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Post by carterly on Dec 25, 2012 0:10:26 GMT -6
I have seen an occasional coin pop up from the digs as pictured in the books, but where did all of their money get to?? They sure did not get to spend it. There should be some gold coins out there somewhere.
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Post by benteen on Dec 26, 2012 11:27:47 GMT -6
carterly,
I believe the men were paid in paper money after they were in the field. So you are right they didnt have a chance to spend it. Other than someone at the Powder River depot buying a straw hat, I dont think there would be too many coins on their person.
Be Well Dan
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Post by herosrest on Jan 11, 2013 12:35:02 GMT -6
From Walter Camp's 1908 interview of Trumpeter Martin, ' From notes of an interview of Trumpeter Martin in 1908, ' Martin saw Serg. Butler of L Troop and says his horse was dead with him. Does not think he could have been carrying message because Butler was not an orderly that day. Martin saw the heap of dead men in deep gully between Custer and the river. Says that one of the first sergeants with whom some of the men had left their pay for safe keeping had about $500 in paper money torn up and scattered all over his body. Martin says on Custer battlefield there were not half as many dead horses as dead men. Martin says that one of Cooke's sideburns was scalped off, skin and all and this corroborates what others have said. Martin describes Custer's wounds as do Tom O'Neill and Hammon. He also describes Tom Custer's wounds as did Hammon. Keogh had a gold chain and Agnus Dei Catholic emblem which Benteen recovered.'
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Post by trisha on Oct 3, 2013 4:26:18 GMT -6
Hi guys does anyone know what happened to custers sister(Calhoun widow) did she remarry? did she die before Libby? can't find any reference to her.thanks Trisha
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Post by quincannon on Oct 3, 2013 9:00:25 GMT -6
She became state librarian at the Library of Michigan in 1881. Married a man named Maughan a few years later in the 1890's I think, and died of cancer in 1918 or 19 I can't remember which. She did not outlive Mrs. Custer, who outlived them all.
Welcome.
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Post by trisha on Oct 3, 2013 14:54:46 GMT -6
thank you quincannon think this wonderful site I find everyone's information and discussion of the battle gain fascinating.Trisha.
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Post by quincannon on Oct 3, 2013 15:03:48 GMT -6
You are quite welcome. I was happy to have been of some assistance.
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Post by trisha on Oct 9, 2013 1:39:16 GMT -6
What happened to the worn out horses were they shot or just turned loose to fend for themselves?
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Post by Gatewood on Oct 9, 2013 6:30:06 GMT -6
Hi Trisha. Not sure "worn out" in what respect that you are referring to. Generally horses are resiliant and recover fairly quickly. It would be as if I were to do manual labor for a day and reach the point where I could not take another step, but, by the next morning I would be ready to go again. The same with the horses. However, if the situation was such that a horse was truly broken down or lame, or time did not permit for its recovery, the first option would have generally been to kill and eat it. If that was not possible under the circumstances, they would have generally been killed anyway in order to preclude the possibly of their falling into the hands of the Indians. There is a photo that I have seen a number of times of troopers butchering a horse in the field, but I can't find it just now.
As a side note, Keogh's horse Commanche is usually proclaimed as the sole survivor of the Custer portion of the battle, and that is not entirely correct. In fact a significant number of horses survived, but many of them were taken by the Indians. In the sense that they were 'taken prisoner', I guess, technically speaking, that they would not be considered 'survivors'. A number of others were wounded and not considered worth taking by the Indians, who left them alive on the battlefield. As part of the battlefield clean up soldiers were detailed to kill them, but one, when he found Commanche, asked permission of Reno to spare him, and the permission was granted. I find it curious that, under the circumstances, resources were devoted to saving him and getting him back to FAL, and I picture the captain of the Far West saying something like, "You want me to devote space and resources to carry a damned wounded horse back to the fort?".
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Post by trisha on Oct 9, 2013 7:44:06 GMT -6
Thank you gatewood can I ask two more things puzzling me.re note to benteen one why was it sent to captain benteen?it sounded urgent and he wasn't in charge of the pack train if he'd still been scouting he might have been miles away how would martini know where to find him and why if custer needed the packs why didn't he halt and wait for them.thanks again trisha
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Post by montrose on Oct 9, 2013 8:06:45 GMT -6
When LTC Custer chose to move to the bluffs and not follow Reno in the valley, he exposed the trains to the Indians. Ford A and the valley were ceded to the Indians.
The order to CPT Benteen gave him responsibility for covering the movement of the trains. All were intended to follow LTC Custer and the main body to the right.
Just remember, MAJ Reno moved two miles down the valley, hugging the river to his right to protect his right flank. His left flank was wide open, and this area rapidly filled with hundreds of Indians.
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Post by quincannon on Oct 9, 2013 10:36:18 GMT -6
Trisha: William (Montrose) has given you the most widely accepted answer to your question. There is another which finds credence in some circles that it was Custer's intention, as expressed in the note to "Come on" to battle, and speculate further that from what Custer saw from the bluffs meant for Benteen to enter the battle in the valley, thus supporting Reno, while he himself went on sneaking and peeking to find a back door. No one can know with absolute certainty what Custer's intention was. I think there is a fair chance that Benteen would have gone to Reno in the valley, had he arrived sooner, and with his only knowledge of what was going on being the contents of the note, and the sound of firing in the valley a couple of miles to his front.. He did not so the point is moot.
As you progress in your study of this battle, you will find that mindreading and communing with the dead to discern motivations rampant. Having said that I think William most likely correct as to Custer's intention, but that intention does not speak to what Benteen would do if armed only with note, the sound of firing, and ten to fifteen minutes earlier in his time of arrival.
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Post by Gatewood on Oct 9, 2013 11:48:24 GMT -6
Trisha, to expand on what Montrose and Quincannon have said, it has been subject of great debate, both here on this board and elsewhere, as to exactly what the Benteen note meant, both in regard to where Benteen was to go and as it applied to the pack train. As it specifically relates to to your questions, let me make a stab at it as follows:
why was it sent to captain benteen?it sounded urgent and he wasn't in charge of the pack train if he'd still been scouting he might have been miles away how would martini know where to find him Most agree that Custer probably had a pretty good idea that Benteen was back on the main trail behind him
if custer needed the packs why didn't he halt and wait for them It is debateable as to whether Custer 'needed' the packs or only, as Montrose stated, wanted to insure their security. A subsidiary debate centers around whether the "bring packs" meant to bring only the ammunition packs or the entire pack train. As long as Benteen was traveling in a more or less straight line toward the Indians, with the train behind him, it was fairly secure, since, as Benteen stated, "The indians would have had to come by me to get to it". As Montrose also stated, it was only if Benteen were to deviate from that straight path that the train would have become exposed and its security in question. Taking everything together, I personally tend to believe that Custer's note was not so much a reflection of his need or want of the packs as it was for Benteen to insure their protection, which, as stated, would only be an issue if he were to turn off of the main trail and proceed toward Custer. I think that adds credance to the argument that Custer wanted Benteen to come directly to him (i.e., turn of of the main trail), rather than just to the battle in general, and he was basically just saying "Be sure to bring the packs along so that they will not be left exposed".
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Post by quincannon on Oct 9, 2013 12:31:03 GMT -6
Good analysis, I think. Reading the tealeaves to some extent, but highly probable. Still, had the note been properly done, as opposed to being written in unwarranted haste, we would not be having this discussion in the first place. A sterling example of what not to do, and of just how important clear concise orders are.
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Post by trisha on Oct 9, 2013 15:35:53 GMT -6
Thank you all have been fascinated with the battle since watching "little big man" Trisha.
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