Post by elisabeth on Feb 5, 2006 7:43:32 GMT -6
Wheeler went out to Kansas in 1868 -- took over Comstock's old ranch -- became variously a trader, cattleman, Indian-fighter, and eventually an officer in the 5th Cavalry, leading a troop of Cheyenne scouts. He has many great tales to tell, and loads of insights on everything from the minutiae of mule-packing to Indian views on such things as scalping and suicide.
He visited the Custer battlefield in 1877, just before the Mike Sheridan re-burial party got there -- so his views on what it told him are of some interest. (He makes no mention of Calhoun and skirmish-lines; says the only place he could see any signs of a defence being made was the Keogh area. Interesting.)
One snippet that just might solve a long-running mystery! The missing Deep Ravine bodies: he says that shortly before he got there, there was a violent hailstorm which had washed out "several of the bodies which had been buried near a ravine". He and his troops re-buried those bodies ... but he doesn't say where. Presumably, somewhere a) where it was easy to dig, and b) where they were less likely to be washed out again. So maybe no-one's looked in the right place yet?
He does have some pretty crashing errors, though -- saying that Fort Wallace was established in 1867 ... that Nowlan's initials were G.I., rather han H.J. ... and most bizarrely, that Major Verling K. Hart not only was present at the LBH battle, but had told him so himself. The usual pinch of salt required, then; but a very good read none the less!
He visited the Custer battlefield in 1877, just before the Mike Sheridan re-burial party got there -- so his views on what it told him are of some interest. (He makes no mention of Calhoun and skirmish-lines; says the only place he could see any signs of a defence being made was the Keogh area. Interesting.)
One snippet that just might solve a long-running mystery! The missing Deep Ravine bodies: he says that shortly before he got there, there was a violent hailstorm which had washed out "several of the bodies which had been buried near a ravine". He and his troops re-buried those bodies ... but he doesn't say where. Presumably, somewhere a) where it was easy to dig, and b) where they were less likely to be washed out again. So maybe no-one's looked in the right place yet?
He does have some pretty crashing errors, though -- saying that Fort Wallace was established in 1867 ... that Nowlan's initials were G.I., rather han H.J. ... and most bizarrely, that Major Verling K. Hart not only was present at the LBH battle, but had told him so himself. The usual pinch of salt required, then; but a very good read none the less!
