thanks to the women

[michigander]

I start this thread that I feel owed to who deserved the same glory of their most famous fallen husbands: the widows of 7th Cavalry. It was hard for them, specially if not supported by brothers, or other male family members as, women, at that time could work (and hardly) just in the great cities. When they arrive to do something, it was only under their meritorius efforts. I feel touched to look at all those families, and I look at them as an exemple of greatness.

[michigander]

Margaret Custer was born in New Rumley, January 5 1852. In 1870 she met James Calhoun at Ft Leavenworth (kansas) and after 2 years of courtship, she became his bride. Margaret, followed Libbie on horseback, to be with her husband, in the trip of five hundred miles up from Yankton to Bismarck. After the tragedy of Little Big Horn, she stood with the other widows until august, then returned to her mother in Michigan, and take care of her until her death that came in January 1882.
Margaret decided then to study dramatic elocution and went to Detroit to Edna Chaffe Noble. One old biography says of her:She was thus engaged when her appointment of State Librarian was made known to her, and although she has always been received most cordially and graciously by the public, she has gladly taken the position to which she is appointed as a token of respect that the citizens of her adopted State give to the dear ones who are gone.

Her work at the state libriarian was of primarian importance even if she served there only two years. "She persuaded the Legislature to increase the appropriation Harriet Tenney had recommended by $1,000 and to remove all restrictions on employing clerical help, as she maintained that the State Library's patrons deserved skilled labor."
Also, she wanted Mary Spencer as assistant, that became, after Margaret left her position, one of the most influential state librarian in Michigan History.
As an elocutionist she had the same success and were glorified as one of the most talented ones, with a clear voice, great ease, power and magnetism. Besides what she needed for herself to living, she gave her efforts to a great number of humanitarian associations.
Maggie remarried in 1903 (Libbie seemed secretly never to forgive her that decision) with John Maugham .
She died in 1910 and is buried on Woodlawn Cemetery in Monroe, Michigan.

[elisabeth]

That's really nice, michigander. It's all too easy to remember Maggie just for her pathetic question -- "is there no message for me?" -- on getting the news of the disaster. I'd never realised she was such a capable and interesting woman.

[Tricia]

Michigander--

You bring up an interesting topic, which I'll expand a bit. We should all be thankful to the women who have added to the primary source material avaliable--and a better understanding--on Custer and Little Bighorn: Libbie, Kathryn Gibson Fougera, Kate Bighead ... as well as the multiple secondary source writers who have contributed to the topic: Mari Sandoz, Marguerite Merington, Shirley Leckie, Louise Barnett. This is not to forget the countless others who have studied the other--no less important--participants in LBH.

Granted, women writers might not cover the same subject matter as the men, but it is thanks to the female perspective that we have a more rounded picture of the period! And yes, we may not agree with all of them, but their importance cannot be underestimated.

Anybody have any favourites?

Regards,
Leyton McLean

[michigander]

Sorry, but...Libbie Custer

[alfuso]

Favorites: Libbie Custer for her anecdotal tales of life in garrison. And Fougera is a good read. I have a first edition of her book, signed by her.

alfuso

[michigander]

However, thinking more about it, Leyton, you're right in what you're saying. But maybe we should open another thread for female writers on LBH. The sense of this thread was another. Yours is historically, mine is human. I don't know if my english here is totally understandable. It's quite important to thanks all the female primary sources, and such women made and make great work for us, but another thing is the courage, the braveness, I should say, the greatness of all the widows, that women at the garrison that found themselves suddenly naked, undefended, poor, without material resources in a hostile (male) world, and they decided to goes on, nothwistanding the difficulties and the prejudices. Most we talk and the historians talk about their husbands. I find that such women (I extend my regard to all this kind of women in our times too) need to be remembered and admired as they fought the Little big horn inside the heart for all the life till they joined their beloved in the green pastures.
So was intented my thread.

[bubbabod]

I think another thing to remember, although you guys touched on it somewhat, is that we know much of not only fort life but also the history of settling the west because of the diaries that so many frontier women kept. Not as authors, but just as their personal journals. I haven't had the chance to read Margaret Carrington's book or journal, but I know excerpts are quoted here and there.
If any of you have the experience of going to Buffalo, Wy., at the Bozeman Crossing convention center there is the beginning of about a half mile trail that follows Clear Creek into downtown Buffalo. It's a self-guided walk with signs here and there. There is one which quotes Mrs. Carrington, the original Mrs. Carrington, where she speaks of sitting by Clear Creek with other women when they were confronted by a rattler. One of the soldiers came up to dispose of it. I know, not exactly a thriller, but just an example of everyday goings on.

[YellowRose]

Greetings all

Michigander, thank you for your sensitivity in remembering the women left behind who continued to fight (in your words) “the LBH inside the heart.” I think your English is just right! You have started a thread that I did not realize was missing from this board until I saw it.

Thanks to Alfuso and Leyton for the suggestions for female writers of all things LBH. I am definitely going to find Fougera. Bubbabod, great tip about Buffalo, Wy and the snake story. The details of family and home life during these times hold endless fascination for me. I cannot get enough of them.

Michigander, nowadays there are many resources for military spouses who lose an active duty spouse. During the 22 years that I followed my “warrior bold,” I witnessed this first hand as I saw the chaplain and military commander approach yet another front door with the heartbreaking news. In the present time, the military closes ranks in support of this spouse/family.

In 1876 however, I am not sure that the military even wanted the spouses there, much less was able to provide much support in the event of the soldier’s death. I stand in awe of these women and the inner strength they were able to muster in order to survive. Any “sacrifices” that I made during my 22 years pale pitifully when compared to the courage of these widows. Thank you, Michigander, for reminding me of this!

Thanks also for the mini-history lesson on Maggie Calhoun - I would like to hear any reading recommendations from others regarding what the other widows did after LBH? Thanks.

Best wishes

[michigander]

Dear Yellow rose, thanks for you gentle words and thanks for your contribution. You're right: in 1876, the army could not (would not) provide for widows and this is a destiny Libbie had to come through too. They had a slim pension, that were later a bit increased but, however, not enough.
Your last question is just what this thread was about. When I have time, I will post here stories about the LBH widows. I hate to talk about my works, but I am collecting just such stories to make a book I hope I could publish in the States too. "Widows at the little big horn".
Let's see.

[Scout]

Michigander...great thread and one of the more interesting ones in memory! I have found that Margaret Custer Calhoun is one of the more interesting victims of the LBH. Someone needs to write a biography on her, she led an incredible life but died much to young of ovarian cancer. Perhaps I'll undertake it myself I've considered it for some time.

Leyton...you are only a rocks throw from me...I want to get with you and do some brain pickin' very soon. I think there is a good book in you somewhere.

[michigander]

Thank you Scout.

[Scout]

Michigander...I encourage you on your widows book. Perhaps write a small article for the LBHA newsletter. I also read somewhere that Libbie Custer frowned on Margaret's remarrying. Seems she put those thoughts in a letter if I remember correctly. Another interesting slant is the children left behind...what was their destinies?

One of my favorite books from years ago was WOMEN'S LETTERS OF THE WESTWARD MOVEMENT...I believe that was the title. A exceptional great book on the westward movement of the 1860's & 1870's...all first hand accounts.

I have problems with Sandoz though...a lot of her research she got from newspapers and quite a bit of it is incorrect. There is, in my opinion, far too much dialogue in her books. I think a lot of it is fiction. I know a lot of historians feel this way as well.

[YellowRose]

Greetings

I hope this thread remains active through the continual sharing of information.

Scout: your posts are always full of good tips - I am going to try to find the WOMEN'S LETTERS OF THE WESTWARD MOVEMENT - some first hand accounts are so finely detailed that I feel that I am there with them.

Michigander: Civil War pension information can be located at this link: www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/civil-war/#pension . This link gives basic information along with instructions for copies.

I went through ancestry.com when I had a 2 week trial membership to get the copy of Libbie's application for her CW pension. The filing date was April 9, 1877, the application # was 230802 and the certificate # was 176408. I am thinking that the certificate # was the actual award of monies. If that is so, at the time of Libbie's filing, only 76% of applications had been approved. It did not give the amount of the pension. I believe that, once Libbie's stepmother had passed away, Libbie also received a small pension from her father's estate.

As an aside, Billy Markland has an interesting letter on his webpage. Here is the link: freepages.history.rootsweb.com/%7Efamilyinformation/#letters While this is not a request for a CW pension, it does provide an example of the "hoops" through which the surviving spouse had to jump to receive any pension.

Good luck, Michigander, with this fascinating subject. By the way, may I have the source you used for Libbie's disapproval of Maggie's second marriage? Thanks for any help.

Best wishes

[markland]

If anyone is interested in reading extracts from diaries kept during the Overland Trails days, the California-Oregon Trails Association bookstore has a list at this location:

tinyurl.com/qnuo3

Best of wishes,

Billy