Mary Personeus

[Diane Merkel]

Mary Personeus' grave marker reads, "Survivor Gen. Custer's Massacre." Dave Bakke has posted a couple of articles about her.

“During the Civil War,” says her obituary, “she was a cook for Gen. Custer. Her first husband, William Crisfield, also a member of Gen. Custer’s force, was killed in the Custer massacre. She married a second time, to Martin Personeus, who was also a member of Gen. Custer’s forces but “escaped at the time of the massacre.” The italics are mine.

If Martin Personeus escaped from the Little Big Horn slaughter, we would have a scoop of major historical proportions. But where does that information come from? Historians believe none of Custer’s soldiers survived.

The Web Site littlebighorninfo.com, which is maintained by the Little Bighorn History Alliance, confirms that Personeus served in ill-fated Company L, but says of his role during the battle: “Not present, detached service.” No further explanation is given.

He got my website address wrong, but that's OK.

Source: www.sj-r.com/bakke/x1661783355/Dave-Bakke-Scouts-find-Custers-Last-Stand-mystery-in-Carlinville-cemetery

Another article: www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x1042536802/Dave-Bakke-Mystery-of-Custer-massacre-survivor-solved