Real Bird Re-enactment 2005

[Buckskin Tommy]

Howdy:
I just returned to my horse farm here in Virginia from Montana where I'm a mounted cast member at the Real Bird Re-enactment. Following each show we form up in columns of 2's and cross the Little Big Horn River and mingle with the tourists and spectators. It has been my practice for the past two years to dismount and make myself available to talk with young kids about the battle and the importance of understanding different cultures. The first day of the show (last Friday) I had a young man for Michigan approach me and ask if it would be possible to shake hangs with General Custer. His Dad lifted him up and put him on my wonderful horse "Winchester". As I lead Winchester towards the General the young boy told me he was a history nut and loved reading about "Custer's Last Stand". As I lead my horse to the offside (the Generals right) I told General I had a young man who wanted to shake his hand. The General glared at me, turned his head and refused to shake to boys hand. Sorry folks, but as a retired school teacher I had to fight to control my rage. When certain re-eactors reach the point that they actually believe they are the individual they portray, well, it's time to go find a new hobby! Tom Tompkins, Lame White Man Horse Farm, Farnhan, VA.

[Tricia]

Buckskin--

I have had the opportunity to witness the Real Birds' reenactment in both 2003 and 2004, and although I seriously felt the history that was imparted left something to be desired, I had no quarrel with the actors/participants and/or their preparations--nor did Spouse. In my 'real' life, I do a considerable amount of public speaking, and from experience, I often need time before my talk to prepare--as well as time after--to collect my final thoughts, in order to mentally prepare probable answers to what I feel will be forthcoming questions.

Frankly, I think you're being a bit too hard on the participants.

Regards,
Leyton McLean

[Tom Tompkins]

Leyton-

I'm not sure you understood what I was getting at. Granted, I'm shooting arrows at the General but I think it's time he gets off his high horse and stops pretending he's Custer. To treat a fellow re-enactor the way he treated me is one thing, but to thumb his nose at a 4th grader is more than I can stomach.

Tom

[Tricia]

Tom--

I do understand what you are trying to say. But it seems to me that you might be better off taking your beef to the individual privately and discussing it that way.

Regards,
Leyton McLean

[Diane Merkel]

Buckskin --

I agree with Leyton that you should take this matter up with "The General." I have known him for many years and the reaction you describe does not fit him at all. There must have been a misunderstanding. If anything, he goes out of his way to reach out to young people, and he does not have an ego problem. He and his wife attend many events throughout the year at their own expense in order to bring a better understanding of Custer to people throughout the country. There must be more to the story . . . .


Diane

[bhist]

I agree with you Diane. This year I was lucky to spend some quality time with Steve and his wife at the B&B I stay at while in Montana. There is no way Steve would've done something like this just as described above. I think it was a misunderstanding of some kind.

Steve has a big heart -- it's a good one.

[Tom Tompkins]

Howdy to All:
Is there more to the story, no there is not. Like most of you I admire Steve for the level of effort he puts into bringing G.A. Custer to life, and I must admit he does an excellet job. At last year's Real Bird show Steve did indeed take the time to chat with all the kids I put up of my horse and usually would draw one of his revolvers and give the youngster an empty blank to remember what they just saw at MTC. What happened this year? I have no idea. What I do know is he broke the heart of a little boy from Michigan. Like most of the cavalry re-enactors I travel to Montana at my own expense and will continue to do so as long as Richard Real Bird continues to have the show. I guess there is more to the story due to the fact that I doubt there are too many cavalry re-enactors who are on 100% disibility from war wounds from Vietnam. It's my love of history and horses that draws me back each summer but when I put a young kid up in the saddle and pose for pictures and let him meet other cast members, well, whatever pain I might feel at that moment, sure makes it go away. The second day of the show I carried the colors and galloped around with Steve having the time of my life. The show allows me to compare my war with what it might have been like on 25June1876 and when taps is played and we rise from the dead, mount our horses and go and greet the tourists, that's when we should return to being ourselves. Sorry if I offended anyone. Next year I'll discuss with Steve whether I should bring kids over to meet the "General". Tom Tompkins Lame White Man Horse Farm, Farmham, VA ( yes, that's really the name of my horse operation. It was named by a old warrior showing respect to another warrior of days gone by.)

[Sturgis]

Buckskin Tommy or Tom Tompkins did I see you at the reenactment? I was portraying lt. Sturgis and was dismounted because of... "difficulties" with the U.S. Cav school. I can understand how the kid might have been sad but I can sympathize with the General, as soon as he comes into camp each morning he is just bombarded by people wanting to talk to him or get a picture and its the same after the show and up at the monument.

I woulden't say getting into your character is truly a bad thing; Tom, Keogh, DeRudio, I myself and especially the General put a lot of work into their impressions and to the members of the Custer Clan being a reenactor is more than just riding a horse, putting on a uniforms and fighting the battle it is bringing history to life and representing that person as they would have been in 1876. If I just wanted to have a good time at the reenactment I woulden't have applied for a comission to HQ, I woulden't have gotten the correct uniform and I could have ridden with "Colonel Ellseworth" and the SASS guys.

end rant.

[Tricia]

Sturgis said:

Buckskin Tommy or Tom Tompkins did I see you at the reenactment? I was portraying lt. Sturgis and was dismounted because of... "difficulties" with the U.S. Cav school. I can understand how the kid might have been sad but I can sympathize with the General, as soon as he comes into camp each morning he is just bombarded by people wanting to talk to him or get a picture and its the same after the show and up at the monument.

I woulden't say getting into your character is truly a bad thing; Tom, Keogh, DeRudio, I myself and especially the General put a lot of work into their impressions and to the members of the Custer Clan being a reenactor is more than just riding a horse, putting on a uniforms and fighting the battle it is bringing history to life and representing that person as they would have been in 1876. If I just wanted to have a good time at the reenactment I woulden't have applied for a comission to HQ, I woulden't have gotten the correct uniform and I could have ridden with "Colonel Ellseworth" and the SASS guys.

end rant.

Lt. Sturgis--

I can agree with your post--to a point. My impression, in studying Custer's character, is that GAC experienced what I would call, the "mixed blessings" of celebrity. It does seem that he did manage to get his name in the popular papers and magazines during the Civil War and after (I concern myself in my writing with 1866), and then we see him (via Eliza Brown and Kate Gibson) hiding in his stables from the adoring masses whilst in Kansas. Popularity did seem to be a double-edged sword in Custer's case .... as it may be in the reenactors' cases. Just a thought.

Regards,
Leyton McLean

[Tom Tompkins]

How Do:
Without question this is the best Custer/Little Big Horn forum I've seen, think I'll join. Thanks to all for explaining your point of view, guess I should make the effort and get to know Steve on a personal level. Lt. Sturgis, I think you were the young guy riding with the Cav school. I was one of the E - Co. guys riding with Dave Mayfield. I helped you down in camp make some tack adjustments on your horse. Now why didn't you ride with us on Sunday in the rain? I can't remember being so cold. Thanks again folks for your input, I look forward to meeting some of you at next year's re-enactment. Tom Tompkins

[melliott]

I'd like to reiterate what Diane said. I've been attending the Real Bird reenactments for four years now, and have never seen "the General" be anything other than gracious, especially with children. I've been conducting research for a book, and he has given me hours of his time, and answered countless questions. I have to believe that there was some misunderstanding. My guess is that if you approach him, he would try to find some way to make it up to the child. Michael Elliott

[Treasuredude Scott Nelson]

melliott said:

I'd like to reiterate what Diane said. I've been attending the Real Bird reenactments for four years now, and have never seen "the General" be anything other than gracious, especially with children. I've been conducting research for a book, and he has given me hours of his time, and answered countless questions. I have to believe that there was some misunderstanding. My guess is that if you approach him, he would try to find some way to make it up to the child. Michael Elliott

I doubt Steve Alexander remembers this. In 2001 I brought my son with me to the anniversary. We were at the CBHMA field trip. I loved it. My son was bored stiff. He was fidgety like kids get. Steve stopped and talked to him and showed him his gun. They talked about horses, guns, and swords for 10 minutes or so. It made my son's day. He talked about it for the rest of the trip. Even now, if we are watching a show on the History Channel, my son will ask me, "Hey is that the guy I was talking to." So if Steve is reading this, thank you.

[bhist]

Yes, Scott, you're so right. Steve was just as generous with his time to my son, Austin, in the very early days of Austin coming with me to LBH.

[Sturgis]

Yes, I was the young guy. I was soposed to be riding with Steve, Gary Stewart (Tom Custer) and Bill Rini (Myles Keogh) but the horse US Cav School gave me was a little gun shy and it was his first reenactment so after a morning ride with Gary Stewart friday I decided to go dismounted for the weekend. I live up in Alberta and I had to miss sundays show so we could make the boarder by closing because I had two final exams the following morning.

Hopefully next year will work out a bit better!

[Gary Stewart aka Capt Tom]

Lt. Sturges, Thankyou for being such a great sport and doing such a fine and integral job this year 2005 Custer fight. I truly was captivated and impressed at your portrayal and the fact that you remained in uniform the entire time. Maybe we need to bring more civil war dicipline to our own indian wars re-enactments. Also i want to thank both of your parents for supporting you and i will be looking forward to spending more time with all next year. Con.gradulations for doing a fine job this year. Yours truly, Gary w.Stewart aka Capt. Tom W. Custer 7th U.s. CAV. mY E-MAIL IS CALMHORSE [e-mail]