The True Legend of Dewey Beard

[Diane Merkel]

"There was a reason Beard's death was written up in papers like The New York Times and The Washington Post. He was the last survivor of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. And Beard, short for Hawk Beard, Fox Belly said, told a bundle of stories about the battle.

"They were camped on the Little Big Horn with Crazy Horse that day in 1876. All of a sudden the soldiers attacked the camp and killed a young boy. That made the Lakota and Cheyenne so mad they 'went out and cleaned them up,' Beard later told National Geographic. Almost 20 years old at the time, he jumped on the first horse he could find and rode to the sound of the guns."

For the entire article, go to www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411552

[Scout]

Great stuff Diane! I have an real interest in Beard since he was the 'sole survivor' of the battle of the LBH. Have never seen the photo either...thanks much.

[crzhrs]

What a story! And to think there are relatives and others still living today who knew him! I knew some of Beard's story but the article added more. As we are still finding out, the LBH was not ancient history with many still alive who had relatives who were involved. Talk about direct links to history!

PS: It was great that Beard never gave up the fight . . . even into his nineties he was still a warrior!

PSPS: Wasn't he also known as Iron Hail?

[Steve Wilk]

Yes, this was Iron Hail. From what I understand, he took the name "Dewey" to honor Admiral Dewey, victor at Manila Bay during the war with Spain.

[Diane Merkel]

I'm glad you enjoyed the article. ICT is a weekly, so I'll check next Monday to see if Part II is available online.

[bigpond]

Excellent piece Diane
Wish we had a lot more like this.

[Diane Merkel]

Here is the second part of the series:

www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411600

[crzhrs]

Diane:

More great stuff: Do you know if there is an biography of Dewey Beard out there?

[Diane Merkel]

I am not aware of one. I wrote to Indian Country to let them know that the articles are appreciated, but they probably hit the delete button when they saw I was with LBHA. I am hoping the author of the articles will get in touch with me. There's still another part to come next Monday.

[Walt Cross]

Dewey Beard was one of the Indian models used for the Indian face on the buffalo nickel. He also captured a buckskin jacket at LBH which he wore for many years after the battle.

Walt

[Diane Merkel]

Here is the link to the third and final part.

www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411622

[crzhrs]

Tremendous stuff! What a life he must have lived. To go from a hunter/nomad culture to the 20th century with autos, airplanes, radio, film, and all the other things taken for granted and still a warrior to the end, especially his lack of remorse for Custer.

I didn't know he captured a bugle at the LBH and is still on display. Fantastic!

[Diane Merkel]

I didn't make it to the Old Fort Meade Museum during the LBHA Conference because I was setting up the auction. Does anyone remember seeing the bugle and other Dewey items there?

I haven't heard back from Indian Country or the author of the series. I would love to know if the author has a book about Dewey in the works.

Glad you enjoyed the series so much, crzhrs.

[bigpond]

Excellent Diane.
wish I could have been sitting at the fire listening to his stories.

[crzhrs]

It just amazes me that someone who had such a long and eventful life which spanned so much of the US-Indian events lived so far into the 20th century and there are still people alive who knew him. By the way I was born while Dewey Beard was still alive which makes it even better.