Sources
1. Judith Nies, Native American History, (New York: Ballantine, 1996), 288.
2. Nies, 288.
3. Nies, 289.
4. Nies, 290.
5. Heather Cox Richardson, West from Appomattox, (New Haven: Yale, 2007), 226.
6. Edward Spicer, A Short History of the Indians of the United States, (Malabar: Krieger, 1969), 100.
7. Richardson, 242.
8. Richardson, 242.
9. Spicer, 100.
10. Richardson, 269.
11. Richardson, 269.
12. Roger Nichols, American Indians in U.S. History, (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 2003), 160.
13. Richardson, 269.
14. Irvin Peithman, Broken Peace Pipes, (Springfield: Thomas, 1964), 105.
15. Peithman, 106.
16. Peithman, 106.
17. Peithman, 106.
18. Nichols, 146.
19. Nichols, 146.
20. Nichols, 146.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Fate of a Lost Race
July 29th, 1876
This darned flux capacitor has confounded me again! I have looked everywhere and the ability to enrich plutonium is impossible in the year 1876! If only Dr. Emmet Brown had been here to help me! So now, I am stuck in 1876. What will I do with my life? No television, radio, internet, this is going to be a nightmare.
January 1st, 1878
I have become accustomed to my new era. Due to my advanced knowledge of the times, I have chosen to be an Indian rights activist. The things that the United States is doing to the Indians are appalling. First off, many boarding schools are being developed to solve the “Indian Problem.” The Hampton Institute in Virginia became the first off-reservation Indian boarding school in the U.S. (1) The goal of this school was to assimilate Indians into the white society. (2) Within this school, only English is allowed and the Natives must change their appearance and religious beliefs to conform to Christian society. (3) Ironically, the rush to educate Native Americans coincided with the end of Reconstruction wherein blacks were no longer allowed to be formally taught within certain areas of the South. (4) This entire society is filled with discrimination and hate. I was unaware of the degree to which this animosity is held. In 2009, these instances can only be described or viewed on television. This lessens the direct impact of these actions. I only wish to do what I can to help these poor souls.
January 1st, 1883
For me, this seemed to be the symbolic end to the frontier. Wild Bill Cody has created a Western show that glamorizes the West and illustrates the battle between Cowboys and Indians. To authenticate his show, he has even hired Sitting Bull, one of the last great Indian chiefs. (5) This staged show takes away from the plight of the Indians and turns them into puppets. The people of the East could never understand the bloodshed and violence that occurred to these people and now Will Bill is using them to make a dollar.
January 1st, 1887
If it did not seem like the U.S. government had done enough to the Indians, they have now made it law that all Indians must become part of the white culture. The General Allotment Act has been instituted and it requires that all Indians who are living on reservations become engrained within American society. (6) The reservational system was supposed to be removed and Indians were encouraged to become farmers and cattlemen. Indians with families were given 160 acres of land while single men received 80 acres. (7) The act’s creator Henry Dawes said, “the individual is separated from the mass, set upon the soil, made a citizen and instead of a charge he is a positive good, a contribution to the wealth and strength and power of the nation.” (8) However, only in Oklahoma was this policy instituted. Throughout the United States, the number of reservations increased to more than 250 and the area of Indian land decreased by 66%. (9) A few tribal groups resisted the effort by the United States. They sought to retain their autonomy, but the nature of politics allowed for their representatives to be bribed by government agents. (10) This resulted in the remaining 9 million acres of Sioux land to be dispersed to settlers. (11) This outrage was committed and the Sioux could do nothing. Their adaptation to the white man’s way of life had betrayed them. They weren’t educated enough to be able to facilitate an argument, or prosperous enough to buy off any crooked legislators. Either way, the government was able to force their policy upon them.
December 1, 1890
Today is arguably the worst day of Indian history. Throughout time, they have had the desire to fight, resist, and flee from the white man, but they can no longer do so. Their efforts have put them into reservations, boarding schools, and as unwilling farmers. This has not only taken away from the tribal persona, but now their last great chief has died. Sitting Bull was killed today because of his desire to involve himself in a Ghost Dance. (12) The Ghost Dance movement was an attempt by Indians to return to their native way of life. According to ancestral visions, if living Indians gave up alcohol and abandoned the white way of life, the buffalo would return and Indians would once again prosper. (13) This way of thinking had spread across the planes and become the anthem for most Western Indian tribes. However, this also became a nervous point for Indian agents. The movement made its way to Sitting Bull’s reservation in mid-December. The authorities intended to arrest him because of his great influence upon his people. (14) The common thought was that the Indians would get out of hand and go on the warpath. In order to curb this, a group of Indian policemen surrounded Sitting Bull’s home in the predawn hours. (15) They broke down his door and ushered him out of his home. Sitting Bull resisted and he was slaughtered with 7 other Indian officers. (16) A relative of one of the policemen mutilated Sitting Bull’s body and clubbed his son to death. (17) This moment of bloodshed was looked upon as encouraging by President Benjamin Harrison. He considered Sitting Bull to be a disturbing element of the tribe, and now that he was disposed of, the thought of lesser bloodshed would purvey.
December 29, 1890
The White man is not finished with his degradation of the Indian people. They have ordered the rest of the Lakota Sioux to end their “ghost dance” gatherings. With the recent actions of the government, this frightened the Sioux people so they fled. (18) Unfortunately, for them, General Custer’s previous regiment, the 7th cavalry caught up to them and fired upon them. (19) By the time the engagement had ended, over 250 Indians had died. They were mostly women and children and only wanted to escape violence, but instead their actions encouraged the cavalry. (20) As I look back at this, I can only imagine what General Custer would be thinking. He probably would have believed that this was comparable to his victory at Washita where he slaughtered other women and children under the veil of the American flag. He likely would be thinking of the glory and awards that would be awaiting him following this latest subjugation of the Indian people.
April 28th, 2009
I have managed to get back to my present time. Luckily, I remain the same age as I was before and with the same associations, but I have a very clear memory of my past encounters. My miraculous return home is thanks to my move to New Mexico in the 1940s. As I strolled down an empty road, something was glowing before me. There was a secret laboratory with a very high level of military guard near the area, so I was hesitant to be outward about my actions. I brought my 1944 Buick over (which lucky for me had a nice lead coating on it) towards the glowing piece and deposited it in the trunk. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this was the missing plutonium for my flux capacitor! Thanks to the Manhattan project and some careless enrichment of plutonium, I was able to send myself back home!
As I look back upon my trip to the late 19th century, I can only be saddened. The Native Americans that inhabited this continent used to roam proud and free across the open land. They could hunt, live, and gather without any foreign danger. Today, the remaining Indians that live on reservations are rampant with poverty. The more fortunate ones have integrated into society and now blend in as if they were any other ethnic group. I think what the colonists, early Americans, and Western frontiersmen have done to the Indians is arguable the strongest case of genocide that the civilized human race has ever committed. No matter what any current generation does, these Indians are now a lost race. The conformity of society to the majority’s will is taking away from the heterogeneity of people and we will eventually all become one indistinct mass. Maybe this was what Custer wanted all along, one indistinguishable society that subsided to the dominant will of the white man.
This darned flux capacitor has confounded me again! I have looked everywhere and the ability to enrich plutonium is impossible in the year 1876! If only Dr. Emmet Brown had been here to help me! So now, I am stuck in 1876. What will I do with my life? No television, radio, internet, this is going to be a nightmare.
January 1st, 1878
I have become accustomed to my new era. Due to my advanced knowledge of the times, I have chosen to be an Indian rights activist. The things that the United States is doing to the Indians are appalling. First off, many boarding schools are being developed to solve the “Indian Problem.” The Hampton Institute in Virginia became the first off-reservation Indian boarding school in the U.S. (1) The goal of this school was to assimilate Indians into the white society. (2) Within this school, only English is allowed and the Natives must change their appearance and religious beliefs to conform to Christian society. (3) Ironically, the rush to educate Native Americans coincided with the end of Reconstruction wherein blacks were no longer allowed to be formally taught within certain areas of the South. (4) This entire society is filled with discrimination and hate. I was unaware of the degree to which this animosity is held. In 2009, these instances can only be described or viewed on television. This lessens the direct impact of these actions. I only wish to do what I can to help these poor souls.
January 1st, 1883
For me, this seemed to be the symbolic end to the frontier. Wild Bill Cody has created a Western show that glamorizes the West and illustrates the battle between Cowboys and Indians. To authenticate his show, he has even hired Sitting Bull, one of the last great Indian chiefs. (5) This staged show takes away from the plight of the Indians and turns them into puppets. The people of the East could never understand the bloodshed and violence that occurred to these people and now Will Bill is using them to make a dollar.
January 1st, 1887
If it did not seem like the U.S. government had done enough to the Indians, they have now made it law that all Indians must become part of the white culture. The General Allotment Act has been instituted and it requires that all Indians who are living on reservations become engrained within American society. (6) The reservational system was supposed to be removed and Indians were encouraged to become farmers and cattlemen. Indians with families were given 160 acres of land while single men received 80 acres. (7) The act’s creator Henry Dawes said, “the individual is separated from the mass, set upon the soil, made a citizen and instead of a charge he is a positive good, a contribution to the wealth and strength and power of the nation.” (8) However, only in Oklahoma was this policy instituted. Throughout the United States, the number of reservations increased to more than 250 and the area of Indian land decreased by 66%. (9) A few tribal groups resisted the effort by the United States. They sought to retain their autonomy, but the nature of politics allowed for their representatives to be bribed by government agents. (10) This resulted in the remaining 9 million acres of Sioux land to be dispersed to settlers. (11) This outrage was committed and the Sioux could do nothing. Their adaptation to the white man’s way of life had betrayed them. They weren’t educated enough to be able to facilitate an argument, or prosperous enough to buy off any crooked legislators. Either way, the government was able to force their policy upon them.
December 1, 1890
Today is arguably the worst day of Indian history. Throughout time, they have had the desire to fight, resist, and flee from the white man, but they can no longer do so. Their efforts have put them into reservations, boarding schools, and as unwilling farmers. This has not only taken away from the tribal persona, but now their last great chief has died. Sitting Bull was killed today because of his desire to involve himself in a Ghost Dance. (12) The Ghost Dance movement was an attempt by Indians to return to their native way of life. According to ancestral visions, if living Indians gave up alcohol and abandoned the white way of life, the buffalo would return and Indians would once again prosper. (13) This way of thinking had spread across the planes and become the anthem for most Western Indian tribes. However, this also became a nervous point for Indian agents. The movement made its way to Sitting Bull’s reservation in mid-December. The authorities intended to arrest him because of his great influence upon his people. (14) The common thought was that the Indians would get out of hand and go on the warpath. In order to curb this, a group of Indian policemen surrounded Sitting Bull’s home in the predawn hours. (15) They broke down his door and ushered him out of his home. Sitting Bull resisted and he was slaughtered with 7 other Indian officers. (16) A relative of one of the policemen mutilated Sitting Bull’s body and clubbed his son to death. (17) This moment of bloodshed was looked upon as encouraging by President Benjamin Harrison. He considered Sitting Bull to be a disturbing element of the tribe, and now that he was disposed of, the thought of lesser bloodshed would purvey.
December 29, 1890
The White man is not finished with his degradation of the Indian people. They have ordered the rest of the Lakota Sioux to end their “ghost dance” gatherings. With the recent actions of the government, this frightened the Sioux people so they fled. (18) Unfortunately, for them, General Custer’s previous regiment, the 7th cavalry caught up to them and fired upon them. (19) By the time the engagement had ended, over 250 Indians had died. They were mostly women and children and only wanted to escape violence, but instead their actions encouraged the cavalry. (20) As I look back at this, I can only imagine what General Custer would be thinking. He probably would have believed that this was comparable to his victory at Washita where he slaughtered other women and children under the veil of the American flag. He likely would be thinking of the glory and awards that would be awaiting him following this latest subjugation of the Indian people.
April 28th, 2009
I have managed to get back to my present time. Luckily, I remain the same age as I was before and with the same associations, but I have a very clear memory of my past encounters. My miraculous return home is thanks to my move to New Mexico in the 1940s. As I strolled down an empty road, something was glowing before me. There was a secret laboratory with a very high level of military guard near the area, so I was hesitant to be outward about my actions. I brought my 1944 Buick over (which lucky for me had a nice lead coating on it) towards the glowing piece and deposited it in the trunk. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this was the missing plutonium for my flux capacitor! Thanks to the Manhattan project and some careless enrichment of plutonium, I was able to send myself back home!
As I look back upon my trip to the late 19th century, I can only be saddened. The Native Americans that inhabited this continent used to roam proud and free across the open land. They could hunt, live, and gather without any foreign danger. Today, the remaining Indians that live on reservations are rampant with poverty. The more fortunate ones have integrated into society and now blend in as if they were any other ethnic group. I think what the colonists, early Americans, and Western frontiersmen have done to the Indians is arguable the strongest case of genocide that the civilized human race has ever committed. No matter what any current generation does, these Indians are now a lost race. The conformity of society to the majority’s will is taking away from the heterogeneity of people and we will eventually all become one indistinct mass. Maybe this was what Custer wanted all along, one indistinguishable society that subsided to the dominant will of the white man.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sources for 2nd Blog
Sources
1. Charles Kuhlman, Did Custer Disobey Orders, (Harrisburg: Stackpole, 1957), 3.
2. Robert M. Utler, Custer and the Great Controversy, (Los Angeles: Westenlore,1962), 92.
3. Richard G. Hardorff, Indian Views of the Custer Fight, (Spokane: Clark, 2004), 186.
4. Hardorff, 47.
5. Hardorff, 47.
6. Hardorff, 48.
7. Hardorff, 48.
8. Hardorff, 70.
9. William O. Taylor, With Custer on the Little Bighorn, (New York: Viking, 1996), 50.
10. Taylor, 50.
11. Hardorff, 66.
12. Hardorff, 27.
13. Hardorff, 27.
14. Hardorff, 74.
15. Hardorff, 27.
16. Hardorff, 76.
17. Hardorff, 76.
18. Hardorff, 49.
19. Hardorff, 54.
20. Hardorff, 54.
21. Hardorff, 105.
22. Hardorff, 105.
23. Hardorff, 105.
24. Hardorff, 105.
25. Paul Stekler and James Welsh, Killing Custer, (New York: Norton, 1994), 184.
26. Stekler and Welsh, 184.
27. Stekler and Welsh, 187.
28. Stekler and Welsh, 186.
29. Hardorff, 186.
30. Hardorff, 189.
31. Hardorff, 66.
1. Charles Kuhlman, Did Custer Disobey Orders, (Harrisburg: Stackpole, 1957), 3.
2. Robert M. Utler, Custer and the Great Controversy, (Los Angeles: Westenlore,1962), 92.
3. Richard G. Hardorff, Indian Views of the Custer Fight, (Spokane: Clark, 2004), 186.
4. Hardorff, 47.
5. Hardorff, 47.
6. Hardorff, 48.
7. Hardorff, 48.
8. Hardorff, 70.
9. William O. Taylor, With Custer on the Little Bighorn, (New York: Viking, 1996), 50.
10. Taylor, 50.
11. Hardorff, 66.
12. Hardorff, 27.
13. Hardorff, 27.
14. Hardorff, 74.
15. Hardorff, 27.
16. Hardorff, 76.
17. Hardorff, 76.
18. Hardorff, 49.
19. Hardorff, 54.
20. Hardorff, 54.
21. Hardorff, 105.
22. Hardorff, 105.
23. Hardorff, 105.
24. Hardorff, 105.
25. Paul Stekler and James Welsh, Killing Custer, (New York: Norton, 1994), 184.
26. Stekler and Welsh, 184.
27. Stekler and Welsh, 187.
28. Stekler and Welsh, 186.
29. Hardorff, 186.
30. Hardorff, 189.
31. Hardorff, 66.
A White Man in Sheep's Clothing
July 27th, 1876
I am confounded by my abrupt departure from my accustomed reality. The time travel piece that sent me from 2009 to 1876 has malfunctioned. My initial arrival point was with the 7th Cavalry near the Little Big Horn River in Montana. I was a private in the Army and was able to blend in very effectively due to my affinity for alcohol. The General had been ordered to “keep his main force further south (of Little Big Horn) as to prevent the Indians from slipping in between himself and the mountains.(1) He did not listen and most of our regiment was wiped out by the Indians and General Custer died beside me. Unbelievably, I am once again in the midst of the battle after having survived my first foray into Little Big Horn.
For some reason, Little Big Horn looks different this time around. As I gather myself, there are cavalry coming towards me. Oh my goodness, I have been transformed into a member of the Sioux tribe and General Custer is coming right towards me! Unfortunately for him, my position was in relative proximity to the trap that had been made for General Custer and his men. He was also unaware that Major Reno had been defeated. Crazy Horse had stated that “Reno’s assault on the upper end of the village was a surprise, and created such consternation that the women flocked to the lower end.” (2) According to White Bull, Brave Wolf, and Hump, the Reno fight began at 11am.(3) Reno began coming down the valley of the small creek near the upper end of the village. (4) His forces were driven back towards the woods. Some of his men attempted to retreat on their own accord and made a break for the river. (5) Only 5 of the 15 that attempted to do so survived. (6) The chiefs I spoke to believe that Major Reno made a grave mistake during their retreat. Instead of staying in the fortified woods, they all tried to re-cross the river. The woods “were a good place for defense, with plenty of water and trees, and he ought to have remained.” (7) Crow King also stated, “if Reno had held out until Custer came and then fought as Custer did, that they would have whipped the Indians. The Indians would then have been compelled to divide to protect their women and children.” (8) Reno moved his position to the upper bluffs in order for them to provide some sort of barricade against the Indians. “Two good sized ridges sloping from the steep bluffs that overhung the river back toward the east formed the depression that afforded some shelter for our horses and wounded.” (9) The Cavalry lay as close as they could to the ground hoping that night would come swiftly. (10) The chiefs collectively decided that these men had endured enough. We decided to be merciful to them and let them go. (11)
As I watched Custer gallop towards us, my cowardly nature forced me to retreat to a bluff overlooking the battle field. From this position, I could view the entire battle. Custer had initially crossed the river but was unable to proceed due to a steep bank which impeded him. (12) This obstruction forced Custer to realize that he was in the middle of a dire predicament. His cavalry turned around and were forced into a brutal hand to hand combat with the Indians. (13) When I spoke with Red Horse who was among the Indians who battled Custer, he stated that they were saying, “Sioux, pity us, take us prisoners.” (14) Most of the living were dragged from their horses and killed. (15) A handful managed to power their way through the Indian lines wherein they stood off against another line of Indians. Red Horse told me that “they charged and easily surrounded the soldiers.” (16) They had killed all of the Custer’s army, but had lost 36 of their own and 160 were wounded. (17) The Indians did not allow for any prisoners or wounded to survive. (18) Their final victim was the trumpeter, who could no longer play the 7th Cavalry’s anthem, Garryowen.
Little Knife approached me as the battle was beginning to diminish. He had just met my prior commander General Custer! This boy of 15 years of age claimed to have been the killer of General Custer! His brother had been just shot by one of the soldiers, so he “seized his brother’s gun and shot Custer dead! (19) After he told me this, I went down to the body of “Long Hair” and viewed my former leader. Little Knife came with me and carried a coup stick with a notch in it that signified his destruction of one of the best Indian fighters the Sioux had ever known. (20)
Later on in life, Yellow Nose also claimed to have killed General Custer. He stated that he saw a man so striking and gallant that he decided to kill him. (21) The General shot at him, but missed and struck his horse. (22) Yellow Nose charged and inserted his saber into the back of his head. (23) This was a thoroughly convincing story and I did not know what to do about my now conflicted opinions. The evidence did seem to contradict the reports of the injuries of General Custer. He did not have a saber wound to the head, but only a bullet wound in the temple. (24) This attempt to deceive me has left me a bit wary of my tribes’ stories. From now on, they might need to be listened to with a grain of salt.
July 28th, 1876
The battle had finally come to an end. A few of Reno’s men remained in their stronghold on the upper bluffs. We were now in mourning, so we did not desire to fight anymore. As night came, the tribe beat their drums and the wailing of our women filled the air. (25) The mourners cut their hair off and gashed their legs. (26) The battle ended the next day with the sight of reinforcements. General Terry and Gibbon were arriving from North of the Little Big Horn. (27) With this information, the chiefs decided it was best to move their wounded and elderly to safer harbors. (28)
As we rode away, I listened in astonishment to the praise that was bestowed upon the 7th Cavalry and Custer. Eagle Bear had watched the young men scalp and mutilate many fallen cavalry men. (29) They were ordered not to touch General Custer’s body due to his exemplary leadership. “He was the chief and our people had great respect of the white man’s chief.” (30) Low Dog said “no white man or Indian ever fought as bravely as Custer and his men.” (31) Even after enduring an awful, bloody, and gory battle, they were able to recognize the huge amounts of courage and bravery that these soldiers must have had. This language speaks volumes about the Indian culture. Since their culture had been built upon battles against other tribes, they were not hesitant to bestow acknowledgement of battle prowess among others.
After this unbelievable episode in American history, I am worried as to what destination my malfunctioning time piece might send me next! Hopefully, I can find some plutonium to fix the flux capacitor and make my way back to 2009.
I am confounded by my abrupt departure from my accustomed reality. The time travel piece that sent me from 2009 to 1876 has malfunctioned. My initial arrival point was with the 7th Cavalry near the Little Big Horn River in Montana. I was a private in the Army and was able to blend in very effectively due to my affinity for alcohol. The General had been ordered to “keep his main force further south (of Little Big Horn) as to prevent the Indians from slipping in between himself and the mountains.(1) He did not listen and most of our regiment was wiped out by the Indians and General Custer died beside me. Unbelievably, I am once again in the midst of the battle after having survived my first foray into Little Big Horn.
For some reason, Little Big Horn looks different this time around. As I gather myself, there are cavalry coming towards me. Oh my goodness, I have been transformed into a member of the Sioux tribe and General Custer is coming right towards me! Unfortunately for him, my position was in relative proximity to the trap that had been made for General Custer and his men. He was also unaware that Major Reno had been defeated. Crazy Horse had stated that “Reno’s assault on the upper end of the village was a surprise, and created such consternation that the women flocked to the lower end.” (2) According to White Bull, Brave Wolf, and Hump, the Reno fight began at 11am.(3) Reno began coming down the valley of the small creek near the upper end of the village. (4) His forces were driven back towards the woods. Some of his men attempted to retreat on their own accord and made a break for the river. (5) Only 5 of the 15 that attempted to do so survived. (6) The chiefs I spoke to believe that Major Reno made a grave mistake during their retreat. Instead of staying in the fortified woods, they all tried to re-cross the river. The woods “were a good place for defense, with plenty of water and trees, and he ought to have remained.” (7) Crow King also stated, “if Reno had held out until Custer came and then fought as Custer did, that they would have whipped the Indians. The Indians would then have been compelled to divide to protect their women and children.” (8) Reno moved his position to the upper bluffs in order for them to provide some sort of barricade against the Indians. “Two good sized ridges sloping from the steep bluffs that overhung the river back toward the east formed the depression that afforded some shelter for our horses and wounded.” (9) The Cavalry lay as close as they could to the ground hoping that night would come swiftly. (10) The chiefs collectively decided that these men had endured enough. We decided to be merciful to them and let them go. (11)
As I watched Custer gallop towards us, my cowardly nature forced me to retreat to a bluff overlooking the battle field. From this position, I could view the entire battle. Custer had initially crossed the river but was unable to proceed due to a steep bank which impeded him. (12) This obstruction forced Custer to realize that he was in the middle of a dire predicament. His cavalry turned around and were forced into a brutal hand to hand combat with the Indians. (13) When I spoke with Red Horse who was among the Indians who battled Custer, he stated that they were saying, “Sioux, pity us, take us prisoners.” (14) Most of the living were dragged from their horses and killed. (15) A handful managed to power their way through the Indian lines wherein they stood off against another line of Indians. Red Horse told me that “they charged and easily surrounded the soldiers.” (16) They had killed all of the Custer’s army, but had lost 36 of their own and 160 were wounded. (17) The Indians did not allow for any prisoners or wounded to survive. (18) Their final victim was the trumpeter, who could no longer play the 7th Cavalry’s anthem, Garryowen.
Little Knife approached me as the battle was beginning to diminish. He had just met my prior commander General Custer! This boy of 15 years of age claimed to have been the killer of General Custer! His brother had been just shot by one of the soldiers, so he “seized his brother’s gun and shot Custer dead! (19) After he told me this, I went down to the body of “Long Hair” and viewed my former leader. Little Knife came with me and carried a coup stick with a notch in it that signified his destruction of one of the best Indian fighters the Sioux had ever known. (20)
Later on in life, Yellow Nose also claimed to have killed General Custer. He stated that he saw a man so striking and gallant that he decided to kill him. (21) The General shot at him, but missed and struck his horse. (22) Yellow Nose charged and inserted his saber into the back of his head. (23) This was a thoroughly convincing story and I did not know what to do about my now conflicted opinions. The evidence did seem to contradict the reports of the injuries of General Custer. He did not have a saber wound to the head, but only a bullet wound in the temple. (24) This attempt to deceive me has left me a bit wary of my tribes’ stories. From now on, they might need to be listened to with a grain of salt.
July 28th, 1876
The battle had finally come to an end. A few of Reno’s men remained in their stronghold on the upper bluffs. We were now in mourning, so we did not desire to fight anymore. As night came, the tribe beat their drums and the wailing of our women filled the air. (25) The mourners cut their hair off and gashed their legs. (26) The battle ended the next day with the sight of reinforcements. General Terry and Gibbon were arriving from North of the Little Big Horn. (27) With this information, the chiefs decided it was best to move their wounded and elderly to safer harbors. (28)
As we rode away, I listened in astonishment to the praise that was bestowed upon the 7th Cavalry and Custer. Eagle Bear had watched the young men scalp and mutilate many fallen cavalry men. (29) They were ordered not to touch General Custer’s body due to his exemplary leadership. “He was the chief and our people had great respect of the white man’s chief.” (30) Low Dog said “no white man or Indian ever fought as bravely as Custer and his men.” (31) Even after enduring an awful, bloody, and gory battle, they were able to recognize the huge amounts of courage and bravery that these soldiers must have had. This language speaks volumes about the Indian culture. Since their culture had been built upon battles against other tribes, they were not hesitant to bestow acknowledgement of battle prowess among others.
After this unbelievable episode in American history, I am worried as to what destination my malfunctioning time piece might send me next! Hopefully, I can find some plutonium to fix the flux capacitor and make my way back to 2009.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sources
1. “Custer’s Fatal Charge.” Columbus Daily Enquirer, July 8, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=20&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=20&p_docnum=4&p_docref=v2:1126A744DB722B38@EANX-113493BD28AAB888@2406444-113493BD352AE6A0@0-113493BDE9650FA8@Custer%27s+Fatal+Charge.+The+Disaster+Detailed.+Division+of+the+Regiment.+Reno+Surrounded+for+Nearly+Three.
2. “Custer’s Last Charge. Ghastly Details of the Fight in Which the Brave General Perished.” The Inter Ocean, July 7, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=28&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=28&p_docnum=5&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF8798FC984E8@2406443-119EF879A562D4D0@0.
3. Ibid., 1.
4. “One of the Bloodiest Massacres on Record. Gen Custer and His Entire Force Slaughtered by the Indians.” Lake Superior Review and Weekly Tribune, July 7, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=29&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=29&p_docnum=3&p_docref=v2:1141753E5BBB74F0@EANX-11462C5436F5EA70@2406443-11462C548DF0C190@3.
5. “The Vale of Death into Which Rode General Custer and His Command.” The Inter Ocean, July 6, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=30&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=30&p_docnum=85&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF82A0E5FE2C8@2406442-119EF82A37953B98@1.
6. Ibid., 1.
7. “Great Indian Battle, Sanguinary Fighting in the West.” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 6, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=31&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=31&p_docnum=209&p_docref=v2:110C9BFA1F116650@EANX-111FF3A361FE8B90@2406442-111FF3A36C977378@0.
8. Ibid., 1.
9. “Custer’s Last Charge. Ghastly Details of the Fight in Which the Brave General Perished.” The Inter Ocean, July 7, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=28&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=28&p_docnum=5&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF8798FC984E8@2406443-119EF879A562D4D0@0
10. Ibid., 1.
11. “Custer’s Fatal Charge.” Columbus Daily Enquirer, July 8, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=20&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=20&p_docnum=4&p_docref=v2:1126A744DB722B38@EANX-113493BD28AAB888@2406444-113493BD352AE6A0@0-113493BDE9650FA8@Custer%27s+Fatal+Charge.+The+Disaster+Detailed.+Division+of+the+Regiment.+Reno+Surrounded+for+Nearly+Three
12. Ibid., 1.
13. Ibid., 1.
14. “The Vale of Death into Which Rode General Custer and His Command.” The Inter Ocean, July 6, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=30&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=30&p_docnum=85&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF82A0E5FE2C8@2406442-119EF82A37953B98@1
15. Ibid., 1.
16. Ibid., 1.
17. “Custer’s Mistake.” The Sun, July 15, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=33&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=33&p_docnum=1&p_docref=v2:11343008E4D07040@EANX-117120F0606DD970@2406451-117120F0784424F0@0.
18. “Rosser to Reno.” The Inter Ocean, August 19, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=34&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=34&p_docnum=1&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF79886787E80@2406486-119EF7994232E1A8@8.
19. Ibid., 1.
2. “Custer’s Last Charge. Ghastly Details of the Fight in Which the Brave General Perished.” The Inter Ocean, July 7, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=28&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=28&p_docnum=5&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF8798FC984E8@2406443-119EF879A562D4D0@0.
3. Ibid., 1.
4. “One of the Bloodiest Massacres on Record. Gen Custer and His Entire Force Slaughtered by the Indians.” Lake Superior Review and Weekly Tribune, July 7, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=29&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=29&p_docnum=3&p_docref=v2:1141753E5BBB74F0@EANX-11462C5436F5EA70@2406443-11462C548DF0C190@3.
5. “The Vale of Death into Which Rode General Custer and His Command.” The Inter Ocean, July 6, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=30&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=30&p_docnum=85&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF82A0E5FE2C8@2406442-119EF82A37953B98@1.
6. Ibid., 1.
7. “Great Indian Battle, Sanguinary Fighting in the West.” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 6, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=31&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=31&p_docnum=209&p_docref=v2:110C9BFA1F116650@EANX-111FF3A361FE8B90@2406442-111FF3A36C977378@0.
8. Ibid., 1.
9. “Custer’s Last Charge. Ghastly Details of the Fight in Which the Brave General Perished.” The Inter Ocean, July 7, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=28&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=28&p_docnum=5&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF8798FC984E8@2406443-119EF879A562D4D0@0
10. Ibid., 1.
11. “Custer’s Fatal Charge.” Columbus Daily Enquirer, July 8, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=20&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=20&p_docnum=4&p_docref=v2:1126A744DB722B38@EANX-113493BD28AAB888@2406444-113493BD352AE6A0@0-113493BDE9650FA8@Custer%27s+Fatal+Charge.+The+Disaster+Detailed.+Division+of+the+Regiment.+Reno+Surrounded+for+Nearly+Three
12. Ibid., 1.
13. Ibid., 1.
14. “The Vale of Death into Which Rode General Custer and His Command.” The Inter Ocean, July 6, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=30&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=30&p_docnum=85&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF82A0E5FE2C8@2406442-119EF82A37953B98@1
15. Ibid., 1.
16. Ibid., 1.
17. “Custer’s Mistake.” The Sun, July 15, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=33&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=33&p_docnum=1&p_docref=v2:11343008E4D07040@EANX-117120F0606DD970@2406451-117120F0784424F0@0.
18. “Rosser to Reno.” The Inter Ocean, August 19, 1876, America’s Historical Newspapers, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=S6FS5AVXMTIzNTQ0MTA1OS43NDI0ODY6MToxNToxMzEuMjE2LjE2My4yMzk&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=34&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=34&p_docnum=1&p_docref=v2:11675201D5ADA308@EANX-119EF79886787E80@2406486-119EF7994232E1A8@8.
19. Ibid., 1.
The Battle of Little Bighorn and the Aftermath
June 22, 1876
The entire 7th Cavalry is camped along the banks of the Rosebank River and are ready to disembark in search of rogue Indians. (1) The veteran group of 12 companies seems very eager to engage and dispatch of these Indians. (2) Being that I am an outsider, I have managed to remain inconspicuous about my past. As long as I drink rampantly and sing joyfully, I fit in with the soldiers. At this point, they all seem to be enjoying their time and aren’t worried about their impending engagement with the enemy.
June 25, 1876
We have found the Indian encampment! After 3 days of hard marching and “28 miles in only 24 hours” we have found them! (3) They are situated “450 miles west of Bismarck and 250 miles northwest of the Black Hills.” (4) Their village does not loom very large in the distance. The troops seem very optimistic that they will easily defeat these savages. However, I do believe that there could be a rather large encampment, but we will have to see what is over the horizon for us. The General does seem to have a lack of wariness in regards to the savages. Hopefully, we are not heading into anything more than we are expecting. Personally, I am growing uneasy due to his lack of caution.
June 27, 1876
By the grace of God I am still alive. What a massacre! What bloodshed! The General and his command with the exception of me were obliterated by the savage Indians. Their plan was that Custer and 5 of his companies were to head straight into the middle of the village and cut off the warriors. (5) Major Reno and the 7 other companies were to head to the Southern end of the village and attack from there. (6) The Major held back 3 companies in reserve in case they came upon any remarkable resistance. (7) I rode alongside Custer as we charged into the Indian village. We were completely taken aback by the sheer number of Indians. There must have been 2 to 4 thousand warriors waiting for us. (8) As we rode into their midst we were picked off by the thousands of arrows that flew through the air towards us. The order to retreat seemed to be given almost immediately, and we headed back over the rivers and towards the bluff in order to give us some protection from the barrage of arrows. (9) Custer, his two brothers, Mr. Reed, Colonels Yates and Conke, Captain Smith and I bunkered down behind our now extinct horses and exchanged volleys with the savages. (10) We bravely fought for what seemed like hours, but our ammunition began to give way, and the Indians were slowly getting closer to us. I could hear Custer continually shouting his encouragement to the rest of his men, but as I looked around I saw fewer and fewer firing back on the Indians. Suddenly, I looked up and Custer had pierced by an arrow. His blue eyes and golden locks fell upon me, and I was trapped beneath his hulking body. Knowing that this could very well be the end for me, I attempted to use my horse’s body and General Custer’s as shields and attempted to stay as hidden as possible. As the Indians finished off our remaining soldiers I heard them tramp between our dead and then quickly scamper off. I was amazed that they did not scalp the fallen troops and could only assume that they were off to engage the rest of our company.
I found out later that Major Reno’s attack had also failed. He had entered the village from the south but was immediately surrounded. (11) He fought his way to a bluff and remained bunkered down there for 36 hours. (12) In order for them to survive they had to fight their way through the Indian ranks towards a water source. After they managed to reach the source, they remained fighting for 12 more hours until the Indians abandoned their village as General Terry arrived on scene. (13)
Overall, the dead are estimated to be 315 soldiers and officers. (14) Many of the bodies were brutally mutilated by the Indians and stripped of their clothes. (15) The Indian damages cannot be assessed at this time because they took most of their dead with them. (16) The remaining soldiers are heading towards the mouth of the Little Horn where a steamboat lies that will take them further inland. This battle will live on in infamy, and it seems as if the entire country is up in arms about this massacre!
July 4, 1876
My story has been heard throughout the country by now. I am quite a celebrity, if I do say so myself. I have told the story of Custer’s last few minutes over a thousand times now. However, as the weeks have passed, the military analysts have begun to dismantle the eagerness of the General. In their opinions, his tactics were the sole reason for the massacre. The General should have waited for the other sections of the Army to arrive (Gen. Terry, Gen. Crook, etc.) and then attacked as well as having better knowledge of his enemy’s strength and position. (17) There has also been some debate about Major Reno’s decisions during that fateful day. After he had initially retreated, why did he not continue his retreat towards Major Benteen rather than making a stand on the bluff? (18) Certain accounts of the instance also charge Major Reno with not making enough of an effort to help General Custer since the Indians had withdrawn from battle after he had crossed back of the Little Bighorn river. (19) Even though I have no particular allegiance to either side, it does seem that many blunders were made by the Army, and the Indians were thoroughly prepared for a large battle. As it has seemed to be the case in American history, the egoistic nature of Americans underestimated the Indians, but this time it led to a painful massacre that will be remembered throughout U.S. history.
The entire 7th Cavalry is camped along the banks of the Rosebank River and are ready to disembark in search of rogue Indians. (1) The veteran group of 12 companies seems very eager to engage and dispatch of these Indians. (2) Being that I am an outsider, I have managed to remain inconspicuous about my past. As long as I drink rampantly and sing joyfully, I fit in with the soldiers. At this point, they all seem to be enjoying their time and aren’t worried about their impending engagement with the enemy.
June 25, 1876
We have found the Indian encampment! After 3 days of hard marching and “28 miles in only 24 hours” we have found them! (3) They are situated “450 miles west of Bismarck and 250 miles northwest of the Black Hills.” (4) Their village does not loom very large in the distance. The troops seem very optimistic that they will easily defeat these savages. However, I do believe that there could be a rather large encampment, but we will have to see what is over the horizon for us. The General does seem to have a lack of wariness in regards to the savages. Hopefully, we are not heading into anything more than we are expecting. Personally, I am growing uneasy due to his lack of caution.
June 27, 1876
By the grace of God I am still alive. What a massacre! What bloodshed! The General and his command with the exception of me were obliterated by the savage Indians. Their plan was that Custer and 5 of his companies were to head straight into the middle of the village and cut off the warriors. (5) Major Reno and the 7 other companies were to head to the Southern end of the village and attack from there. (6) The Major held back 3 companies in reserve in case they came upon any remarkable resistance. (7) I rode alongside Custer as we charged into the Indian village. We were completely taken aback by the sheer number of Indians. There must have been 2 to 4 thousand warriors waiting for us. (8) As we rode into their midst we were picked off by the thousands of arrows that flew through the air towards us. The order to retreat seemed to be given almost immediately, and we headed back over the rivers and towards the bluff in order to give us some protection from the barrage of arrows. (9) Custer, his two brothers, Mr. Reed, Colonels Yates and Conke, Captain Smith and I bunkered down behind our now extinct horses and exchanged volleys with the savages. (10) We bravely fought for what seemed like hours, but our ammunition began to give way, and the Indians were slowly getting closer to us. I could hear Custer continually shouting his encouragement to the rest of his men, but as I looked around I saw fewer and fewer firing back on the Indians. Suddenly, I looked up and Custer had pierced by an arrow. His blue eyes and golden locks fell upon me, and I was trapped beneath his hulking body. Knowing that this could very well be the end for me, I attempted to use my horse’s body and General Custer’s as shields and attempted to stay as hidden as possible. As the Indians finished off our remaining soldiers I heard them tramp between our dead and then quickly scamper off. I was amazed that they did not scalp the fallen troops and could only assume that they were off to engage the rest of our company.
I found out later that Major Reno’s attack had also failed. He had entered the village from the south but was immediately surrounded. (11) He fought his way to a bluff and remained bunkered down there for 36 hours. (12) In order for them to survive they had to fight their way through the Indian ranks towards a water source. After they managed to reach the source, they remained fighting for 12 more hours until the Indians abandoned their village as General Terry arrived on scene. (13)
Overall, the dead are estimated to be 315 soldiers and officers. (14) Many of the bodies were brutally mutilated by the Indians and stripped of their clothes. (15) The Indian damages cannot be assessed at this time because they took most of their dead with them. (16) The remaining soldiers are heading towards the mouth of the Little Horn where a steamboat lies that will take them further inland. This battle will live on in infamy, and it seems as if the entire country is up in arms about this massacre!
July 4, 1876
My story has been heard throughout the country by now. I am quite a celebrity, if I do say so myself. I have told the story of Custer’s last few minutes over a thousand times now. However, as the weeks have passed, the military analysts have begun to dismantle the eagerness of the General. In their opinions, his tactics were the sole reason for the massacre. The General should have waited for the other sections of the Army to arrive (Gen. Terry, Gen. Crook, etc.) and then attacked as well as having better knowledge of his enemy’s strength and position. (17) There has also been some debate about Major Reno’s decisions during that fateful day. After he had initially retreated, why did he not continue his retreat towards Major Benteen rather than making a stand on the bluff? (18) Certain accounts of the instance also charge Major Reno with not making enough of an effort to help General Custer since the Indians had withdrawn from battle after he had crossed back of the Little Bighorn river. (19) Even though I have no particular allegiance to either side, it does seem that many blunders were made by the Army, and the Indians were thoroughly prepared for a large battle. As it has seemed to be the case in American history, the egoistic nature of Americans underestimated the Indians, but this time it led to a painful massacre that will be remembered throughout U.S. history.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
An Unexplainable Occurrence
Hello, My name is James Tierney and the impossible has just happened to me. I was transported into the year 1876 with only the clothes on my back and a magical device that allows me to communicate into the year 2009. Upon arrival I was somehow aware of my situation and did not act hysterically about my sudden departure from 2009. I seem to have a profession as an Army Private and am under the command of a General by the name of George Custer. We are somewhere in Montana and are attempting to find a renegade band of Indians.
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