Post by johnson1941 on Jun 21, 2023 6:25:33 GMT -6
I thought this was an interesting take...
Camp via Hammer Transcripts pdf pg56
Gen. Fred D. Grant April 19, 1910. Gen Grant in summer of 1878, soon after
the bodies scattered about the field had been disinterred and permanently buried
at the north end of Custer ridge, where the monument now is, found several
empty graves on Greasy Grass hill. As well as he could remember there were
four or five of them scattered about over some distance on this hill, part of them,
at least, being rather on the south slope of the hill, but well up toward the top.
These empty graves had the same general appearance as those scattered all over
Custer Ridge and now located by markers. There being rank grass, fragments
of clothing and other indications that bodies had been temporarily buried where
the dirt had been thrown up. This is the very evidence by which the markers
were placed in 1884 (? get exact date).
The evidence of fighting at various points was so clear at that time that he formed the following theory or conclusion
as to how the fight had progressed:
Custer had come down Medicine Tail coulee and turned to the right, out upon the flat next to the river, as though to cross into
the village. Presumably the first firing from the village side was from the fringe of timber or brush along that side of the stream, while the troops
occupied this flat. This fire may have been so strong as to cause the men to hesitate, and, at all events, they had moved to Greasy Grass Hill, as a more commanding position, only to find it dominated by higher ground to the north,
- 57 -
with Indians probably advancing up the river from that direction also, which
would account for the presence of dead bodies there. Leaving this hill and
passing a slight depression they reached higher ground where the group of
bodies, including those of Sergeants Finley and Finckel, was afterward found.
Here again they saw unoccupied higher ground still to the north, beyond a
slight depression, and they had gone to it, the evidence of dead bodies marking
the trail to where the Calhoun and Crittenden markers now are. It then impressed
him that the men whose bodies lay along this route had probably been killed by
fire from the rear or left flank.
Camp via Hammer Transcripts pdf pg56
Gen. Fred D. Grant April 19, 1910. Gen Grant in summer of 1878, soon after
the bodies scattered about the field had been disinterred and permanently buried
at the north end of Custer ridge, where the monument now is, found several
empty graves on Greasy Grass hill. As well as he could remember there were
four or five of them scattered about over some distance on this hill, part of them,
at least, being rather on the south slope of the hill, but well up toward the top.
These empty graves had the same general appearance as those scattered all over
Custer Ridge and now located by markers. There being rank grass, fragments
of clothing and other indications that bodies had been temporarily buried where
the dirt had been thrown up. This is the very evidence by which the markers
were placed in 1884 (? get exact date).
The evidence of fighting at various points was so clear at that time that he formed the following theory or conclusion
as to how the fight had progressed:
Custer had come down Medicine Tail coulee and turned to the right, out upon the flat next to the river, as though to cross into
the village. Presumably the first firing from the village side was from the fringe of timber or brush along that side of the stream, while the troops
occupied this flat. This fire may have been so strong as to cause the men to hesitate, and, at all events, they had moved to Greasy Grass Hill, as a more commanding position, only to find it dominated by higher ground to the north,
- 57 -
with Indians probably advancing up the river from that direction also, which
would account for the presence of dead bodies there. Leaving this hill and
passing a slight depression they reached higher ground where the group of
bodies, including those of Sergeants Finley and Finckel, was afterward found.
Here again they saw unoccupied higher ground still to the north, beyond a
slight depression, and they had gone to it, the evidence of dead bodies marking
the trail to where the Calhoun and Crittenden markers now are. It then impressed
him that the men whose bodies lay along this route had probably been killed by
fire from the rear or left flank.
Forgetting more than you'll ever know. 