Is it possible the volley fire were from Indians at the Ford

[coverup]

Most accounts at the RCOI state that volley fire was heard about the time that Benteen and Reno united.  As most testify that they heard it except for Benteen and Reno for the most part.  Herendeen and others say they heard it and it sounded as if it came from the left or near the village.  Godfrey who was with Benteen said he heard it and was talking to Weir at the time.   For those left in the timber that would be near the other crossing, one where the lodge trail led that Reno used and the other on the opposite side where Custer was to advance.  My thoughts are that there were two good crossings, both were lodge pole trails and that the Indians were in ambush.  Never heard it mentioned as Indians before but it would make sense that was what it was.  Otherwise two things ... Custer and his men would have to be in a formation for all to know to fire a volley and second was that they would have to be calling for assistance which would be way earlier in the battle than one would expect.  That being if the Custer Battle lasted over a half hour. 

[greathunter]

If your referring to medicine tail Ford, it could have been, could have been soldiers

[greathunter]

I am now Changing my view on this subject due to a couple photos

[herosrest]

^Ducemus

There is a book by a guy in wagon train which arrived in the valley in August 1877 and in studying the battleground, thousands of cartridges from Indian fired weapons were seen and found.

I'm aware of two sources indicating heavy gunfire by the Indians - Varnum at RCoI where he describes gunfire and not volleys; and the Peter Powell - JSiT accounts of the Wolftooth episode which of course is a problematic telling of the ways.

There were two photos made in 1886 given to show locations of cavalry skirmish lines and interpretted in Where Custer Fell but very likely both misplaced on the ground by the researchers.

The locations were indicated to L.A. Huffman by Gall at the 10th Anniversary before the difficulties between Benteen and Fred Server and interview by Godfrey. At least three different interviews were given by Gall that day, to Huffman, Godfrey and the Pie & Ear Press news article.

The thrust of the JSiT accounts is the Indians organising a barrage of gunfire into the soldiers and closing immediately to close quarters.

Unfortunately. JSiT knew T.B. Marquis and said nothing to him, that was later given by Timber to Rickey and Vaughn in 1956. Of course in the meantime, 1926 to 1956, Kuhlman had imposed his lunatic ideas with Legend. The people who informed Timber, told Marquis about the battle and the accounts are chalk and cheese. Kuhlman in the middle then provided the basis of the version of things which Timber told. There was an evolution of events. It's interesting to ponder how stuff changed over time and ask why it altered.

[herosrest]

^Ducemus

I just remembered that there is White Cow Bull who fought at a ford with a repeating rifle and said he emptied a few saddles. This was to Humphries Miller who produced some great art and rate accounts of the fighting. WCB is controversial for several reasons and one has to wonder if Miller spiced it up a little. WCB had the hots for Meotzi and then killed Custer.... So....

[herosrest]

^Ducemus

Of course the modern scientific view is that soldiers were never ever anywhere near the water after Custer left Reno out to dry in the valley. That is certainly the Cjeyenne view before JSiT altered the story.

Broken posts, sorry. Tappling on a cell phone kbd. It's quite painful and my finger tip is raw and bloodied. Red Tip..... Yeehawwwww......

[herosrest]

^Ducemus

OL. Cleaned that up. Ofcourse there is Henryville where a lot of repeating rifle cartridges were found and that might get noisy briefly whenever it happened. If I recall there is another area towards Deep Ravine with similar finds and generally around the upper Deep Ravine markers where a lot of shooting probably took place. It's interesting how the battle continually but slowly evolves further and further downriver by leaps and bounds as Custer (insane of cours) goes further and furter away from Reno to get into the valley. I suspect that at some future point it will be entirely forgotten that Custer was trying to get across the river and then mooted that he was simply heading downriver to consult with Terry. Isn't evolution wonderful ?

Marquis took a ton of pictures. One of Limpy at the Ford. Another of Limpy's wife showing the scar of the wound where she was shot in the village on 25th June, 1876. Interesting lady.

[greathunter]

Id ike to see those pics