Captain Sweet’s Battle Report, May 15, 1890
Jun 9, 2017 13:40:04 GMT -6
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Captain Sweet’s Battle Report, May 15, 1890
John Kleinschmidt, of Mandan, was in possession of the original report made by Capt. Owen J. Sweet, 25th Inf., in ‘Report on the Custer Battlefield – May 15th, 1890.’ From the handwritten report I (i.e. Maj. Welch) have copied the following:
On examination of the field it was found that the resting place of only 217 officers and men had been marked, exclusive of the places where Boston Custer and Arthur (Autie) R. Reed fell, a difference of 29 graves. Lieut. Porter’s not inclusive.
This necessitated additional, and trying, work in an attempt, if possible, to discover and verify the resting places of the 29 missing bodies. A daily skirmish line searched over an area of about 2 square miles of the battlefield and the last of the 29 missing bodies were found and buried and the last headstone erected. During the search four bleaching skeletons of men were found and, for some reason of neglect, had remained unburied and with God’s canopy alone to cover them for 14 years. From developments I believe that the remains of all soldiers on the Custer field are buried where they fell.
The shape of the field held by Custer’s lines, as shown by the graves, is nearly square. The lines held by Calhoun and Yates and Smith being, perhaps, ½ less in length than the so-called East and West lines.
On the lines held by Troop L, Calhoun and Crittenden, 38 men fell. On the West line, marched over by Troop E, Smith and Sturgis and T. Yates and Van Reily, either in column of fours, or from the left flank of the skirmish line, from near the extreme right of Calhoun’s line, which at that time was covering Custer’s rear, to near the Bug-Deep-Cut Ravine, and near where the final left flank of Troop E rested in said Ravine, only 13 men fell. From the head of Big-Deep-Cut Ravine and the extreme left of Smith’s line, as his body was found in the Custer group, probably 200 yards from his troop, it is probable that Lieut. Sturgis was left in command and there killed on his part of the field, and his body, with others, mutilated beyond the possibility of human recognition. From the tope of the ridge, Smith’s center, to within about 200 yards of the Custer Group, the right of Smith’s line, 26 men fell, some of whom were from the left of Flank of Troop F. In the center group and at, and in the immediate, vicinity of the monument, 56 men fell, General Custer, Boston Custer and A.R.Reid, inclusive/ This number includes the balance of Yates troop and several men of Troop C, Capt. Tom Custer and Lieutenant Harrington.
From the monument down the slope where Keough fell, thence in and up a ravine to its head to near the extreme left flank of Calhoun’s line near Crittenden’s (20th Inf) grave, 86 men fell. A few of these men near this flank where Calhoun’s men. Those in the center of this line Troop I, Keough and Porter, and those on Keough’s flank nearest the monument, nearly the whole of Troop C, Capt. Tom Custer. The nearest grave to the monument on this slope and on the flank of Troop C is that of Mark Kellogg, the New York Herald correspondent. On the right hand side of monument ridge, going toward Crittenden’s gave, and about opposite the possible flank of Troop C, where it joined Troop I, 10 men fell, making a total of 246 officers and men over whom headstones were erected on the Custer field. Two headstones, one for Lt. McIntosh and the other for Dr. DeWolf, being erected on the Reno field, and that of Lieut. Porter being returned to the Post, and turned over to the Post Quartermaster, accounts for 249 headstones.
In all papers in my possession Lieut. Porter’s remains are reported missing, not found, etc., and I was totally unable to harmonize conflicting statements by which to definitely locate and satisfactorily determine where he fell, though I am mostly convinced from all I can learn that he fell with Troop I, Keough’s, and was buried as unknown, by reason of his remains being mutilated beyond recognition.
I am at a loss to conjecture, unless thru error, why this stone was furnished, and none for Sturgis and Harrington, as what relates to the former, applies to the two latter, the exception being that articles of clothing, etc., of Porter and Sturgis were found, especially on the flat, and positively recognized, while not a vestige of Harrington was ever recognized.
But few skulls were found unbroken and comparatively few pieces were found with the remains as a rule, the whole field showing indications of the terrible mutilations that took place, as evidenced by the many pieces of broken skulls, hands and feet bones, etc., that were found scattered around in all directions. The same indications to a much less extent exist on the river flat between Ash Grove and the river on that part of the Reno field notwithstanding that the remains of those who fell there, were disinterred, and buried under the monument. This fact was discovered when I was locating the spot where Lieut. McIntosh fell. On the Reno field on the bluff several human bones were also found scattered about. The Crows report a possibility of some unremoved remains on the flat between the Ash Grove, nearer the timber and river than the vicinity where Lieut. McIntosh and Chief Scout Reynolds fell. Guide Campbell also said that he knew in this locality, positively, where at least one body was not removed.
Gall and Sitting Bull and all Indians who have spoken about the Custer fight, agree on these points:
1st, that Custer made some kind of effort to develop the ford on the Little Big Horn at the foot of Sitting Bull hill, its bank, depth of water, etc., in an attempt and with the intention of attacking the Indian village in that vicinity, as per his promise to Reno to support the latter’s attack with his Battalion. At least two men are reported as having been shot from their horses at the time the reconnaissance was made.
2nd – that during the fight, a small detachment of soldiers escaped or charged through the Indian village in an attempt to escape or communicate with Reno who must have been, or supposed to have been, on the flat, by way of this ford, but were cut off and killed in some ravines near this point. A most thorough search made in this vicinity, personal and otherwise, failed to develop graves or skeletons other than of several horses and a few scattering human bones. If men were killed in this locality, their bones would necessarily be covered by the continuously washing, and caving in of the banks of these ravines at the time of all heavy rainstorms. I regard this a fair inference and the presumption is also highly probable in accounting for the loss of all traces of Lieut. Harrington. He may have been in command of Custer’s advance to the ford and fell there at the time, or, what is quite as probable, he was with Capt. Custer’s Troop, which was with Gen. Custer to the end, that the latter may have ordered him to take a detachment and cut his way through to Reno and Benteen for assistance, and in making the attempt he may have been one who fell near the ford as described by the Indians.
3rd – That Custer dismounted on the hill and fought on foot to the end. That the horse-holders were first disposed of and nearly all the horses stampeded and captured with the extra ammunition in the saddle pockets. This last claim I believe true beyond doubt, for from personal observation, there are not fifty skeletons of horses on the battlefield.
The great amount of ground covered by the 5 Troops and the thin and weak lines on part of the field as evidenced by the small number who fell at these points, clearly indicates that only thorough and stubborn and decisive stands were made, viz: Keough, with perhaps 60 odd men, Troop E and Troop F in ravine over 50 men and Custer’s final stand with about 50 men.
All parts of the field show evidences of a large number of men who fell by twos, or as comrades in battle, and finally, that the two week’s study and observation on the field convinces me that Custer withstood the attack until his ammunition was exhausted, when every mad died at his post with his face to his foe.