Curley Appears

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From the book "Conquest of the Missouri" by Joseph Mills Hanson

The smoke columns noticed along the southern horizon on the two previous days had disappeared now, and the general opinion was that Custer and Terry had met the enemy and routed them, so little fear was felt of an Indian surprise. Nevertheless, as they sat there fishing, George Foulk noticed how close they were to the dense willows on the main shore and remarked to the others that it would be very easy for Indians to creep up and fire on them. They were still idly discussing the suggestion when, without the least warning, the green thickets at which they were looking parted, and a mounted Indian warrior, of magnificent physique and stark naked save for a breech-clout, burst through and jerked up his sweating pony at the brink of the water. The fisherman leaped to their feet with startled exclamations, but before they could run back to the steamship the Indian held aloft his carbine in sign of peace. They then paused and, upon scrutinizing him more closely recognized from his erect scalp-lock that he was a Crow, and then, to their surprise that he was Curley, one of the three Crow scouts that had gone with Custer. They had expected to hear from Terry and Gibbon, but not from Custer. Motioning him to come to the boat they hurried there themselves while he forded the stream and joined them.

 Curley

As soon as he was onboard the steamship, the Far West he gave way to the most violent demonstrations of his grief. Throwing himself down upon a medicine chest on deck he began rocking to and fro, groaning and crying. For some time it was impossible to calm him. When at length he had to some extent regained his self -control, the question arose as to how to communicate with him, for no one on board could understand the Crow language, while he spoke no English, so that all efforts at conversation failed. Finally Captain Baker produced a piece of paper and a pencil and showed the Indian how to use them. Curley drew a map of the battle called by the Indians "Greasy Grass." We know it as The Battle of the Little Big Horn. We know today that the map was very accurate. Some historians do not believe he escaped the battle but some do.

There is a possibility that he watched it unfold from a distance. My thought is if the two other Crow scouts stayed with Custer so did Curley. He did escape partly because he was dressed as an Indian and not as a soldier. He also had the famous "Custer's Luck" which Custer had finally lost.

The book continues . . .

The sketch drawn by Curley on a piece of paper with Captain Baker’s pencil showing how Custer and his men were surrounded and killed by the Sioux, was extremely crude. But it presented the crucial features of the battle accurately, and predated by more than eighteen years the drawing made by Rain-in-the-Face , a Sioux warrior, on the back of a hunting shirt, in August, 1894, which has been frequently heralded as the first and only map of the field of the Little Big Horn ever drawn by an Indian participant.

 Rain-in-the-Face   

        

Later in his life Rain-in-the-Face attended the World’s Fair in Paris.

There are so many fascinating sections to this part of the story. Boston Custer was talked out of riding with his brother by Captain Marsh. The twenty eight year old was writing from a steam ship cabin to his Mother when Captain Marsh talked him into staying with the stern wheeler. He later changed his mind and died with his brother on the hill. George as well as his brother Tom Custer died there. Tom was also famous during the Civil War and won the Medal of Honor.

Elizabeth Bacon Custer actually asked Captain Marsh if she and a few of the other officers wives could come along on the trip aboard the Far West. I guess it was like First Manassas during the Civil War where citizens actually packed lunches to watch the battle out side of Washington D.C. Captain Marsh said no.

Then there was the part at Fort Abraham Lincoln where the twenty eight widows would be notified of the tragic deaths of their husbands. Only two officers lived from the two battles but they were not in Custer’s unit. The second battle being with Reno east of the village.

You can see Custer’s trumpeters bugle at Little Big Horn. He was from Italy. Remember the New England Patriots’ place kicker Adam Vinatieri? The bugler was his Great Great Grandfather. YCMUSLT

Two Crow scouts died with Custer. White Swan and Half Yellow Face. I did not know that.

Also at Greasy Grass were Crow King, Gall, and Two Moons.

Crow King

 Gall

 Two Moons

Low Dog

Comes Out Holy

The men in the photographs above were with Sitting Bull, who was there but did not participate.

Low Dog was a Minicauju chief. He was twenty four years old when he fought at Little Big Horn. His brother was killed during the battle. His account of the fight is one of the best known.

Gall weighed three hundred pounds. Two of his wives and several of his children were killed at the start of the battle. He sought revenge and the 7th Calvary paid dearly. Libby Custer met Gall years later and commented on how handsome he was. YCMTU either

Two Moons was a Arikara captive who married into the Cheyenne tribe. He was the model for the buffalo nickel. He traveled to Washington D.C. many times, even meeting with President Woodrow Wilson.

Crow King was a Hunkpapa Sioux chief. He led his band of eighty warriors against Custer's 7th.

To see many more photos of Indians who fought at Greasy Grass check out my blog "Como se llama," November 28, 2008

No photograph exists of Crazy Horse.

Nathaniel Philbrick who wrote “The Last Stand” read sixteen books to research and write his book. “Conquest of the Missouri” was not among them. I actually sent him an e- mail asking if he has read this terrific book. How would you know, with that title, that it would have so much Custer history? More later if he responds.

Have you ever been to Montana Territory? The battlefield is actually now on Crow land. The Sioux being an enemy. When you go, be prepared for the intense quiet of the place. You have the feeling that some thing big happened here. It is the same feeling you get at Gettysburg.

Curley retired from the United States Army. His log cabin is at Old Trail Town in Wyoming. Someone made a theme park by buying up old historic buildings and setting them up as a town at Old Trail Town outside of the east gate of Yellowstone. Right down the street is Cody, Wyoming. You could even stay at the hotel that Bill built. It is still called The Irma, after one of his daughters. You will also find at Old Trail Town the Hole in the Wall gang’s cabin. There is a saloon that Butch and Sundance drank at.

 Did you know that there actually was a trapper / scout with the name of Yellowstone Kelly?

If you sleep at the Irma, tell them Tocino sent you, and ask where you can meet the tour that takes you to see the wild mustangs still roaming the plains.

 

You are not going?  Well on your way back from Samoa, stop in and see some of these United States.

General Gibson has recorded that he said to Custer as the latter left him, "Now Custer, don't be greedy, but wait for us."

Custer called back, "No I will not," -- an ambiguous answer, which might have been intended to apply to either part of Gibbons caution.