Need some help here.....

[rebcav]

Hi All:
I'm having a hard time with all the "Fords".....Is there a map that shows all the fords? Where exactly is the "infamous "Ford D"? Where are fords a-c? Am close to getting the picture here except for all the Fords......Is Ford "A" where Major Reno crossed to begin his charge? Sorry to be so rookie like.....But If someone could explain the "Fords" (location-wise) it would help me get some perspective...Thanks in advance....

Duane A. Brinson Key West, Fl.

[Dark Cloud]

You're correct that Ford A was where Reno crossed initially to the west bank. B is the Medicine Tail Coulee ford. C is where Reno returned to the east bank, west and a little north of Reno Hill. D is the notional ford Custer was trying to reach but did/did not/never existed roughly west of Last Stand Hill, but there are various opinions as to an exact location.

[quincannon]

Ford A is the southernmost of the fords and it is the place where Reno crossed. I forget the exact distance but it is a couple of miles south of present Garryowen gas station and junk shop.

Retreat ford is the next and it is easily located at the place where it looks like God took a huge axe to the bluffs and carved out a V shaped notch.

MTC Ford Mineconju Ford, and Ford B are the same place and is at the mouth of Medicine Tail Coulee, putting it slightly north of Garryowen.. That is the easiest one to locate.

Ford(s) C is also known as the Cheyenne Fords or the Deep Ravine Fords. They are also the hardest to locate. If you have a topographic map, they are located southwest of Last Stand Hill, where the topo map shows three notches cut in the bluff on the east side of the river.

Ford D is generally thought to be under the Interstate 90 highway bridge where it crosses the Little Big Horn near the north end of the battle area and a mile or so south of Crow Agency. Highway 214 intersects Interstate 90 just north of Ford D. D was in all probability a general name given to a number of fordable places in the river near there.

I think it well to remember that the river could be crossed just about anywhere depending on the weather (dry or wet). The fords are listed only because they are militarily significant crossing points giving entrance AND egress to either eastward or westward movement. It does you no good to cross a river where you face a bluff a couple of hundred feet high.

[rebcav]

Apr 26, 2014 9:39:31 GMT -6 Dark Cloud said:

You're correct that Ford A was where Reno crossed initially to the west bank. B is the Medicine Tail Coulee ford. C is where Reno returned to the east bank west and a little north of Reno Hill. D is the notional ford Custer was trying to reach but did/did not/never existed roughly west of Last Stand Hill, but there are various opinions as to an exact location.

Thank you sir.......Now I can put a better "mental picture" in my mind when I'm reading some of these posts......I looked on the "map" part of this board, but couldn't quite get a grasp.....Spending a Saturday Morning with "Where Custer Fell" and this board.....And copious amounts of coffee.......Have a GREAT DAY sir....

Duane A. Brinson Key West, Fl.

[Dark Cloud]

QC says C is Deep Ravine. I have never heard that, and the three actually used fords I listed were the only ones discussed for years after the battle. However, I'm often wrong, so let's wait to hear what others say.

As of 1990, Gray only lists those three fords on his map.

[quincannon]

If you have where Custer Fell look on page 103 at the black and white cut out of the topo map. Ford)s) C are located very near the N in National.

[Dark Cloud]

Where are they called Ford "C", though? The Ford title was given to those points the cavalry used or were so suspected of using. I'd never read that, but I'm often wrong. Just wondering.

[quincannon]

DC: I have seen it called Ford C, The Cheyenne Fords, and the Deep Ravine Fords. I don't know where the term Ford C originates, maybe the McGuire Map, but I don't believe there is any mention of cavalry using it, strictly used in terms of Indian movements.+

Fred did some work on Ford C on his last visit this past June, and I remember him posting that the east side bluff cuts for those fords, three in number were much deeper and well defined in 1876 than they are now. The military significance of them is that they are closer to Ford B, and lead directly into Deep Ravine, and provide a direct, covered and concealed path to just about the middle of battle ridge, right near where Company I's right flank was probably positioned. That route also splits the Keogh and Yates battalions.

[Dark Cloud]

Ford B is close to Deep Coulee, Deep Ravine is a mile away. Fred?

[quincannon]

That is correct. Deep Coulee is a high speed avenue of approach that brings you out in Henryville and environs. Deep Ravine is about a mile north and leads from Ford(s) C on the west, generally southeasterly and rises to the height just below the spine of battle ridge.

Yes I think Fred went down end explored those fords with Fox or Scott, I forget which when he was there last June. He also went into Calhoun Coulee, and I think that was largely to determine just how invisible those infiltrators were to those on Battle Ridge, and why Company C was apparently unaware of their presence in great numbers when they went down there.

[Deleted]

Rebcav,

Here's my two cents:

Ford A is from the Maquire map - as shown at the Reno Court of Inquiry (RCOI). Reno's troops crossed the river the first time.

Ford B is also shown in the Maquire map - RCOI above - also known as Medicine Tail Coulee ford. No substantiated crossing by Custer's immediate command. Interesting stories about an officer (?) being killed or wounded there.

Ford C doesn't have a historical reference I know of. I take it to mean the junction of Deep Ravine with the river.

Ford D is the general area of today's railroad and interstate crossing of the river. Fred can help pinpoint the area.

As far as I know there's no "designation" of Reno's second crossing up the bluffs. Many sites indicate the crossing area.

Don't know if you have the link to a RCOI transcript :

digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/History/History-idx?type=goto&id=History.Reno&isize=M&submit=Go+to+page&page=1

Best,
c.

[Yan Taylor]

Rebcav, here is a map of sorts of the supposed fords, Red is Ford D, Green is Ford C and Blue is Ford B.



Here is Ford A.



I thought that the fords were named as such because they ran the length of the valley and started with Reno at A and ending up at the far end with D.

DC you raise a good point with the Reno retreat ford, was it ever given a letter?

Ian.

[Dark Cloud]

Going back and looking at battlefield maps, I see no mention of a Ford C at all. I may be guilty of assumption, because the fords that are noted on the maps till recently are the three I mentioned. With only three on record, the third became C, at least to me, but I'm sure I've seen it so designated.

Ford D came about because of artifacts found in the area and mention of soldiers in the cemetery area firing towards LSH. So, the assumption is the soldiers were seeking a far north ford for whatever reason. There are other explanations that make more sense to me.

This relates to my annual and perpetual whine about granting names to geologic features. Reno Creek at the RCOI was Medicine Tail Coulee, for example. You can see how quotes might misinform.

So: When did Ford "C" come into the world barely breathing with forceps and applied to Deep Ravine's entrance by the river? Must be very recent.

[Deleted]

Care to chew through this?

lbha.proboards.com/thread/3609
Best,
c.

[quincannon]

I think all you fellows have heard of Gibbon's Ford. Ford C-Cheyenne Ford-Deep Ravine Ford - Gibbon's Ford SAME SAME.

Ford C to coin a phrase SUCKS for movement east to west. It is ideal however for west to east movement in that the shallowness of the river allows many to cross and obtain covered and concealed egress onto those flats just before entering into Deep Ravine which also offers covered and concealed approaches all the way to battle ridge. That's why you need to reconnoiter these things folks, lest you try to drive down a one way street.