Post by fred on May 4, 2012 8:43:46 GMT -6
My comments are in yellow, both explanatory and personal.
CROW KING (HUNKPAPA)
1881—Hardorff, Richard G., Indian Views of the Custer Fight, Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2005. In all likelihood this is the same interview contained in Graham’s The Custer Myth, below. It was conducted on July 30, 1881, at Fort Yates in the Dakota Territory, and it was carried in the Leavenworth Times, August 14, 1881.
1. Even though they heard that soldiers had been sent after them, the Indians did not believe there was any danger of a battle. [67] [One wonders if he remembered the fight against Crook!]
2. One of their runners came back to the village and warned of the approach of the white soldiers. [67 – 68]
3. A second messenger came back saying the troops had divided and one group was coming around to attack “on the opposite side.” [68]
4. [Some how the interviewer arrived at a distance of some 400 yards from the village for the first firing by the soldiers.] [68]
5. Initially, the Indians retreated—to give the women and children time to escape danger. [68]
6. Once other Indians retrieved their horses they forced the soldiers to retreat to a hilltop. [68]
7. They then learned of another party of soldiers coming and the firing with this group began at long – range, indicating nearly a mile. [68] [Supporting the longer duration of the beginning of the Custer fighting.]
8. Crow King had 80 warriors in his band. [68]
9. By Crow King’s referencing with other locations, it was determined their village was more than 2½ miles long. [68]
10. Sitting Bull did not fight. [68]
11. When the soldiers saw they were surrounded they dismounted. [68]
12. The troops tried to hold onto their horses, but as the Indians got closer, the horses were released. The troops fought bravely. [68 – 69]
13. There was great hurrying and confusion. [69]
14. “It was not more than half an hour after the longhaired chief attacked us before he and his men were dead.” [69]
15. After the Custer fighting was over, Crow King went back to fight Reno. That battle lasted until sunset. [69]
16. The Indians watched Reno’s command all night and at daylight fought them again. [69]
17. Apparently, Sitting Bull ordered the fighting stopped: the soldiers had had enough and their leader was dead. [69] [Hmm!]
18. Crow King believed that had they not been called off all of Reno’s troops would have been killed. [69]
19. No one knew it was Custer and they did not even know who Custer was. [69]
20. After the fighting the “chiefs” told the Indians to look for the longhaired chief, but he could not be found (because he had cut his hair short before starting out). [69]
21. He also claimed that had Reno held out and fought as Custer fought, the soldiers would have beaten the Indians. This was because the Indians would have had to divide their forces to protect the women and children. [70]
22. Crow King said he had two brothers killed in the fighting. [70] [Swift Bear and White Bull, both killed in the pursuit of Reno.]
23. Crow King said that 30 to 50 Indians were killed during the fighting and that “a much larger number who were wounded, died afterward.” [70]
1881—Graham, W. A., COL, The Custer Myth. Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA: 1953 (2000). From the Leavenworth Weekly Times, August 18, 1881, possibly by Frank H. Huston. LT Edgerly witnessed the interview and believed Crow King told the truth, as he knew it.
1. Runners were out—he did not know for what purpose—and one reported back in saying soldiers were coming. Almost immediately, a second reported the same news and that the soldiers had divided, one going along the east side of the river. [76 – 77]
• Frank Huston disputed this, saying the attack was a surprise. [81]
2. Crow King thought the soldiers began firing about 400 yards out. [77]
3. The Indians delayed, pulling back, to give the women and children a chance to get away. Other Indians got their horses and when there were enough they attacked Reno’s command. [77]
4. Custer’s command began firing at long range, about 1 mile away. [77] [This makes sense and accounts for the Luce Ridge/Nye – Cartwright findings.]
5. There were 80 warriors in Crow King’s band. [77]
6. Crow King also said—as did Low Dog—that Indians whipped each other’s horse. That way no one would turn from the battle. [77]
7. “There was great hurry and confusion in the fight.” [77]
8. “It was not more than half an hour after the long-haired chief attacked us before he and all his men were dead.” [77]
9. Crow King—as did Low Dog—said that if Reno had remained and fought, the outcome might have been different. [78] [This appears to be another sop to the white man’s ego.]
• Frank Huston later added, “Crow’s statement that if Custer had joined Reno the Indians would have been whipped is all ‘bullcon,’ told to please the querist. Not an Indian there but was confident that Bull’s prophesy would be fulfilled and that they could lick all hell and creation.” [81]
10. Crow King had two brothers killed. [78]
11. Thirty to 50 Indians were killed and a much larger number who were wounded, died later. [78] [Again, they use words like “great” and “much larger,” with not quite the resonance we do.]
Time References: Only that the Custer fight lasted about 30 minutes.
Best wishes,
Fred.
CROW KING (HUNKPAPA)
1881—Hardorff, Richard G., Indian Views of the Custer Fight, Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2005. In all likelihood this is the same interview contained in Graham’s The Custer Myth, below. It was conducted on July 30, 1881, at Fort Yates in the Dakota Territory, and it was carried in the Leavenworth Times, August 14, 1881.
1. Even though they heard that soldiers had been sent after them, the Indians did not believe there was any danger of a battle. [67] [One wonders if he remembered the fight against Crook!]
2. One of their runners came back to the village and warned of the approach of the white soldiers. [67 – 68]
3. A second messenger came back saying the troops had divided and one group was coming around to attack “on the opposite side.” [68]
4. [Some how the interviewer arrived at a distance of some 400 yards from the village for the first firing by the soldiers.] [68]
5. Initially, the Indians retreated—to give the women and children time to escape danger. [68]
6. Once other Indians retrieved their horses they forced the soldiers to retreat to a hilltop. [68]
7. They then learned of another party of soldiers coming and the firing with this group began at long – range, indicating nearly a mile. [68] [Supporting the longer duration of the beginning of the Custer fighting.]
8. Crow King had 80 warriors in his band. [68]
9. By Crow King’s referencing with other locations, it was determined their village was more than 2½ miles long. [68]
10. Sitting Bull did not fight. [68]
11. When the soldiers saw they were surrounded they dismounted. [68]
12. The troops tried to hold onto their horses, but as the Indians got closer, the horses were released. The troops fought bravely. [68 – 69]
13. There was great hurrying and confusion. [69]
14. “It was not more than half an hour after the longhaired chief attacked us before he and his men were dead.” [69]
15. After the Custer fighting was over, Crow King went back to fight Reno. That battle lasted until sunset. [69]
16. The Indians watched Reno’s command all night and at daylight fought them again. [69]
17. Apparently, Sitting Bull ordered the fighting stopped: the soldiers had had enough and their leader was dead. [69] [Hmm!]
18. Crow King believed that had they not been called off all of Reno’s troops would have been killed. [69]
19. No one knew it was Custer and they did not even know who Custer was. [69]
20. After the fighting the “chiefs” told the Indians to look for the longhaired chief, but he could not be found (because he had cut his hair short before starting out). [69]
21. He also claimed that had Reno held out and fought as Custer fought, the soldiers would have beaten the Indians. This was because the Indians would have had to divide their forces to protect the women and children. [70]
22. Crow King said he had two brothers killed in the fighting. [70] [Swift Bear and White Bull, both killed in the pursuit of Reno.]
23. Crow King said that 30 to 50 Indians were killed during the fighting and that “a much larger number who were wounded, died afterward.” [70]
1881—Graham, W. A., COL, The Custer Myth. Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA: 1953 (2000). From the Leavenworth Weekly Times, August 18, 1881, possibly by Frank H. Huston. LT Edgerly witnessed the interview and believed Crow King told the truth, as he knew it.
1. Runners were out—he did not know for what purpose—and one reported back in saying soldiers were coming. Almost immediately, a second reported the same news and that the soldiers had divided, one going along the east side of the river. [76 – 77]
• Frank Huston disputed this, saying the attack was a surprise. [81]
2. Crow King thought the soldiers began firing about 400 yards out. [77]
3. The Indians delayed, pulling back, to give the women and children a chance to get away. Other Indians got their horses and when there were enough they attacked Reno’s command. [77]
4. Custer’s command began firing at long range, about 1 mile away. [77] [This makes sense and accounts for the Luce Ridge/Nye – Cartwright findings.]
5. There were 80 warriors in Crow King’s band. [77]
6. Crow King also said—as did Low Dog—that Indians whipped each other’s horse. That way no one would turn from the battle. [77]
7. “There was great hurry and confusion in the fight.” [77]
8. “It was not more than half an hour after the long-haired chief attacked us before he and all his men were dead.” [77]
9. Crow King—as did Low Dog—said that if Reno had remained and fought, the outcome might have been different. [78] [This appears to be another sop to the white man’s ego.]
• Frank Huston later added, “Crow’s statement that if Custer had joined Reno the Indians would have been whipped is all ‘bullcon,’ told to please the querist. Not an Indian there but was confident that Bull’s prophesy would be fulfilled and that they could lick all hell and creation.” [81]
10. Crow King had two brothers killed. [78]
11. Thirty to 50 Indians were killed and a much larger number who were wounded, died later. [78] [Again, they use words like “great” and “much larger,” with not quite the resonance we do.]
Time References: Only that the Custer fight lasted about 30 minutes.
Best wishes,
Fred.
