A second or several Timber/wooded areas at LBH

[noggy]

Hei

I hope some of you guys who have been to the battlefield could help.

Just re-reading Lakota Moon, and I stopped at a part where Red Feather is describing the fighting around and taking of Calhoun Hill. Or at least, that is where Michno places him. Red Feather is quoted saying the following to General Scott in 1920:

"When the soldiers got to their horses, they retreated. There was a deep place in the timber that was a good place for defense, but instead they took to the open country which made it easier for the Indians to catch them."

Exactly where or what was this "timber"? I have never been to LBH, but have just thought of the Battle Ridge as void of trees. Just plants, flowers, bush etc. Did Red Feather perhaps mean an area closer to the river?
All answers are most welcome.

Noggy

[noggy]

Wooded areas might have dotted the river, as I understand. Ian reminded me of wood being mentioned around Ford D for example. We may ot know to much about the ... eh flora back then. But maybe Steve and you others who have been there know more?

Noggy

[Yan Taylor]

Hi Geir, I think that this area has gone through a lot of change since 1876, we have two main roads and a railway line and a gravel pit, which must have wrecked the area north of the Village.

It does look more flat with the bluffs ending further east, so this area could have been wooded.

Ian

[Colt45]

Today, all the woods are around the river and the cemetery. Calhoun hill does not have any timber. Trees generally grow where there is water, either on the surface or not too deep underground. As a high elevation in the area, it is unlikely there were trees large enough there to be referred to as timber. There could be today some scrub brush but nothing describable as timber. That is how I saw it about 5 years ago when I was there.

[Yan Taylor]

I don't know how old this map is, but it sure looks old, check it out with the area today and you do see plenty of timber;

[noggy]

Jul 1, 2020 17:35:52 GMT -6 Colt45 said:

Today, all the woods are around the river and the cemetery. Calhoun hill does not have any timber. Trees generally grow where there is water, either on the surface or not too deep underground. As a high elevation in the area, it is unlikely there were trees large enough there to be referred to as timber. There could be today some scrub brush but nothing describable as timber. That is how I saw it about 5 years ago when I was there.

Thank you for replying.

My first thought was that here is a translation is a thing (11 beers, trying to translate here too). "Timber", is that what a Sioux defined it as? And second, I automatically thought about soldiers driven towards the river. Maybe there were a cluster of  trees/timber on the other side of Battle Ridge this Sioux warrior might felt could been a position with cover for the troops? But that would, like you explained, be implausible. At least not "timber". So the soldiers in the quote, if it was correct, they ran for some trees near the river. 

Inputs like your`s, for me not knowing the terrain or thinking rationally, helps. Cheers.

All the best,
Noggy