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Post by Walt Cross on Jun 23, 2005 10:36:36 GMT -6
This reference is from Benteen's July 4 letter to his wife.
"After the Indians had driven them across [the Little Big Horn] it was a buffalo hunt for them-and not a man escaped."
Is this the earliest reference to calling the battle a "buffalo hunt"? I had thought this phrase originated with the Indian narrative. But obviously this was written by Benteen long before any warrior interview. Does this suggest the phrase attributed to the Indians actually had its origins with the soldiers? And if so, does that not "flavor" the Indian narrative and suggest it was not their original thought? This phrase has been used and attributed to the Indians for decades, it may be misleading.
Walt Cross
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Post by weir on Jun 24, 2005 9:12:02 GMT -6
This reference is from Benteen's July 4 letter to his wife. "After the Indians had driven them across [the Little Big Horn] it was a buffalo hunt for them-and not a man escaped." Is this the earliest reference to calling the battle a "buffalo hunt"? I had thought this phrase originated with the Indian narrative. But obviously this was written by Benteen long before any warrior interview. Does this suggest the phrase attributed to the Indians actually had its origins with the soldiers? And if so, does that not "flavor" the Indian narrative and suggest it was not their original thought? This phrase has been used and attributed to the Indians for decades, it may be misleading. Walt Cross I'm not sure. Sioux used to say, previsously to LBH, that "a White fleeding has no more chance to survive than a buffalo". |
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Post by Walt Cross on Jun 24, 2005 9:27:00 GMT -6
Source?
Walt
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Post by crzhrs on Jun 24, 2005 14:32:20 GMT -6
I believe Low Dog used the term buffalo hunt in describing the "fighting" with the soldiers. Possibly White Bull also.
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Post by weir on Jun 24, 2005 14:44:45 GMT -6
Evan Connell, SOTMS, but I have to check the exact page. I ask my brother and he told me that this sentence was "common knowledge" during the Frontier among soldiers and Indians. I'll check earlier battle I'm sure during Fetterman Massacre or others battle Indians alrealy made comparisons with Buffalo hunts. |
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Post by Walt Cross on Jun 24, 2005 15:53:49 GMT -6
You find it in Fetterman, tell me who translated/reported it. Common knowledge doesn't cut it. The origin of this phrase is a key to the interpretation of the battle. Was it an Indian phrase or a white reporter's phrase? Did it originate with the Indians or with the soldiers? Thanks.
Walt
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Post by weir on Jun 24, 2005 16:00:06 GMT -6
You find it in Fetterman, tell me who translated/reported it. Common knowledge doesn't cut it. The origin of this phrase is a key to the interpretation of the battle. Was it an Indian phrase or a white reporter's phrase? Did it originate with the Indians or with the soldiers? Thanks. Walt I'll check out. But I fear that, like other very well known legend (like Indians can shot 10 arrows in 30 seconds), the origin would be difficult to find out. And we all know that Evan Connell's confusing book is not really the book to clarify those things...! |
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