I care not for this plain nor the field I roam
I long for the battle to take me home
Not possession nor holding do I own
But boots and saddles at 3 o'clock shown
I speak of things of the Little Big Horn, past the murders of the Custer group by the United States Government, to those things incarnate, which have Libby Custer asking on that field of battle, "Do you love him?", yet.
Vic, "Old Nutriment" & Dandy
(white patches are healed saddle sores)
Gen. Custer had two horses, at the Little Big Horn in Vic and Dandy. Vic, was a geld he road into battle, and was never recovered dead on the field.
It was said that Vic was captured by Walks Under the Ground and in his possession.
Dandy was shot by the Indians in the neck, as numbers of animals were at Reno Hill. He survived and was presented to the Custers and died August 14th, 1889.
Vic was purchased in Kentucky while the 7th was on mission there and Dandy was purchased from the Quartermaster at Fort Riley, Kansas for 140 dollars.
Dandy was the pet of the two, and would be left to graze in camp untethered or the General would hold onto Dandy's tail while climbing cliffs to be helped by the horse.
General George "Autie" Custer with Chief Scout Bloody Knife
Tuck was one of his hunting dogs who accompanied the General onto the battle field. It was reported Tuck was found dead there among the dead.
General Custer had two bullet wounds, one in the left breast and one in the left temple. According to the hard sell tradition, the Indian would not scalp or mutilate anyone who committed suicide.
It was well versed that the General had standing orders in a designated Trooper to shoot Mrs. Custer if she was involved in a battle which was lost, to save her from being raped, murdered and mutilated.
Due to the severity of Indian torture and the discussions the General had with Mrs. Custer, it is concluded that Gen. Custer survived with an earlier bullet wound to the chest, and as the battle enclosed after several hours of desperate fighting, it was his brother, Tom and the closest family who died last, with the General firing a pistol to his temple to save himself from torture which would include, cutting off the lips, eyebrows, nose and ears, tendons cut and pulled out, and a fire kindled on the body.
Two interesting accounts of two horses appeared in a grey horse was taken into custody in Canada by Canadian Mountie James Morrow Walsh. Walsh petitioned the US government in Gen. Alfred Terry, to keep the horse, which was granted by the Sec. of War via Adjutant General Edward Davis Townsend.
Gen. Custer while in Kansas had his Troop Companies gathered by horse colors, to make things more decorative. The greys were from Company E, Lt. Algernon Smith commanding.
Another horses was located on the Yellowstone River, dead on or about July 31 or August 1st, 1776, six weeks after the battle of the Little Big Horn.
Gen. Godfrey related the story in infantry Soldiers had reported finding a dead horse with all gear, and rifle on the south side of the Yellowstone near the mouth of the Rosebud River.
On investigating from the steamer, the General could only determine the horse was either a sorrel or light buckskin, and it had, halter, carbine, saddle, saddle blanket and a small bag of oats untouched. The saddle bags were empty.
The horse had been shot in the forehead which would have proved fatal.
Three officers were never found and remain MIA, in Lt.'s Harrington, Porter and Sturges.
Deduction states that the equipment left intact, eludes to it was not Indians who had possession of the animal. With empty saddle bags and bridle missing, it concludes this animal was from the Custer Last Stand. Meaning, there was at least one other horse with this horse, including rider.
Taking the bridle and saddle bag possessions, would all that a horse with two riders would be able to carry, so in conclusion, it is highly likely that two of the three missing officers, if not all three, fled the battlefield when an opening afforded itself, and knowing they would be hung for cowardice, never returned.
The horse probably came up lame or could not travel and was the reason it was killed.
For Elizabeth Bacon Custer, we will never forget, the one we love.
agtG
