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Post by Diane Merkel on Sept 21, 2005 7:08:58 GMT -6
From a website visitor:
I am doing research for my university (University of Florence, Italy) about John Martin, Custer's last bugler. Would you be so kind to tell me if you have any further details about Martin? I am particularly interested in newspaper interviews with him. I would also like to find some of his living relatives.
Thank you so much for your time.
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Post by Scout on Sept 21, 2005 9:24:13 GMT -6
There are plenty of accounts by Martini regarding the battle but I know of few newspaper interviews. I know there was one in the 1906 Brooklyn STANDARD UNION. I would like to think there are more in the Brooklyn newspaper archives that are pretty much unknown and waiting to be found. Excellent article by Salvatore Caniglia in the March 2004 LBHA newsletter. My brother lives in Brooklyn and I plan on doing some research on Martini my next trip there.
E.A. Brininstool's TROOPERS WITH CUSTER has a good chapter on Martini and Col, W.A. Graham's THE CUSTER MYTH are good starting points for Martini research. Martini's role in the battle is one of extreme importance.
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Post by Realbird on Sept 30, 2005 19:22:29 GMT -6
" Martin is the man who carried Custer's famous last message. He was then a young man of twenty-five, who was already the veteran of one war. Born at Rome in 1851, he had enlisted with Garibaldi, as a drummer boy of fourteen, in the Army of Liberation, and had seen the backs of the Austrians at Villa Franca in '66 After the restoration of Venice to her rightful allegiance, he left his in sunny Italy in 1873 and almost immediately upon his arrival in America enlisted in the United States Army.
His right name, I should tell you, is Giovanni Martini, and he is still hale and hardy, seventy one years of age,a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y. He served continuously from 1874 to 1904, when he retired as a sergeant."
Martini " I am an old soldier now and have served the U.S. a long time since I came from Italy in 1873. I enlisted in 1874 and was in the army for thirty years. My memory isn't as good as it use to be, but I can never forget the battle of the Little Big Horn and General Custer.
I have two sons in the army, and one of them is named for the General. I want them both to be as good soldiers as their father was. It,s a long time since I rode with Custer to his last fight-forty-six years-but I still have the old trumpet that I blew officer's call with the morning of that fatal day, and still have a lively recollection of, as I have a deep affection for, my old General."
(source Custer Myth, Col. W.A. Graham, page291-292)
I hope this bit of information helps you to obtain a little insight into the heart and mind of a wonderful, courageous, and dedicated American.
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Post by Verx23 on Feb 11, 2009 16:25:05 GMT -6
I've spent a year researching John Martin. Most of the study relates to his life before and after LBH, but as with anyone born outside the US in the mid-19th century, there are a few holes. I do have a copy of a birth certificate from Sala Consilina, but authorities in Apricale insist that Martin was born there. This issue is overshadowed by the matter of his true birth name, which seems to have been Martino and not Martini. I've confirmed this with the SS Tyrian's passenger manifest.
Would anyone have additional information to offer regarding Bugler Martin? I have read the RCOI report, Graham's chapter, and two newspaper accounts from 1904 and 1906. I'm trying to determine what happened to him between his leaving the 7th Cav until his retirement in 1904. The DF Barry photo seems to indicate service medals for the Indian Wars and Spanish-Amer War; there's a third, which I cannot identify.
Thank you all in advance.
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Post by BrokenSword on Feb 11, 2009 16:47:42 GMT -6
"John Martin’s wartime experiences did not end with Custer’s defeat, however, and he eventually participated in the Nez Perce campaign (1877), and the Spanish-American War (1898-1899). Promoted to Sergeant in 1900, Martin retired from the Army in early 1904 after nearly 30 years of service, the last few with the Coastal Artillery. Eventually settling in Brooklyn, Martin worked as a ticket-taker at the 103rd Street Station for the New York City subway system.
Martin never forgot his Indian Wars experiences and was very proud of his service, and particularly of his role in the Battle of Little Bighorn. He supplemented his income by appearing in New York City stage productions, often playing bugle calls between acts or telling war stories. As his small fame began to grow, he readily traded in his subway job for a better one at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where he spent the rest of his working days.
In late December 1922, he was severely injured by a beer truck and passed away at his home on Christmas Eve; John Martin was laid to rest in the nearby military cemetery at Cypress Hills. His services were recognized and honored more recently by the Arlington National Cemetery's "Taps Project"; established in 1999, this permanent exhibit pays tribute to nine famous buglers in U.S. Army history." - written by Leonardo Solimine
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Post by biggordie on Feb 11, 2009 17:16:34 GMT -6
Martin was interviewed twice by Walter Camp, and you can find excerpts from those in Ken Hammer's "Custer in '76." The "standard" references as to the men of the Seventh do not give much more information than you already have, except for his bare-bones record as to enlistment etc. There is a new book coming soon from Upton and Sons which might have more details.
Interesting to note that, depending upon when he went to the Coastal Artillery, Martin might have been at Wounded Knee.
Gordie
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Post by biggordie on Feb 11, 2009 17:25:20 GMT -6
vern23
I just did a quick Google on Giovanni Martini, and found the entire article by Solomine, on one site, ans some info on another Cronaca, that might lead you to Martini's descendants [if the posts are credible].
Gordie
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Post by Dark Cloud on Feb 11, 2009 17:36:22 GMT -6
If he was supplementing his income with war stories on stage, then the suddenly recalled Boston meeting and the waving blankets and the other upholstery falls into place. It's good to put that tale in perspective with nothing bad to say about the old guy. What difference would it make? Oh, the irony. Think of the irony.
And the children, of course. Always, we think of the children.
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Post by bc on Feb 11, 2009 23:38:19 GMT -6
BS, important question, What brand of beer? Was it the beer that made Martini famous? Was he involved in the extraction of some liquid refreshment from the beer truck when this "accident" occured? Stealing more beer than he could carry? More details are needed. Might want to start a boycott.
bc
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Post by BrokenSword on Feb 12, 2009 8:12:33 GMT -6
Bs,
Brand is irrelevant. Martini was Italian, and as such was a wine drinker. [It is even possible that he was distantly related to those of the Martini and Rossi label.] Bare in mind that the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution (that evil shadow on the land more commonly known as Prohibition) became law in 1919-1920, and was certainly in effect by 1922 - when the alleged ‘accident’ occurred.
My 1st instinct is to explore the possibility that it was his attempted interference with an illegal beer delivery which laid him low. The case can be made that a mob ‘hit’ was actually behind the mortal injuries suffered by this war hero, law abiding citizen, ticket taker and wife deserter. What is not common knowledge is that the complete police report, drawn from the investigative files into this incident, are nearly impossible to obtain. A recent Freedom of Information request for the files brought the cryptic one word response of, “What?” from Detective Sgt. Carmine DeNunzio of New York City. Why the obfuscation? What are they hiding?
On the other hand, during Prohibition, illicit spirits and potables didn’t all lend themselves to the needs of various business interests involved in the production thereof. Beer and gin became the focus of those activities. Most liquors required longer preparation times as did all wines. Beer and gin were (in the new buzz word vernacular) shovel ready projects. Wine makers quickly discovered that they were being submerged, so to speak, by suds. The shipments of brew had to be slowed down by any means at hand. Did Martini actually throw himself in the path of the speedy delivery vehicle? Was it an act of selfless patriotism, or one of family loyalty to some more sinister figure working behind the scenes - such as - the Godfather?
We are left to wonder.
BS
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Post by biggordie on Feb 12, 2009 10:17:14 GMT -6
La Mana Negra - always bear that in mind, however bare your mind might be at any moment in time.
Martini and Rossi was a largish comedy/singing act in the 50s and 60s - really big for Ed Sullivan, who couldn't always get Martin and Lewis [or the original cast of the Civil War].
I have fragments of a transcript of one of Martini's stage appearances in Brooklyn in 1912, which I uncovered after unprecedented research, unlike some people who just read two or three books and then declare everything they don't believe in to be bogus. In my opinion, this evidence, while not being testimony, since it wasn't a lie told in a recognized court under oath, unlocks THE secret of the Little Big Horn.
Since the transcriber, who was also the translator [buy one, get one free!!]was fluent in both Lakota and French, there is no doubt that this transcript, brief and disjointed as it might be, can be embraced and accepted for the revelatory experience that it is. Going against my better judgment, and my previously avowed principle of never divulging proprietary information [this cost a pretty penny, I'll tell you, although I wont say how much - unlike some who brag about how much they spent on this book, or that bottle of scotch, or their last visit to Sister Blanche's], I reproduce, in its entirety, with gaps indicated by an incorrect number of dots [sorry, Monte, I forgot the rule], the SOLILOQUY OF GIOVANNI MARTINI, Brooklyn, 1912 [date not specified].
I have enclosed it within quotation marks, indicating that you can believe it, even if you find me sorta dodgy:
"An I sed............I doodnt says abute skid...........Misser cuk he gived me the words to tak to my boss. He says till him to get his finger...........crap, my hors was shotted......I thot I wud razer be in Boston, He sed me to, and then orded the co. to..................it tuned out that.........but the Col he wud no agree to nothin like that, so we didn........and I blowed my own horn....ther was so miny indins that you cudnt see the foress for the trees......we chared them two indins, who skimpred like devils into the raveen......my friends.......a word or to about my own captin.......he never,,,,,,,,,,and the ginral, he said, in a loud cleer voise get that.............then wee seen........and that is gods own truth, as we seen it that fartfull daze, witch will be sorly missd......."
And now you know just as much as I do.
Gordie
PS Sorry vern23, but if you come here looking for information you have to take it, warts and all, as Cromwell said.
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Post by BrokenSword on Feb 12, 2009 13:01:42 GMT -6
La mano nera, Gordie. Beare that in mind.
Fino al fiasco seguente il mio amico!
B(uona) S(era)
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Post by rch on Feb 12, 2009 16:15:05 GMT -6
I'm not sure but I think 3.2 beer remained legal during prohibition.
According to Nichols ' "Men With Custer." Martin's 1st enlistment ended in 31 May 79.
2nd enlistment 24 Jun 79 - 23 Jun 84 in Btry G, 3rd Art.
3rd enlistment 24 Jun 84 - 23 Jun 89 in the same battery.
4th enlistment was apparently in the same battery 24 Jun 89.
Transferred to Btry D same regiment 22 Dec 92.
Transferred to Btry L 4th Art 14 Apr 93.
Tranferred to Btry D, same regiment 21 Nov 93.
Discharged 23 Jun 94.
5th enlistment 24 Jun 94 - 23 Sep 97 in the same battery.
6th enlistment 30 Sep 97 - 29 Sep 1900 in the same battery.
7th enlistment 30 Sep 1900 Troop H 7th Cav.
Transferred to 90th Company, Coast Artillery 14 Jul 01.
Discharged 29 Sep 03.
8th enlistment 30 Sep 03 in the same company.
Retired 7 Jan 04. Most of his service was at Fort McHenry.
He worked as a NY subway ticket agent after his service.
I think 2 of the medals Martin is wearing are marksmenship badges. The Maltese Cross shaped badge would indicate that he was rated as a sharpshooter with one weapon. The square shaped badge probably indicates that he qualified as a marksmen with another weapon. The larger medal is either a medal indicating memnbership in a veterans organization such as the Veterans of Foriegn Wars, or a decoration related to Martin's service in Italy. Campaign medals for our Army were not created until a year after Martin retired.
rch
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Post by bc on Feb 12, 2009 20:30:31 GMT -6
I searched the New York Times today for Martini. Found 2 articles written about him later on. One of them not a great many years after his death. Mentioned the NY police had been sent by his wife looking for him and he told them that she had ran him off and didn't want him around.
Couldn't find an obituary but on Dec 16, 1922 an article mentioned a bunch of accidents that day that killed 2 and injured about a dozen due to speeding vehicles and slippery streets. Might have been a snowy and icy period around the time of the beer truck accident.
I'll go look for the article and see if I can post it.
Here it is:
TUNNEL VISION; He Was Custer's Bugler. Then, the Subway Called.
The Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn is the final resting place of several long-dead luminaries, among them a few Medal of Honor winners and a Fiji cannibal chief named Vendovi, who was said to have eaten up to a dozen American sailors before his capture.
But undoubtedly the cemetery's oddest historical attraction can be found off by himself, at grave No. 8865, in a section few people visit anymore, where squirrels leap from headstone to headstone.
Here lies John Martin, arguably the most fascinating subway employee who ever lived.
Of course, there is nothing to that effect carved into his pale grave marker. In fact, until the early 1990's, no one visiting the grave would have known any more than these unremarkable facts: ''Italy. Sgt. 90 Coast Artillery. Dec. 24, 1922.''
But then a group of professional and amateur historians put up a granite headstone that provided a more pertinent detail about Mr. Martin's life:
''Carried Gen. Custer's last message, Battle of Little Big Horn, June 25, 1876.''
In other words, while dozens claimed to have been the last survivors of that lopsided fight, Mr. Martin, a bugler, was actually one of the lucky few. On that deadly day in Montana, as the bullets began to fly, he rode away with orders for the reinforcements that came too late.
His route from the Seventh Cavalry to the New York City subway to the subject of this column came about in a way almost as circuitous as his life itself.
During an interview a few weeks ago, the jazz trumpeter Randy Sandke -- his ''Subway Ballet'' made its debut last month -- mentioned that he had read about a bugler for Custer who later ended up working in the subway.
It sounded beautifully far-fetched, like all great historical fiction, a crazy New York twist on Thomas Berger's ''Little Big Man.'' But it being summer and practically the 127th anniversary of the battle, it seemed as good a time as any to unravel a historical thread. And so the search for John Martin, subway worker extraordinaire, began.
It led first to the Brooklyn Public Library and the archives of The Brooklyn Eagle, which picks up the story of Mr. Martin about 1908 and establishes that even before he ended up at Custer's side, he had already lived the equivalent of a couple of lives.
He had been born Giovanni Martini, possibly in Sala, Italy, and as a teenager had been a drummer boy for Garibaldi before deciding to decamp for America.
As it turned out, it was not the best time to come: he arrived in Brooklyn during a severe national recession and had little choice but to enlist, according to William F. Walbesser, a former New York State police officer and amateur historical sleuth who has blazed the Martin trail.
At some point he appears to have rejoined the Seventh Cavalry and, as if he had not tempted fate enough, served in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Then later, some say because he missed hearing the Italian spoken back in Brooklyn, he apparently left his wife and three small children at Fort McHenry in Baltimore and rented a furnished room at 168 Prospect Street, in the neighborhood now known as Dumbo.
By 1908, according to The Eagle, the police had managed to track him down at Mrs. Martin's behest. ''Martin said that he had no feeling against his wife,'' a reporter wrote, ''and he seemed to be really pleased to hear that she was alive and well.'' But he said that she had run him off and he told the reporter that marital relations were beyond repair.
''He was not going back to her, he said, and that was the end of it,'' the reporter added.
It was at some point in this phase of Mr. Martin's life that he bridged two remarkable historical eras, taking a job with the then brand-new New York City subway and exchanging his cavalry uniform for that of ticket-chopper at the 103rd Street station on the Upper West Side. (Before turnstiles, subway rides required a ticket, which was then chopped, or shredded, upon entry.)
Lost to history, maybe forever, is the answer to the question of whether Mr. Martin was any good as a subway worker. Some idea of his income can be gleaned from the fact that he regularly earned extra money in these years by appearing in New York stage productions, often playing bugle calls between acts or telling war stories.
Did he relish playing a bit part in the birth of modern New York? If so, he apparently did not care to relish it for long. As his small fame began to grow, he readily traded in his subway job for a better one at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where he spent the rest of his working days.
John Martin's sturdy luck finally ran out one December on a Brooklyn street: he was run down by a beer truck and succumbed a few days later to his injuries, finally joining, as one sign at the Cypress Hills cemetery eloquently puts it, ''the bivouac of the dead.''
''It's a pretty colorful story, isn't it?'' said Robert W. Tilley, an amateur historian. ''Here he is riding across the Old West. And then there he is, down in the subway.''
By RANDY KENNEDY Published: July 29, 2003
The original paper must have been the Brooklyn Eagle.
bc
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Post by bc on Feb 13, 2009 15:49:29 GMT -6
I can just imagine what Martini went through with his wife:
Everyday is was nothing but nag, nag, nag. "Giovanni, I send you to the store every day with a note containing all the groceries we need and you can never get everything. When the kids are sick and I send you with a note from the doctor to take to the school, then the school wants to expel them for non-attendance. You're so worthless, Giovanni, you couldn't even deliver Custer's note right. I'm tired of your excuses about a rear tire being blown out when you are late coming back from the store. You probably caused the blowouts yourself with your careless driving. Get the hell out until you can learn to handle notes..... and so on adnauseum until he finally leaves.
bc
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