In 1935 David Miller, only sixteen years old, began driving hours to visit the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to sketch and paint portraits of the warriors who were veterans of the battle of the Little Bighorn. He painted portraits of seventy two warriors, while painting the warriors he often interviewed them about the famous battle. Miller had learned fourteen different language dialects and sign languages to better understand the warriors stories. When he interviewed White Cow Bull he learned that White Cow Bull believed he had shot Custer when he was testing the water to forde the river looking for a way to the village.
He saw Custer fall and then the soldiers pick up their leader and put him on his horse, holding him up as they galloped off towards last stand hill.
We hope you enjoy this episode of wildwestfaces.
Couple of quibbles. According to a lot of historians, the Indians didn't know it was the 7th Cavalry or that Custer was with them.
ReplyDeleteSecond, if so, it wasn't the wound that killed him. He was wonded in the side in a wound that has been called mortal, but not fatal. The coup de grace, likely administered by regimental adjutant William Cooke or C Troop commander Tom Custer, was the one that killed him.
PS During the Civil War, Custer made something of a name for himself in his days as a mere captain, when several officers where debating the depth of a particular stream. Custer, probably wishing to get on with it, rode his horse out to the middle and said, "It's this deep, General"
After the battle and before Miller's interview, White Cow would have learned that it was the 7th. Too, knowing Custer has been mortally wounded in battle, plus perhaps a few other details such as placement of wound and Custer having been helped by two others, White Cow could put two and two together.
DeleteIt wouldn't have been too much a stretch, knowing Custer had died, to think the shot did kill.
Of historians, not necessarily of those you mentioned, I have seen how often supposition is presented as fact.
I haven't a dog in this hunt, my comment is meant as a foil, a poor one at that, to yours.
Miller seems quite an enterprising lad. Inquisitive, the ability to conduct formative interviews, developed artistic and linguistic skills, and the wherewithal to acquire a motorcar and set to a purpose while at a young age.
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