Much of the new material on Custer’s Last Stand comes to the attention of the editors of AMERICAN HERITAGE and from what we have seen none holds quite the fascination of this entertaining article by Stanley Vestal, author of many books on the Old West. The story he tells is adapted for AMERICAN HERITAGE from his forthcoming book, Sitting Bull, Champion of the Sioux, to be published by the University of Oklahoma Press.
The almost legendary action took place in the early summer of 1876, when the Sioux and their allies, the Northern Cheyenne, had very real and altogether legitimate grievances against the United States government. In the treaty signed at Fort Laramie in 1868, the government promised that the Black Hills, the traditionally sacred preserve of the Indians, would be forever free from white settlers. But when gold was discovered there in 1874, sooners began swarming over the whole area.
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At 7 pages, this is a little longer of a read than most of the articles I post on western history on Fridays. but it's definitely worth the time to read.
Interesting history. I have been to the Little Big Horn site in my youts. Met Curly's grandson there. Author's history is interesting as well and he is buried on the site. Watched an archeological documentary filmed after a range fire making research easier on the barren ground. ps Custer wore Arrow Shirts.
ReplyDeleteThe Little Big Horn battlefield is an hour down the road from here. My daughters, oddly enough, think that once you've visited it you never need to go again. Philistines. The case made in the article (which I have in the 1957 magazine) is not as cut and dried as the author maintains and there are those, equally certain, that will counter every argument made. Apparently, White Bull was known to shade the truth just a bit. Personally, I believe Custer was shot at the crossing at the base of Medicine Tail Coulee.
ReplyDeleteLittle known fact, George Armstrong Custer's brother is the only man to win two separate Congressional Medals of Honor. Each was won in a different engagement years apart. Interesting family.
ReplyDeleteGood read. White Bull's account makes more sense than any other I have read. For one thing, he admits he thought the man he was fighting would kill him, and he called for help.
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