Custer's Last Fight Remembered

[Scout]

Richard Upton & Sons has just published, 'The Battle of the Little Big Horn and Custer's Last Fight Remembered by Participants at the Tenth Anniversary June 25, 1886 & the Fiftieth Anniversary June 25, 1926.' 218 Pges with maps, illustrations and never before seen photos. $85.00 As any one bought one yet?

While I have not ordered my copy yet I can't think of a better or more important event surrounding the battle than the 1926 reunion. Several note worthy events happened during the event. numerous Indians and soldiers of other Indian Wars battles were in attendance as well.

*A number of of veterans of the battle were in attendance including Goldin, Fremont Kipp, Burkman, Sivertsen, Herendeen, William Morris, Daniel Newall, Wm. Slaper, Peter Thompson and Charlie Windolph. Apparently Slaper and Thompson almost got into a fist fight over Thompson's account of the battle. Why no one punched Goldin is unknown.

*Some 80 Indians veterans of the Indian Wars were in attendance as well. Two Moons, Shoots Walking, Young Hawk, Little Moon and Red Tomahawk. Red Tomahawk was not a veteran of the battle but had a hand in the botched arrest of Sitting Bull in 1890. Why there was no fight among the Indians is also unknown.

*Elizabeth Custer listened to the ceremonies on the radio. There were plans to interview her over the air waves but those plans fell through.

* Custer scouts Goes Ahead, White Man Runs Him, Curley, and Hairy Moccasin made appearances.

*Over 50,000 people were in attendance at the event. Sort of one of the first 'Woodstock' events of its day. It can honestly be said that the National Park Service realized the importance of the battlefield at the 1926 event.

*Western film star William S. Hart was in attendance with his Indian 'sidekick' Standing Bear.

* A month before the event two headless skeletons were discovered in the Reno retreat area. These were ceremoniously re interred in the Custer Cemetery during the event.

I look forward to ordering the book.

[harpskiddie]

Scout:

I too thought it looked like a good research tool and an interesting read. I just wish Upton would publish some more affordable editions of his list. They are generally superbly-done books, but I'm more interested in the content than in the bindings [or the collector's value in signed , limited first editions]. My problem is that, unlike 'working stiffs', I usually have to budget a few months ahead for anything above 50 bucks a month for books. But I will be getting this one.

One of the headless skeletons was found by Henry Weibert and his father in 1925 - see Sixty-Six Years In Custer's Shadow, 1985, pp 134-135.

Gordie

[Scout]

Gordie;

Weibert and his father published a book sometime before '66 years' that claimed Mitch Bouyer killed Custer In MTC...a rather ridiculous claim, so I'm not so sure about '66 years.' I think they later dropped their supposed contention of the fable. I 'm sad to say I have none of the Upton books although I'm told they are first rate although somewhat pricey. They do speacilize on Custer though...

[harpskiddie]

Scout:

The Bouyer tale is in the 66 years book, although the setting is Deep Ravine. Weibert doesn't think that Custer ever went down MTC - neither do I, for what it's worth. Some of Weibert's conclusions are, to me, far-fetched; but there is a wealth of very useful information in this and in Custer, Cases and Cartridges [which is the second of the two books]. Upton's books are 'somewhat pricey' indeed. I have a few [Darling, Willert and Upton himself], and intend to get a few more over the course of the next year [or two or three]. The books themselves are very-well put together, in a physical sense. They will last forever. The content is usually of a high order, although Richard Upton sometimes does publish theories that are a bit out in left field. I think that is one of the reasons why the runs are so low - the books are out of print in about two months - and why he puts out the limited signed editions, so that the author can get a few bucks on personal sales.

The main thing is that Upton gives us a chance to obtain some serious research done by some serious writers, which otherwise would never see the light of day. There aren't many publishers who would publish the stuff he does. I wish he would do paper versions or less expensive re-issues, more than he does. He also used to sell off estate books; but I don't know if he still does. I got a couple of Carrolls that way. I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't been in touch since 1997 or 1998.

Best for the New Year.....

Gordie

[Scout]

Gordie...just found out Upton's book is available in softcover for $28 bucks (a special on the friends of little big horn website) the price includes shipping. A very affordable deal. Thought you'd like to know.

Scout

[crzhrs]

In fairly recent book WHERE WAS CUSTER . . . the author claims Boyer felt Custer had disgraced Meotshe and planned to kill him. Boyer even held a peace conference between the Sioux & Crow and said he would signal the Sioux when Custer approached!

[harpskiddie]

Weibert says much the same thing, although he doesn't ascribe Bouyer's motives that same way. He thinks that the man seen waving his hat from Weir Peak was actually Bouyer signalling the camp, and that the firing into the camp by the scouts from that point was to draw attention from the occupants. He thinks the Crows had several meetings with hostiles during the course of the march up the Rosebud and later.

I find that speculation rather unbelievable, since the Crows and the Sioux were not what one would call friendly neighbors. Bouyer, on the other hand, being part Lakota, I could maybe understand. What any of this would have to do with a Southern Cheyenne woman is beyond me. On the other hand, nothing is beyond the realm of possibility, so I always keep Weibert's tale [he himself states that he has no evidence to present] in the back of my mind, somewhere, much as I do Curley's and Goldin's and a few others'.

All the best of the festive season to you and yours, Horse.

Gordie

[crzhrs]

One interesting aspect of the Crow-Sioux "peace" conference. When the military asked the Crow for assistance to go with Custer one of the cheifs refused to send his warriors.

[Scout]

I already got burned on the Billy Heath book...don't think I'll be gettin' a copy of 'Where Was Custer' anytime soon...

[harpskiddie]

And Weibert claims that some of the Sioux were at the meeting when Crow warriors were being enlisted or sought for scouts. Again, he gives no source or evidence for that claim. Thanks for the tip, Scout - I almoest sent for it myself; but I am not interested in survivors, unless they can give me information about the barttle which I don't already have.

Gordie