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| "Comanche" trusty mount of Captain Myles Keogh" JDJ Photo |
"Theirs not to make reply
Theirs not to reason why
Theirs but to do and die
Into the Valley of Death
Rode the 600"
Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson
from "Charge of the Light Brigade"
June 25, 1876 - George Armstrong Custer led the 7th Cavalry into battle against a much larger force of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of Little Bighorn. Custer was a very interesting individual who was very impressed with himself. He was a class clown at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated last in his class. At a very young age in his early 20's Custer distinguished himself in battle over and over again in the Civil War during the Peninsular Campaign, The battle of Bull Run and most notably on day 3 at Gettysburg where he led his cavalry unit as they repulsed Jeb Stuart's attempted attack on the Union rear. Custer also distinguished himself by cutting off one of Lee's last avenues of escape at Appomattox in Virginia. At age 26 Custer had attained the rank of Brevet Major General. Custer was an individual in every sense of the word.
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| Halter detail on "Comanche" - JDJ Photo |
A vast majority of his actions were taken to serve his own best interests, often at the expense of the men in his command. Little Bighorn was no exception. Custer had gained great fame nationally as an "Indian Fighter" after the Civil War, was somewhat of a National celebrity and some people were throwing his name about as a candidate for the Democratic Nomination for the the Presidency of the United States. Custer believed that if he could win just one more battle, the press coverage of such an event would propel him to the Presidency. Therefore on 25 June, 1876, Custer threw caution to the wind. Leading up to the battle Custer was offered more re enforcements consisting of mounted soldiers and even a battery of gattling guns but Custer refused, as he believed his 7th Cavalry could whip any number of Indians in battle all by itself. Custer further reduced his odds by dividing his force into 3 elements. One under himself, one under Major Reno and one under Captain Benteen as he wanted to be sure to cut off any chance the Indians might have to escape. It did not work out well for Custer as every man in his group including two of his brothers were killed in what is known as "Custer's Last Stand". There was only one survivor from this incident and that individual was the horse "Comanche" which was the mount of Captain Myles Keogh, one of the officers in Custer's command. 2 days after the battle, Soldiers from General Terry's command arrived at the scene and found Comanche, seriously wounded, standing among the dead bodies of Custer and his men. Comanche had bullet wounds through the neck, shoulder and hind quarters and had numerous arrows stuck in him. Comanche was cared for, nursed back to health and an order was given that no one would EVER ride him again and that he would NEVER have to work another day in his life. Comanche became the beloved mascot of the 7th Cavalry and lived for many years being coddled by the troops who it is said sometimes gave him buckets of beer and he enjoyed it. Comanche died November 7th, 1897 at Fort Riley, Kansas. His hide however was meticulously preserved and he is now on display in the Natural History Museum at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Truly a tangible part of American History that should not be missed if you ever find yourself somewhere between Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas.
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| Comanche was the only one left standing at the Battle of the Little Bighorn - JDJ Photo |
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| Detail of Comanche's saddle straps - JDJ Photo |
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| University of Kansas - Natural History Museum - Lawrence, Kansas |
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| Epic entrance and stone construction of Natural History Museum. Comanche is located in a display case just inside the door here to the left. He is the first thing you see and there is no charge to visit him - University of Kansas at Lawrence. JDJ Photo |
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| Detailed preservation of Comanche is quite remarkable. JDJ Photo |
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| As I stood there I got chills and somewhat of a ghostly feeling realizing that this beast was actually at Custer's Last Stand. At least this poor fellow lived a long and semi charmed life after he was nursed back to health. JDJ Photo |
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