Wooden Leg

[Diane Merkel]

An LBHA member wrote to me with the following story, giving me permission to post it here. Several months ago, I posted a story which said that the Northern Cheyenne were going to present "new" oral histories about the battle. I'm now wondering if Wooden Leg's story is the basis of their claims.

About four years ago I went out to Montana to visit Dr. Fox and tour the field with him. I changed planes in Minneapolis from NY and from Minneapolis it was on to Billings, Montana.

A woman, around her early 40s sat next to me. After the flight took off, she asked me what I was reading. I told her Archaeology, History and Custer's Last Battle. She asked, are you interested in the battle? I replied, yes, and she then started asking me why I was interested, what I thought, etc.

This went on for about 20 minutes. She then said to me, are you familiar with Wooden Leg? I said, yes, I have read his testimony in numerous books, with the bulk of it in The Custer Myth by W A Graham. She asked, what do you think? I told her, between all the testimony he gave and his book, I think we know all there is to know from him. She replied, well, you're wrong!

We continued talking and she told me that she was very good friends with the family of Wooden Leg and has known them for years. She went on to say, and this is where it gets interesting, that Wooden Leg had given a lot of oral history to his family and kept a written record of the battle. She went on to say that there were many things he did not release to many people over the years concerning the battle.

I asked her to explain. She said Wooden Leg had more information on the battle that would clear up a lot of the mystery. I said, Custer's death? She looked at me, but did not answer.

I said to her, is there any way you can get the family to speak to me or let me see his "journal." She said that the family would not discuss any of the things Wooden Leg did not release nor did she think they would let anyone see this "journal."

A question came into my mind. Was Wooden Leg literate enough to know how to write? And, if so, would it be in Cheyenne? Not meant to denigrate him in any way, just a question I asked myself.

We talked for the entire flight into Billings. She said that she was going to see the family of Wooden Leg when she arrived in Montana. She said she used to see them more often but moved from Montana several years ago.

I asked her how we could stay in touch as this was new information and could be very helpful in further research into the battle. She would not give me her phone, but she did say I could give her my name and phone number and she would call me if the family would agree to speak with me or let me see Wooden Leg's journal. I guess it was a journal. Maybe it was a diary, etc. Anyhow, he "alledgedly" wrote a lot down.

I did throw several questions at her to see if she was conning me, etc. She knew more than enough about Wooden Leg, etc., to confirm she was not a con job.

When the plane arrived in Billings, I saw several people, Native Americans, meet her. I said to her, are these the family of Wooden Leg? She affirmed. I pressed the issue and said, can you ask them if we can arrange something? Reluctantly she said, wait a minute. She walked over to them, said something and turned towards me. The Native Americans walked away!

She came back and said, not at this time.

We chatted for only a few seconds more. I literally begged her to call me and see if we could work something out. I never heard from her after I left the airport.

So, is there something else? I can't say. Just a weird chain of events that led nowhere.

[crzhrs]

There is no question that much Indian testimony/stories are kept from "outsiders" . . . even today many elderly Indians are reluctant, even fearful of telling stories their grandparents, even parents told them about the LBH.

The Indians have been pestered for years about stories and info, not only about the LBH, but many other events of the past and are suspicious about why. They've been burnt in the past and they are reluctant to reveal more than they want . . . so yeah, there's info they have that may never become known to outsiders.

[dogsoldier]

I find it hard to believe that they possess factual knowldge that will change anything we know. At best, it will be something impossibly outrageous or outrageously controversial. Then again...

[crzhrs]

DS:

Who is to say: Much of the Indian testimony of the past has been used by many authors to prove or disprove a point. Some of it was outrageous . . . some not.

I would hate to close the door on any info that may have been kept from outsiders all these years.

[dogsoldier]

First hand Indian testimony is one thing. But this sounds second hand and perhaps even made up.
Let them put up or shut up. And this coming from a guy who loves Native Americans. It's what got me started in this whole "Custer mess." Besides, I did end my previous post with a "Then again...." I at least left the door open.

[pjsolla]

Crzhrs & dogsoldier:

No, this is not made up. I sent it to Diane because I just wasn't sure whether or not to post it.


It happened to me. Could that gal on the plane have been blowing smoke on me. Possibly. But I think not.

Can't remember her name, etc. All I know is she said she had very close ties with WL's family.

Trust me, I am not into posting what I feel is a lie.

And after what Diane said about the Northern Cheyenne's possibly posting new material on the battle, I have to wonder.

PJS

[dogsoldier]

PJ - I didn't mean that you made it up, I meant the family.

[crzhrs]

Don't you have information regarding family members that you don't tell others about? Native Americans have gone through a lot since Europeans arrived here and I'm sure they are still highly suspicious when whites want to know things about them. Some they are willing to tell . . . but others are for family only.

[dogsoldier]

I must go back to my original post: "I find it hard to believe that they possess factual knowldge that will change anything we know. At best, it will be something impossibly outrageous or outrageously controversial." I'm not saying for sure they are liars, but I am saying I don't think they are holding onto a bombshell. If you think different, that's fair, no complaints here.

[crzhrs]

Another one of those that could go both ways . . . still waiting for the Northern Cheyenne to tell us about Buffalo Calf Road Woman and her "incident" with Custer.

I will leave the door open . . . don't want to shut it while there is still so many unknowns and what ifs.

[bhist]

All one has to do is read the reactions to the possibility of new Indian accounts to easily understand why Indians will not share stories like these with white men. People are questioning their accounts before the contents are known.

[crzhrs]

bhist:

Why didn't I say that?

[shatonska]

if someone knows something these are the cheyennes , their camp was full of people who knew Custer , many southern families , they were the first that confronted Custer and as lakota say they led the fight against Custer , i think they knew who was Custer and who killed him and where (this after the fight obviuosly), maybe something has passed orally untill now, but who knows ?
i'm ready to listen if they have something to say

a thing that came to my mind now , Custer's revolvers were in the hands of a cheyenne spotted wolf who was made chief after the fight , Diane posted a link to the story of spotted wolf
www.soaringeagle.org/elders/bisco_legacy.html

[crzhrs]

Shat:

True . . . it was the northern end of the village Custer was trying to get to . . . and it was where the Northern Cheyenne were camped. It makes sense that they may have had more info regarding Custer's moves and what the combatants were doing than others . . . and it was the Northern Cheyenne who stated Buffalo Calf Road Woman may have inflicted a wound to Custer . . . no proof yet . . . but I can wait . . . and let's keep all options open.

[shatonska]

crzhrs said:

Shat:

True . . . it was the northern end of the village Custer was trying to get to . . . and it was where the Northern Cheyenne were camped. It makes sense that they may have had more info regarding Custer's moves and what the combatants were doing than others . . . and it was the Northern Cheyenne who stated Buffalo Calf Road Woman may have inflicted a wound to Custer . . . no proof yet . . . but I can wait . . . and let's keep all options open.

you have to read the book