approach and soon were seen mounting in great haste, riding here and there, it was presumed in full retreat. This idea was strengthened by finding a freshly abandoned Indian camp with a deserted tepee, in which one of their dead had been left, about six
miles from where the battle took place.
Custer with his usual vigor pushed on, making seventy-eight miles without sleep, and attacked the village near its foot with Companies C, E, F, I and L of the Seventh Cavalry, Reno having in the meantime attacked it at its head with three companies of cavalry which, being surrounded, after a desperate hand to hand conflict in which many were killed and wounded, cut their way to a bluff about three hundred feet high, where they were reinforced by four companies of cavalry under Colonel Benteen. In gaining this position Colonel Reno had to recross the Little Horn, and at the ford the hottest fight occurred. It was here that Lieutenants Mcintosh, Hodgson and Doctor DeWolf fell; where Charley Reynolds fell in a hand-to-hand conflict with a dozen or more Sioux, emptying several chambers of his revolver, each time bringing down a redskin before he was brought down—shot through the heart.
It was here Bloody Knife surrendered his spirit to the one who gave it, fighting the natural and hereditary foes of his tribe, as well as the foes of the whites. The Sioux dashed up beside the soldiers, in some instances knocking them from their horses and killing them at their pleasure. This was the case with Lieutenant Mcintosh, who was unarmed except for a saber. He was pulled from his horse, tortured and finally murdered at the pleasure of the red devils. It was here that Fred Gerard was separated from the command and lay all night with the screeching fiends dealing death and destruction to his comrades within a few feet of him and—but time will not permit us to relate the story—through some means succeeded in saving his fine black stallion in which he took so much pride. The ford was crossed and the summit reached, the bluffs, having, Colonel.Smith* says, the steepest sides that he ever saw ascended by a horse or mule, though the ascent was made under a galling fire.
* Note - quoted comment by Capt. E.W. Smith.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Clement A. Lounsberry: Those for whom Lounsberry is a footnote or unknown of Little Big Horn, his credentials are impeccable. Lounsberry was the correspondent of the New York Herald who furnished that paper with the fourteen-column account of the Custer massacre. In 1872 he established the Bismarck Tribune, the first newspaper published in North Dakota, with which he remained until 1884. In February, 1876, he was appointed postmaster at Bismarck taking over after Linda Slaughter's resignation, and held the position until Cleveland's election, when he resigned.
It was apparent to any observer that, notwithstanding the liberal provisions made by the Government for the Indians, the Indians were suffering from hunger, and their attitude became constantly more threatening. There were other ugly rumors, which unfortunately proved to be true, that the traders were paying enormous tribute to persons connected with those in official position, and that the quota apportioned to each of the traders at Forts Buford, Lincoln and Rice, to be paid monthly, was $1,000, with lesser sums for the smaller posts.
General Custer was a man of action and of high ideals, and believed in a square deal. These ruinors, backed with absolute proof, reached him. He also believed that smuggling of arms and liquor was carried on to a great extent and that by this means also money was provided to pay the tribute exacted of the traders. The wife of the then Secretary of War was the beneficiary on the part of the military traderships, while one related to the President was sharing the profit from the Indian traderships.
General Custer was instrumental in having Ralph Meeker sent out by a New York newspaper to report on this matter. He reported to General Custer. His mission was known to the writer of these pages, then editor of the Bismarck Tribune, and to James A. Emmons at Bismarck, who had previously flaunted the main facts in the face of the Secretary of War by means of a printed circular, when General Belknap was on an official visit to Fort A. Lincoln. Meeker gained employment through General Custer at the Berthold Indian Agency, and thereby gained opportunity for interviews with a number of the Sioux whom he met there and at Fort A. Lincoln and Standing Rock. Custer was not backward in supplying Meeker the facts that had come to his attention, and the publication of the story resulted in the impeachment of Secretary Belnap, who resigned rather than have the facts, of which he was not wholly conscious, become a matter of record. - C.A. Lounsberry 1919; p314
Lounsbery was a member of the Historical Commission of the North Dakota Historical Society and editor of the "Record," published under the auspices of the North Dakota Historical Society, at Fargo. His work 'The Early History of Noth Dakota' was published by Liberty Press in 1919. Of him it was said; 'He hates shams and the men pretending to be what they are not, no matter to what profession they may belong or what profession they may espouse. It was noticed in him as a child when he declared he would not ride a stick and call it a horse, though he was willing to drag it by his side and continue to play with his associates.' His military record is found on page 875, 'Michigan in the War', published by the state of Michigan.
December 2, 1864, Clement A. Lounsberry was promoted Major by brevet "for gallant and meritorious services in the campaign before Richmond. Virginia." The appointment was made by President Lincoln. December 20, 1864, he was appointed Lt. Col. and March 2, 1865, Colonel on his twenty second birthday. The colonelcy was offered some months before but declined on the ground it belonged to his old captain. He was educated in public schools at Hicksville, Ohio, where he went to reside after the death of his parents, which occurred before his seventh year; also at the public schools in Michigan. At fourteen he went to Fort Wayne to learn the machinist's trade, but with no opening he started on a tramp for work, which he secured on a farm, near Albion and spent three winters in country schools. April 21, 1861, he enlisted in response to Lincoln's first call for troops and became a private in Company I, First Michigan Volunteers and was mustered into the United States service for three months. Three days before expiration of his term he was wounded and taken prisoner at first Bull Run and remained a prisoner at Libby prison, in Richmond, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Salisbury, North Carolina, until June 17, 1862, nearly a year. Mustered out July 6, 1862, at Detroit, Michigan, he enlisted again in the Twentieth Michigan, August 9, 1862, and upon the organization of the regiment he became first sergeant of Company I ; January 26, 1863, he became second lieutenant Company K; November 19, 1863, first lieutenant Company H; May 12, 1864, captain Company A.
Home from a year in southern prison, it is related of him in the History of Calhoun county, Michigan, that "he sought the first opportunity to re-enlist, declaring that he wanted to go back and pay his board bill, as he was indebted to the Confederates for a year's free entertainment." In camp at Alexandria the Confederates came down one night and fired on the Union pickets. It was just before July 4, 1861. On the 4th Lounsberry, a lad of eighteen, and William H. Smith, shouldered muskets, stole out of camp through the pickets, and taking the main road to Fairfax Court House, fourteen miles distant, where Beauregard's army was stationed, fired on their pickets in broad daylight, killing one and wounding another. They heard the long roll beat in the rebel camp, in ten minutes were surrounded by the enemy, but through the friendly offices of an old negro managed to escape and get back into camp. The colonel says he was as badly frightened as the rebels when they opened fire on them.
Wounded at first Bull Run he refused to leave the field and afterward fell into line with the fragments of a hundred broken regiments to assist in repelling that famous charge of the Black Horse Cavalry. At the time his regiment met Morgan's command in Kentucky the Colonel had command of the advance guard and though the numbers against him were overwhelming, forgetful of danger, he stepped from shelter in the woods into the middle of the road, followed by Charles Benham of his company. Captain Chenault and a sergeant on the Confederate side followed their example. The four fired. Captain Chenault and Benham were killed, the Confederate sergeant was shot through both hips and Lounsberry through the right thigh, the ball passing through between the bone and the main artery. At Spottsylvania Court House his command consisted of Sergeant William Gleason, now of Jamestown, North Dakota, and twenty-five men. Twenty-two of the twenty-seven, including Gleason and the Colonel, fell under the murderous fire. It was a hand-to-hand conflict as to a portion of the men who clubbed their muskets when to load and fire was impossible. It was in this engagement that the tree, cut down by minie balls, exhibited at the World's Fair, was found. AtFort Saunders the conflict was also hand to hand and at one point of the angle of the fort the dead were five deep, and the Confederates claimed there was blood enough in the ditch to drown a cat. Each man of Colonel Lounsberry's command had from two to three muskets loaded and used them with terrible effect. Muskets were clubbed and in some instances the rebels were cut down with axes and in others bayonetted. Lieutenant Benjamin fired his artillery with deadly effect, even after the rebels had laid hands on his guns. The Colonel promises to make war reminiscences a feature later in the 'Record'. Twenty-two years after the battle at Spottsylvania Court House his leg, weakened by the gunshot received in that engagement, broke from his weight.
He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Cumberland river, Kentucky, in battle with Morgan's forces, when they were starting on their raid into Ohio, but escaped from imprisonment through inducing one of the enemy to desert. General Burnside sent out a force to recapture him, under the command of Lt-Col Robert Jacobs, afterward governor of Kentucky.
At the close of the war his was the first regiment to leave Washington under the order mustering out the troops. He commanded the two regiments which took possession of Petersburg and received the surrender from the three committees sent out by the city council to surrender the city. Masons will be interested to know that a member of the Masonic lodge, of which Washington was W.M., was placed at the head of each of these committees and by those signs which one Mason may know another in the dark, as well as in the light, made themselves known to Col. Lounsberry, then a master Mason, a member of St. Albans, Michigan. Masonry, received credit for the protection which was extended to the citizens. Greeley in his great work on the Rebellion calls attention to the fact that at Petersburg there was no disorderly conduct on the part of the soldiers who took possession. There was no drunkenness and in no single instance was private property disturbed nor public property injured.
The war was over and under Col. Lounsberry Union troops became protectors. The mayor, common council and sixty citizens of Petersburg waited on Gen. O. B. Wilcox and requested that Lounsberry be appointed provost marshal of the city, but this was refused on the ground that his services were invaluable at the front. He marched on with Wilcox and was present with the Army of the Potomac when Lee surrendered, as he was at Alexandria when Ellsworth was killed. He was at the first battle of Bull Run, heard the roar of cannon and rattle of musketry at Antietam, participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Horse Shoe Bend, Kentucky, where wounded and taken prisoner. Blue Springs, Loudon, Lenoir Station, Campbell Station, siege of Knoxville, Fort Saunders, Thurley's Ford, Strawberry Plains and Chucky Bend, Tennessee, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House where he was again badly wounded, Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, capture of Petersburg and siege of Petersburg, Virginia, from October 10, 1864, to April 3, 1865. During all these months there was not an hour when the whistle of minie ball could not be heard, and casualties were of almost constant occurrence, while there were frequent sharp engagements. During most of this time Colonel Lounsberry was an aide or adjutant-general on the staff of General Cutcheon, commanding the brigade. Cutcheon, in recommending him for appointment as governor of Dakota in 1884, spoke of him as having served under him as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, adjutant-general and also of my staff, and succeeded later as colonel and I regard him as the bravest soldier I ever saw."
Lounsberry was the correspondent of the "New York Herald" who furnished that paper with the fourteen-column account of the Custer massacre. In 1872 he established the "Bismarck Tribune," the first newspaper published in North Dakota, with which he remained until 1884. In February, 1876, he was appointed postmaster at Bismarck taking over after Linda Slaughter's resignation, and held the position until Cleveland's election, when he resigned. He was to have accompanied Custer and provide media coverage, however, at the last minute Lounsberry's wife fell ill, so the editor asked Kellogg to take his place as correspondent. Kellogg sent three dispatches back, the last four days before battle from the mouth of the Rosebud River. His last dispatch read, "By the time this reaches you we would have met and fought the red devils, with what result remains to be seen. I go with Custer and will be at the death." There is considerable doubt as to where Kellogg's body lay after the battle, Judson placing him near the scout Isiah Doorman in the valley, consistent with Gibbon's examination of the timber.
QPCOF IC2FE2-1
CONCLUSION - Throw away your time-line. Forty-eight miles from 24th June, until noon of the 25th is forty-eight miles. Inconsistencies between Battle time-lines are the function of interpretations of a report to the Chief of Engineers dated July 10th 1876, by Lt. Edward Maguire, Engineer Officer accompanying Gen. Alfred H. Terry. Lt. Col. Custer and Maj. Reno were near the village in the valley of the Little Big Horn river Greasy Grass at about 12:30 pm, on the 25th June 1876. The first itinery of 7th Cavalry's march is dated July 6th, 1876; was not controvercial and was widely published, (ie authentcated and provenanced).
ps Fred Great book. Well done.
I hope this is not a matter of controversy?
