Famous Black Hills Drinking Photograph

[John Mackintosh]

In preparation for some good discussions at Rapid City, thought I would toss out the following. To the best of my knowledge, Glen Swanson's book G.A. CUSTER--HIS LIFE AND TIMES is the only one that I am aware of that claims to identify just about all the members of the famous "drinking party" photographed by Illingworth. This appears on page 138 of his book, page 208 of Grafe and Horsted. The site of the party is now mostly submerged under pavement in what looks to be a residential neighborhood in the City of Custer.

From left to right, he has Hodgson, Gibson, Tilford, unknown striker, Benteen, Wallace, Hale and Fred Grant. PRELUDE TO GLORY from the 1970 is very guarded in how it ids individuals, a good way to be, but it suggests that the man whom Swanson ids as Tilford is actually sutler John Smith, and the "unknown striker" is his cook, Aunt Sally, although it says that she doesn't match the physical desription of her.

The one I am most concerned with is the officer identified as Wallace by Swanson, sitting between Benteen and Hale, two men he was on very good friends with as he even mentioned Hale in a letter home from Memphis the year before. Mr. Swanson is the only person I know of to identify him as Wallace, something I had never remotely considered when viewign the photograph.

My track record of photo identification isn't very good, though, as the recent fascinating thread on the photograph of six officers including Garlington atests. ;D After listing to the various opinions expressed, I now agree that it is Garlington. I am at a loss as to whether this is Wallace that we are looking at though. The face looks too wide for Wallace, a tall, thin man. Anyone else know any other books with different takes on this interesting photo? Sorry, unable to post. a scan.

[Steve Wilk]

John, this photo is also on pg. 35 of Cox's Custer and His Commands. Unfortunately there are no IDs made, not even of Benteen or Grant. I do agree that it's not Wallace; the face is too fat and it just doesn't look like him.

Diane, it's looking like we may need a separate section of the forum devoted solely to photographs.

[John Mackintosh]

Evidentally that photograph has caused many problems over the years. The wording concerning it in PRELUDE TO GLORY is so non-committal on even Grant that it sounds like it was written by a lawyer. I think we can say Grant, Hale, Hodgson, Benteen are all definites. In some ways, Hale's pose looks like it was lifted off of the subsequent group photograph of the expedition participants taken on August 9, so he is dead easy to recognize.

Tilford questionable, Gibson questionable, Wallace highly unlikely. PRELUDE even mentions that McDougall was present at the party, inferring he may be one of the officers.

Can't help but look at Benny Hodgson and all those bottles and recall the trouble He got into on Reconstruction duty to overdrinking, bounts that made him nasty, violent, and abusive. In that photo, he looks he is just getting started!

[Diane Merkel]

The Swanson photo was colorized, so it doesn't scan well. To see the full-sized photo, go to www.lbha.org/images/DrinkingParty.jpg

[Scout]

John,

After studying the photo through a magnifying glass for some time...I could not say yay or nay with any certainty, Although if I had to make decision, I would say it was not Wallace. The face is indeed more round...and one other observation. In the famous 1873 Ft. Lincoln photo where they are all posing on the steps....Wallace stands next to Custer and Hodgson...and Wallace is a giant at what 6'4 or 5''? Now I realize the man id'd as Wallace is sitting down but comparatively he looks of average height....I think Wallace even sitting would appear much larger than the other men, his shoulders would be broader..also his sideburns appear thicker and darker than Wallace's....but it is a hard call.

Scout

[John Mackiintosh]

Good observations, especially on the height factor. The only thing that makes him appear somewhat similar to Wallace is his nose, which appears similar to the way it looked in the O.S. Goff November 1873 group photograph at the Custer home, the famous one with him standing beside Custer.

Anyway, I am going to drop by the place that EXPLORING WITH CUSTER claims is the most likely spot of this photograph, the street in Custer, have my photo taken there. Maybe we will set up a table with some drinks ;D

[John Mackintosh]

Just saved it as the wallpaper on my PC, the one that Diane put up, and it enlarges all the figures. Still don't think it is him.

[Walt Cross]

Grafe and Horsted in "Exploring with Custer" (a magnificent book by the way) has the group as Grant, Benteen, Hale, Hodgson, McDougall and Gibson.

Walt

[John Mackintosh]

That is indeed an excellent book. Has anyone seen any of the Illingworth Black Hills stereoviews on ebay lately? Just curious, of course that place has been plagued by fake cabinet cards.

I purchased an Illingowrth stereoview of Fort Snelling a five years back on there for about $35.00. The address of his studio and other information provided are the same as on the Black Hills ones. Since then, I have noticed non-Black Hills cards going in excess of $250.00. The book by Horsted that contains the excellent biographical write up on Illingworth from Don Schwarck has no doubt contributed to more people seeking out his work.