Post by fred on Jan 27, 2011 10:48:08 GMT -6
I have put together a small file on battlefield markers and some of the archaeological work done there. The file is incomplete because I will be adding an analysis of all the markers, especially the spurious ones, but that is not an immediate priority. Nonetheless, I thought this would be helpful. I will be adding to it.
I hope this little effort of mine can help some people. It certainly helped me and it allowed me to better understand the flow of the battle. As usual, direct quotes are in yellow.
ARTIFACTS, BURIALS, AND MARKERS
NOTE—In an article by Bruce A. Trinque titled, “Elusive Ridge,” January 1995, Research Review, Vol. 9, No. 1, Trinque calls the “Luce Ridge” referred to by John Gray, Robert Utley, and Richard Hardorff as “East Ridge,” and Richard Fox’ “Luce” as “West Ridge.”
1877—LTC Michael Sheridan and CPT Henry Nowlan, Company I, 7th Cavalry: officers exhumed and reburied according to family wishes.
• Sheridan and Nowlan moved up the Yellowstone and Big Horn to Post Number Two (later renamed Fort Custer). It was still under construction by soldiers of the 11th Infantry under command of LTC George P. Buell. Coffins were built. The expedition now consisted of Sheridan and CPT Nowlan, LT Hugh L. Scott and 88 men of Nowlan’s Company I, 7th Cavalry. The guides were George Herendeen and John Baronette. The interpreter was Thomas H. LeForgé and eight Crows, including Curley, Half Yellow Face, and White Man Runs Him. They reached the field of battle on 2Jul1877. A month later, LTG Phil Sheridan and MG George Crook arrived and had the graves re-mounded and re-marked.
• Photographer, John H. Fouch (1849 – 1933), traveled to the battlefield with Philetus W. Norris, the newly appointed superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, preceding the Sheridan expedition (July 1877).
1879—CPT George K. Sanderson, 11th Infantry: some cleaning up. Built cordwood cairn and filled it with more exposed remains, man and horse. Replaced headboards and re-painted inscriptions. Nothing done in Deep Ravine.
• Photographer, Stanley J. Morrow (1843 – 1921), accompanied this expedition.
1881—LT Charles F. Roe, 2nd Cavalry: whatever skeletal remains were found were placed in a mass grave on Custer Hill.
• Original sites marked with a stake (scout, James A. Campbell [Brust, et al., Where Custer Fell, p. 13]).
• Obelisk erected at the mass grave, about six feet from where Custer’s remains were found.
• Ten feet from the base of the monument and on all four sides, Roe’s men dug a trench and filled it with all the remains of the troopers they could find.
• Nothing marked in Deep Ravine.
• Greene says monument on Custer Hill erroneously contains 263 names.
o Video tape: one Ree name is incorrect.
o The five DOWs are probably the missing names.
• In a 6Oct1908 letter to Walter Camp, Roe wrote that he had found the bodies of 267 officers and EM. Actually, 263 men died at the battle ground, with five others dying of wounds at a later date:
o George King (A) on the Far West, 2Jul76. King was not listed on the monument, but has since been buried at the LBH National Cemetery.
o James Bennett (C) on the Far West, 5Jul76.
o William George (H) on the Far West, 3Jul76. He was buried near the PRD.
o David Cooney (I) at FAL, 20Jul76.
o Frank Braun (M) at FAL, 4Oct76. Since buried at LBH National Cemetery.
1890—CPT Owen Jay Sweet, 25th Infantry:
• Originally given 249 markers. Sweet erected 246 markers on the Custer field, and two—for McIntosh and DeWolf—were erected on the Reno field. One marker—for LT Porter—was returned to the Post QM [Scott, Fox, Connor, Archaeological Perspectives, pp. 49 – 50].
• Nothing put in Deep Ravine.
• It appears there are 43 paired markers [p. 50].
• MAJ James Brisbin was with the party, probably as an advisor since he helped bury the dead in June 1876. Also, Scout Campbell, who was with LT Roe in 1881.
Since 1890—Six more marble markers were set up. That makes an overage of 42 on the Custer field.
1891—The U. S. G. S. sent a topographer, R. B. Marshall, to the Custer field to map out the marker placement. He mapped 244 markers, a discrepancy of two—and only one year from when Sweet placed his 246 [Scott, et al., Archaeological Perspectives, p. 51]. It also appears that the marker map produced from this survey is erroneous in many areas and was incorrectly marked, bearing little correlation to the accurate work done in 1984 – 1985. This is not a map that should be considered when attempting to determine where soldiers fell.
1920s—Joe Blummer found Springfield cartridge cases. In a 1928 letter, Blummer wrote, “I found 17 shells on the east side of this small ridge… strung out for about 150 yards and all on the east side of the ridge about 10 feet from the top. This ridge is about three-fourths of a mile southeast of the southeast corner of (the) battlefield fence” [Trinque, “Elusive Ridge,” Research Review, p. 3].
1938—COL Elwood L. Nye and R. G. Cartwright checked the same site and discovered many more cases. These locations are on Blummer/Nye – Cartwright Ridge.
1984 – 1985—In the archaeological excavations and surveying of the battlefield, it was determined that there were 252 markers on the Custer field of battle, a mismatch of eight markers from the 1891 U. S. G. S. survey [Perspectives, p. 51].
Through an analysis of the letters Superintendent Edward S. Luce wrote describing the artifacts he and others found, Bruce Trinque concluded that Richard Fox’ “West Ridge” is the real Luce Ridge and it is this area—north to Nye – Cartwright—that the troops traversed. More than 100 cases were found by Luce, generally three to four yards apart, indicating dismounted skirmishers. As the trail of cases continued, the spacing changed to about nine yards indicating mounted skirmishing.
Jerome Greene claimed 214 empty carbine cases were found on or near Nye – Cartwright Ridge [Smalley, More LBH Mysteries, FN 29, p. 16 – 14; Greene, Evidence and the Custer Enigma, p. 45].
Richard Hardorff wrote, “… Dr. James S. Brust rediscovered Butler’s kill site, which was originally identified by Gen. Godfrey in 1916, and which location is some 125 yards southwest of the present site of the Butler marker. In years past, Godfrey’s Butler site yielded a horse skeleton, several expended cartridges, a horseshoe and a shank portion of a boot, containing a decomposed foot. The rotted leather revealed some faded initials, thought to read ‘JD,’ but which may well have been the letters ‘JB’.” [Hardorff, On the Little Bighorn With Walter Camp, p. 6, footnote 2.]
The following is from Greg Michno, Lakota Noon, map on p. 153—
(A) Along the front side of Butler Ridge which faces the LBH, were found: [Fox says this is where Custer himself and Yates watched the action at Ford B. Michno feels Custer remained with Keogh’s battalion on East Ridge, then Luce, then Nye – Cartwright.]
• Ten .45/55 – caliber bullets
• Four .45/55 cases
• Two unfired .45/55 cartridges
• Two Colt .45 bullets
• One .50/70 cartridge
• Three .44 Henry cases
• Three .50 Spencer cases
• Four brass cavalry insignia
• One arrowhead
• Two half horseshoes
• One metal ring
• brass grommets
• iron snaps
• One Winchester rifle
(B) In the north fork of MTC, below and along the south and southeast face of Luce Ridge—traditional Luce Ridge is East Ridge—roughly parallel to East Ridge:
• Four .45/55 cases
• Three .50/70 cases
• Fourteen .45/55 cases, plus an additional undetermined number
• At least three horse skeletons, plus additional horse bones
• At least three human skeletons, plus additional human bones
• A saddle and bridle, saddle leather and pommel rings, and horseshoes
• Much of this was probably from the battle with the southern half of Wolf Tooth’s band.
(C) In the lower ground, north and northwest of Butler Ridge, east of Deep Coulee:
• Two .45/55 cartridges
• A horseshoe, harness buckle, and straps
• A leather boot
• A leather scabbard
• An arrowhead
• Two human skeletons
• Numerous horse bones
• Michno felt these are, “from a combination of Yates’ men moving back up Butler Ridge and from the Indians who followed Yates and Keogh” [Lakota Noon]. Reasonable.
(D) On the southern slope of Nye – Cartwright Ridge, directly behind the LBH face of Butler Ridge:
• Four .45/55 cases
• Four .45/55 cartridges
• Six .56 Spencer cases
• Twenty-four .50/70 cases
• Fifteen .44 Henry cases
• Nine .44 Henry cartridges
• An Indian bridle
• Michno feels these are “from a combination of Yates’ men moving back up Butler Ridge and from the Indians who followed Yates and Keogh.”
(E) All along the Nye – Cartwright – “new” Luce Ridge complex. This is now behind all of the previous (Letters), including (B):
• Upwards of 480 .45/55 cases and cartridges
• Several .50/70 cases
• An undetermined number of additional shells
• Saddle and tack parts
• Uniform buttons and buckles
• Regardless of the accuracy of Michno’s theories, no one can deny the troops moved along these ridgelines.
(F) Behind Nye – Cartwright along a dry ravine of South Branch:
• Three .44 Henry cases
• This was probably from the skirmish with the northern half of Wolf Tooth’s band.
(G) Below the western edge of Nye – Cartwright, in what appear to be a series of gullies or ravines leading to, but before, Deep Coulee:
• Three human and three horse skeletons
• Various bridle and saddle parts
(H) Northern part of Deep Coulee on its west side, toward Calhoun Hill and the Henryville area:
• Human bones and two horse skeletons
• Eight .45/55 cases
• Two .50/70 cases
• Two .50– and one .56 – caliber Spencer cases
• One .32 rimfire case
• Two .44 Henry cases
• One Winchester rifle
Michno says there were “few or no relics found along the traditional northward line directly from the ford to Greasy Grass Ridge and Calhoun Hill.” “A” through “G” counts 8 – 9 bodies; “H” counts some more. Whose… Indians or soldiers? Indians generally policed up their dead, though maybe they missed these. Possible single warriors, there without families. The soldiers were accounted for (LTs Porter and Harrington were exceptions) despite the inability to identify everyone.
From Michno, Lakota Noon, map on p. 226—
(A) Henryville, on the Deep Coulee side: 32 Indian cartridge cases.
(B) Henryville, on the Calhoun Hill side: 13 Indian cartridge cases.
(C) Across Calhoun Hill, roughly from west to east: nine Indian cartridge cases.
(D) All along the ridges and gullies east of Battle Ridge and the Keogh Sector: 108 Indian cartridges, including .50/70’s, .44’s, and .56’s.
(E) Along the south side of Finley Ridge: nine Indian bullets.
(F) Across Calhoun Hill, roughly north to south: 5 Army cartridge cases.
“Shell cases have been found for nearly a quarter mile along the crest [of Blummer – (Nye) Cartwright Ridge]. Hank Wiebert [sic] reported he found a number of shell cases along the crest of Blummer (Nye) – Cartwright Ridge. However, Joseph Blummer wrote to Robert Cartwright in a 1928 letter that he found a number of shells along the northern slope of this ridge about 10 feet from the crest” [Liddic, Vanishing Victory, p. 116].
Michno, The Mystery of E Troop, pp. 51 – 52. He breaks the 1984 – 1985 archeological finds into 12 main areas. Furthermore, “All areas had a mix of both Indian and army relics, while some had a predominance of one type over another to mark it as either a soldier or Indian position.”
1. Greasy Grass Ridge, particularly in the southern portion (173 artifacts); northern portion (32 artifacts): Indian positions.
2. Henryville (114): Indian.
3. Today’s cemetery (53): Indian.
4. The “bend” of Deep Ravine (34): Indian.
5. North of Custer Hill (45): Indian.
6. Soldier positions were strongest at Custer Hill (80) and to a lesser extent at Calhoun Hill (63).
7. Mixed areas were in Calhoun Coulee (43), Finley Ridge (23), the Keogh Sector (86), and the South Skirmish Line (169). The latter two areas show considerable mixed activity.
The archeological survey conducted by Fox and Scott in 1984 found that at least seven “of the Indian weapons which were used to break the soldier’s line on Finley Hill were also fired against Calhoun’s position from Henryville Ridge, southeast of this hill” [Liddic, Vanishing Victory, p. 151]. Liddic correctly suggests the reason for this was because at 700 yards away on Greasy Grass Ridge, the Indians’ fire was not effective against troops on Calhoun Hill, but at the shorter distance of about 350 yards from Henryville, the Henrys and Winchesters were lethal.
Initial burials occurred on 28Jun1876. The battlefield was divided into 5 sectors:
1. The company commanders went over the whole field to try to identify the officers.
2. The first sergeants led the men over the sectors to try to identify the men and bury them. Company B was on the extreme left, closest to the river. Company A was to their right. Companies G, M, and K took the central area, and companies D and H covered the right farthest back from the river. They moved north, burying and counting as they moved.
3. There were numerous accounts of bodies seen in a [D]eep [R]avine:
• 1SG Ryan (M): 18 or 20 men of E Company.
• CPT Benteen (H): 22 bodies.
• CPT Moylan (A): 20 – odd bodies of E Company.
• LT Godfrey (K): 28 men of Smith’s troop.
• LT Hare (K): 28 bodies of Smith’s troop in a coulee in skirmish order.
• SGT Kanipe (C): rode along the edge of a deep gully and counted 28 bodies in there [Michno: Camp).
• LT Richard Thompson (6th Inf.): maybe 34 bodies in a gully [Michno: Camp].
• LT Edward Maguire (Engineers): drew a map showing 28 bodies in one particular ravine.
• LT Edward McClernand (2nd Cavalry): 28 bodies of Smith’s troop were found at the lower end of the line in a deep coulee.
• COL John Gibbon (7th Infantry): 40 or 50 bodies were found in a valley running perpendicular to the river.
• Walter Camp interviewed two Sioux warriors, Good Voiced Elk (Hunkpapa), who claimed 25 to 30 died in a gully; and He Dog (Oglala) who corroborated the number of 28. Of course, one would like to know how he arrived at this precise number.
When the burials of Custer’s men were completed late on 28Jun76, the re-united columns moved north. They moved only about 4½ miles, however, when the lateness of the day and the inadequacies of the transport for the wounded forced them to halt. The troops camped just below the north end of the abandoned Indian village.
In a November 6, 1920, letter from Walter Camp to Edward Godfrey, Camp discussed the marker placements. “There are 17 or 18 too many markers in the group at the monument, too many in the group around Keogh’s marker, too many between the monument and the river, and none in the big gully where about 28 ought to be. I discovered these dead in the gully with Capt. McDougall… and he was clear that there were only 9 dead between the end of the ridge and the gully, and 28 in the gully (not counting the group that lay around the body of Gen. Custer)…. As the markers now stand, there are more than 50 where there should be only 9, on that side hill, and not enough at or in the gully” [Hardorff, On The LBH With Walter Camp, p. 155].
In a random sampling of marker sites, Fox estimated 91% of 43 “paired marker sites” showed only one body had been buried there. He therefore eliminated 43 of the 252 markers (209 remaining) in determining where men fell.
Scott estimated 27 to 44 men were killed in the area between Custer Hill and Deep Ravine. This includes the SSL.
Michno in The Mystery of E Troop, p. 218, claimed 44 grave markers on the main branch of the SSL, seven on the southeast branch, and four more across Deep Ravine (55 total).
Scott says Custer, 5 officers, and perhaps 40 EM lay on Custer/Last Stand Hill.
• 28 names are documented: 14 PVTs
Ygnatz Stungewitz (C)
Willis B. Wright (C)
Anton Dohman (F)
Gustav Klein (F)
William H. Lerock (F)
Werner L. Liemann (F)
Edward C. Driscoll (I)
Archibald McIlhargey (I)
John E. Mitchell (I)
John Parker (I)
Francis T. Hughes (L)
Charles McCarthy (L)
Oscar F. Pardee (L)
Thomas S. Tweed (L)
• 2 civilians
Boston Custer (QM)
Autie Reed
• 1 surgeon: Dr. George Lord (HQ) (Marker 17 for Lord is on the SSL)
• 1 trumpeter: Henry Voss (HQ)
• 4 NCOs
SGM William Sharrow (HQ)
1SG Michael Kenney (F)
SGT John H. Groesbeck (F)
CPL William Teeman (F)
• SGT Robert Hughes’ (K) body was most likely the one found at the head of Deep Ravine, though there is a remote chance he was killed on Custer Hill. Supposedly identified by CPT McDougall.
• Six officers:
GAC (HQ)
William Cooke (HQ)
Tom Custer (C – HQ)
Algernon Smith (E)
George Yates (F)
William Van W. Reily (F)
• Presently, 52 markers are located on Custer Hill; 42 bodies had been buried there initially.
• Deep Ravine (8 men from Company E):
1SG Frederick Hohmeyer
SGT John S. Ogden
CPL George C. Brown
CPL Albert H. Meyer
PVT Richard Farrell
PVT William Huber
PVT Andy Knecht
PVT William H. Rees
Liddic presented his own description of where bodies were found [Vanishing Victory, p. 164].
• Grouped near Custer around the top of the knoll:
LT Cooke (HQ)
PVT Driscoll (I)
PVT Parker (I)
LT Smith (E)
SGT John Vickory – Groesbeck (F)
TMP Voss (HQ)
PVT McCarthy (L)
• Deep Ravine:
SGT Hughes (K)
PVT Tim Donnelly (F)
PVT Andrew Knecht (E) [Hardorff, On The LBH With Walter Camp, p. 132, FN 5].
• On a rise above Deep Ravine: CPL John Briody (F)
• Farthest north on the battlefield, opposite the present parking lot on the east side of the service entrance road: SGM Sharrow (HQ).
• Lower west side, down the slope from the monument, about 100 yards from GAC:
Boston Custer
Autie Reed
• About 20 feet southeast of GAC, on a hillside: Dr. Lord (HQ)
2LT Richard Thompson, Terry’s Acting Commissary of Subsistence, said there were only 9 or 10 men found between Custer and the gully (27Jun76) [Camp/Hammer, Custer in ’76, p. 248].
Custer/Last Stand Hill—From Brust/Pohanka/Barnard, Where Custer Fell, pp. 127 – 132:
• LT Wallace: “They had apparently tried to lead the horses in a circle on the point of the ridge and had killed them there and apparently made an effort for a final stand.” [127]
• SGT Kanipe: the horses “were ‘scattered all over the hill.’” [127]
• CPT Walter Clifford (7I): “slain horses, placed head to tail.” [128]
• LT DeRudio: “Five or six horses lay as if they had been led there and shot down for a barricade. These horses were all sorrels from Company C.” [128]
• CPT Michael Sheridan: “It was a rough point or narrow ridge not wide enough to drive a wagon on. Across that ridge were 5 or 6 horses apparently in line, and looked as if they had been killed for the purpose of resistance, but the remains were found in a confused mass.” [128]
• GAC, TWC, and “Cooke were among the dead on or just below the crest of the ridge.” [128]
• TWC “was found some 15 to 20 feet from his elder brother and somewhat higher on the ridge.” [128]
• Cooke was found just below the crest.
• GAC was actually buried on the ridge, but below the spot where his body was found. [132]
• “Postbattle eyewitnesses described the top of Custer Hill as a small knoll, some 30 feet in diameter, an area roughly equivalent to the grass around the granite memorial shaft today. About 10 bodies were found there, including that of General Custer near the southwestern rim of the elevation. Six horses lay in a convex perimeter on the east side….” [132]
The South Skirmish Line (SSL)—
• “[R]oughly 720 yards from the monument on Custer Hill to Deep Ravine following a line down from the monument to Marker 54, then along the Deep Ravine Trail, which meanders a bit, touches near most of the remaining grave markers, and continues to its end at the lower trail crossing near grave marker 7” [Michno, The Mystery of E Troop, p. 234].
• The actual “line” itself “begins about 200 yards down from Custer Hill at Markers 52, 53, and 54 in the upper reaches of Cemetery Ravine. It wavers down the ravine and then climbs up obliquely across the ravine’s south bank, following the grave markers in descending order. The Boyer cluster, Markers 33 – 39 [sic; should be, 33 – 34], is near the divide and about 180 yards from the start of the line. Markers 29 – 32 are the last stones on the Cemetery Ravine side of the divide and are about 200 yards from the head of the line. About 220 yards along the trail there is a soft crest where the trail begins to dip down into the upper Deep Ravine watershed. At 270 yards is another cluster, grave Markers 24 – 28. The South Skirmish Line has been heading roughly north to south, but at this point a branch of markers diverges to the southeast. This branch consists of 7 more or less isolated stones, numbers 20 – 23, 255, and 1 – 2 [emphasis added]. The latter two are down in the upper reaches of Deep Ravine, far above the headcut” [pp. 234 – 235].
• The formal SSL terminates just below the low divide in the 24 – 28 group of markers.
• Markers 7 – 19 are considered the “fugitive” markers.
• From Markers 24 – 28, “the southeast branch splits off, the trail and fugitive lines follow the markers another 190 yards to stone 7 at the edge of Deep Ravine. The total length of the line—formal and fugitive… is about 430 yards.”
Marker excavation work is from, Scott, Douglas D., and Fox, Richard A., Jr., Archaeological Insights into The Custer Battle, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 1987; and, Scott, Douglas D.; Fox, Richard A., Jr.; and Connor, Melissa A., Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Bighorn, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 1989.
NOTE—In determining the cause of death, the most common occurrence was massive blunt – force trauma. Bullet wounds were detected with much lower frequency.
Marker 2—Southeast side of Deep Ravine. An isolated marker.
• Skull fragments showing massive blunt – force trauma; finger and toe bones.
• Single individual between 25 – 40 years of age.
• Three four – hole iron trouser buttons.
• 6 different types of bullets: one a .50/70 fired from an old lot of Springfield ammunition; a round ball from a .50 – caliber muzzle-loader; one unidentifiable bullet; one .45 Colt revolver bullet; two .45/55 Springfield carbine bullets.
• Because of the variety of bullets found around the site, speculation has this individual being killed very late in the fight, possibly as he attempted to get away.
Markers 5 and 6 (paired)—Isolated; on the Deep Ravine trail directly above the ravine itself.
• No material discovered.
• Bedrock was found only two inches below the surface, making it unlikely that anyone had ever been buried there. Even wooden stakes could not have been driven deeply enough into the ground to have remained for long.
• The conclusion was reached that these markers could have been for men who died in Deep Ravine.
Marker 7—Southern extent of the South Skirmish Line near the head of Deep Ravine and the end of the trail where it enters the ravine.
• Fourteen skull fragments, plus vertebrae fragments; rib fragments.
• Damage to the vertebrae is consistent with decapitation. Perimortem blunt – force trauma evidence.
• Single individual between 20 – 36 years old.
• Horseshoe nail.
• One 4 – hole iron trouser button.
Markers 9 and 10 (paired)—On the South Skirmish Line.
• Largest and most nearly complete grouping of human remains found in the 1984 excavations. Fragments of skull, ribs, vertebrae, hands, a right foot, both upper arms, both lower arms.
• Appeared to be a single individual with massive head damage and severe cutting across the breastbone. The body had been placed face down. (NOTE—Cheyenne warriors generally turned their dead victims face down, fearing it was bad luck to leave an enemy facing the sky. He may have been buried as found or merely had dirt thrown on him, as found.) Bone damage indicates blunt – force trauma as well as damage by an arrow or knife and hatchet.
• .44 – caliber Henry bullet found in the lower chest – upper abdominal region.
• .45 – caliber Colt bullet found in the area of the head.
• 11 buttons, including several trouser buttons; three blouse buttons, two with cloth still attached; three four – hole white-glass shirt buttons.
• An iron arrowhead.
• Several cobbles.
• White male between 30 – 40 years of age; about 5’ 10½” tall, with a range of 5’ 8¾” – 6’.
o John Rauter (C)
o L. St. John (C)
o Alpheus Stewart (C)
o G. Warren (F)
o William Teeman (F)—doubtful
o F. Varden (I)—doubtful
o William Reed (I)
o W. Cashan (L)
o T. Kavanaugh (L)
Marker 17 is for Dr. Lord and is located on the lower SSL (the so-called “fugitive line”).
Markers 33 and 34 (paired)—On the trail near the middle of the South Skirmish Line.
• Skull fragments; finger; coccyx. Condition of the teeth indicated a pipe-smoker and the condition of the bones indicate a man between 35 – 45 years of age. Also, Caucasian – Mongoloid racial mixture. Later determined to be the bones of Mitch Boyer. Skull damage indicated blunt – force trauma.
• Single individual.
• .50/70 bullet.
• Lead-bullet fragment.
• Lead shot.
• A boot heel and boot nails.
• Rubber poncho button.
• Three, four – hole iron trouser buttons.
• Mother – of – pearl shirt button.
• Cedar stake fragment.
• Cobbles.
Marker 42—South Skirmish Line.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• A finger bone with a ring was found here. Four other hand bones were found, as well.
• A number of river cobbles.
Marker 48, set in Cemetery Ravine along the SSL, is for LT Sturgis.
Markers 52 and 53 (paired)—Northern end of the South Skirmish Line, about 492 feet from the visitors center.
• Skull and rib fragments from a single individual.
• One four – hole iron trouser button.
• A Benét primer from a .45/55 cartridge.
• Lead shot.
• Bone damage is consistent with that caused by a hatchet or ax.
Markers 55 (possibly PVT Gustav Klein [F]) and 56 (CPL William Teeman [F]) are too close to Custer Hill to be considered part of the SSL.
Marker 63—Last Stand Hill.
• No material recovered.
Markers 67 and 68 (paired)—Last Stand Hill near the fence enclosing the area.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Cobbles.
• The bones found at this site were of one human and one horse.
• Skull fragments.
• Vertebrae—with a compressed fracture of lower lumbar—rib, facial bones, hand bone.
• One of the ribs showed evidence of possible bullet damage.
• Fragmented facial bones indicate possible postmortem blunt – force damage.
• 35 – 45 years old. Five F Company troopers fit within the age parameters, being born between 1831 – 1841: (NOTE—This does not mean these bones were from an F Company soldier.)
o FAR Benjamin Brandon – 1831.
o PVT Thomas Atcheson – 1838.
o PVT Herman Knauth – 1838.
o PVT Sebastian Omling – 1838.
o PVT George Warren – 1840.
Marker 78—Last Stand Hill.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Several cobbles.
• Four trouser buttons.
• One .45 Colt bullet.
• One wood screw.
• Wood fragments.
• Human bones consistent with those of a single individual, 18 to 30 years old: carpals, skull, a tooth, almost all the left hand bones and some of the right, three small bones of the foot, coccyx, and “the lower third of the left lower arm bone” [Perspectives, p. 61]. The arm bone was shattered by a gunshot, with some of the shot still embedded in the bone.
• Evidence of postmortem blunt – force trauma to the skull.
Markers 86 and 87 (paired)—Last Stand Hill at the bottom of the fenced area.
• Human remains discovered.
• Three trousers buttons.
• One square nail.
• One human bone: right kneecap from an adult.
Marker 105—(Marker inscribed, “Algernon Smith”)—Last Stand Hill.
• A complete, mostly articulated left lower arm and hand.
• Numerous other bones: hands and feet; a vertebra; several ribs.
• Foot bones indicated fracture and infection prior to the battle.
• Vertebrae damage indicated wounding by stabbing or a metal-tipped arrow.
• Single individual, first thought to be between 20 and 35 years old—later changed to 30 – 40 years of age—and approximately 5’ 3” tall, with a range of 5’ 1¾” to 5’ 5¼”. [NOTE—Three men, not identified elsewhere, fit the height description, at, or within one inch: PVT Anthony Assadaly, L Company, variously listed as 5’ 3” or 5’ 7” tall; PVT Henry Lehmann, I Company, 5’ 4”; and PVT Peter McGue, L Company, 5’ 4”.]
o B. Stafford (E)
o J. Carney (F)
o W. Liemann (F)
o S. Omling (F)
o T. Acheson (F)
o P. Kelly (I)
o H. Lehmann (I)
o J. McGucker (I)
o A. Assadaly (L)
• Two, four – hole iron trouser buttons, generally associated with those on army trousers to attach suspenders and to close the fly.
• .45/55 cartridge case found beneath the arm.
• .45/55 bullet found near the center of the excavation.
• 5 cobbles (stones) associated with those used to hold dirt thrown over the body.
Markers 112 and 113 (paired)—Isolated on the west side of the park road southeast of Last Stand Hill.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Four trouser buttons and one white-glass button were found.
• One .44 or .45 – caliber ball.
• Male, older than 35; age range: 35 – 45.
• Portion of a tooth crown; segment of tailbone; three finger bones; one toe bone.
Marker 128—Isolated; behind Greasy Grass Ridge.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Almost a complete burial discovered at this site; the most complete set of human remains recovered during the 1984 – 1985 archaeological excavations.
• Lower right leg articulated, its foot bones encased in a cavalry boot.
• Other bones had been re-buried after the flesh had decayed.
• Male, between 19 – 22 years old, and approximately 5’ 6¾” tall, with a range of 5’ 5¾ ” – 5’ 7 7/8”; or, 66.8” ± 1.18”. Individual was stocky with well-developed musculature [Scott, et al., Archaeological Perspectives, p. 268]. Right-handed.
o F. Meier (C)
o J. Shea (C)
o J. Thadus (C)
o N. Short (C)
o G. Moonie (E)
o W. Huber (E)—highly doubtful.
o T. Donnelly (F)—highly doubtful.
o E. Babcock (L)
o F. Hughes (L)—highly doubtful.
• Evidence of two gunshot wounds in the chest, one from the right, one from the left. Also, massive blunt – force trauma to the skull at about the time of death.
• Bullet fragment in lower left arm.
• Three parallel cut marks on thighbones and another on collarbone.
• Vertebrae showed congenital defect, probably causing the individual pain when he rode his horse for long periods.
• Blouse and trousers buttons found; underwear cloth; hooks and eyes, probably from his campaign hat.
• Because of the way the bones were dispersed, the individual had to have been re-buried, probably in 1877 or 1879.
Marker 131—Calhoun Hill or Greasy Grass Ridge.
• No material discovered other than four river cobbles nearby.
Markers 134 and 135 (paired)—Calhoun Hill.
• Human remains discovered: adult hand bones and a tooth fragment.
Marker 148—(N6656 – E2848)—On Calhoun Hill.
• Only human remains discovered along with post – battle metal devices used to attach floral arrangements to their bases.
• Highly deteriorated bone fragments thought to be from ribs from a single person.
Markers 152 and 155 (paired)—Calhoun Hill.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• A “pavement” of river cobbles.
• One finger bone and nine right foot bones and one left foot bone. Bones indicate some postmortem mutilation.
• Gold watch chain.
Marker 153—Calhoun Hill.
• No material discovered.
Near Marker 174—Eastern fence boundary in the Keogh Sector.
• One boot nail.
• Three .45/55 carbine cartridge cases, all fired from the same weapon.
• One Colt cartridge case.
• One .50/70 bullet.
Marker 178—Keogh Sector. Marker is inscribed as that of CPT Myles Keogh and is near several other markers including Marker 181.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Bone fragments indicate a person about 20 – 40 years of age. Evidence of massive blunt – force trauma.
• Cobbles and deteriorated wood were also found.
• Small bones: skull fragment with some postmortem blunt – force trauma indications; one rib; wrist fragment; ankle fragment; one toe.
• One trouser button.
Markers 194 and 195 (paired)—Keogh Sector.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• 20 – 30 years of age; about 5’ 6” tall. Skull fragments indicate massive blunt – force trauma at time of death.
• Lower arm bone, two skull fragments, a tooth, three right – hand bones.
• One trouser button.
Marker 199—Keogh Sector. Photo comparisons show this could have been where the wooden marker for CPL John Wild was set. Based on the morphology, however, it appears only C Company’s PVT Willis Wright fits the criteria established by the analysis of bone fragments.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Several buttons found: 8 trouser buttons; one white-glass button; one blouse button, all consistent with a service uniform.
• Small pieces of skull were found. Peri– and postmortem blunt – force damage indicated.
• A short distance north of the marker, the archaeologists found an articulated arm with all the bones from the shoulder down. Some thirty CMs away were found a scattering of bones from the opposite hand. Found between these bones were a tailbone, four buttons, and two five – cent pieces.
• Forensic analysis determined the individual to be between 15 – 17 years old and no older than 19; 5’ 7½” tall, with a range of 5’ 5½” – 5’ 9½”. Wild was 26 at the time of his death.
o Autie Reed
o Willis Wright (C)
Marker 200—(N7126 – E2760)—In the Keogh area. It is possible that the bones found at this location were from the same individual at Markers 201 and 202.
• Right cavalry boot, upper section cut away.
• Human bones: lower left arm; lower right leg; fingers; toes; cranial fragment.
• Single individual male; 18 – 22 years old; 5’ 8¼” tall, with a range between 5’ 6” and 5’ 11” tall. The best possible candidate to meet the description is PVT Weston Harrington, Company L.
• Cranial fragment thought to be from damage to head, perimortem blunt – force trauma.
Markers 201 and 202 (paired)—Keogh Sector. It is possible that the bones found at this location were from the same individual at Marker 200.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• A number of river cobbles found.
• Thighbone; two wrist bones; one toe bone; one tooth.
• One trouser button.
• Adult male, 20 – 35 years old; 5’ 7½” tall.
• Femur cuts suggest mutilation.
Marker 252—Isolated, at the top of a wash.
• No material discovered.
Marker 257—Isolated, between Deep Ravine and Greasy Grass Ridge.
• Human remains were found: three bone fragments from a hand and foot.
• The Walter Camp interviews maintained that CPL John Briody (F) had been found at this site with one leg cut off and placed under his head by the Indians. The placement of the discovered bones would be consistent with such an event.
Firearm artifact analysis indicates seven discrete Indian positions:
1. The so-called Henryville area near Calhoun Hill.
2. A small knoll some 200 meters northeast of Last Stand Hill.
3. Two positions on Greasy Grass Ridge.
4. Three positions on the lower end of Greasy Grass Ridge and the flanks of the upper portion of Deep Ravine.
• Government cartridge cases were found at these three positions, but it is possible these cartridges could have been retrieved from either the Rosebud fight or the Reno valley fighting.
• [This would give a good indication of the tribes involved. Probably Sioux at these locations, rather than Cheyenne.]
5. “For the Custer battlefield the number of Indian firearms is projected between 354 and 414. These figures suggest Custer’s command was outgunned about two to one” [Scott, et al., Archaeological Perspectives, p. 118].
6. “At the Reno – Benteen defense site the projected number of Indian guns ranges between 259 and 300, with the repeating guns ranging between 150 and 174” [Perspectives, p. 118].
If you are interested in this archaeological work, I would recommend highly both the Scott/Fox books. They are done very well and are brimming with good information.
Best wishes,
Fred.
I hope this little effort of mine can help some people. It certainly helped me and it allowed me to better understand the flow of the battle. As usual, direct quotes are in yellow.
ARTIFACTS, BURIALS, AND MARKERS
NOTE—In an article by Bruce A. Trinque titled, “Elusive Ridge,” January 1995, Research Review, Vol. 9, No. 1, Trinque calls the “Luce Ridge” referred to by John Gray, Robert Utley, and Richard Hardorff as “East Ridge,” and Richard Fox’ “Luce” as “West Ridge.”
1877—LTC Michael Sheridan and CPT Henry Nowlan, Company I, 7th Cavalry: officers exhumed and reburied according to family wishes.
• Sheridan and Nowlan moved up the Yellowstone and Big Horn to Post Number Two (later renamed Fort Custer). It was still under construction by soldiers of the 11th Infantry under command of LTC George P. Buell. Coffins were built. The expedition now consisted of Sheridan and CPT Nowlan, LT Hugh L. Scott and 88 men of Nowlan’s Company I, 7th Cavalry. The guides were George Herendeen and John Baronette. The interpreter was Thomas H. LeForgé and eight Crows, including Curley, Half Yellow Face, and White Man Runs Him. They reached the field of battle on 2Jul1877. A month later, LTG Phil Sheridan and MG George Crook arrived and had the graves re-mounded and re-marked.
• Photographer, John H. Fouch (1849 – 1933), traveled to the battlefield with Philetus W. Norris, the newly appointed superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, preceding the Sheridan expedition (July 1877).
1879—CPT George K. Sanderson, 11th Infantry: some cleaning up. Built cordwood cairn and filled it with more exposed remains, man and horse. Replaced headboards and re-painted inscriptions. Nothing done in Deep Ravine.
• Photographer, Stanley J. Morrow (1843 – 1921), accompanied this expedition.
1881—LT Charles F. Roe, 2nd Cavalry: whatever skeletal remains were found were placed in a mass grave on Custer Hill.
• Original sites marked with a stake (scout, James A. Campbell [Brust, et al., Where Custer Fell, p. 13]).
• Obelisk erected at the mass grave, about six feet from where Custer’s remains were found.
• Ten feet from the base of the monument and on all four sides, Roe’s men dug a trench and filled it with all the remains of the troopers they could find.
• Nothing marked in Deep Ravine.
• Greene says monument on Custer Hill erroneously contains 263 names.
o Video tape: one Ree name is incorrect.
o The five DOWs are probably the missing names.
• In a 6Oct1908 letter to Walter Camp, Roe wrote that he had found the bodies of 267 officers and EM. Actually, 263 men died at the battle ground, with five others dying of wounds at a later date:
o George King (A) on the Far West, 2Jul76. King was not listed on the monument, but has since been buried at the LBH National Cemetery.
o James Bennett (C) on the Far West, 5Jul76.
o William George (H) on the Far West, 3Jul76. He was buried near the PRD.
o David Cooney (I) at FAL, 20Jul76.
o Frank Braun (M) at FAL, 4Oct76. Since buried at LBH National Cemetery.
1890—CPT Owen Jay Sweet, 25th Infantry:
• Originally given 249 markers. Sweet erected 246 markers on the Custer field, and two—for McIntosh and DeWolf—were erected on the Reno field. One marker—for LT Porter—was returned to the Post QM [Scott, Fox, Connor, Archaeological Perspectives, pp. 49 – 50].
• Nothing put in Deep Ravine.
• It appears there are 43 paired markers [p. 50].
• MAJ James Brisbin was with the party, probably as an advisor since he helped bury the dead in June 1876. Also, Scout Campbell, who was with LT Roe in 1881.
Since 1890—Six more marble markers were set up. That makes an overage of 42 on the Custer field.
1891—The U. S. G. S. sent a topographer, R. B. Marshall, to the Custer field to map out the marker placement. He mapped 244 markers, a discrepancy of two—and only one year from when Sweet placed his 246 [Scott, et al., Archaeological Perspectives, p. 51]. It also appears that the marker map produced from this survey is erroneous in many areas and was incorrectly marked, bearing little correlation to the accurate work done in 1984 – 1985. This is not a map that should be considered when attempting to determine where soldiers fell.
1920s—Joe Blummer found Springfield cartridge cases. In a 1928 letter, Blummer wrote, “I found 17 shells on the east side of this small ridge… strung out for about 150 yards and all on the east side of the ridge about 10 feet from the top. This ridge is about three-fourths of a mile southeast of the southeast corner of (the) battlefield fence” [Trinque, “Elusive Ridge,” Research Review, p. 3].
1938—COL Elwood L. Nye and R. G. Cartwright checked the same site and discovered many more cases. These locations are on Blummer/Nye – Cartwright Ridge.
1984 – 1985—In the archaeological excavations and surveying of the battlefield, it was determined that there were 252 markers on the Custer field of battle, a mismatch of eight markers from the 1891 U. S. G. S. survey [Perspectives, p. 51].
Through an analysis of the letters Superintendent Edward S. Luce wrote describing the artifacts he and others found, Bruce Trinque concluded that Richard Fox’ “West Ridge” is the real Luce Ridge and it is this area—north to Nye – Cartwright—that the troops traversed. More than 100 cases were found by Luce, generally three to four yards apart, indicating dismounted skirmishers. As the trail of cases continued, the spacing changed to about nine yards indicating mounted skirmishing.
Jerome Greene claimed 214 empty carbine cases were found on or near Nye – Cartwright Ridge [Smalley, More LBH Mysteries, FN 29, p. 16 – 14; Greene, Evidence and the Custer Enigma, p. 45].
Richard Hardorff wrote, “… Dr. James S. Brust rediscovered Butler’s kill site, which was originally identified by Gen. Godfrey in 1916, and which location is some 125 yards southwest of the present site of the Butler marker. In years past, Godfrey’s Butler site yielded a horse skeleton, several expended cartridges, a horseshoe and a shank portion of a boot, containing a decomposed foot. The rotted leather revealed some faded initials, thought to read ‘JD,’ but which may well have been the letters ‘JB’.” [Hardorff, On the Little Bighorn With Walter Camp, p. 6, footnote 2.]
The following is from Greg Michno, Lakota Noon, map on p. 153—
(A) Along the front side of Butler Ridge which faces the LBH, were found: [Fox says this is where Custer himself and Yates watched the action at Ford B. Michno feels Custer remained with Keogh’s battalion on East Ridge, then Luce, then Nye – Cartwright.]
• Ten .45/55 – caliber bullets
• Four .45/55 cases
• Two unfired .45/55 cartridges
• Two Colt .45 bullets
• One .50/70 cartridge
• Three .44 Henry cases
• Three .50 Spencer cases
• Four brass cavalry insignia
• One arrowhead
• Two half horseshoes
• One metal ring
• brass grommets
• iron snaps
• One Winchester rifle
(B) In the north fork of MTC, below and along the south and southeast face of Luce Ridge—traditional Luce Ridge is East Ridge—roughly parallel to East Ridge:
• Four .45/55 cases
• Three .50/70 cases
• Fourteen .45/55 cases, plus an additional undetermined number
• At least three horse skeletons, plus additional horse bones
• At least three human skeletons, plus additional human bones
• A saddle and bridle, saddle leather and pommel rings, and horseshoes
• Much of this was probably from the battle with the southern half of Wolf Tooth’s band.
(C) In the lower ground, north and northwest of Butler Ridge, east of Deep Coulee:
• Two .45/55 cartridges
• A horseshoe, harness buckle, and straps
• A leather boot
• A leather scabbard
• An arrowhead
• Two human skeletons
• Numerous horse bones
• Michno felt these are, “from a combination of Yates’ men moving back up Butler Ridge and from the Indians who followed Yates and Keogh” [Lakota Noon]. Reasonable.
(D) On the southern slope of Nye – Cartwright Ridge, directly behind the LBH face of Butler Ridge:
• Four .45/55 cases
• Four .45/55 cartridges
• Six .56 Spencer cases
• Twenty-four .50/70 cases
• Fifteen .44 Henry cases
• Nine .44 Henry cartridges
• An Indian bridle
• Michno feels these are “from a combination of Yates’ men moving back up Butler Ridge and from the Indians who followed Yates and Keogh.”
(E) All along the Nye – Cartwright – “new” Luce Ridge complex. This is now behind all of the previous (Letters), including (B):
• Upwards of 480 .45/55 cases and cartridges
• Several .50/70 cases
• An undetermined number of additional shells
• Saddle and tack parts
• Uniform buttons and buckles
• Regardless of the accuracy of Michno’s theories, no one can deny the troops moved along these ridgelines.
(F) Behind Nye – Cartwright along a dry ravine of South Branch:
• Three .44 Henry cases
• This was probably from the skirmish with the northern half of Wolf Tooth’s band.
(G) Below the western edge of Nye – Cartwright, in what appear to be a series of gullies or ravines leading to, but before, Deep Coulee:
• Three human and three horse skeletons
• Various bridle and saddle parts
(H) Northern part of Deep Coulee on its west side, toward Calhoun Hill and the Henryville area:
• Human bones and two horse skeletons
• Eight .45/55 cases
• Two .50/70 cases
• Two .50– and one .56 – caliber Spencer cases
• One .32 rimfire case
• Two .44 Henry cases
• One Winchester rifle
Michno says there were “few or no relics found along the traditional northward line directly from the ford to Greasy Grass Ridge and Calhoun Hill.” “A” through “G” counts 8 – 9 bodies; “H” counts some more. Whose… Indians or soldiers? Indians generally policed up their dead, though maybe they missed these. Possible single warriors, there without families. The soldiers were accounted for (LTs Porter and Harrington were exceptions) despite the inability to identify everyone.
From Michno, Lakota Noon, map on p. 226—
(A) Henryville, on the Deep Coulee side: 32 Indian cartridge cases.
(B) Henryville, on the Calhoun Hill side: 13 Indian cartridge cases.
(C) Across Calhoun Hill, roughly from west to east: nine Indian cartridge cases.
(D) All along the ridges and gullies east of Battle Ridge and the Keogh Sector: 108 Indian cartridges, including .50/70’s, .44’s, and .56’s.
(E) Along the south side of Finley Ridge: nine Indian bullets.
(F) Across Calhoun Hill, roughly north to south: 5 Army cartridge cases.
“Shell cases have been found for nearly a quarter mile along the crest [of Blummer – (Nye) Cartwright Ridge]. Hank Wiebert [sic] reported he found a number of shell cases along the crest of Blummer (Nye) – Cartwright Ridge. However, Joseph Blummer wrote to Robert Cartwright in a 1928 letter that he found a number of shells along the northern slope of this ridge about 10 feet from the crest” [Liddic, Vanishing Victory, p. 116].
Michno, The Mystery of E Troop, pp. 51 – 52. He breaks the 1984 – 1985 archeological finds into 12 main areas. Furthermore, “All areas had a mix of both Indian and army relics, while some had a predominance of one type over another to mark it as either a soldier or Indian position.”
1. Greasy Grass Ridge, particularly in the southern portion (173 artifacts); northern portion (32 artifacts): Indian positions.
2. Henryville (114): Indian.
3. Today’s cemetery (53): Indian.
4. The “bend” of Deep Ravine (34): Indian.
5. North of Custer Hill (45): Indian.
6. Soldier positions were strongest at Custer Hill (80) and to a lesser extent at Calhoun Hill (63).
7. Mixed areas were in Calhoun Coulee (43), Finley Ridge (23), the Keogh Sector (86), and the South Skirmish Line (169). The latter two areas show considerable mixed activity.
The archeological survey conducted by Fox and Scott in 1984 found that at least seven “of the Indian weapons which were used to break the soldier’s line on Finley Hill were also fired against Calhoun’s position from Henryville Ridge, southeast of this hill” [Liddic, Vanishing Victory, p. 151]. Liddic correctly suggests the reason for this was because at 700 yards away on Greasy Grass Ridge, the Indians’ fire was not effective against troops on Calhoun Hill, but at the shorter distance of about 350 yards from Henryville, the Henrys and Winchesters were lethal.
Initial burials occurred on 28Jun1876. The battlefield was divided into 5 sectors:
1. The company commanders went over the whole field to try to identify the officers.
2. The first sergeants led the men over the sectors to try to identify the men and bury them. Company B was on the extreme left, closest to the river. Company A was to their right. Companies G, M, and K took the central area, and companies D and H covered the right farthest back from the river. They moved north, burying and counting as they moved.
3. There were numerous accounts of bodies seen in a [D]eep [R]avine:
• 1SG Ryan (M): 18 or 20 men of E Company.
• CPT Benteen (H): 22 bodies.
• CPT Moylan (A): 20 – odd bodies of E Company.
• LT Godfrey (K): 28 men of Smith’s troop.
• LT Hare (K): 28 bodies of Smith’s troop in a coulee in skirmish order.
• SGT Kanipe (C): rode along the edge of a deep gully and counted 28 bodies in there [Michno: Camp).
• LT Richard Thompson (6th Inf.): maybe 34 bodies in a gully [Michno: Camp].
• LT Edward Maguire (Engineers): drew a map showing 28 bodies in one particular ravine.
• LT Edward McClernand (2nd Cavalry): 28 bodies of Smith’s troop were found at the lower end of the line in a deep coulee.
• COL John Gibbon (7th Infantry): 40 or 50 bodies were found in a valley running perpendicular to the river.
• Walter Camp interviewed two Sioux warriors, Good Voiced Elk (Hunkpapa), who claimed 25 to 30 died in a gully; and He Dog (Oglala) who corroborated the number of 28. Of course, one would like to know how he arrived at this precise number.
When the burials of Custer’s men were completed late on 28Jun76, the re-united columns moved north. They moved only about 4½ miles, however, when the lateness of the day and the inadequacies of the transport for the wounded forced them to halt. The troops camped just below the north end of the abandoned Indian village.
In a November 6, 1920, letter from Walter Camp to Edward Godfrey, Camp discussed the marker placements. “There are 17 or 18 too many markers in the group at the monument, too many in the group around Keogh’s marker, too many between the monument and the river, and none in the big gully where about 28 ought to be. I discovered these dead in the gully with Capt. McDougall… and he was clear that there were only 9 dead between the end of the ridge and the gully, and 28 in the gully (not counting the group that lay around the body of Gen. Custer)…. As the markers now stand, there are more than 50 where there should be only 9, on that side hill, and not enough at or in the gully” [Hardorff, On The LBH With Walter Camp, p. 155].
In a random sampling of marker sites, Fox estimated 91% of 43 “paired marker sites” showed only one body had been buried there. He therefore eliminated 43 of the 252 markers (209 remaining) in determining where men fell.
Scott estimated 27 to 44 men were killed in the area between Custer Hill and Deep Ravine. This includes the SSL.
Michno in The Mystery of E Troop, p. 218, claimed 44 grave markers on the main branch of the SSL, seven on the southeast branch, and four more across Deep Ravine (55 total).
Scott says Custer, 5 officers, and perhaps 40 EM lay on Custer/Last Stand Hill.
• 28 names are documented: 14 PVTs
Ygnatz Stungewitz (C)
Willis B. Wright (C)
Anton Dohman (F)
Gustav Klein (F)
William H. Lerock (F)
Werner L. Liemann (F)
Edward C. Driscoll (I)
Archibald McIlhargey (I)
John E. Mitchell (I)
John Parker (I)
Francis T. Hughes (L)
Charles McCarthy (L)
Oscar F. Pardee (L)
Thomas S. Tweed (L)
• 2 civilians
Boston Custer (QM)
Autie Reed
• 1 surgeon: Dr. George Lord (HQ) (Marker 17 for Lord is on the SSL)
• 1 trumpeter: Henry Voss (HQ)
• 4 NCOs
SGM William Sharrow (HQ)
1SG Michael Kenney (F)
SGT John H. Groesbeck (F)
CPL William Teeman (F)
• SGT Robert Hughes’ (K) body was most likely the one found at the head of Deep Ravine, though there is a remote chance he was killed on Custer Hill. Supposedly identified by CPT McDougall.
• Six officers:
GAC (HQ)
William Cooke (HQ)
Tom Custer (C – HQ)
Algernon Smith (E)
George Yates (F)
William Van W. Reily (F)
• Presently, 52 markers are located on Custer Hill; 42 bodies had been buried there initially.
• Deep Ravine (8 men from Company E):
1SG Frederick Hohmeyer
SGT John S. Ogden
CPL George C. Brown
CPL Albert H. Meyer
PVT Richard Farrell
PVT William Huber
PVT Andy Knecht
PVT William H. Rees
Liddic presented his own description of where bodies were found [Vanishing Victory, p. 164].
• Grouped near Custer around the top of the knoll:
LT Cooke (HQ)
PVT Driscoll (I)
PVT Parker (I)
LT Smith (E)
SGT John Vickory – Groesbeck (F)
TMP Voss (HQ)
PVT McCarthy (L)
• Deep Ravine:
SGT Hughes (K)
PVT Tim Donnelly (F)
PVT Andrew Knecht (E) [Hardorff, On The LBH With Walter Camp, p. 132, FN 5].
• On a rise above Deep Ravine: CPL John Briody (F)
• Farthest north on the battlefield, opposite the present parking lot on the east side of the service entrance road: SGM Sharrow (HQ).
• Lower west side, down the slope from the monument, about 100 yards from GAC:
Boston Custer
Autie Reed
• About 20 feet southeast of GAC, on a hillside: Dr. Lord (HQ)
2LT Richard Thompson, Terry’s Acting Commissary of Subsistence, said there were only 9 or 10 men found between Custer and the gully (27Jun76) [Camp/Hammer, Custer in ’76, p. 248].
Custer/Last Stand Hill—From Brust/Pohanka/Barnard, Where Custer Fell, pp. 127 – 132:
• LT Wallace: “They had apparently tried to lead the horses in a circle on the point of the ridge and had killed them there and apparently made an effort for a final stand.” [127]
• SGT Kanipe: the horses “were ‘scattered all over the hill.’” [127]
• CPT Walter Clifford (7I): “slain horses, placed head to tail.” [128]
• LT DeRudio: “Five or six horses lay as if they had been led there and shot down for a barricade. These horses were all sorrels from Company C.” [128]
• CPT Michael Sheridan: “It was a rough point or narrow ridge not wide enough to drive a wagon on. Across that ridge were 5 or 6 horses apparently in line, and looked as if they had been killed for the purpose of resistance, but the remains were found in a confused mass.” [128]
• GAC, TWC, and “Cooke were among the dead on or just below the crest of the ridge.” [128]
• TWC “was found some 15 to 20 feet from his elder brother and somewhat higher on the ridge.” [128]
• Cooke was found just below the crest.
• GAC was actually buried on the ridge, but below the spot where his body was found. [132]
• “Postbattle eyewitnesses described the top of Custer Hill as a small knoll, some 30 feet in diameter, an area roughly equivalent to the grass around the granite memorial shaft today. About 10 bodies were found there, including that of General Custer near the southwestern rim of the elevation. Six horses lay in a convex perimeter on the east side….” [132]
The South Skirmish Line (SSL)—
• “[R]oughly 720 yards from the monument on Custer Hill to Deep Ravine following a line down from the monument to Marker 54, then along the Deep Ravine Trail, which meanders a bit, touches near most of the remaining grave markers, and continues to its end at the lower trail crossing near grave marker 7” [Michno, The Mystery of E Troop, p. 234].
• The actual “line” itself “begins about 200 yards down from Custer Hill at Markers 52, 53, and 54 in the upper reaches of Cemetery Ravine. It wavers down the ravine and then climbs up obliquely across the ravine’s south bank, following the grave markers in descending order. The Boyer cluster, Markers 33 – 39 [sic; should be, 33 – 34], is near the divide and about 180 yards from the start of the line. Markers 29 – 32 are the last stones on the Cemetery Ravine side of the divide and are about 200 yards from the head of the line. About 220 yards along the trail there is a soft crest where the trail begins to dip down into the upper Deep Ravine watershed. At 270 yards is another cluster, grave Markers 24 – 28. The South Skirmish Line has been heading roughly north to south, but at this point a branch of markers diverges to the southeast. This branch consists of 7 more or less isolated stones, numbers 20 – 23, 255, and 1 – 2 [emphasis added]. The latter two are down in the upper reaches of Deep Ravine, far above the headcut” [pp. 234 – 235].
• The formal SSL terminates just below the low divide in the 24 – 28 group of markers.
• Markers 7 – 19 are considered the “fugitive” markers.
• From Markers 24 – 28, “the southeast branch splits off, the trail and fugitive lines follow the markers another 190 yards to stone 7 at the edge of Deep Ravine. The total length of the line—formal and fugitive… is about 430 yards.”
Marker excavation work is from, Scott, Douglas D., and Fox, Richard A., Jr., Archaeological Insights into The Custer Battle, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 1987; and, Scott, Douglas D.; Fox, Richard A., Jr.; and Connor, Melissa A., Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Bighorn, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 1989.
NOTE—In determining the cause of death, the most common occurrence was massive blunt – force trauma. Bullet wounds were detected with much lower frequency.
Marker 2—Southeast side of Deep Ravine. An isolated marker.
• Skull fragments showing massive blunt – force trauma; finger and toe bones.
• Single individual between 25 – 40 years of age.
• Three four – hole iron trouser buttons.
• 6 different types of bullets: one a .50/70 fired from an old lot of Springfield ammunition; a round ball from a .50 – caliber muzzle-loader; one unidentifiable bullet; one .45 Colt revolver bullet; two .45/55 Springfield carbine bullets.
• Because of the variety of bullets found around the site, speculation has this individual being killed very late in the fight, possibly as he attempted to get away.
Markers 5 and 6 (paired)—Isolated; on the Deep Ravine trail directly above the ravine itself.
• No material discovered.
• Bedrock was found only two inches below the surface, making it unlikely that anyone had ever been buried there. Even wooden stakes could not have been driven deeply enough into the ground to have remained for long.
• The conclusion was reached that these markers could have been for men who died in Deep Ravine.
Marker 7—Southern extent of the South Skirmish Line near the head of Deep Ravine and the end of the trail where it enters the ravine.
• Fourteen skull fragments, plus vertebrae fragments; rib fragments.
• Damage to the vertebrae is consistent with decapitation. Perimortem blunt – force trauma evidence.
• Single individual between 20 – 36 years old.
• Horseshoe nail.
• One 4 – hole iron trouser button.
Markers 9 and 10 (paired)—On the South Skirmish Line.
• Largest and most nearly complete grouping of human remains found in the 1984 excavations. Fragments of skull, ribs, vertebrae, hands, a right foot, both upper arms, both lower arms.
• Appeared to be a single individual with massive head damage and severe cutting across the breastbone. The body had been placed face down. (NOTE—Cheyenne warriors generally turned their dead victims face down, fearing it was bad luck to leave an enemy facing the sky. He may have been buried as found or merely had dirt thrown on him, as found.) Bone damage indicates blunt – force trauma as well as damage by an arrow or knife and hatchet.
• .44 – caliber Henry bullet found in the lower chest – upper abdominal region.
• .45 – caliber Colt bullet found in the area of the head.
• 11 buttons, including several trouser buttons; three blouse buttons, two with cloth still attached; three four – hole white-glass shirt buttons.
• An iron arrowhead.
• Several cobbles.
• White male between 30 – 40 years of age; about 5’ 10½” tall, with a range of 5’ 8¾” – 6’.
o John Rauter (C)
o L. St. John (C)
o Alpheus Stewart (C)
o G. Warren (F)
o William Teeman (F)—doubtful
o F. Varden (I)—doubtful
o William Reed (I)
o W. Cashan (L)
o T. Kavanaugh (L)
Marker 17 is for Dr. Lord and is located on the lower SSL (the so-called “fugitive line”).
Markers 33 and 34 (paired)—On the trail near the middle of the South Skirmish Line.
• Skull fragments; finger; coccyx. Condition of the teeth indicated a pipe-smoker and the condition of the bones indicate a man between 35 – 45 years of age. Also, Caucasian – Mongoloid racial mixture. Later determined to be the bones of Mitch Boyer. Skull damage indicated blunt – force trauma.
• Single individual.
• .50/70 bullet.
• Lead-bullet fragment.
• Lead shot.
• A boot heel and boot nails.
• Rubber poncho button.
• Three, four – hole iron trouser buttons.
• Mother – of – pearl shirt button.
• Cedar stake fragment.
• Cobbles.
Marker 42—South Skirmish Line.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• A finger bone with a ring was found here. Four other hand bones were found, as well.
• A number of river cobbles.
Marker 48, set in Cemetery Ravine along the SSL, is for LT Sturgis.
Markers 52 and 53 (paired)—Northern end of the South Skirmish Line, about 492 feet from the visitors center.
• Skull and rib fragments from a single individual.
• One four – hole iron trouser button.
• A Benét primer from a .45/55 cartridge.
• Lead shot.
• Bone damage is consistent with that caused by a hatchet or ax.
Markers 55 (possibly PVT Gustav Klein [F]) and 56 (CPL William Teeman [F]) are too close to Custer Hill to be considered part of the SSL.
Marker 63—Last Stand Hill.
• No material recovered.
Markers 67 and 68 (paired)—Last Stand Hill near the fence enclosing the area.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Cobbles.
• The bones found at this site were of one human and one horse.
• Skull fragments.
• Vertebrae—with a compressed fracture of lower lumbar—rib, facial bones, hand bone.
• One of the ribs showed evidence of possible bullet damage.
• Fragmented facial bones indicate possible postmortem blunt – force damage.
• 35 – 45 years old. Five F Company troopers fit within the age parameters, being born between 1831 – 1841: (NOTE—This does not mean these bones were from an F Company soldier.)
o FAR Benjamin Brandon – 1831.
o PVT Thomas Atcheson – 1838.
o PVT Herman Knauth – 1838.
o PVT Sebastian Omling – 1838.
o PVT George Warren – 1840.
Marker 78—Last Stand Hill.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Several cobbles.
• Four trouser buttons.
• One .45 Colt bullet.
• One wood screw.
• Wood fragments.
• Human bones consistent with those of a single individual, 18 to 30 years old: carpals, skull, a tooth, almost all the left hand bones and some of the right, three small bones of the foot, coccyx, and “the lower third of the left lower arm bone” [Perspectives, p. 61]. The arm bone was shattered by a gunshot, with some of the shot still embedded in the bone.
• Evidence of postmortem blunt – force trauma to the skull.
Markers 86 and 87 (paired)—Last Stand Hill at the bottom of the fenced area.
• Human remains discovered.
• Three trousers buttons.
• One square nail.
• One human bone: right kneecap from an adult.
Marker 105—(Marker inscribed, “Algernon Smith”)—Last Stand Hill.
• A complete, mostly articulated left lower arm and hand.
• Numerous other bones: hands and feet; a vertebra; several ribs.
• Foot bones indicated fracture and infection prior to the battle.
• Vertebrae damage indicated wounding by stabbing or a metal-tipped arrow.
• Single individual, first thought to be between 20 and 35 years old—later changed to 30 – 40 years of age—and approximately 5’ 3” tall, with a range of 5’ 1¾” to 5’ 5¼”. [NOTE—Three men, not identified elsewhere, fit the height description, at, or within one inch: PVT Anthony Assadaly, L Company, variously listed as 5’ 3” or 5’ 7” tall; PVT Henry Lehmann, I Company, 5’ 4”; and PVT Peter McGue, L Company, 5’ 4”.]
o B. Stafford (E)
o J. Carney (F)
o W. Liemann (F)
o S. Omling (F)
o T. Acheson (F)
o P. Kelly (I)
o H. Lehmann (I)
o J. McGucker (I)
o A. Assadaly (L)
• Two, four – hole iron trouser buttons, generally associated with those on army trousers to attach suspenders and to close the fly.
• .45/55 cartridge case found beneath the arm.
• .45/55 bullet found near the center of the excavation.
• 5 cobbles (stones) associated with those used to hold dirt thrown over the body.
Markers 112 and 113 (paired)—Isolated on the west side of the park road southeast of Last Stand Hill.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Four trouser buttons and one white-glass button were found.
• One .44 or .45 – caliber ball.
• Male, older than 35; age range: 35 – 45.
• Portion of a tooth crown; segment of tailbone; three finger bones; one toe bone.
Marker 128—Isolated; behind Greasy Grass Ridge.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Almost a complete burial discovered at this site; the most complete set of human remains recovered during the 1984 – 1985 archaeological excavations.
• Lower right leg articulated, its foot bones encased in a cavalry boot.
• Other bones had been re-buried after the flesh had decayed.
• Male, between 19 – 22 years old, and approximately 5’ 6¾” tall, with a range of 5’ 5¾ ” – 5’ 7 7/8”; or, 66.8” ± 1.18”. Individual was stocky with well-developed musculature [Scott, et al., Archaeological Perspectives, p. 268]. Right-handed.
o F. Meier (C)
o J. Shea (C)
o J. Thadus (C)
o N. Short (C)
o G. Moonie (E)
o W. Huber (E)—highly doubtful.
o T. Donnelly (F)—highly doubtful.
o E. Babcock (L)
o F. Hughes (L)—highly doubtful.
• Evidence of two gunshot wounds in the chest, one from the right, one from the left. Also, massive blunt – force trauma to the skull at about the time of death.
• Bullet fragment in lower left arm.
• Three parallel cut marks on thighbones and another on collarbone.
• Vertebrae showed congenital defect, probably causing the individual pain when he rode his horse for long periods.
• Blouse and trousers buttons found; underwear cloth; hooks and eyes, probably from his campaign hat.
• Because of the way the bones were dispersed, the individual had to have been re-buried, probably in 1877 or 1879.
Marker 131—Calhoun Hill or Greasy Grass Ridge.
• No material discovered other than four river cobbles nearby.
Markers 134 and 135 (paired)—Calhoun Hill.
• Human remains discovered: adult hand bones and a tooth fragment.
Marker 148—(N6656 – E2848)—On Calhoun Hill.
• Only human remains discovered along with post – battle metal devices used to attach floral arrangements to their bases.
• Highly deteriorated bone fragments thought to be from ribs from a single person.
Markers 152 and 155 (paired)—Calhoun Hill.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• A “pavement” of river cobbles.
• One finger bone and nine right foot bones and one left foot bone. Bones indicate some postmortem mutilation.
• Gold watch chain.
Marker 153—Calhoun Hill.
• No material discovered.
Near Marker 174—Eastern fence boundary in the Keogh Sector.
• One boot nail.
• Three .45/55 carbine cartridge cases, all fired from the same weapon.
• One Colt cartridge case.
• One .50/70 bullet.
Marker 178—Keogh Sector. Marker is inscribed as that of CPT Myles Keogh and is near several other markers including Marker 181.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Bone fragments indicate a person about 20 – 40 years of age. Evidence of massive blunt – force trauma.
• Cobbles and deteriorated wood were also found.
• Small bones: skull fragment with some postmortem blunt – force trauma indications; one rib; wrist fragment; ankle fragment; one toe.
• One trouser button.
Markers 194 and 195 (paired)—Keogh Sector.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• 20 – 30 years of age; about 5’ 6” tall. Skull fragments indicate massive blunt – force trauma at time of death.
• Lower arm bone, two skull fragments, a tooth, three right – hand bones.
• One trouser button.
Marker 199—Keogh Sector. Photo comparisons show this could have been where the wooden marker for CPL John Wild was set. Based on the morphology, however, it appears only C Company’s PVT Willis Wright fits the criteria established by the analysis of bone fragments.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• Several buttons found: 8 trouser buttons; one white-glass button; one blouse button, all consistent with a service uniform.
• Small pieces of skull were found. Peri– and postmortem blunt – force damage indicated.
• A short distance north of the marker, the archaeologists found an articulated arm with all the bones from the shoulder down. Some thirty CMs away were found a scattering of bones from the opposite hand. Found between these bones were a tailbone, four buttons, and two five – cent pieces.
• Forensic analysis determined the individual to be between 15 – 17 years old and no older than 19; 5’ 7½” tall, with a range of 5’ 5½” – 5’ 9½”. Wild was 26 at the time of his death.
o Autie Reed
o Willis Wright (C)
Marker 200—(N7126 – E2760)—In the Keogh area. It is possible that the bones found at this location were from the same individual at Markers 201 and 202.
• Right cavalry boot, upper section cut away.
• Human bones: lower left arm; lower right leg; fingers; toes; cranial fragment.
• Single individual male; 18 – 22 years old; 5’ 8¼” tall, with a range between 5’ 6” and 5’ 11” tall. The best possible candidate to meet the description is PVT Weston Harrington, Company L.
• Cranial fragment thought to be from damage to head, perimortem blunt – force trauma.
Markers 201 and 202 (paired)—Keogh Sector. It is possible that the bones found at this location were from the same individual at Marker 200.
• Both human remains and battle related artifacts were found.
• A number of river cobbles found.
• Thighbone; two wrist bones; one toe bone; one tooth.
• One trouser button.
• Adult male, 20 – 35 years old; 5’ 7½” tall.
• Femur cuts suggest mutilation.
Marker 252—Isolated, at the top of a wash.
• No material discovered.
Marker 257—Isolated, between Deep Ravine and Greasy Grass Ridge.
• Human remains were found: three bone fragments from a hand and foot.
• The Walter Camp interviews maintained that CPL John Briody (F) had been found at this site with one leg cut off and placed under his head by the Indians. The placement of the discovered bones would be consistent with such an event.
Firearm artifact analysis indicates seven discrete Indian positions:
1. The so-called Henryville area near Calhoun Hill.
2. A small knoll some 200 meters northeast of Last Stand Hill.
3. Two positions on Greasy Grass Ridge.
4. Three positions on the lower end of Greasy Grass Ridge and the flanks of the upper portion of Deep Ravine.
• Government cartridge cases were found at these three positions, but it is possible these cartridges could have been retrieved from either the Rosebud fight or the Reno valley fighting.
• [This would give a good indication of the tribes involved. Probably Sioux at these locations, rather than Cheyenne.]
5. “For the Custer battlefield the number of Indian firearms is projected between 354 and 414. These figures suggest Custer’s command was outgunned about two to one” [Scott, et al., Archaeological Perspectives, p. 118].
6. “At the Reno – Benteen defense site the projected number of Indian guns ranges between 259 and 300, with the repeating guns ranging between 150 and 174” [Perspectives, p. 118].
If you are interested in this archaeological work, I would recommend highly both the Scott/Fox books. They are done very well and are brimming with good information.
Best wishes,
Fred.